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Outreach, what is it?

The technical definition is, “The act of extending services, information, or assistance to people or communities who may not easily access them, but need them.”

The Bible does not use the word outreach at all.

I think these four scriptures are my definition of scriptural outreach:

• "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you"

• "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation". 

• "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?" And

• "How are they to hear without someone preaching?"

 

I have always thought many churches don’t know the true meaning of outreach. Some seem to think a potluck dinner or a bake sale are outreach.
To me it’s always been easy, out means outside of the church. Potluck dinners and bake sales are inside a church and really don’t deliver a religious message or action.
Outreach does not have to be done only by religious organizations. I believe each one of us can be very effective tools of outreach for our Lord and Savior. If you help someone in any way, a simple “God Bless, I’ll say a prayer for you” can be a huge example of outreach. So don’t think you need to do a big project to be able to get involved with outreach.