Help your church's mission team create a missions plan for the entire year. A balanced Acts 1:8 mission strategy will include opportunities for church members to reach their Jerusalem (your community or local association), Judea (your state), Samaria (North America) and the ends of the earth. If your church doesn't have a mission team, talk to your pastor about starting one. Help your church embrace a church-wide and year-round commitment to missions awareness, involvement and partnerships. We've provided you with some ideas on ways to involve church members in missions and ministry all year long. Some mission trip opportunities may be close to home (Jerusalem) and some may take you overseas. Now's the time to start planning that summer mission trip.

Host a Valentine's banquet at your church where instead of the traditional focus, your church will express its love by adopting a people group to pray for internationally and minister to locally. Choose one or more people groups to focus on at the banquet, preferably groups that are represented in your community. Along with the hearts and candy, display pictures of missionaries and the people groups they're reaching as well as cultural and demographic information on each table. Enlist youth to represent each people group by dressing up in the fashion of that culture and have them serve their corresponding table. You might even serve traditional dishes. Invite missionaries who are reaching these people groups to come and speak at your banquet. Instead of Valentine's Day cards, write letters of encouragement and support to missionaries of your adopted people group. Also, locate members of the people group locally and reach out to them with acts of kindness. 

For information about different people groups visit www.peoplegroups.info. Contact your associational office to speak with missionaries who are reaching these people groups. Make this missions awareness a month-long emphasis.

Help your church celebrate the Week of Prayer for North American Missions by creating a Week of Prayer bulletin board. Many churches have a bulletin board located in a high-traffic area thats set aside to inform members about mission opportunities in the church. Decorate the board with the names and faces of the eight Week of Prayer missionariestheres one for each day of the week, March 2-9, 2008. A map that shows the locations of each missionary is a nice touch. Include your churchs goal for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. For more on how you can pray for your missionaries, visit www.anniearmstrong.com. 

Enlist the help of the men in your church to set up a free oil and lube change and general car maintenance operation at your church for single women. This is especially helpful for widows, divorced women and single moms, providing both a ministry and an evangelistic outreach. 

May kicks off the busiest moving season of the year. More than 21 million Americans move between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  Welcome newcomers to your neighborhood and invite them to church. Get a group together and make welcome baskets for people who move into your community. Include information about your church as well as coupons to local businesses.

The Chamber of Commerce can provide you with the names and addresses of people who recently have relocated to your area.

Host an On Mission Celebration or World Mission Conference at your church. Invite North American missionaries and International missionaries who are home on furlough to set up a booth that represents their area of service. For information on how to plan one of these events call 800-749-7479.

Many churches plan short-term mission trips for the summer. Join the mission team from your church and make a difference in your Jerusalem (local association), Judea (state), Samaria (North America) or the ends of the earth. World Changers provides pre-packaged mission trips for youth groups. Call 800-462-8657. The Bridge, an online volunteer information system, offers mission projects for both individuals and groups. Visit thebridge.namb.net.

Host a Backyard Bible Club for the kids in your neighborhood. This is a great way to get to know your neighbors and bring a life-changing message to unchurched kids.

Be sure to check out the Summer Issue of On Mission and our article on How to Host a Backyard Bible Club.

Its back-to-school time again. Organize a back-to-school drive at your church encouraging members to donate backpacks and school supplies. Distribute filled backpacks to families in need or donate them to a local shelter.

Plan a WorldCrafts Party at your church and raise money for missions. WorldCrafts is a ministry of the Woman's Missionary Union that imports handmade items from around the world. This ministry assists women and men who live in poverty in providing for their families. The party will allow attenders to learn about the countries from which the items are imported. When you purchase these items you support missions while buying great gifts for your family and friends. For a party kit call 800-968-7301 or visit www.wmustore.com.

Volunteer to serve Thanksgiving Dinner at your local homeless shelter or downtown mission. Help your church prepare and deliver holiday food baskets for families and individuals in need.

In addition to advertising the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goals at your church, encourage people to include missions trips and missions giving in their New Year's resolutions. Post reminders of the need using pictures of missionaries, pictures of people groups, correspondence and prayer needs for North American and International missions. This is also a good time to advertise mission opportunities for the spring and summer months.