By Roy Smith
Challenging the commonly-held belief that people who live in apartment communities are inaccessible, Chris McNairy, a missionary with the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board, recently led a group of pastors from the Portsmouth and Norfolk Baptist associations to embrace a simple, yet powerful, method of community outreach.
First, McNairy accompanied the associational director of missions and a local pastor on a drive through the community surrounding the pastor's church building. They stopped at the office of a nearby mobile home park. Since a good relationship with the manager in any community is necessary to open ministry opportunities, the pastor and the DOM entered the office and introduced themselves. McNairy remained in the car to pray for them as they spoke with the mobile home park's manager.
After introducing themselves as being from the Baptist church just down the street, the pastor simply inquired, “How can we pray for you?” Immediately, the manager remembered that the church started more than 40 years ago on the property that the mobile home park now occupies. The conversation became more exciting for the pastor and DOM when the manager asked the pastor to supply her with church brochures for distribution to new residents.
Next, the group visited a large apartment “community,” a term that McNairy indicates should replace the word “complex.” The change has occurred because part of the manager's job is to build “community.” Since the church is central to any true community, McNair pointed out that churches must provide relevant ministries to apartment residents.
As they did at the mobile home office, the pastor and DOM asked the apartment manager, “How can we pray for you?” Immediately, she shared names and prayer requests, beginning with her family. The pastor was able to generate visible excitement during these community visits, and he sustained that excitement in prayer meeting the next night.
Since the initial visits, the pastor has taken flowers to each manager and has requested that Sunday school classes adopt specific communities to support in prayer. He has also scheduled a backyard Bible club in the mobile home community.
McNairy and the DOMs also met with a church planter to do similar visiting. As the group entered another apartment community and saw a “no soliciting” sign, the church planter inquired as to the church's ability to minister there. Again, the group acknowledged the importance of establishing relationships with apartment management.
When the DOM and church planter introduced themselves to the manager, she too requested that the pastor supply brochures that announce church activities relevant to the community. She explained that she needs the fliers to post on community bulletin boards near the residents' mailboxes, a strategic location because everyone sees the bulletin boards when they collect their mail.
Next, the group visited a community comprised of 500 luxury apartments. Walking into the well-appointed clubhouse, they were amazed to hear, “Pastor, come in! You may not remember me, but I was in church on Sunday. In fact, I was just telling my friend here about the church,” she said as she gestured toward the other woman in the office.
Then they heard one of the leasing agents greet the church planter by name. Both the church planter and missionary were nearly tongue-tied in amazement. She went on to explain that she had participated in two other church plants and was praying for God to send her to a third new church plant. She also promised to visit the church plant soon. Talk about God's timing!
During the two-day experience, the participants learned some valuable lessons. First, managers and leasing agents in apartment and mobile home communities welcome and encourage such visits. Second, the question, “How can we pray for you?” is essential to beginning authentic communication. When Christians demonstrate genuine concern for our neighbors-be they residents of various communities, neighbors, shop keepers, friends, or family-people will respond. This simple question, sincerely posed, can be a key to sharing God's love in our immediate communities. God is doing amazing things right were we are! We need only leave the comfort of our church buildings to join him!
Special to the Herald
Roy Smith is associational missionary for the Norfolk Baptist Association.