Kiss Dayton Servant Evangelism Fun
January 28, 2009
Kiss Dayton! Servant Evangelism
A couple of years ago I went to the gym on one of my usual gym days. (My wife tells me it’s a good thing.)
When I arrived I asked the receptionist, ‘Have you been kissed today?’ She smiled and said, ‘Nope, not today.’ I then gave her a pack said, ‘Well you’ve just been kissed.’ She laughed and exclaimed, ‘You’re from the Vineyard right?’ I replied, ‘Yep. We are kissing people all over the city this week.’
On Valentines Day we’ll head out to a couple of strip malls near the Vineyard. We take the packs of kisses, and several buckets of carnations. We pop into the businesses and head to the customer service desk and ask, ‘How many ladies are working today?’
We then count out the flowers and Hershey packs…and say, ‘We are from the Vineyard and you’ve just been kissed.’
Usually some of the other assistants are around and join in the exchange. Often, a male worker will ask for a carnation for his girlfriend or wife. Some guys say, ‘Thanks for the reminder.’
Most people are open, curious, laugh and catch the vibe.
One Vineyard group went to a high end Spa/Hair place, all of the working ladies gathered to receive their flower. ‘Who are you guys? Others exclaim, ‘This is so cool.’ Or sigh, ‘This will be my only present today.’
Flowers and kisses were also handed out to the ladies who were becoming beautiful-er.
One of the team noticed one of the ladies getting her hair cut didn’t receive a flower. So being the sensitive, thinking person she is, made an extra special effort to find another team grab a flower and run back to the shop…when she gave the lady the flower, the surprised and delighted lady exclaimed, ‘You’ve just made my day! Thank you.’
Really? Made her day? Makes me wonder what one of her days looks like? Makes me wonder if she was ever loved, or had a caring boy friend, or had husband, or is now connected to an uncaring guy?
What’s in a gift of a small flower and a pack of kisses?
I think serving others in a fun, creative way sends an upbeat message to the people in our stressed out world.
Serving others often is a small action that sends a signal that says, ‘Hey, someone cares for you.’ The action preformed with genuine love somehow touches the heart.
My friend Scott, said, ‘Agape love revealed… my love is demonstrated as I serve others through the choices I make, and by the actions I take.’
Process for Kiss Dayton:
4 weeks out: have connect cards printed (www.marketplaceprinting)
4 weeks out: order Hershey Kisses (snacc foods Cincinnati)
4 weeks out: order 4”X4” zip bags (BGR bags West Chester OH)
4 weeks out: order boxes of Carnations for pick up (Cleveland Plants and Flowers Dayton)
2 weeks out: have kids or teens pack the bags
Week of: have packs placed at all exits
Valentine Day Outreach
3 days out: pick up flowers, cut stems and place in buckets of water so they will be open on the day
3 days out: design maps with instructions and contact phone numbers
3 days out: make name tags
3 days out: gather Kiss packs and place in a larger bag or container
Day of Valentines Day Outreach
Gather at 10am
Give Instructions: go to shops, go to check out or customer service, ask, How many ladies are working today, count out Kisses packs and flowers give to workers, Say, ‘We’re from the Vineyard and you’ve just been kissed.’ Also, be open to need and pray with people if *God space is created.
Divide up into teams Load up and head out.
After project head to Caribou Coffee, or Starbucks for download and great java.
Outward Focused Christmas Gift
November 20, 2008
Hi there – I live in Cleveland and borrowed the book “The Outward Focused Life” from a friend (her sister goes to Vineyard). I am pumped on it and decided that for Christmas this year instead of buying another silly dumb gift for my family members…I am going to give everyone a copy of this book. SO after giving away 10 or so of these I am praying it will impact the world for the better. I hope to keep my radar on for God to use me from here on out!! Thanks for making Christmas shoppiing a pleasure this year!
Nellie S.
Serving the Vote
November 4, 2008
Just another average day of voting and serving in our town of Mason.
Emily and I were standing in line at a church in Mason at 6:30 waiting to vote. It was pretty chilly inside the church too. After about 40 mins we made it to the table where the volunteers were working and they were talking about how cold it was in the church. Someone said something about Starbucks and one of the workers said she wished she had gone to get a coffee before she came to work.
I wish I could have opened up the café that was there in the great room of the church seeing that I have a “degree in coffee making on the hospitality team” J I could’ve whipped up some lattes in a hurry to help warm them up. Well of course couldn’t do that…
After I got done voting and walked out of the church maybe that little voice just said… this is Byron’s New English translation cause I don’t remember exactly what the thought was J “hey Byron, go to Starbucks and pick up some hot chocolate and coffees for these folks to warm up and thank them for what they are doing as volunteers”.
Couldn’t ignore that thought… so I drove to the Tylersville Starbucks where if you wore the I voted sticker you get 10% off your drink. Well I actually got 12 coffees and hot chocolates for the volunteers. I think my drink (13th) was actually free today… how cool!
Of course I had some VCC serving cards in my car just for occasions like this. And wouldn’t you know there were exactly 12 cards left in my car, one for each cup of drink.
So I took the drinks back to the church and let the 2 table leaders know that I got hot chocolate and coffees for them and thanked them for what they are doing.
Don’t know what they thought or how they reacted… but they will know that God was a part of their day in a little hot drink sort of a way…
Thanks for what ya’ll do and how you lead our church! It’s a blessing and a blast to be a part of the mission!!
