Our mission is to provide every man, woman, and child in the Seneca-Babcock area with repeated opportunities to hear the gospel message and see it lived out in the lives of authentic Christ followers.
What is an Adopt-a-Block Outreach Program?
It’s door-to-door evangelism with a focus on servanthood. If you show someone that you’re willing to weed their flowerbed or take their garbage out, you gain an audience with them. That’s the strategy behind this type of approach. This initiative is not just about cleaning streets and beautifying lawns; it’s about building community, fostering relationships and spreading the message of Jesus. It works best in neighborhoods with a lot of houses or apartments in close proximity to each other, but can be done anywhere really. Anywhere that people live.
Preparing for the Mission
Each Adopt-a-Block session begins with preparation. We gather essential tools including gloves, trash bags, a lawn mower, a weed trimmer, and flyers about our church. Before heading out, we come together to pray, seeking guidance and blessings for the day’s work.
Hitting the Streets
With tools in hand, we set out to a chosen street in the neighborhood. Our mission is straightforward but profound: to serve the community in any way we can, while sharing the love and message of Jesus.
Knocking on Doors
One of the most impactful parts of Adopt-a-Block is our direct interaction with the community. We physically knock on the doors of neighbors, greeting them with a simple yet powerful question: “How can we serve you today?” This approach opens up numerous possibilities for service and connection.
Offering Practical Help
For many residents, the answer to that question involves practical help with yard work. Whether it’s mowing a lawn, trimming weeds, or picking up trash, these small acts of service can make a big difference in the lives of individuals and the appearance of the neighborhood. By addressing immediate needs, we gain the trust of the resident. They can see that we’re genuine people that care. This often opens up conversations that sometimes lead to the gospel message.
Providing Spiritual Support
We always offer to pray. We ask residents if there’s anything we can pray fro them about and emphasize that we’re going to pray right then and there. Prayer in that setting may be uncomfortable, but it can open doors to the person encountering God, maybe for the first time.
Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Our Adopt-a-Block program is more than a community service project; it’s a living example of faith in action. By asking how we can serve, we embody the principles of compassion and love. We truly become the hands and feet of Jesus, bringing light and hope to the Seneca Babcock neighborhood.
Through Adopt-a-block we’ve really been able to get to know the needs of our neighbors from various different religious backgrounds. We are able to take the gospel to them rather than assuming they will take the initiative to come to church.
We encourage you to consider trying something similar in your own community. The process is simple: gather some basic tools, a willing team, and a heart ready to serve. By knocking on doors and asking, “How can we serve you today?” you can make a significant impact. It’s a straightforward yet incredibly effective way to share the love and message of Jesus. Join us in being the hands and feet of Jesus, and see the difference you can make in your own neighborhood.