• Getting the local community to let down its guard and visit your church can be a tough task. But with the following creative ideas, you can reach the local community while offering them lighthearted fun. Many of these ideas are inexpensive and will create fellowship among current members of your church as they plan for the events.
  
  

Community Parades

• Partner with the community that your church resides in to participate in their holiday parades during the Fourth of July, Halloween and Christmas. Recruit church members for a fun-filled evening of joining in to create the float. Choose a religious theme like Noah's Arc, and include real animals to attract attention. During the parade, have church members escort the float and hand out Biblical literature and information on your church.
  
  

Community Days

• Many towns have days dedicated to celebrating the establishment of their area. For example, Gloucester Township Day is held annually in Blackwood, New Jersey, during the month of June. These special town celebrations can include performances by local high school bands, speeches from local politicians, and tables set up by local community businesses and organizations. Rent a table and hand out religious literature. Get creative and set up games and hand out prizes to the winners, or create a family room-style atmosphere by setting up a comfortable couch with a coffee table and plants and inviting people to sit down and talk with you.
  
  

Religious Plays

• Present a religion-based play. The best time of the year is Easter and Christmas, when the most number of people attend church. Invite the entire community by placing advertisements in local papers, sending out invitations to the surrounding community if the budget allows, and advertising on local Christian radio shows. If you have a tech-savvy congregation, you can also use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to promote your event.
  
  

Host an Event

• Host an event at the church and invite the community. Either set up a time for others to take a tour of the church, set up a coffee house with snacks and coffee for attendees to mingle, or have a special event such as Trunk-or-Treat. This involves having congregation members park their cars together in the parking lot with their trunks open and decorated inside with non-offensive displays. Discourage the use of ghosts and goblins. Have the members give away candy to those who stop by their trunks. Add children's games, free snacks and entertainment to make this event even better.