Local Ideas

Ever been on a missions trip where your hands were involved in serving others for the glory of God?  Did you want to bring a little of the joy and excitement you experienced during your trip into your everyday life?  Today many people are doing missions in their own backyards and you can too!   God is inspiring more and more communities and churches to begin their own consistent acts of service. 

Operation InAsMuch is a great way to get your church involved in local missions projects.

Ministry Projects Ideas Categories

	Economic Needs Projects Assemble Hygiene Kits Baby Shower for Unwed Mother Clothes Closet Collect and Deliver Firewood Deliver Lunches to the Homeless Deliver Window Fans Food Pantry OutreachFree Car Care Free Yard Sale Garden Ministry Gleaning Crops to Feed the Hungry Job Fair Job Training Money Management Serve Your Local Food Bank Smoke Alarm Check
	Construction Projects Sometimes, serving others mean rolling up our sleeves and working up a sweat. Construction projects allow involvement from those who may not usually see themselves as skilled workers. With ministries like the Handyman Ministry, you can help make life easier and even possible for the physically challenged and financially burdened. Handyman Ministry Wheelchair Ramp Construction
	Children’s Projects According to a 2005 study by The Barna Group, only 13% of senior pastors listed “ministry to children” as one of their church’s top three ministry priorities. While nearly every church offers some form of children’s ministry, there is a great need to disciple children and to meet their physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs. The following are a few of the many project ideas to serve the children in your church and community. Child ID Station Collect School Supplies for Needy Children Conduct a VBS Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities
	Elderly Projects Choir Singing at Nursing Home Communion for Shut-ins Deliver Bird Feeders to Nursing Home Senior Adult Ministry Yard Work/Landscaping Wheelchair Ramp Construction
	Health Care Projects The health care statistics in America are frightening. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2009 46.3 million Americans did not have health insurance coverage. Families USA Publication reported in 2007 that more than 9 million children lack health insurance. Blood Pressure Checks Community Health Fair Free Dental Checks Free Vision Checks Give Caregivers a Break Organize a Blood Drive Prepare and Serve Meals at Ronald McDonald House
	Sports Projects According to Plunkett Research, the estimated size of the American sports industry in 2010 is $414 billion. The Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association (SGMA) reports in 2009 that US sporting goods manufacturers made $71.8 billion in revenue. In the same year, ESPN records show that the average for professional basketball game attendance was more than 17,000; average attendance for professional baseball numbered 30,000, and 67,000 for professional football games.
	Servant Evangelism Projects “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11) Affirm Public Servants Assemble Care Packages for Troops Free Car Wash Free Lawn Mowing Free Refreshments to Motorists Gas Station Ministry Laundry Mat Ministry Water Evangelism
	Community Ministry Projects In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Card Ministry Goodie Bags for School Teachers Host a Block Party International Student Ministry Lunch for Habitat for Humanity Workers Offer ESL Classes Offer Music Lessons Park Cleanup Prayer Walking Roadside Cleanup School Landscaping, Clean-up, Painting Sewing Ministry Teach Life Skills

Getting Started

First, look to God Himself to direct the ministry of your life, your family's life, and your church's life.  He is the one who will establish the work that you should do to bring Him glory. 

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the
work of our hands--establish the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17

The basics for starting any type of ministry project are the same:

• Pray
  Ask God for a clear vision of a ministry project that brings Him glory.
• Envision
  Cast a vision for what the ministry might look like.
• Consult
  Share your vision with your pastor or missions committee.
• Recruit
  Get others involved by sharing your vision.
• Meet
  Have a comfortable, well-planned discussion with interested persons about the details of the vision.
• Launch
  Fulfill the vision as a team, remembering to share the good news of Jesus in word and deed.
• Evaluate
  Ask team members to evaluate the ministry, then make appropriate improvements.