12 Opportunities for Mission in Your Own Neighborhood

If you’ve ever thought that participating in God’s mission is reserved for missionaries who travel to other parts of the world, I invite you to think again.

Mission begins with God’s activity in the world. When our response is to join His redemptive acts in the world, we begin caring for the physical, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of others. Such a response reflects God’s reign in the world and brings glory and honor to God. We invite others to enter God’s kingdom by developing relationships with them, not viewing them simply as objects of mission. Sometimes this happens when we travel to another culture, but there are opportunities to share in our own neighborhoods.

Even if you never travel to another country, God is inviting you to join His mission right where you live. Here are 12 ways you can engage in mission without ever leaving your neighborhood.

1. Give a single parent a night off by offering to watch their children. You’ll not only help out the parent, but you’ll build a relationship with the children.
2. Regularly visit an elderly or disabled shut-in from your church. Help with simple tasks like offering to get their groceries for them or helping with household cleaning.
3. Volunteer at the local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Include children and teenagers from your church so they can be formed at an early age to serve others.
4. Help an elderly neighbor or church member with yard work like mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, or raking leaves.
5. Get to know people from other countries who need help learning the “ins and outs” of American life. You can help with everything from how to pay the electric bill to helping with English skills.
6. Your pastor knows of many needs in the community and congregation. Ask how you can use your gifts and talents to serve others in need.
7. Bring home-cooked meals to people recovering from surgery or to families who just lost a loved one.
8. Get to know the kids in your neighborhood. Let them experience Christ’s love through you, as they may not experience it from their families.
9. Invite people who have no nearby family to eat Sunday dinner or a holiday meal with your family.
10. Offer to help others with home or car repairs.
11. Volunteer in nursing home or hospital. Find special ways to minister to those who do not have regular visits from family and friends.
12. Offer to drive someone without a car to appointments or to the store.