It can be easy for churches to slowly fall into having an inward focus. We can become entangled in meeting the needs of their members, to the neglect of engaging with and pursuing the outsider. The result is that we aren't reaching new people with the Good News of Jesus.
Many times the Church has failed to intentionally teach and train people to live as everyday missionaries, sharing the gospel with those around them through their words and actions. Most of the missional work then happens at the church events, through the pastor, rather than in the community, through the people of God. This limits what God wants to do in and through His Church to reach a lost and broken world.
At Harvest MIll, “Harvest” is a part of our name, because we exist for reaching the lost. Our mission statement makes this very clear - “Helping people find their place in the Mission of God.” It also shows our strategy in reaching people, which is to help people (believers) find their place in the mission. This means that God already has meaningful work for them to do, and people that He wants to reach through them. We equip people to think about who that is and how they can effectively engage those people with the gospel. We are not successful as a church unless everyone that is involved in growing in their understanding of their personal calling from God to live on Mission. (Matthew 20:20-28, Luke 10:1-20, John 4:1-42, Acts 1:8)
One practical way that we cultivate this kind of culture is by serving all kinds of people in our community. We have served Hot chocolate at Halloween events, given away hats and gloves at Christmas time, provided a fun night of games for Moms and their Sons, and many more.