12 Back to School Ideas for Church Outreach Events

Millions of students and teachers are returning to school this time of year (or going to school for the very first time).

This transition can be a big challenge for many families. I know this first hand having 3 kids myself. Plus my mother was a teacher for 30+ years, my sister-in-law is a teacher, and a member of the OurChurch.com team is a former teacher.

But this transition is also a great opportunity for churches and followers of Jesus in our churches to provide the support, encouragement and friendship many families, teachers, and schools in our communities need.

So we put together…

12 Back to School Ideas for Church Outreach Events

1. School Supply Drive/Giveaway

No child should be at a disadvantage heading into the school year because they lack basic schools supplies like pencils, paper, notebooks, and a backpack. Organize a campaign to collect school supplies and backpacks for students in need.

Then move on to idea #2 – organize an event in which you give away the school supplies you’ve collected. It’s such a blessing for the giver to see in person their gifts being received by children. It’s also a blessing for the children to see that their school supplies aren’t coming from a store or an organization, but from real people who love them.

2. Back-to-School Bash

Throw a fun event with games, music, and food to celebrate the new school year and build community among families. You could combine this with the school supply giveaway event.

While it’s nice to through a back-to-school bash FOR families. It’s even better when you do a back to school bash WITH families.

So, don’t just stand behind tables and serve people. Get out there, interact with kids, learn their names, what school they’re going to, what grade they’re going into. Make connections with parents.

I recently had a chance to be a part of a back-to-school bash a local church did with a local foster care ranch, and it was amazing!  Everyone was blessed through the experience!

3. Prayer Service

Designate a specific weekend worship service in which you pray for students and teachers. Some ideas for ways to make the service more meaningful…

• Invite students to stand or come forward before praying for them.
• Same thing for parents, teachers and administrators.
• Give students and teachers special roles in the service like reading scripture or saying a prayer.
• Invite students, parents, teachers and administrators to write their name and prayer request on pieces of paper. Have a prayer team committed to praying for those specific requests.

4. School Prayer Walk

Organize a prayer walk around local schools to pray for students, teachers, and administrators as they start the new year.

If you’re not familiar with prayer walking or if you’d like some additional guidance, check out this Campus Prayer Walk Guide from Go to the Campus.

5. Tutoring Program

Create a tutoring program where church members can volunteer to help students with their homework and studies. Schedule specific afternoons or evenings where tutoring is available.

6. Tutoring Option 2

If organizing a tutoring program within your church doesn’t seem like the best option for your church, another option is to encourage church members to participate in existing tutoring programs in local schools.

7. After-School Club

Start an after-school club where kids can gather for snacks, games, and a safe environment while they wait for their parents to pick them up.

Most of the time, after school clubs happen at school, but I’ve seen a number of situations where a church with facilities next to a school, created an after school ministry that takes place on their property and students are able to walk to it. For younger students, adult volunteers come to the school to escort the students to after school program.

8. Parenting Workshops

Hold workshops for parents on topics like effective communication, setting routines, and managing stress during the back-to-school period.  Not only can these one-off workshops provide helpful training for parents, but they can also be a way of introducing people to your church and other Christian parents, which could lead to new relationships and next steps in their faith journey.

9. Parent Activities and Support Groups

This is a great time to start a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPs) group at your church, moms bible study, or life groups for parents that have kids around the same age.

10. Community Clean-Up

Coordinate a neighborhood clean-up day where church members and local families work together to clean up school grounds and surrounding areas.

11. Adopt Classrooms or Teachers

Teachers and students don’t just need help and encouragement one time at the beginning of the school year, but throughout the entire school year. Some schools have “adopt a class” programs, in other cases you may be able to support specific teachers you already have a connection with. It’s an opportunity to pray for them, volunteer, and provide classroom supplies when needed.

12. Pack-a-Sack

Most schools provide free or reduced cost breakfasts and lunches, but some of those students end up going hungry over the weekends or holidays. Churches can organize a “pack a sack” program, which gives students a back of snacks to take home each Friday.

OurChurch.com supports the local (Tampa Bay Area) pack a sack program organized by One Community Now. Our president, Mark and his wife, lead a team that packs food for kids at multiple schools every week.

Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the children, parents and teachers in our communities.

Take your Church Outreach Online

No matter which Back to School church outreach events your church chooses, you’ll also want to promote those events online. Rather than share the same strategies at the bottom of every church outreach ideas article we write for every season and holiday, we’ll just point you to…

7 Ways to Promote Your Church Outreach Event Online

Partner with a Team that Shares Your Heart for Church Outreach

And if you’d like some help with a church website builder, church web design or church SEO so you can have your best Back to School outreach ever, we’d love to talk with you.

Fill out the form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a call.

Comment and Discuss

• What Back to School outreach event(s) is your church planning?

Want more church outreach ideas?  Church Outreach Ideas & Events for Every Holiday and Season

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season