Work Ideas for churches, groups & individuals

*** This post will be updated as new ideas surface. ***
Please share your ideas and feedback by posting a comment.

In January 2009, Spring Warrior's elders have created four "work groups" for the congregation. Four groups were created because their are three elders and five deacons. Thus, every group has either an elder and a deacon or two deacons.

The idea behind the groups is to motivate the entire membership to participate more in the work of the church in terms of evangelism, edification, benevolence and discipline, and to foster more interaction between the members with the idea of growing stronger relationships.

Each groups meets once a month in the home of one of the group members. The idea being that interacting with one another in each other's homes will help strengthen the relationships between the members.

This post will serve simply as a list, or a catalog, of ideas that the groups can do together.

Evangelism

1. Door-to-Door Campaign
2. Direct Mail (see Handouts and mailings below)
3. Newspaper advertisements for Gospel Meetings
4. Weekly newspaper articles (e.g., Prove All Things, What Would Jesus Do?)
5. Yard Signs advertising church events such as Gospel Meetings
   
6. Gospel meetings
7. Debates
8. Vacation Bible School
9. Radio call-in shows
10. Internet web page, Facebook page (Photo of building, map to location, meeting times, telephone number to preacher and elders, copies of articles published in paper, powerpoint sermons, mp3 sermons, etc.)
    
11. Bible readings similar to, but not exactly like this one in Britain where people took turns reading from the Scriptures from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with reasonable breaks for meals, refreshments.
    
12. Lectures
13. Home studies
    

Benevolence - identify and meet the needs of brethren who are:

1. Needy
2. Unemployed
3. Under-employed
4. Widows
5. Orphans

Edification - Send notes, visit and/or call the following people to encourage them:

1. Sick
2. Hospitalized
3. In Jail
4. Preachers whom the local church supports in other areas
5. Widows, the lonely, and shut-ins
   
6. Orphans
7. Brethren withdrawn from in the past
   

Handouts, Mailings

1. Postcards - Having run political campaigns in the past, I have come to recognize the power of direct mail, particularly postcards. Most direct mail is thrown away immediately, even postcards, but a well-design postcard with good pictures, color contrast, few words can catch the eye and hold the attention better than an envelope, which may never get opened.
   
1. About church
2. About gospel meeting
3. Upcoming sermons
4. Upcoming Bible classes
5. Vacation Bible School
6. Other news and events
2. CDs, DVDs - Although I have listened to audio sermons on CDs for years, I haven't really finished my thoughts on what should be on such a CD or DVD.

Small group Evangelism/Edification ideas:

Gather at a home to:

1. Watch a religious theme movie and discuss its accuracies, inaccuracies and liberties. Open the Bible to assist the discussion.
   
2. Start a book club to discuss books such as, The Five Love Languages, How to Win Friends and Influence People, or something else, but again open the Bible to find parallels and departures from God's truth.
3. Simply spend time with one another sharing meals, playing board games, etc., always include brethren and non-brethren. Try to use these events as a means to let non-brethren get to know you and your brethren away from church so the worship environment is less intimidating, especially for those who haven't been visited a church.