outreach

It is time to get the discussion going.  How to meet the needs of incoming people and those who lived in the area all their lives.  Increased rent, homelessness, rising cost of living, fear, greed. (Pastor Avis Anderson, Glendive)

Currently the Oregon Synod’s Believe Team is learning about, collaborating with, and sharing knowledge of, the many different ways churches are involved in their communities and the world.  We identified three words that have centered us in this; Challenge, Opportunity and Transformation.　

We know we are not alone in our journey.  We also know this involvement changes over time.  New relationships start, old relationships can be strengthened, and all of these changes move us both inside and outside the church buildings where we worship.　

Like many churches, Faith Roseburg is struggling with ways to reach our youth, especially middle school and high school ages.  Traditional Sunday School structure is obsolete.  For several years now we have tried different things to lure kids to church - breakfast, service projects, pizza, etc.  We, the council & pastor, are interested in what is happening in other congregations.  Do you have a curriculum that is meaningful or a project that hooks kids?   Have young leaders been empowered to be more active & how has that worked?

I'd love to hear some definitions of "outreach!". I'm not sure we Lutheran have a common sense of the word - that and "evangelism." We're great at "service."

What does "outreach" mean to you?

Hello all,

Like so many other church councils, mine has been stumped as of late on how to expand our outreach ministries in creative and effective ways towards younger folks in the community (college age-ish). This isn't necessarily about getting folks in pews (although that'd be nice), as much as just reaching out to a demographic that seems to be one of the most disconnected. Wanting to know who else might be looking into something similar, and if anyone has had some success with that demographic.

Besides loaves and fishes.