Ideas that Work - Christianity Today

MEN’S MONTH

How do you get more men teaching Sunday school? Have a “Men’s Month.”

Our staff at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Southgate, Michigan, decided June would be “Men’s Month” because Father’s Day comes in June.

We prayed about men we thought would make good Sunday school teachers or aides. Early in the spring, we started sending them anonymous flyers that read: “Men’s Month … it’s coming.” This slogan also appeared in our newsletter and bulletins starting in April. Soon people were asking, “What is this `Men’s Month’?”

Next, we mailed an anonymous cassette tape marked PLAY ME to each man on our list. It opened with the “Mission Impossible” theme song (using kazoos), then challenged the person with, “Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to be a male role model for our Sunday school.” We promised that each man would have a partner, get special training, receive a boutonniere on Father’s Day, and be invited to the teacher appreciation banquet. The tape concluded by adding that an “agent” from the Sunday school would call for a decision.

According to superintendent Linda Ratliff, “Ninety-five percent of those asked said yes! We had two men for each class from preschool to eighth grade.”

Having sampled teaching, several men offered to teach a regular quarter later in the year. “Men’s Month” is now an annual tradition each June.

–Robert D’Ambrosio

Director of discipleship

MAKE ME A MAP

Getting to know where all the members of your new church live can be difficult and frustrating.

On the first Sabbath in my new church, I placed a half sheet of paper in the bulletin and asked the people to draw a map from the church to their house.

I asked them to include their address, phone number, a good time to visit, and whether they would like a phone call first.

The congregation placed the maps in the offering plates, and I filed them for immediate and future use.

–Dean Tupper

Spokane, Washington

FAMILY NIGHT SUPPER

Our white-collar suburb of Toledo, Ohio, is populated by young families in which parents work long hours and kids are involved in multiple after-school activities. When such a family visits our church, we want to make sure they feel welcome, but setting a convenient time for a follow-up visit is difficult.

In place of a home visit, we call first-time guests on Monday and invite them to attend our Wednesday family night supper as “Pastor’s Guests.”

Not all visitors are open to this. Some have already made up their minds not to return. Some have other commitments on Wednesday nights. But many do appreciate the invitation and take advantage of the offer.

The cashier for the family night supper is given a list of “Pastor’s Guests” who are expected that evening. They are escorted to a designated table for pastor and guests. Members see the guests and take the opportunity to speak with them. Following the meal, children and youth are escorted to activities while parents can stay in the fellowship hall for Bible study and prayer.

We believe a high percentage of visitors who accept our invitation to this free dinner end up becoming members or regular attenders.

–Barry Wilson

First Baptist Church

Perrysburg, Ohio

WHAT’S WORKED FOR YOU?

What program or activity has worked well in your church? For example, how did you: * Turn visitors into eventual members? * Enlist volunteers? * Reach out to your community? * Get members to invite unchurched friends?

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Ideas That Work

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