Mission projects and community service opportunities during the summer are great for intergenerational projects or for specific age groups. Find projects for your faith community:
- Check with local helping agencies to see what needs they typically have during summer months
- Do you have other mission trips planned that need items collected to take along?
- Check with nursing homes in your community for needs they may have
- Assemble gallon size Ziploc food bags containing bottled water, crackers, breakfast bars, etc. that members keep in their cars and give to people in need as the opportunities arise
- Check with your Associational office for other mission opportunities in your area or projects which they are coordinating
If you have groups going on mission trips during the summer, consider having a commissioning service for them. Create prayer cards for your members which have the trips listed with date, place and team members. Pass out the prayer cards at the commissioning service so members at home can provide prayer support for your mission teams.
Homebound Ministry – Connect families with homebound members who need visits, yard work or other assistance.
Points to remember when planning community service mission projects:
- Time – time of day for project; time needed to complete project; weekday or weekend
- Age of participants – intergenerational or age specific
- Materials needed
- Supervision needed or not needed
- Is it a large group or small group participating?
- Is it a one-time project or on-going project?
Consider planning one or several projects for different groups and ages during summer months to allow your members to connect with others that aren’t in their typical groups.
These thoughts above are from Mary Langley, one of our partners in the ministry. Her primary focus is working alongside churches in children and family matters. She is based out of Raleigh, North Carolina.