20 Ways to Engage Your Neighbors

The past few months I've become aware of several families at church who have been making concerted efforts to  reach out to their neighbors. Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with creative ideas, so I thought I'd share some suggestions I happened upon in a blog and adapted a bit for our area. "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us." [2Cor.5:20]
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Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to help you engage your neighbors.

1. Stay outside in the front yard longer while watering the yard
2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood
3. Sit on the front porch. letting kids play in the front yard
4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.)
5. Invite neighbors over for dinner
6. Attend the parties invited to by neighbors
7. Do a food drive or coat drive in winter and get neighbors involved
8. Have a game night (yard games outside, or board games inside)
9. Grow a garden and give out extra produce to neighbors
10. Start a weekly open meal night in your home
11. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute
12. Host a sports game watching party
13. Host a coffee and dessert night
14. Organize and host a ladies' craft night
15. Organize a tasting tour on your street (everyone sets up food and table on front porch)
16. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood
17. Start hosting a play date weekly for other stay at home parents
18. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas
19. Have a front yard ice cream party in the summer
20. Help elderly neighbors with yard work or home repairs

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