Posted on Dec 17, 2001 =
| by James=20
Dotson
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--The evangelistic block =
party=20
for years has been one of Southern Baptists' =
most=20
effective strategies for community outreach, and =
the=20
large-scale efforts of Strategic Focus Cities =
have=20
served to refine the concept even=20
further.
Churches not only are able to =
make use=20
of tested methods for throwing a great party, =
but they=20
also don't even have to worry quite so much =
about the=20
logistics of handling the rental equipment. =
Small "block=20
party trailers" are being assembled that include =
all the=20
games, food equipment, and other attractions =
considered=20
most effective in helping churches put on a =
great=20
neighborhood event.
"We call them a block =
party=20
trailer, but the associations are finding out =
that they=20
are useful more than just for block parties," =
said Tim=20
Knopps, an Oklahoma City-based vocational =
evangelist who=20
has helped put together several of the units in =
Las=20
Vegas and Seattle. "They are also useful for =
Vacation=20
Bible schools, sports camps, church picnics and =
church=20
outings."
The concept arose a few years =
ago, he=20
said, when evangelism leaders began to realize=20
considerable savings by purchasing rather than =
renting=20
equipment -- particularly in Strategic Focus =
Cities=20
areas where multiple block parties often are =
held each=20
week during the summer.
"We began to see =
that=20
most of the block parties started using many of =
the same=20
materials over and over again," Knopps said. The =
common=20
denominators usually included a "moonwalk"-type=20
inflatable ride for the children, popcorn and =
snow-cone=20
machines, grills for cooking, helium and =
balloons, a=20
selection of games, a portable sound system, a =
generator=20
to keep it all running, small tents for shelter, =
and a=20
number of other related items.
The block =
party=20
trailer became a one-stop solution for churches, =
who=20
would simply follow the instructions that came =
with the=20
unit and focus more of their energy on meeting =
their=20
neighbors and talking with them about =
Christ.
The=20
first units began to appear in Illinois, =
Oklahoma,=20
Indiana and other states, he said. The Oklahoma =
unit was=20
then used in Phoenix throughout the summer of =
2000 as=20
part of the Strategic Focus Cities effort there, =
and Las=20
Vegas purchased four units as a key component of =
its=20
strategy. Las Vegas leaders also developed =
comprehensive=20
training on preparation, implementation and =
follow-up=20
for a block party, including a comprehensive =
manual and=20
even a trailer-specific video to streamline the =
process=20
even further.
Seattle already has kept =
its unit=20
busy throughout this year, even though the =
city's=20
implementation year for Strategic Focus Cities =
does not=20
officially begin until January. Another unit is =
planned=20
for next year.
Scotty Smith, a youth =
minister=20
responsible for delivering the unit to each =
event in the=20
Seattle area, said one of the most significant =
things he=20
noticed is how surprised pastors were at how =
much they=20
could do with the trailer. And how quick they =
were to=20
start planning their next event.
"You can =
just=20
put up in the middle of nowhere and have an =
automatic=20
outreach," he said. "And it's pretty effortless. =
There's=20
just a ton of possibilities."
--30--
(BP) =
photo=20
posted in the BP Photo Library at =
http://www.bpnews.net.=20
Photo title: INSTANT BLOCK =
PARTY.
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