The holidays can be overwhelming for church leaders. Between planning Christmas services, managing volunteers who are traveling, and trying to keep up with family commitments, the thought of organizing outreach events might make you want to hide under your desk. (Come on, we’ve all been there!)
But here’s the thing: the holiday season is actually the perfect time to show your community what the love of Jesus looks like in action. And you don’t need a massive budget or a huge volunteer base to make a real impact. Trust me on this one.
I want to share three outreach ideas that have worked incredibly well for churches of all sizes – from living room gatherings to mega-churches. The best part? You can scale these up or down depending on your resources.
1. “Drive-Thru Kindness Blitz”
Here’s a fun one that literally anyone can do: Set up teams to cover the drive-thru lines at popular coffee shops or fast food spots during morning rush hour. Pay for the person behind you, leave them a handwritten note of encouragement, and include a small candy cane or chocolate (because who doesn’t love free chocolate?).
The cool thing? This creates a ripple effect. We’ve seen people continue the chain of paying it forward for hours after our teams leave. Plus, it gives your people a chance to show kindness to folks they might never meet in person.
Smaller version: One location, one morning a week.
Bigger version: Multiple locations, multiple times per week.
Pro tip: Don’t make the notes preachy. Simple messages like “You matter” or “Hope this brightens your day” work best. Yes, include your church name and website, but keep it subtle.
2. “Teachers’ Holiday Rescue Package”
Here’s something most churches miss: Teachers are absolutely exhausted by December, and many spend their own money on classroom supplies. This is your chance to show up like heroes.
Create care packages that include both personal items (good coffee, chocolate, gift cards) and classroom supplies. The key is to partner with specific schools and get real input about what teachers actually need.
Smaller version: Adopt one grade at one school.
Bigger version: Multiple schools or entire school districts.
What makes this work: It’s specific, practical, and shows you care about the people who care for your community’s kids. Plus, teachers talk – a lot. When you bless teachers, word spreads fast.
3. “Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (RACK) Squad”
This one’s a game-changer because it gets your whole church involved in small acts that add up to big impact. Create teams of 3-4 people and give them each a “kindness budget” (even $50 can do a lot). Their mission? Find creative ways to show God’s love throughout December.
Some of our favorite RACK Squad moves:
- Leaving small gift cards on windshields in hospital parking lots
- Bringing hot chocolate to crossing guards and bus drivers
- Helping carry groceries and return shopping carts for shoppers
- Leaving quarters taped to vending machines
- Writing thank you notes to first responders with gift cards
Smaller version: 2-3 teams doing 1-2 acts of kindness per week
Bigger version: Multiple teams targeting different areas of your city
The secret sauce: This creates dozens of touch points in your community, and because teams are small, it’s perfect for involving new believers or even non-church folks who want to help.
Here’s Why These Work
All three of these ideas share some crucial elements:
- They focus on blessing people with no strings attached
- They create natural opportunities for your church to be known for kindness
- They can be scaled up or down without losing impact
- They don’t require massive budgets or complicated logistics
Remember, the goal isn’t to create more Christmas chaos – it’s to show your community that God’s love is practical, personal, and present. Start small, be consistent, and watch what God does.
The best part? These aren’t just one-and-done events. They’re ways to shift your church culture toward ongoing kindness and community impact.
Listen, you don’t need to do all three. Pick one that fits your church’s personality and resources, and do it well. Because at the end of the day, impacting one person deeply is better than impacting a hundred superficially.
Now, it’s time to stop reading and start planning. This is the season to show the love of Jesus in practical ways.
