Parents' Night Out
Parents' Night Out Attraction A date night for parents who are not from your church. Bridge By doing a great job of caring for children in a wholesome, attractive environment with friendly greeters and care-givers, you’ll build a relational bridge. It’s a strong first touch for your church. Communicating the Gospel This is a seeding event, for the most part, though by all means the gospel can be presented in the handouts you’ll give.
This is a seeding event
Event-Specific Preparation
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
This is not for your people. It’s a great idea to have this ministry for your people, but in this case you must be clear to the body that we are serving the community. Detailed medical info on the children must be acquired, such as you have on file for your church’s children. Make sure this is available and that your administrative sign-in process is detailed enough that no child could slip through without the parents providing proper paperwork. In the process of that paperwork you will have gathered parents’ names and contact info needed for follow-up. Make sure that gets recorded separately later for follow-up purposes. Request e-mails as well. Have attractive info (flyer, etc.) available for the families telling them about what the church offers children and families. Perhaps time this event a few weeks before a family-friendly event, major children’s event, or parenting seminar. Give them this info as the child is picked up, so that it is less likely to be immediately discarded. Advertise for this event via local secular radio, local “shopper” newspaper, flyers in high-traffic areas (grocery stores, bookstores, etc.), and by word of mouth from the church body. If you have capacity for a large number of children, you can make this a church and non-church event by telling couples you will keep their children and the children of one unchurched family whom they invite out. Recruitment of care-givers for this event must begin eight weeks in advance. Recruit from singles, college students, after school care, and/or day camp workers if you have such, and capable senior citizens. Always communicate the point of the event, as this will motivate Great Commission minded people.
Enlist, equip, and mobilize the following ministry teams. Refer to the Ministry Team Preparation section of the manual for instructions on how the teams will function.
s s s s s s s
Counseling/Follow-up Team Spiritual Preparation Team Promotion Team Effective Prayerwalking Creative/Worship Team Logistics Team Budget Preparation
71
This is a seeding event
Event-Specific Preparation
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
This is not for your people. It’s a great idea to have this ministry for your people, but in this case you must be clear to the body that we are serving the community. Detailed medical info on the children must be acquired, such as you have on file for your church’s children. Make sure this is available and that your administrative sign-in process is detailed enough that no child could slip through without the parents providing proper paperwork. In the process of that paperwork you will have gathered parents’ names and contact info needed for follow-up. Make sure that gets recorded separately later for follow-up purposes. Request e-mails as well. Have attractive info (flyer, etc.) available for the families telling them about what the church offers children and families. Perhaps time this event a few weeks before a family-friendly event, major children’s event, or parenting seminar. Give them this info as the child is picked up, so that it is less likely to be immediately discarded. Advertise for this event via local secular radio, local “shopper” newspaper, flyers in high-traffic areas (grocery stores, bookstores, etc.), and by word of mouth from the church body. If you have capacity for a large number of children, you can make this a church and non-church event by telling couples you will keep their children and the children of one unchurched family whom they invite out. Recruitment of care-givers for this event must begin eight weeks in advance. Recruit from singles, college students, after school care, and/or day camp workers if you have such, and capable senior citizens. Always communicate the point of the event, as this will motivate Great Commission minded people.
Enlist, equip, and mobilize the following ministry teams. Refer to the Ministry Team Preparation section of the manual for instructions on how the teams will function.
s s s s s s s
Counseling/Follow-up Team Spiritual Preparation Team Promotion Team Effective Prayerwalking Creative/Worship Team Logistics Team Budget Preparation
71
