100 ways to engage your neighbourhood - 1 to 50
Josh Reeves is planting a church in Round Rock, Texas. There’s nothing like planting a church to stretch your thinking as to how you and the church family can make the most of opportunities to develop community relationships. Not all the idea will translate to a UK context but it may spark some ideas that will. Josh says...
I have found that it is often helpful to have practical ideas to start engaging the people around me. Most of the things on this list are normal, everyday things that many people are already doing. The hope is that we would do these things with Gospel intentionality. This means we do them:
o In the normal rhythms of life pursuing to meet and engage new people o Prayerfully watching and listening to discern where God is working. o Boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed.
Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to help you engage your neighbors. Would love to hear stories of how you have lived some of these out or other ways you have engaged your neighbors.
Neighbors – Your Immediate Neighborhood 1. Stay outside in the front yard longer while watering the yard 2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood 3. Sit on the front porch and letting kids play in the front yard 4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.) 5. Invite neighbors over for dinner 6. Attend and participate in HOA functions 7. Attend the parties invited to by neighbors 8. Do a food drive or coat drive in winter and get neighbors involved 9. Host a music share party in your home (everyone brings 5 favorite songs and discusses) 10. Offer to mow someone’s yard who needs it on your street 11. Have a garage sale 12. Organize a tasting tour on your street (everyone sets up food and table on front porch) 13. Cook Out with gate open, or even in the front yard and let neighbors know they are welcome to join. 14. Have a game night (yard games outside, or board games inside) 15. Art swap night - bring out what you’re tired of and trade with neighbors 16. Grow a garden and give out extra produce to neighbors 17. Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite neighbors use their front yards 18. Start a weekly open meal night in your home 19. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute 20. Create a block/ street email and phone contact list for safety 21. Invite your neighbors to serve along with you for a local cause in your community 22. Organize a backyard movie night for kids on your block 23. Prayer walk and talk to people you come across 24. Jog outside instead of on the treadmill 25. Pull their trash back in when you notice its out 26. Cook an extra casserole and give it to a neighbor 27. Buy an extra dozen donuts and give them to a neighbor 28. Start a compost pile and allow neighbors to dump their compost and take 29. Host a sports game watching party 30. Host a coffee and dessert night 31. Organize and host a ladies craft night 32. Organize an effort for neighbors to help take care of elderly in neighborhood 33. Become a regular at your neighborhood pool/park 34. If you have a skill, let neighbors know that you can use it to help them for free
36. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood 37. Start hosting a play date weekly for other stay at home parents 38. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas 39. Collect good will store items and offer to take them to goodwill 40. Have a front yard ice cream party in the summer 41. Start a sowing group 42. Go Christmas caroling in your neighborhood (invite neighbors in on it) 43. Throw a July 4th block party 44. Start a neighborhood Facebook/Twitter/Google + group 45. Ask longtime residents to help you learn about the neighborhood 46. Offer to babysit neighbors kids so they can have a date night 47. Find out your neighbors birthdays and take them a card and baked goods on it 48. Setup a meet your neighbors night with drinks in your driveway/front yard 49. Ask your HOA or apartment complex if they need help with anything 50. Host a regular Saturday morning breakfast potluck