I’m often asked about the best projects for success. Whether it’s a warm and sunny area like Southern California or Seattle where it apparently rains nearly half the time! There is always a great project in your midst. Here is a handful to try this fall. They are simple with few moving parts, so hopefully, newcomers to outreach will feel comfortable.
$1 Carwash
We’ve mentioned free car washes, where we do a great job with a person’s car, then we give them a dollar for the privilege to show them God’s love in a practical way.
Rake leaves
You might be surprised at how fast a crew of 5 or so can rake the entire lawn of a medium-sized house. It’s good to knock on the door before you rake. Some actually like to rake their own leaves. Bag the leaves and set them where they belong.
Mow After Raking
Under Fall leaves grass tends to be rather long.
Pick Up Debris
Branches, trash under shrubs, etc. Bag it. Put it by the curb.
Clean Out Rain Gutters
This is more complicated. With this, unless the house is rather small, realistically you won’t have enough time to pull it off unless you have a large team.
Wash Dogs Door to Door
Dogs aren’t necessarily dirtier in the autumn, but with some dogs, depending on their coat of hair, are only washed now and then. A good door to door wash might help them get past a winter wash. By the way, this is a great project to include kids with.
Coffee
Set up in front of a box store like BJ’s, Sam’s Club, or Hobby Lobby. (Hobby Lobby is especially gracious about letting you set up in front of their stores). Simply talk to the manager earlier in the week.
Cookies
Homemade cookies are the best, but Oreos are pretty popular as well.
When you connect with strangers who naturally ask why you are doing this.
The phrase that pays:
“We’re doing this just to show God’s love in a practical way. We think this is the sort of thing Jesus would do!”
About the author
Steve Sjogren
Steve Sjogren is widely regarded as the father of servant evangelism — the idea that small acts of kindness, done consistently and without strings attached, can change a church, a community, and eventually the world. He is the founding pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, which he and his wife Janie launched with a group of five people — eventually growing to over 7,000 weekly attenders across seven weekend services.
His first book, Conspiracy of Kindness, has sold over 300,000 copies and has been translated into several languages. Today he writes, speaks, and mentors church planters around the world.
