Salt Ankeny has recently started a new outreach tactic with Connection Groups called DIG and DO weeks. During DIG weeks, groups dig into the Bible and work through discussion questions over the message from the last week’s Salt Company. During DO weeks, connection groups intentionally plan activities and hangouts that they can invite their unbelieving friends to join. DO weeks are evangelistic focused and the goal is to reach the DMACC campus and get people plugged into a connection group, which in turn helps them get plugged into the Salt Company as a whole and hear the Gospel. By alternating every other week between DIG and DO, student leaders get to not only shepherd their connection groups through Bible study but also get to cast vision to them about reaching the lost and actually engage their unbelieving friends with the Gospel.
The first DO week was a success, but there were highlights from two specific groups. One guys’ connection group decided to have a video game night and invited their unbelieving friends to join. The leaders of those groups said that everyone was really bought into the idea. They each brought video games, multiple TVs, consoles, and a ton of food. Three non-Christians ended up coming and the leaders said they had a great time! Everyone was taking turns playing games, and when they weren’t playing, they were actively engaged in conversation.
One girls’ connection group decided to go sledding for their DO week and two girls who have never been to Salt Company were invited to go sledding with the group. One of those girls in particular named Jacey had such a great time hanging out with the connection group that she decided to check out the Salt Company! She came for the first time to Salt and decided she wanted to keep coming back! Sometimes people just need to feel accepted somewhere before they step into a church setting. Our hope is that through DO weeks, connection groups will be the bridge to the Church and the Gospel. It has been amazing to already see how God is working through these connection groups to reach the DMACC campus and the lost for His glory.
