Living in the Community

The other day I left work and I took my 4 girls to our community pool.  The intent was to go there and enjoy some time with the girls on a late afternoon.  However, what it turned into was a great ministry opportunity as I saw a number of the teens in my youth program and their parents.  What I thought was going to be a low key afternoon turned out to be a great connect for me. And I believe that I would never have had that experience had we not live in a community about 7 minutes from my workplace (church).

Living in a community close to the church you minister at is invaluable.

For me that means I have a great opportunity to interact with lots of teens and parents that has either heard about New Life or seen a mailing we have done or even been to New Life a time or two.  Every time I step out the door and go grocery shopping, out to dinner, to the pool or even to Starbucks I have a tremendous opportunity to engage my community and hopefully help plug them into our church.  The closeness my community is to New Life  has turned out to be an awesome ministry opportunity for me.

Now I know I can do ministry in any neighborhood that I live in, but I believe that the closer you live to your church, the better chance you have at families you meet being able to start attending your church (if they aren’t currently going to one).  It just eliminates the “I wish your church was closer” excuse.

So what do you think?  Do you live in a community close to your church or are you further away?  What are the pros and cons of living in that community?  TAKE A MINUTE and share your thoughts or experiences.