Church in a Theatre: Hitting the Streets

I recently wrote a hub page called "Church in a Theatre: Why It Works". This is a Part II, explaining an equally important part of our approach to serving a community.

Although our church group meets in a theatre on Sundays, we purposely involve ourselves in a wide range of activities that are not "church". And when we show up, we don't use strong-arm tactics to "get you people to attend our services."

We show up to work, to help, to be part of a community project--and as a councilman's wife told me recently, "You people don't proselytize."

Here are some examples of what we have done and are continuing to do in our community:

• Collected Toys of Tots last Christmas and will do so again this year, using a kiosk that the shopping center provides for us.
• Collected school supplies (enough for 400 children), again in a kiosk supplied by the shopping center.
• Provided volunteer help in cleaning park underbrush on an Earth Day event, followed by supplying food for the picnic that came at the end of the work hours.
• Provided an Earth Day-oriented puppet show at the Earth Day picnic.
• Became part of the city's business association with participation in its activities.
• Became part of a Special Events Committee, sanctioned by the city, for planning community events. (This city has only been an official "city" for about four years, so the people are in the building stage of a community spirit.)
• Participated in a community bike ride (an annual event) by supplying water and water containers, plus snacks at the half-way point of the ride.
• Will participate this year in the bike ride, adding to our water/snacks contribution by supplying staffing and games for a children's area. (This is for kids too young to participate in the bike ride.)
• Participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life by sponsoring a display tent and supplying light sticks when a sudden rain ruined the candelaria that were meant to memorialize those who had died of cancer.
• On the day before Mother's Day, went to the parking areas of various shopping centers and handed out roses to moms.
• On the day before Father's Day, went to parking areas of Home Depot and other centers, and gave keychains showing tools to the dads who walked up.
• Handed out small U.S. flags at the city's annual Fourth of July picnic and provided face-painting for the kids.

I used to teach English at a theological seminary here in town; I used the opportunity to tell my students (many of them already pastors and church leaders) to "Get out of your buildings." I urged them to get out in the community and let people see that they are regular people, not isolated saints who only emerge from their cloisters on Sundays.

The experience of literally serving out in the community (as many of you have already found) is satisfying because it is a physical expression of God's love. In these events, we don't preach. We just serve and love and let God take care of the rest.