The church was never meant to be a building people come to. It was meant to be a people who go out.

That conviction has shaped how we approach outreach at God's House Ministries. We are not simply trying to grow our attendance — we are trying to extend the love of Christ into every corner of Phoenix, Arizona, one act of service at a time.

Here is an update on what we have been doing, what we are learning, and where we believe God is calling us next.

Why Outreach Is Not Optional

Before I share what we have been doing, I want to address something I hear occasionally — the idea that outreach is a program for people who are "into that kind of thing," while others focus on worship or teaching or prayer.

That is a false division.

Jesus did not separate proclamation from demonstration. He preached the Kingdom and healed the sick. He taught in the synagogues and fed the hungry. He called His disciples to love God with everything they had and to love their neighbors as themselves.

Outreach is not a department of the church. It is an expression of the church's identity. When we serve our community, we are not doing something extra — we are being who we are.

Serving the Hungry in Phoenix

One of the most consistent needs in our city is food insecurity. Phoenix has significant pockets of poverty, and the need for practical help is real and ongoing.

Our congregation has been partnering with local food distribution efforts to help get meals and groceries to families who are struggling. This is not glamorous work. It involves early mornings, heavy boxes, and a lot of standing in the heat. But it is Kingdom work — and the conversations that happen in those moments are often more spiritually significant than anything that happens inside a church building.

If you have ever wanted to serve but did not know where to start, this is one of the most accessible entry points. You do not need a theology degree. You need a willing heart and a free Saturday morning.

Connecting With Neighbors

One of the things I love about Phoenix is that it is a city of transplants. People come here from all over the country — and the world — and many of them arrive without a community, without roots, and without a church family.

We have been intentional about being a welcoming presence for people who are new to the city. That means showing up at community events, building relationships with neighbors, and making sure that when someone in Phoenix is looking for a church home, they know that God's House Ministries is a place where they will be received with warmth and without judgment.

The best outreach is often simply being present — being the kind of people that others want to be around because they sense something different about you.

Prayer as Outreach

We have also been practicing something simple but powerful: praying for our city by name.

Each week, we take time to pray specifically for Phoenix — for its leaders, its schools, its families, its most vulnerable residents. We pray for the neighborhoods around us. We pray for the businesses on our streets. We pray for the people we encounter in our daily lives who do not yet know Christ.

Prayer is not a substitute for action. But it is the foundation of every action that actually bears fruit. We do not want to be busy without being effective — and effectiveness in Kingdom work always flows from a posture of dependence on God.

How You Can Get Involved

If you are part of our congregation, here is how you can plug in:

Show up to serve. When we announce service opportunities, treat them like you would treat a Sunday gathering — as something worth rearranging your schedule for.

Bring someone with you. Outreach is more sustainable and more joyful when it is done in community. Invite a friend, a neighbor, or someone from your small group.

Pray for open doors. Ask God to give you eyes to see the needs around you and the courage to respond to them. You do not have to wait for an organized event — the mission field is your neighborhood, your workplace, your family.

Give generously. Outreach requires resources. When you give to God's House Ministries, you are investing in the work we are doing in this city.

Looking Ahead

We believe God is calling us to go deeper in our engagement with Phoenix. That means building longer-term relationships rather than one-time events. It means listening to the community to understand what it actually needs rather than assuming we already know. And it means being willing to be changed by the people we serve, not just the other way around.

The church that serves its city well will eventually earn the right to speak into its city. We want to be that church.

Thank you for being part of this. Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, and your willingness to go beyond the walls. God is doing something in Phoenix — and we get to be part of it.

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Dr. Derek Achenbach is the Shepherd and founder of God's House Ministries, a non-denominational adult Christian church in Phoenix, Arizona.