What is a Reach Beyond?
The Reach Beyond Challenge:
We ask all small groups and ministry teams to serve beyond these walls in a service project once a quarter.
Reach Beyond Guidelines:
1. All Small Groups are encouraged to do low-cost and low-risk projects. This means the projects should be easy to do and not cost a lot of money. This will make it easier for people to join in on the project. Examples... Gift-wrapping at the Falls is free because the church buys the product. Setting up church in Homestead is free. Passing out water or cleaning toilets is very inexpensive.
2. The projects should be localized to that group. Unless a reach beyond project is "church-wide" such as gift-wrapping or Homestead launch, the group should do the project together and not elicit involvement from the rest of the church. Why? It is just not pratical. With over 200 groups/teams, we should have 400 plus projects a year.
3. The projects should not ask church people for money. Each Small Group should handle any funds as a group (localized).
Steps to Reach Beyond:
1. Choose a serving beyond opportunity. (see suggestions below)
2. Prepare for the day of service.
3. Serve together. (Serving beyond is a team sport)
4. Debrief together.
5. Share the story. (Take pictures, video, and write about it.)
Some Reach Beyond Opportunities:
*For the following opportunities, we are providing cards that you can give to people who ask why. The cards simply say, "just a simple way of saying God loves you." Our church name and website will also be listed if people want to find out more about us. The following opportunities should be done without accepting donations.
Cookies
> Pass out prepackaged cookies, students taking exams love them!
Grocery Bag Loading Assistance
> Offer to load groceries into cars at places that don't have carry out assistance. For example, a wholesale market (BJ's or Costco's) or Walmart. Remember to kindly refuse tips and obtain permission from the store manager.
Elderly Assistance
> Offer light housekeeping, lawn-mowing, grocery shopping, or meal delivery to elderly neighborhood residents or shut ins.
Christmas Gift-wrapping
> Wrap Christmas presents free at the Falls Shopping Center
Trash Pick-up
> Go to a local park, sporting event or festival and pick-up trash
Move in Welcoming Party
> Greet new neighbors to your neighborhood with some cookies or a home cooked meal and a smile.
Kings Way Community Church
> Serve in the children's or youth ministry one weekend
Florida Baptist Children's Home
> Multiple opportunities exist
SHARE drive
> Serve and distribute as a small group
Water or Donut Give Away
> Offer free water or Dunkin Donuts to people
Roses or Carnations
> Hand out roses or carnations with an Invest & Invite card in busy areas or in front of busy stores. This is perfect for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day.
Free Windshield washing at gas stations
> Offer to clean windshields for free
Clean restrooms
> Offer to clean restrooms at restaurants or businesses
Nursing Home visit
> Show up with balloons and flowers
Provide a nice lunch or dinner to a community group
> Serve lunch or dinner to a local PTA group, firehouse, police station, public school teachers
Christmas Caroling and Candy Canes
> Go caroling house to house with your Small Group or ministry team and give the residents candy canes.
Business Blast
> Make gift baskets and bring them to area businesses
High school sports teams
> Provide Gatorade or orange slices to a team after practice
Habitat for Humanity Work Day
> Participate in a work-day to build a home for someone else.
> Michelle Marcos, Volunteer Coordinator Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami (305)634-3628
