The Missional Network

We came up with an idea for an easy way to love on people on Halloween night: mug people.  What we did was buy 16 oz. nice coffee mugs with a simple version of our logo on the side and put Hershey's Kisses, Nice Packets of Hot Chocolate (not the white swiss miss packets), and a simple card with our website on it.  Then we went around knocking on doors.  When people answered, we said, "Hi, you've just been mugged by Grace Park Church."  and then we would walk away.  We made it clear to everyone who handed them out that it wasn't our goal to start conversations about our church.  We simply want to give them a nice gift and walk away with no strings attached.  We mugged about 200 homes and we are still seeing cool things because of it.  Our area is heavily unreached/unchurched and the muggings have opened doors of conversation later with people.  One lady became downright hostile toward me when she found out I was a pastor but then immediately opened up when she realized it was our church that mugged her.  We see it as a way to redefine people's perceptions of what Christians are about.  It may not necessarily plant seeds of the Gospel but it definitely softens the ground. 

We have found that people are 5 times more likely to be at home or open the door to you on Halloween night than other nights and it didn't really go over well the next week. People didn't come to the door. 

We plan on doing it again this year.  Any thoughts on how to make it better? 

I like this.  I wonder if this may could be tweaked during the year and used at a shopping center or mall--or even at a county fair.

Good call on the mugging.  I've never heard of doing anything like that.  Sounds like a great way to meet people in the community.

Jimmy, I wouldn't encourage the mall or shopping center thing. You may have missed the most important part of the original mugging. I'm assuming the people that gave out mugs lived on the same street or close to it. It was simply a way to begin a relationship with a neighbor that will hopefully develop over time so that the person recieving the mug would eventually hear the good news about Jesus from someone they know and trust. If you mug people at a mall you'll most likely never see them again.

You don't have to do mugs. You can take any kind of gift to a neighbor and introduce yourself and your church. Let them know that you're available to pray for them if they have any needs that would benefit from it. You'd be surprised at how many people are open to being prayed for - as long as the person that is asking is a neighbor.

Our rule is this - if you can stand at their front door and point to your house so they can see it - you should be working to share the gospel with them.

That is an excellent idea.  I must admit the name had me a little nervous.  I think that our church will give it a try this year.

I love the creative thinking that went into this "mugging" outreach idea. I've known of numerous variations on similar servant evangelism / acts of kindness outreach efforts. My "two cents worth" is that one of the most important factors to any activity like this is to know your context. In one neighborhood, it might be highly effective if conducted just as Jason tells in the original post ... but, in another part of the country / or community, there may need to be adjustments. I know of one Texas church that did a "mugging" as a follow up gift after an evangelistic block party.

In my SE Michigan neighborhood (82% on government support), we have cleared neighbor's sidewalks and driveways with our snow blower and that has made an impact ... or we have collected food for the hungry through our church for a local food bank. Both opened doors and made an impact. When helping Ted Baird in Anthem, AZ to do some of his first outreach activities and a block party for the church start, we swept pebble rock off of driveways and made a memorable impression on community residents. Why?

 Because in both instances we considered the context, and that made the difference.

 

 

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bobby gilstrap