A Church Has Done the Walking
What can a church do for new residents that will help them immediately? The Troy (Illinois) United Methodist Church has created a simple tool to meet a practical need.
"We're in a fast-growing community near Scott Air Force Base," says Pastor Edward Weston. "One evening, talking with several military people new to town, I asked what kinds of needs they had right now. One lady said it sure would be handy to have all the important phone numbers on one sheet."
So church members developed an information sheet on a piece of legal-size paper. One side contains phone numbers for:
• Schools
• Weather and road conditions
• Police and fire
• Poison control center
• Hospitals
• Utilities
• Key city agencies (driver's license, vehicle sticker, voter information)
• Frequently called Scott AFB facilites (commissary, base exchange, credit union)
The other side offers a brief description of Troy and the services and activities available. "For additional information and assistance," the church prints its name, logo, address, and phone number at the bottom.
Weston hands out the sheets when he calls on newcomers, and several realtors in town distribute them to prospective home buyers.
"I can't say we've gotten any new members as a result of this sheet," says Weston. "But people have been grateful. Lots of people post it right next to the phone."
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