Yesterday we held our annual Multi-Housing ministry roundtable on the Northshore. Thanks to Jeff Cook for leading us in the  great dialogue about ideas for engaging a vastly unchurched population segment. By the numbers:

• 24%, or 47,611, housing units on the I-12 corridor are mobile homes or multi-unit dwellings. That doesn’t include the 1,300 dorms at Southeastern, and the multitude of institutional settings like nursing homes and retirement centers. Get our full report on Multi-Housing on the Northshore.
• 2%-3.5% of Multi-Housing residents do not attend church.
• Experts say that 4% of the people in a multi-housing complex can be reached by going and inviting them to your church. 30% can be reached by taking your church to them through Bible Studies, Kids activities, congregationalizing inside the complex or park.

How do I start ministering to a multi-housing complex. 3 Tips:

1. Get to know the Management. Ask them, “How can a church help?” Then get ready to respond to needs.
2. Think Incarnationally. How can we bring our church/VBS/Sunday School/etc. to them?
3. Pole your church and see who is already living in local multi-housing complexes. Then work toward commissioning them as missionaries to the park.
4. Look for needs. Be creative. Start Small. Ideas: Block Parties on site, beautification projects, outreach to the vulnerable (elderly, widows, single moms), activities for kids, benevolence ministry.