What, why, how
Door to door, just the phrase might be giving you a picture in your mind already. Unwanted salesman or religious groups just forcing their views or products on you. Maybe that has been your experience.
I believe there is still a place for door-to-door ministry in our church’s evangelism. I have seen it used to build relationships with people living in my local community, and for some it has been the beginning of people hearing the gospel and entering into a relationship with Christ Jesus. I hope you find this brief introduction helpful.
What?
What do I mean when I talk about door-to-door ministry and how can it be an effective way of reaching people with the gospel of Christ?
Putting it quite simply I am talking about the same people going to the same people, so that we can build Christ centred relationships with those living in our communities.
This is not a one hit wonder as it were. An affective door to door ministry will involve the same people returning to the same homes again and again, to build relationships with the people God has brought into the area around your church.
We are not just inviting someone to a one-off event or attempting to flyer as many houses as possible. Rather we are to think of building quality relationships rather than quantity of doors knocked on.
Why?
Why should your church consider using this area of ministry as part of your mission to reach the lost?
My simple answer is this. If they are not knocking on the doors of our churches, then we have to go and knock on theirs.
We have to be honest that in many of our contexts people are not knocking on the doors of our churches, saying tell me more about Jesus.
As we go out into our communities and meet people on their doorsteps, we are continuing to model the truth, that our God is a missional God, always seeking to send people out into new and exciting places.
The plan though is not to just knock on a door, but to begin building Christ centred relationships with the people living in the community.
As we begin to regularly interact with our neighbours on their doorsteps, as we start to develop a relationship with them, they get to know us better and we get to know them too.
As we understand the needs of our local communities, it can help us start to develop ministries that meet those needs and gives us opportunities to share the gospel with the people we meet. Linking their lives with the gospel story.
But where do we even start?
How?
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col 4:2
Pray before you go out, as you are meeting people, and afterwards as well. Pray for open doors, pray for the people you are about to meet, pray for opportunities to share the gospel, and for protection both physically and spiritually.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Col 4:3
The door slowly opens, God has already answered one prayer, but what now. Where do you begin a conversation with a complete stranger?
Think Cilla Black, on Blind Date. “What’s your name and where are you from”. Introduce yourself by name and tell them that you are from the local church.
In these first moments of interaction, you are sharing something of yourself and when you say you are from the local church, you are also giving the person an opportunity to end the conversation there. Be encouraged though as this is often not the outcome.
As you share a little about yourself and begin getting to know a little bit about the person you are chatting with, this just starts to build a relationship that we are seeking to have with the person.
Having some questions ready to ask the person, such as what they like about the area? What are the needs they see in the community? This helps to give the person a chance to share. For people living in communities where their voices are often not heard, giving them the opportunity to share and be heard is precious.
As you understand the needs of your local area a little better, this can help you think about what specific ministries your church could potentially run, so you can continue to bless the people you are seeking to get to know.
As you get to know a little more about the person, as they over time share more of their story, you are trying to see how that links in with God’s story.
These gospel hooks may happen the first time you meet, or they might take a little longer to draw out.
It is really helpful if you have a flyer with some information about your church that you can give to the person. Even if you don’t get to chat for long, leaving them with some more information about the church proves helpful. For many people a random invite to a Sunday service or an Easter/Christmas event will not be the first time their come into you church community.
Think about the person you are speaking with and also think about what ministry might be most appropriate for them to come to. For them to meet more of the church family, to build even more relationships.
Remember an effective door to door ministry will mean the same people going back to the same people so to build a Christ centred relationship with them.
It is a long-term work, but in God’s kindness can bear eternal fruit.
I hope this brief introduction might encourage you in the first steps into door-to-door ministry and into the lives of people living near your church family.
Join London City Mission for their practical evangelism training day on door-to-door ministry, and making genuine connections with your neighbours on their doorstep on Saturday 8th March 2025. To find out more or book your place, visit their website.
