Canvassing your neighborhood

[Jim47]

My church has been canvassing a neighboring community. This area is about 8 miles from our church and just accross state lines. Its a very large housing project with many quite expensive homes, I would guess they run from $300,000 to some over a half million. In all we must have canvassed nearly 300 homes.

We were recieved warmly by many of them and had a few people inquire of our church and beliefs, but we never gained a single visit from any of these people.

I'm just wondering what you all say when you canvass and if your results are better then what we have experienced.

We sre starting now to canvass another neighborhood that is closer to our church, hopefully we may get more favorable results.

[LilLamb219]

About 6 years ago our church went door to door to just pass out info about our church and not to try to do what the Baptists and the JW's do. I think out of all the neighborhoods they received one visitor...I think.

I wonder if it's like advertising though. In advertising, to get someone's attention, you need to make your business visible to them at least 7 times.

[WomanAtTheWell]

I have only recently returned to church attendance, so I haven't experienced canvassing. But, my thought on canvassing is that it might take a while before you actually get someone to visit due to your canvassing. Maybe someone will remember your church when they are going through a spiritual crisis and need to go to church. I don't think that it is something that will immediately bring the result of increased membership... but I am far from an expert on that.

On another note, the church that I attend recently had a "Bring A Friend To Church" Sunday. I am not someone who would normally ask people to come to church with me. I asked just about everyone I know, because I didn't want to go "empty handed". The last person, who was a stretch really... someone I hadn't even spoken with for a while, actually said yes, she really needed to go to church. She has come a couple of times since that Sunday. There weren't many people with friends on that Sunday, but it did get me to talking about church with people that I normally wouldn't consider talking with about church or religion.

[WomanAtTheWell]

About 6 years ago our church went door to door to just pass out info about our church and not to try to do what the Baptists and the JW's do. I think out of all the neighborhoods they received one visitor...I think.

I wonder if it's like advertising though. In advertising, to get someone's attention, you need to make your business visible to them at least 7 times.

That might be right. I have had different churches come to my door in the past and I only *really* remember the ones that have come more than once.

[Jim47]

About 6 years ago our church went door to door to just pass out info about our church and not to try to do what the Baptists and the JW's do. I think out of all the neighborhoods they received one visitor...I think.

I wonder if it's like advertising though. In advertising, to get someone's attention, you need to make your business visible to them at least 7 times.


We made it quite clear that we wern't trying to steel other churches memberships, as our first words are, "Do you have a church where you regularly attend services" . We really were doing more or less what you suggested and that is a walking advertizement, but of couse if the opportunity afforded itself we galdly engage someone in conversation.

I've never heard the 7 times thing before. How do you accomplish that.

We advertize in the local newspaper a couple of times a year and we also have a service aired on a local radio station every Sunday morning. Is there another way?

[Jim47]

I have only recently returned to church attendance, so I haven't experienced canvassing. But, my thought on canvassing is that it might take a while before you actually get someone to visit due to your canvassing. Maybe someone will remember your church when they are going through a spiritual crisis and need to go to church. I don't think that it is something that will immediately bring the result of increased membership... but I am far from an expert on that.

On another note, the church that I attend recently had a "Bring A Friend To Church" Sunday. I am not someone who would normally ask people to come to church with me. I asked just about everyone I know, because I didn't want to go "empty handed". The last person, who was a stretch really... someone I hadn't even spoken with for a while, actually said yes, she really needed to go to church. She has come a couple of times since that Sunday. There weren't many people with friends on that Sunday, but it did get me to talking about church with people that I normally wouldn't consider talking with about church or religion.



Congratulations on your recent return to church. :thumbsup:

I really like your idea of a bring a friend to church Sunday. WE encourage that every Sunday, but marking a special Sunday would be an excallant idea. Thanks :)

[LilLamb219]

Other visibility opportunities for a church could be walking in the town parades throughout the year, setting up booths at festivals and fairs, put your web address on your outside sign/marquis (is that marquee? how do you spell that?), and make sure that many of the events that are taking place in the church are advertised.

[ctay]

Our church is small and its in a small town. They have been doing things but just in town. I told them its good to reach out in the county too past the city limits. We put out and passed out flyers from house to house for a christmas party we had for kids this past christmas and for VBS, It didn't do any good.

[C.F.W. Walther]

You know this is a controversial subject because our pastor doesn't believe in canvassing or the Ablaze program.

Indications from the recent LCMS conventions are that Ablaze is loosing momemtum. People are not turning in tally sheets and activities attached to it are less frequent. The reason behind my post is that my pastor says that prayer is the best way to get attendance up. Also that a personal life witness and living a Christian life could possibly be the best way to bring people in. Who is the hardest to witness to? Is is friends and family? Usually.


I think one person (possibly Lilamb) put it in the same way we notice the way people react in the motorcycle ministry. That's in planting seeds. We might never see the results but the seed have been planted. Sometimes they don't think of going back to church untill they have "fox-hole" experience.

So, what is the best way, canvassing, a personal life witness or prayer? I would say all of the above. Maybe if we incorporated ALL of this into an outreach ministry God would bless it abundantly. We cannot forget the power of prayer.

Notice that in the Bible getting the gospel out is a full time occupation and that "pray without ceasing" is also full time. To me that just means that we need to wear our Christianity on our sleeves thoughout the entire day. At work, play and leisure..............and pray.

[Protoevangel]

marquis (is that marquee?
Your second one was right, a marquee is an open tent for entertaining or a rooflike structure with a signboard, often as the entry to a hotel or theater. On the other hand, a Marquis is a nobleman below a Duke and above an Earl or a Count.

And no, I'm not really that smart, I just have a link to http://dictionary.com/ on my Bookmark toolbar, and use it way too often... Oh... And I slept in a Holiday Inn Express once, too! ;) :thumbsup:

[Jim47]

Radidio

So, what is the best way, canvassing, a personal life witness or prayer? I would say all of the above. Maybe if we incorporated ALL of this into an outreach ministry God would bless it abundantly. We cannot forget the power of prayer.

Notice that in the Bible getting the gospel out is a full time occupation and that "pray without ceasing" is also full time. To me that just means that we need to wear our Christianity on our sleeves thoughout the entire day. At work, play and leisure..............and pray.



Great post John. I think you made a good point, we should never abandon prayer, and I agree all of these metods are important.

We did a fair booth a few years ago. It was a real nice booth. We handed out free water to those who stopeed in and talked with a lots of folks. It sure didn't do any damage to God's kingdom. :holy:

We are just getting our web site updated. I like the idea of putting it on the church marquis, great idea! :thumbsup:

[WomanAtTheWell]

We have a day camp and the pastor (and some helpers, but it's really mostly the pastor) does canvassing for that. We gets some children from all the flyers that he passes out.

We also have a Block Party at the end of the summer that is open to the whole community and is attended by people who are not part of the church.