We even brought popcorn around to those neighbors who were in their own yards watching. I'm not quite sure if popcorn went with the wine they were drinking, but they accepted it anyway. We may add a band this coming year and free snow cones. YMCA United Way Jaycees Helping out at the soup kitchens, hanging with the homeless. Racquetball has worked for me.
Relationships build in the downtimes between games.
The intensity automatically provides openings for sharing about life. Eat at restaurants often enough to get to know your servers. For those who serve well, compliment them and ask what their motivation is. In doing this with a woman at Chili's, I was easily able to tell her that I'm a pastor developing a new congregation in our town, and I care about service because it's an extension of our Christian lives. Do a neighborhood focus group.