Intentionality can help you take your neighbors from being disconnected to being enfolded into a church community.

 

 

Tips for connecting your neighbors to your church

1. First, you need to meet them. Apartment Life has resources to help you learn how to connect with your neighbors. And of course, if you need fresh ideas to help you brainstorm events to help you meet more neighbors, we've got hundreds of ideas on Apartment Life's Pinterest page.

 

2. Once you know your neighbors, you have to be intentional. If you need a refresher on how to start spiritual conversations with your neighbors, we've got that here.

 

3. Make a plan to connect them with your church. Make sure you know your key leaders and programs your church offers that might be a good fit for your neighbors, including Vacation Bible School, young couples' classes, Mothers of Peschoolers (MOPS), Financial Peace University, etc. 

 

4. Let your pastors know what you're doing so they can pray with you and come alongside your ministry. They can also help connect you with resources as you host neighborhood events, including tables and chairs, parking cones, and volunteers.

 

What if my church isn't a great fit for my neighbor?

Ideally, you'll be able to invite your neighbor to join you at your church, so you can help them feel comfortable and get to know other church members. However, sometimes your neighbor may have a different church preference - whether it's another denomination or they prefer a smaller / larger church, or maybe the location doesn't fit their needs. It's okay for your neighbor to have different preferences - don't let that be a stumbling block to helping them get connected. Instead, help them find a church that would meet their needs. If you need help, ask one of your church staff members for help. They'll probably know other nearby churches that might be a good fit for your neighbor. Then, offer to attend that church with your neighbor for their first visit, so they don't have to go alone.

 

Whether you're walking through this study individually or as a group, take a moment to process by asking yourself these questions:

  • What event could you plan that would help you connect with neighbors you haven't already met before? Commit and put it on the calendar.
  • What intentional conversations are you having with your neighbors that encourage them to take an actionable step towards the church?
  • In what ways do you need to engage with your local church so that you'll be ready to invite your neighbors?

 

» NEXT STEPS

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Love God, and love your neighbor.    

Apartment Life believes that a community can be radically transformed when people intentionally invest in the lives of neighbors and build authentic relationships through service.

 

It's that simple.  
  
We partner with an apartment community’s management team to deliver the Apartment Life program. We  have the opportunity to  build community and serve residents by doing things that flow naturally out of the Christian lifestyle — welcoming new neighbors, planning social functions, and caring in times of need.

 

Together we can change the lives of people living in apartment communities, and one person at a time, we can change the world.  

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE AN APARTMENT LIFE COORDINATOR, YOU CAN APPLY HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PARTNERING WITH APARTMENT LIFE, VISIT APARTMENTLIFE.ORG.