Reaching community members with the Gospel or a church invite is no easy task. Just ask any pastor or layperson charged with getting the word out. In spite of obstacles, however, Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California, is making inroads with Lutheran Hour Ministries' New Neighbor Outreach program.

Community Connections
"The first round of NNO postcards went out before Easter 2007. We sent out four hundred and had two families visit Holy Cross. We had four families enroll their children in Vacation Bible School because of NNO postcards," said Pastor John-Paul Meyer, who serves the congregation along with Pastor Jeffrey Jordan. Prior to last Christmas, another round of NNO postcards went out. The result? Four new attending families "identified the NNO postcard as their contact", and two more families enrolled their children in the church's newly built pre-school, according to Meyer.

"The best thing about NNO materials is the hand-written message. The card is attractive, so are the mega church cards. However, in the shuffle of mail, there is a hand-written address and message. It catches people's attention," Meyer said. "The best part about using the new lists is that we are reaching people new to the community. They may care less about the church events, but they are looking for pre-schools. Christianity may not sell, but morality is a big concern to parents. The NNO materials are reaching parents," he added.

Another Arrow in the Quiver
As an added resource for churches to reach out to individuals in their communities, NNO has experienced a steady increase of users within Missouri Synod churches across the United States. Launched by Lutheran Hour Ministries in October of 2006, NNO is currently being used in some capacity by more than 200 churches across the country. Each month roughly 20,000 contact names are supplied to congregations.

For newly planted churches, LHM offers absolutely free the "Church Plant Tool Kit". This $800 value includes community religious research, Practicing Hospitality materials, a one-year subscription to New Neighbor Outreach, "Here" booklets (a casual and conversational-style text introducing readers to the basics of Christianity), and 200 assorted LHM booklets to be distributed at services or special events as appropriate.

For information on New Neighbor Outreach, please contact Jim Arand, Congregational Marketing Manager for Lutheran Hour Ministries, at 1-800-944-3450, ext. 4305, or send an e-mail to LHM at localmedia@lhm.org.