Turkey time! / Staff Outreach /

Turkey's Giving Away Turkeys.

A couple years ago we adjusted our outreach in order to involve more people, create a safer environment (morning instead of after dark), create less stress and to create a greater sense of team (over 300 people showed up for instructions and to do the outreach last year).

Here's what we have discovered:

• people want to make a difference....each year over 350 boxes that were placed at the exits were taken the first weekend in November.

• people like simple...people grab a box as they leave a weekend service. The box has instructions placed inside the box to help guide people as they purchase the food items. It also lets them know what to do, and where we are meeting the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

• people enjoy the sense of togetherness...We encourage participation: families packing the box together, or joining with friends, or joining as a small group to fill the box. Then we gather as a large group to receive instructions, introduce team leaders, and receive instructions and maps to the low income apartments.

• some people like to participate but don't want to go on the outreach...that's ok, participating at any level is appreciated. The 'no go but want to serve people' will bring their filled boxes at 9am instead of 10am and the boxes are then lined up for people to take as they leave the info meeting.

• people like the fact that we go to the areas we have consistently served in the past...we divide up into four huge teams, caravaning to the location in order to reach out to four low income apartments in Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Fairborn, and Centerville.

• people like the adventure... we go to homes unannounced, present the Thanksgiving meal and offer prayer. When we leave the home we place a small sticker on the door notifying the rest of the team that the stickered door is a home we have served.

• people who serve begin to see life through an externally focused lens...

One family went to a home and offered the Thanksgiving dinner. The single mom invited the family inside to place the dinner on her table. The family noticed...all she had in her apartment was the table. Their perspective changed. Their hearts were softened through the experience, and began to view life through a different lens.

• God space where God things happen are created. Our serving opens the door for caring prayer. Often heaven comes to earth. People weep, are encouraged, and discover Jesus in a new way.

Going, serving, praying = caring for others ...an externally focused life.

Here's the packing list:

Thanks so much for helping to make Thanksgiving possible for the less-served of our community!

This year’s date for Turkeys Giving Away Turkeys is Saturday, November 17th. We will meet at Beavercreek Campus at 10am and join team leaders to head out to 4 different locations: Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Fairborn, and Centerville.

How to participate: Join together as family, friends, or a small group to fill up the box with items listed below.

Turkey’s Giving Away Turkey’s List.
• 2 Cans Corn
• 2 Cans Green Beans
• 1 Large Can Yams
• 1 Can Cranberry Sauce
• 1 Box Au Gratin Potatoes
• 1 Box Brownies
• 2 Boxes Mac and Cheese
• 1 Dinner Bag Rolls
• 1 Box Stuffing Mix
• 1 FROZEN Turkey

Optional:
• 1 Pie
• Fresh Veggies
• Roasting Pan
• Fun Stuff

Important Instructions:
If you are going on the outreach...
Please leave your dinner box in your car and come into our main room for instructions at 10am. Be sure to pick up a few stickers.

Not going on the outreach and you only want to participate by filling a turkey dinner box...Please drop the filled box off at the Vineyard by 9amish at the top main entrance Worship Center.



Staff outreach.

Almost every time there is a 5th Tuesday we as a staff go out into the community to serve, share and to care.

The Big Why?

We have structured the church around four key values. Loving God, Loving People, Establishing Families, and Making Disciples. Each value is nurtured by a team of leaders who's mission is to ensure the value is honored and is alive throughout our Vineyard family.

My friend Marc Dupont says, "The message is the messenger." In other words, leaders lead because of who they are more than just having a message to say. It's out of who they are the message flows.

Also leaders leak (that's another Post see here Your Karma Is Leaking). They leak their passion, their vision, their practice and hopefully they leak life. Each main leader here at the Vineyard truly embodies their key value and seeks to honor and embrace our other key values.

Loving People seeks to create God Space where God Things happen out in the city and toward those in need within our Vineyard family.

Outreach reaches beyond the 4 walls, and Community of Hope and Recovery reaches out to those in need within our Vineyard family.

The Big Why? Every church exists to love their city into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Having a planned staff outreach is one way we seek to keep the outward-focused fire burning within our heart.

Here's what we are doing this week. We are heading out to the businesses to show God's love in a practical way.  We will worship for an hour together. Then pack the bags.  We'll break up into 5 teams N S E W 0. Pray to discover where specifically in each area we should go. Then head out into our community.

We'll be going the businesses to say Treats no Tricks!. And thank the businesses for being in our community. Then offer prayer. We will inquire of needs, or if anyone is there sick, etc. We'll  stop and get coffee together before or after the outreach.

Serving is the bridge that creates God Space where God Things happen. Prayer is the connection point that brings heaven to earth

Good deeds creates good will that opens hearts to the Good News.