You have the formula. Go where people are, rather than expect people to come to you. And be consistent in showing up. Forget having the "right" words. People see through all of that. Our actions speak far louder than words.
In my previous call, we went to a local truck stop because we learned that people were living in their cars in the parking lot. They stayed there because there was food, laundry facilities, and showers, and a place to stay warm for 24 hours in the middle of winter. We went when people came inside - midnight. We spent time with them, got to know them, did laundry with them, made sure they got a shower, and had a meal with them. We didn't try to lay our Christianity on them. After a while they requested to have a prayer before the meal and we asked them to lead it. Then we started doing a dinner church with them. It was amazing for them and for us. A true blessing all around. It was often that anonymous people would pay for the meal (around $300) because they could see what we were doing in the restaurant. We had upwards of 30-40 people coming after awhile. I described it as a foretaste of the feast to come.
In my current setting, the church I serve hosts three free health clinics that serve our neighbors. We have over 11,000 visits to the church each year. We ask no questions and collect no demographics. We just offer care and a listening ear. And people come and they trust us because of it. They know they can come to the church for help. The clinics do outreach into the neighborhood and word of mouth spreads about the services the clinics provide. The congregation is diverse and welcoming in real ways. It gives me a wider image of God that I missed before.
In both cases, it's about connecting with people and caring about them. We don't focus on making sure we have the right answers. Life is messy and complicated. That will sort itself out. But we have a responsibility to treat others and ourselves right. And that's what allows people to be in relationship with one another and to see God's image in each other.