Blessings
Byron
A lifestyle choice
October 28, 2008
The historic storm that just rolled through Cincinnati in September damaged a large oak tree on our property. The tree is estimated to be around 100-125 years old and as you can imagine quite large. Just two days ago we had it removed because it posed a significant risk to our house along with the neighbors. The crew arrived with a pot of hot coffee waiting for them. It was a cool morning and they seemed to enjoy this unexpected warmth as they prepared the equipment. Once the crane went skyward and the saw blades fired up the neighbors came flooding out. It was a great experience as many of the neighbors stood outside talking with each other (there’s an idea) while they watched the crane at work. Many of these interactions were new. My wife baked dozens of cookies for the crew as they broke for lunch. More significant than even that was the opportunity for a half dozen of the neighborhood kids to sit in the crane and help the operator hoist the climbers. The fun those kids had taking pictures and videos; they had a blast. Also, the neighbor at the end of the street heats his home with a wood burning stove. LIGHTBULB! He is now able to enjoy at least a whole winter’s worth of oak for his stove. All for free. Consequently, dropping these massive logs in the neighbors front lawn also served the tree service as they did not have to take 4-5 trips dumping the huge chunks of trunk in addition to paying to have those burly pieces disposed of.
The point I’d like to make is that this service project was a community event. It seems to me that all involved were both served and serving. The serving opportunities weren’t altogether planned but spontaneous displays of practical needs being met. Serving is a lifestyle choice not a program in which to participate.
-Randy Henson
Sounds like a good plan
October 15, 2008
I got one of the cards at the Vineyard instructing me to bring my child’s art to a retirement community. I’ve recently got involved with something else that is outward focused that I want to write about instead of visiting the retirement home. I just don’t have time to do it all.
For several years I have been meeting with two friends of mine every week for accountability and to just talk about life. We’ve dedicated that intense 1.5 hours to discuss problems and how we can be more like Christ. For the past several months we have become bored. We’ve talked about everything under the sun at least 3 times and we’re just out of topics. So we decided to get out of our comfort zone and spend 3 weeks a month visiting with the homeless at City Gospel Mission. We’ve just started so we don’t know how it’s going to work. But we decided to be more outward focused and put into action what we’ve learned. We also want to teach other men to have the same type of relationship that we have learned to have.
Initially we plan to meet with 3 guys from the mission and just play pool. So far we’ve just sat down and had dinner with them a few times. We hope this will allow us time to hear their stories, get to know them and just get comfortable with them. Then we plan to take it to the next level. Maybe we’ll do a Bible study, have a prayer group or some type of discussion that is below the surface. The idea is to intentially pursue the men and be a positive example to them that will allow them to know Christ more and break free from poverty. I’ve recently learned that it takes a significant relationship with another person to break free from poverty. I still plan to do a small outreach to hand out the card though. Thanks.
Lions Tigers and Bears Oh My!
October 3, 2008
A little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Halloween for many a Christian is a very scary night. Bar the doors, pull down the shades, keep the kids in and play it safe can be the reaction. However, it’s important to note, lots of Americans living in your neighborhood do not have a Christian belief system. Their view of life is much different. Those who know not Christ see Halloween as a fun family night for the kids.
One year I stayed home, on purpose. I wanted to check out the scene in my neighborhood where I’m known. To catch the vibe. See what parents were doing with their kids. To be in my community.
My desire was to connect with my neighbors in some tangible meaningful way. I chose to sit on my front porch with my mini dachshund as protection and use an Izone mini camera to take the little monsters’ picture then give the kids the photo and ask them to hand it to their mom or dad.(it was interesting, no scary costumes on my block)
The pictures were a big hit. Comments like, ‘Wow, this is cool!’ to questions like, ‘Why are you doing this?’ were the norm. I’d reply, I’m just having some fun showing you God’s love in a practical way.’ And chat with the parents.
One my friends decided to have Veggie Tales playing on the big screen in their den. She’d invite the parents and kids in and offer free coffee, hot chocolate and have some personal gifts made for each family. A huge hit and she had many positive conversations with parents.
Here are some Halloween tips.
- Recognize you can be creative and leave a positive impression in your neighborhood. Hopefully, people are saying something like…’Hey that’s Mr. Jones. He’s a nice guy always doing nice things. He’s goes to that pretty good church down the street.’
So, If you are going to stay home…be kind, be warm and be inviting. A little bit of kindness goes a long way
- Recognize, ‘they out there,’ are not your enemies. They are your neighbors. They have names like Mary and Tom, etc. with kids named Joey, Samantha, etc.
- Recognize if a parent is walking with their child they are being responsible parents. Saint or Sinner, it’s true, it matters not.
Do something out of the ordinary like:
- Buy an izone or Polaroid camera… kids come to your door take a picture hand it to the kids for the parents.
- Have something for the adults. Offer a cold pop, or a cup of coffee, hot coco, or hot tea.
- Set up your TV and DVD outside and show Veggie Tales. Have lawn chairs set up, add bags of popcorn and you’re off to the movies. One friend in Tampa had a crowd by the end of the evening.
- Buy something different like giant candy bars or individually wrapped bags of popcorn etc. available at most stores. Be Big… Be Generous… Be Creative
- Be ready to share your faith, answers questions…and by allowing your positive caring attitude show. A smile and an encouraging handshake mean much to most people in your neighborhood
Getting Started
September 5, 2008
My first post on this brand new site should be profound. It should be…but…well, w
e’ll see. You get what you paid for. Actually, as believers, we get what He paid for. This really wasn’t my point, but it’s not a bad one.
Getting started. I think that’s 95% of the deal. God calls us to Go. “Go and make disciples”. He calls us to get started and to “come, follow me”. It’d be great to write stuff in this blog all day, but I think God might have more for me. He might have something for you too.
So take a minute. Use that 5% of your time and energy to consider how you can love the people in your world…and then get started. Use that other 95% to impact the world around you. Times a wastin’
seriously…let’s get going
