by Marti Schneider
During the English Texas Conference Women's Retreat, Marti Schneider shared inspiring ideas for how to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors. Here is a list she provided in the retreat folder packets.
1. Spend time daily in God's Word. As God changes you, He will give you a testimony to share with others
2. Pray—ask God what He wants you to do to touch your neighbors for Him.
3. Pray with a pencil in your hand—Write down whatever God tells you
4. Make contacts with your neighbors during Christmas or other holiday seasons. Give them a small gift of cookies, banana bread, etc. with a letter telling who you are and how you can be reached. Distribute these gifts to the adults at the door.
5. Discover the names of the father, mother, children, pets, and even grandparents.
6. Write these names on your prayer list and begin to pray for them each day by name.
7. Keep a record of each family so that you can include additional information, such as birthdays, occupation, interests, contact information, etc.
8. Call your neighbors by name as often as you see them outside.
9. Ask your neighbors, "How are you doing? How is (name of family members)?" If you learn of a need, thank them for telling you, saying "Thanks for telling me about (need)! I pray for you each day and that will help me know how to pray."
10. If you see a need that is very important to the neighbor, pray a brief prayer for the individual at that very moment, expressing trust in God who loves them so much. Then inquire later about the outcome of the situation. Continue to pray until the issue is resolved.
11. Stand in the street or on the sidewalk as neighbors are coming home from work so that you can greet them and chat a few minutes.
12. Share your own life experiences with them even as you invite them to share their day's or week's experiences.
13. Look for small ways to celebrate. Perhaps you can invite them to celebrate your anniversary or birthday with you.
14. After you have built relationship with a neighbor, ask him or her to pray for you for a special need (perhaps a trip, a special appointment or speaking engagement, a family need)
15. In order to build a stronger relationship, spend time together in an activity that is of mutual interest. In other words, "date your neighbors".
16. Greet the children warmly. Inquire from them about their school, pre-school, or play activities. Treat them like your own nieces, nephews or grandchildren.
17. Begin a story time for children using Bible stories and character-building stories. Invite other neighborhood mothers to help you.
18. Offer a weekly Bible-reading social evening to simply begin in Genesis and read the Bible accounts. Prepare ahead by seeing where the various biblical doctrines can be found in Genesis and Exodus. Teach any guests to use the center reference to look up Bible texts that refer to similar passages. Teach them how to use a concordance. Do not use other books. Say, "This is not an opinion study. Everything must be supported by Scripture". Rather than pushing your doctrines, let them discover the truths for themselves. Ask God to direct the Bible reading.
19. Consider planting a Discipleship Group, a House Church, or Adventist Congregation in your neighborhood.
20. Pray! Listen! Follow!
