Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Kristin Flynn, the Outreach Director at Liquid Church in New Jersey. She leads the charge in both local and global outreach. Putting our faith into action through loving service is an important part of following Jesus. So how do we help the people at our churches do this on a regular basis? Tune in as Kristin shares about the power of a few focused outreach initiatives, creative ways to engage your church, and cultivating long-lasting relationships with community partners. * Limited focus. // At Liquid Church they’ve limited their outreach focus to three primary compassion initiatives locally: serving the hungry, serving the homeless, and making space and inclusion for the special needs community. Concentrating on specific areas allows for very strategic partnerships where they’ve been able to multiply their impact. At the same time, however, there is room on the campus level to expand service into some niche areas that address critical needs in specific neighborhoods. * Collaboration, communication and flexibility. // There’s a tension to manage between different campus needs and the Liquid’s narrow outreach focus. Maintain open communication and collaboration between campus leaders and the central office. By fostering a culture of creativity and flexibility, unique campus initiatives can be integrated into the broader outreach strategy while staying aligned with the larger mission.  * Choose partners that work best. // By understanding the goals and needs of community organizations, Liquid Church can align its outreach efforts with their partners’ missions. Kristin encourages churches to start slow in a partnership, beginning with an exploratory conversation about what they’re doing currently, and what is their five-year plan and “wish list.” Start with a small group of volunteers serving with the organization and review their experience. Maintain open lines of communication with partners and volunteers, and implement regular feedback sessions to address any issues and improve future initiatives. As trust is built, you can expand the scope and depth of your partnership. * Two types of outreach. // Liquid engages in two types of local outreaches: churchwide, evangelistic outreaches, and campus-specific, community outreaches. Large churchwide events, such as a Christmas outreach, include church-branded t-shirts, attract new people and create excitement. Meanwhile smaller campus-specific initiatives allow for deeper engagement and relationship-building with your neighbors. * WASH Program. // Globally, Liquid Church partners with Living Water International to help with their WASH Program, providing Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene to communities around the world. In addition to working in countries like Rwanda and Zambia to provide clean water, Liquid keeps the community at home engaged in this mission through a variety of creative approaches. For example, they’ve opened a coffee shop which is run by adults with special needs and all proceeds go toward the clean water cause. In addition they’ve raised money and raised awareness about the global water crisis through a community 5K run. Use out-of-the-box ideas to both educate your community and fund outreach initiatives while keeping your church connected to the mission. * Funding outreaches. // Liquid Church tithes 10% of its income, allocating these funds specifically for outreach efforts, both locally and globally. This commitment to tithing is a significant aspect o...