Get to Know Your Neighbors This Summer

The world has changed but our need for community has not.

We live in a culture in which most people do not even know the names of their neighbors, much less have a close relationship with them. The simplest and best way to impact our culture for Jesus is to begin to care for and love our neighbors, beginning with those next door.

Imagine if this were to happen in your neighborhood. What if we could see God's love and care being intentionally and actively demonstrated in neighborhoods throughout the Northern Virginia area and beyond?

It's easy. Begin to practice what Jesus asked of us. Love your neighbor.

Here are two ways to get involved:

1. As an individual or family, seek to reach those in your neighborhood or close sphere of influence. Two basic steps to help you begin are:

Commit to learning and using your neighbors' names.

Pray for your neighbors and the next steps in your relationship.

A few ideas you might consider:

• Invite one neighbor or family over for a cookout or coffee. 

• Host a block party using a firepit or yard games.

 • Have an ice cream Sundae party; you provide the ice cream and invite the neighbors to bring the toppings.

 • Walk your neighborhood intentionally praying for each house and family members.

 • Welcome a new neighbor with homemade goodies or a gift bag with a new dish towel and pretty soap container.

 • Move your grill or table to the front yard instead of the back and invite neighbors who pass by to stop and join you.

• Host a summer book group. Find a few friends and ask them to invite a few friends to discuss a book each month during the summer.

2. As a congregation, seek to reach those in your church’s neighborhood. Think of creative events you might host and invite those who live close by. Let those around your church know you want to be part of their community.

A few ideas you might consider:

• Use your parking lot to host food trucks for a weekly/monthly neighborhood get-together. Provide music or entertainment and encourage neighbors to bring chairs or blankets to sit and enjoy their food and the fellowship.

• Host backyard Bible clubs in member’s yards or in the lawn of your church.

• Invite the community to a movie night. Provide bagged popcorn and bottled drinks, if possible. (Just a reminder that NorthStar has a large screen and projector available for our churches to use.)

These are just a few ideas to get you started. We’d love for you to comment below to share ideas you might have!