5. See if they want to attend any outdoor activities your church might be having.
While some people might not be comfortable attending an actual service at your church, inviting them to an outdoor event is less threatening. Whether it’s a summer festival, or simply an outdoor concert, invite them to tag along. If your church doesn’t have outdoor events in the summer time, talk to your pastor. Your church is seriously missing out.
6. If you are part of a small group, have your group do an outdoor activity and invite them.
Small groups have the awesome opportunity to reach people in the community. Have a picnic or cookout with your small group, and invite others to come as well.
7. Get everyone together to play a game of football.
Invite the neighbors to come over, split up into teams, and play a game of football. The guys will love it, and the women can either cheer for a team, or sit around and talk. The team that wins gets bragging rights for the summer!
8. Host an outdoor movie night.
With today’s technology, it’s fairly easy to show a movie outdoors. Whether it’s a large TV and extension cord, or a projector on the side of the house with a white sheet, you can show a movie for the entire neighborhood. Don’t forget to supply popcorn!
9. Gather neighbors for barbecues on special weekends and holidays.
Let your backyard become the hangout spot on special weekends and holidays. Labor Day and the 4th of July are two great days to have barbecues. In some places (like in Indiana where I live) even big NASCAR race days count as holidays! This leads me to the last one …
10. Invite neighbors over to watch races, baseball games or other sporting events on TV.
Break out some nachos, spinach dip and cold drinks, and watch the excitement of competition with the neighbors. You’ll get some quality time with people as often as you’d like; there are always sports on TV.
Make this the best summer ever by getting out and meeting new people this year! Your neighbors are your mission field, make some new friends and enjoy the weather!
