If you pray for one thing...

...please pray that God helps us make many, many contacts this summer. This is our number one priority at this stage of beginning a missional church- learning how to focus on reaching people Jesus loves that do not yet know him. For fodder for your prayers for us...I'm giving you (wow- aren't you privileged as a blog reader! :) an inside picture of our journey. Below is a plan I've submitted to my coach (Tony Webb) for making contacts this summer. Would you pray God leads us and brings these desires to reality...for His glory? Thanks!

Contact-Making Strategy
Andy Wirt
June-August 2007

I envision meeting new people, building deeper relationships, and inviting receptive people to our spiritual formation group through the following fishing pools:

• Expanding neighborhood involvement. I would like to go door-to-door several times to invite people to a Neighborhood Bible Club we’re planning July 9-13. Also, I’d either like to sponsor a block party for our street or participate in facilitating the neighborhood-wide block party this summer.

• YMCA. I have a goal of meeting a new person every time I work out there. I want to look into classes or activities I/my family could join to be around new people.

• New Albany pool. We’ve joined the pool there with the desire of making contacts while enjoying good family time.

• “Renting” office space at Panera Bread or Starbucks. I frequently (2-4) times a week try to do administrative work or study outside of my home office at one of these places to meet people and start conversations where God opens doors.

• Volunteering for community service. I would like to find at least 1 large-scale, community-wide event to volunteer for (and get others from our group to help when possible) per month to be involved with. Possibilities:

• June: Cancer walk in New Albany on June 12. Blues/Jazz Festival in Gahanna on June 15.
  
• July: July 4th celebration in New Albany.
  
• September: Walking Race in New Albany.
  

• Facilitate ClearView Church joining New Albany and Gahanna Chamber of Commerce. I’d like to utilize contact making/networking, marketing, and event participation that chamber membership would offer. This would open the door to unlimited new contacts.

• I’m thinking about the viability of some door-to-door work individually, with my family, or with teams. I’d like to do soft demographic research (“What could a new church do that would benefit this community…”) and make new contacts… but not sure how effective this would be in our community. Might be a negative contact?

• Secure a soccer coaching position for this fall.

• Select service events (car washes, etc.) and request teams to come and help us serve and meet people in the community.