30 Outreach Tips

30 Outreach tips that will help in visitation

1. We would all agree that in order to grow a Sunday school one must have a weekly visitation. This is not a new concept but it is a proven concept. Jesus performed his first miracle while visiting in a home healing Peter's mother-n-law.
2. Jesus instructed his disciples to visit in homes. Luke 10:5 says when you go into a house say, "Peace be to this house."
3. Times have changed. 20-30 years ago living in a small community where everyone knew each other is much different than living in a large complex society and it is not so simple any more. People are living in isolation and don't even know their neighbors. Some are fearful of people who come to their door. It is reported daily in papers and on the news on t.v. that crimes are committed all around us, in fact here in Tulsa bank robberies have just entered the double digits since January 09. In most cases people don't mark there houses as well as they used to and trying to get into gated communities and apartments are nearly impossible to get into. These factors discourage us but still the best way to make a contact is through visitation!
4. In ministry visitation is the key role in keeping Sunday school vital and growing.
5. It is key for contacting inactive members and absentees. We should not make them wonder why no one from the church has contacted them.
6. Nothing takes the place of a personal contact in a home where people can sit down and just visit.
7. Remember this! Visitation is a method of bringing christian people into contact with individuals who need to hear the gospel.
8. Not everyone is suited for visitation because of their personality. Sunday school directors and teachers can be vitally important when seeking out such people in classes through the power of prayer. Which people are better suited to weekly visitation?
9. On the job training is important. Department directors and teachers can go out with staff a few times to be re-acquainted in visitation practices and then take their selected visitation partners out the same way.
10. Selecting a regular time to go out each week is best for developing good habits and getting a regular schedule incorporated.
11. You do not need to get all dolled up for visitation, but remember you are representing our church.
12. Department directors need to make sure that people go out visiting as teams. Men with men and women with women or husband and wife teams usually work out best. Remember that the visiting teams have the opportunity each week to get to know each other better by riding to a visit. We can have great fellowship while riding to make visits.
13. Try not to duplicate visits. Your church staff will have a system that will be available to all Departments so this will not happen.
14. By going out as Sunday school Departments and Classes age appropriate visits will also be maintained. This is extremely important to having visitors fit in.
15. Always pray with your partner before leaving for a visit. Can you imagine someone you go to visit sees you pull up and it is five minutes before you get out of your car. Everyone that goes out on visitation goes under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can prepare the heart of each person who will be visited.
16. If a map has not been printed out of the address, spend a minute printing one off or rely on a GPS unit if you have one. People are so busy these days, they don't need to waste time getting lost.
17. In the evening (when dark) have a flash light or a spot light that can be plugged into a cigarette lighter. These items can be purchased for under $15.00. These items come in handy when no lights are on and trying to find an address.
18. If it is an inconvenient time to visit, ask if you can come back later that night or arrange a visit on another evening.
19. It is proven that unannounced visits work better than setting up times to meet in people's homes. In either case all sorts of reasons have been given as to why it is not a good time to visit: meal times, out of town guests, social occasions, sickness, etc... Be gracious, excuse yourself but do try to set up another time.
20. Park in front of a home. This way you will not be blocking the drive way from someone needing to leave or pull in.
21. Memorize the persons name you are visiting. People like to hear their names spoken and often.
22. After ringing the doorbell or knocking, step back. Do not invade their personal space.
23. When answering the door, ask them if they are the people you intended to visit. (State their names) Then identify yourselves and let them know you are there to visit with them and ask if you can come in?
24. There is an acronym that helps me remember the important stuff: F.I.R.M. F. is for Family. Find out about children and their ages. Do they still live at home or away. Where do the parents/homeowners work? You will find common ground when asking these questions. I. stands for Interest. Find out their hobbies and past times. Compliment their house and decorations etc... R. stands for Religion. Ask about their church affiliation. The way they answer these questions will give you direction on how to proceed into other questions like do they attend regularly etc... M. stands for Message. After absorbing their answers to all the questions you can then state your message. Why are you there. Do you want them to attend church, Sunday school, fellowships etc... Are they needing to be baptized. Do they need to rededicate their life to the Lord. Do they need to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit will lead you.
25. Don't overstay your welcome. Watch for body language. If they give a time allotment to the visit, honor it because it's always better to come back later than to alienate someone because you stayed to long.
26. Evaluate the results of the visit as soon as you can even if it means driving up the road and finding a safe place to park and record everything that happened and what recourse to follow. This is probably the most crucial element that does not have follow through. Cards are lost or misplaced. These records must be inputted onto the computer at church! We not only input the record of the visit but we also keep the hard copy too.
27. Then the card with the record of the visit must be turned into the office. If it is not turned in, it is like doing a book report and then not turning it in. We need to determine if a follow up is necessary etc...
28. If a good connection is made by you in a visitation, then continue to follow up asking them to socials, Sunday school, or just out for fun. Relationships can start from a visit. Becoming friends with them is just the first part.
29. If Department Directors can have an effective Outreach Team and Teachers are well prepared for lessons on Sundays, and organized fellowship happens regularly there is no telling how fast Sunday School will grow!
30. Visitation is the Primary method used to encourage unsaved, unaffiliated, unchurched people to come to Sunday school.

It is our hopes and prayers that these ideas will be beneficial in visitation. We encourage your comments. If you feel that one of these ideas may not work and needs to be deleted, let us know. If you have other ideas that you feel should be added to these, let us know. We welcome any comments that may be beneficial.

Sincerely, Pastor Len Lovel

Education Memorial Baptist Church