It has been suggested that taking children to the Royal Easter Show can transform parents and guardians into gibbering idiots. It's a pity because they may have missed one of the more helpful ideas for local churches to improve their local evangelism.
I'm talking about "show bags'. The idea is not new. As a child I remember waiting all year for the Sweetacres ("Minties') Show Bag. The fact that it contained a rubber band powered zip gun, accurate over 10 metres, may have had something to do with it. The lollies were an added bonus. Amazing what one could buy for 25c (in today's money).
Show bags have come a long way and we have failed to capitalise on their value.
Recently my family had a holiday in rented accommodation. When picking up the key from the agent we were also handed a small bag containing everything a new tenant required in the first hour of occupancy. Tea bags and toilet paper were on top of the list. Information on tourist sites, sachets of sugar and milk, mints and tissues were also included. A great idea.
Real estate commentators tell us that in any given community there are usually 5% - 10% of properties changing hands. There is always a house up for sale in my street and at least three sets of new neighbours have arrived in the past two years (No, it has nothing to do with our behaviour!). It has been rewarding being able to share information on garbage pick-up, local schools, medical facilities and the like.
This brings me to the Show Bags. Why don't local churches put together a welcome pack for their members to use whenever new people move into the area? Put yourself in the position of the new occupant of a house or unit in your area. What would be appreciated if they had arrived from somewhere other than the next street?
With the permission or cooperation of local agencies and business suppliers it would be relatively easy to list the names and addresses of pre-schools, schools, doctors, dentists and plumbers. Add a copy of the local bus or train time tables and a map of the area, particularly the shopping precinct, and you have a very handy resource.
Of course the most significant items to be included, from our standpoint, should be details of your church, a copy of a gospel of Luke or Mark (so as to link into one of the many excellent evangelistic courses based on these gospels) and perhaps an invite to the next "Introducing God' event.
Setting up a simple program to oversee this would only require one person. An ideal job for an early retiree or someone working from home. They would be responsible for:
"¢ Obtaining special bags with the church name or, if cost is a problem, then bags can be purchased from one of the many "dollar' shops.
"¢ Choosing Mark's or Luke's gospel and making sure follow-up courses were available.
"¢ Gathering names and addresses of local schools and service agencies as listed in the phone book.
"¢ Putting all the relevant information and material in the bag with a "Welcome' card.
"¢ Asking members of the church to indicate when a dwelling changes hands in their street.
The organiser of this ministry only has to give the "show' bag to the church member who then visits the new resident and welcomes them to the area. As a "sweetener' you might like to add a chocolate or two but I would definitely exclude the zip gun!
Jim Ramsay is the CEO of Evangelism Ministries, the outreach arm of the Sydney Diocese. Click here to visit the Evangelism Ministries web site.
Photo courtesy 3x5
