Well over the years I’ve tried a host (indeed a plethora) of creative ways to engage with the community.

There have been some successes and some spectacular bombs; that rock band extravaganza where four people turned up comes to mind…
I don’t recall ever having to turn people away - until last week.

Here’s what happened: My colleague Deb arranged for one of the students from the Moore College mission team (note to reader: praise God for the grace and skill of our MTC staff and trainees) to give a short talk in a graveyard.
Deb contacted the local historical society and was referred to a wonderful woman who knows every inch of the cemetery.

This lady loves taking people on walking tours. Roger, the MTC student arrived early and spent time reading headstones and crafting a short talk.

So off they set, Deb, Roger, ‘walking tour lady’ and an eager bunch of parishioners and their friends.
It was an oustanding success.

The walkers were regaled with fascinating facts concerning the community of the dead and other pieces of local history.

Roger then gave a very clever presentation concerning life, death and Jesus. He cited epitath’s and taught the Bible. I understand ‘walking tour lady’ was deeply moved.
In for a penny in for a pound! Why not give it another go?

Instead of the graveyard, the next tour (again oversubscribed) set out for ‘Eden Gardens’ - a mega plant-nursery/gift-shop/planned garden - type place.

Student Sarah gave an outstanding presentation on the ‘Eden’ theme. It was followed by Devonshire tea.
Both these events were well publicised and saturated in prayer (and I’m serious about this: an all night of prayer and every Wednesday at 7.00am).

In addition, Deb worked hard at asking people to invite their friends. And they did.
Both these events were/are creative, low-cost, high community-interest-value forms of outreach.

Now, there’s a sewerage treatment plant not too far away, I wonder…..