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Outreach ideas needed
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Absolutely *the* biggest criticism I hear about homeschooling is that our children are not in public schools so therefore do not reach the world with the Gospel. Of course I don’t believe that’s true otherwise we wouldn’t be homeschooling. I believe that outreach can be done in the context of the family. But, I’d love to hear any ideas you all have on this. This week we’ve been spending a lot of time with our neighbors and my oldest daughter (5) asked me when and how we’re going to tell them about Jesus. I realized I need to be more proactive in this. Some ideas I came up with:
Start praying together for our neighbors and friends who don’t know the Lord
Bring them a meal, cookies, pie, etc. to share the love of Christ.
Make cards for elderly neighbors
Offer to watch kids of neighbors to show the love of Christ
I think this would be a good start, but I’d love to have a lot of ideas to discuss with her. I also think unless I schedule this into our week it won’t happen…so, I was thinking maybe once a week we’d bake or make cards or something. But, I’m open to suggestions as the Lord has just now really opened my eyes that I need to DO this first for Him, for those who don’t yet know Him, and for my children to learn how to do what I am just beginning to learn how to do. (Seems like that’s so much of homeschooling – me learning so I can teach them).
Thanks in advance for all of your ideas, tips, advice, etc.
Erin
Erin,
What a sweet heart for the Lord and His work you have. What a great question to be asking!!
The ideas that you have already thought of are great ones, and very do-able (that’s the most important part!).
Here are some additional ideas building on your own:
-invite your neighbor’s to dinner (maybe one family a month), and let your children help you get ready for the meal by helping with the cooking, setting of the table, placecards, etc.
-start a “club”/class of some sort for the neighbor kids whether it’s a book club, a craft class, or a storytime…here in Indo my kids and I host an English Club (sort of like storytime at the library) for kids in our community. It’s a great way for us to reach out to our neighbors and the moms come and spend time too. Since we are actually not allowed to share the Gospel, this is a great way for us to share God’s love without actually using the words. 🙂
-ask one of the elderly lady neighbors to teach your daughter a skill like sewing, knitting, or even simple baking
-tell your daughter that the best way to reach out to the neighbors is just by asking the Lord how she can show them love that day. It doesn’t have to be a big thing…maybe the Lord would lead her to share a snack with a child one day, and one day it would be playing a game with an elderly woman. For me, instilling in my kids that we need to listen to the Lord’s leading and whatever He has for us that particular day has been amazing. As I write this, my kids are outside starting a soccer game with the neighbor kids, and that is how they show God’s love to them today.
Just some thoughts off the top of my head. I’d love to share more ideas if you need more!
Blessings,
JoyinIndo
You can buy a “story cloth” through the International Mission Board’s website and offer Chronological Bible Storying “classes/study” in a neighbor’s home (or yours if you can’t find a willing neighbor) once a week. Of course you can do it without the story cloth and you can pick and choose a different selection of stories based on your “audience’s” needs. Tell the stories in your own words and then ask them to retell it. Answer any questions that come up and see what God does. :o)
Erin I think your daughter ask you a very wise question. I would humbly challenge you to follow her lead on that one. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. And I do think all the other things you listed were great ways to build relationships with your neighbors but if you have already been spending time with them and your daughters heart is softened to tell them about Jesus then I would suggest starting simply there. Talk to her about a few questions she could ask her friends as they play and maybe you could do the same as you visit with the moms. Questions as simple as have you ever heard of Jesus? What do you know about him? Did you know that Jesus performed miriacles while he lived on the earth? (He caused a blind man to see by rubbing mud on his eyes – I mean Jesus did some super cool things on the earth and kids think they are super cool). These are great questions that can spur on conversations. And maybe just equip your daughter with one or two questions and their answers. And tell her that if a child ask a question she doesn’t know about just to tell them that she doesn’t know but she will find out the answer tonight. And then send her back with answers and further questions. Children are curious and your little daughter has a stirring in her heart to go and tell so I would say help her to use her words.
Please don’t hear me saying there is not a place for service. I think those things are great door openers to speaking truth into another’s life. But with the neighbors you are spending time with help her to use her words that faith might come by hearing
Hope this helps,
Amy
Amy,
Just wanted to say i am hearing what you’re saying and you’re right, I do need to SPEAK, not just show love…we’re just beginning to get to know these particular neighbors (like in the last two weeks!) so I did need ideas of how to purposefully be in their lives, but you’re right, we also need to speak the Word. I’ve been looking online for ideas on teaching our kids to share Christ – if you have any resources, please pass along!
Erin =)
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