Community and Outreach Discussion Forum

Community and Outreach - Do we have to choose?
Many churches put large amounts of effort into serving their community - particularly as regards the elderly, the sick and the needy. They might well label this as an outreach programme or as 'bridge building' but, if so, the tangible results as regards numbers of actual church joiners are very disappointing. The help for the needy is a Christian duty but can it really be labelled as 'outreach'?
Peter Mansell 30/10/2023 15:05

Replies:

	Sue Greener	14/11/2023 08:53
I think we 'label' this as pastoral care, bringing Jesus' presence out of church buildings among those for whom it is light in darkness. I am not convinced that focussing on church 'joiners' is my task, though every single one who enters a church is a gift to our parish.
	Jenny Bewick	11/02/2024 08:31
The book swop was popular yesterday Lots of people many of whom attend a monthly after school event for families
	Susan Saunders	08/06/2024 22:26
The Pioneering Parishes meeting I attended today made it clear that achieving a number of church 'joiners' was not the point of outreach.