Planning a Quaker outreach workshop or mini-conference helps your meeting grow stronger and welcome more people. Outreach events can energize Friends, build community, and invite others to learn about the Quaker spiritual path.

Set Clear Goals

Start by deciding what you want your workshop to do. Good goals could be:

• Invite the local community to learn about Quaker life.
• Teach Friends how to share their spiritual stories.
• Build skills for welcoming newcomers.

A clear goal will guide all your planning.

Plan the Agenda

Create a simple agenda that fits your time and space. A one-day outreach workshop might include these parts:

1. Worship time to ground the group in silence and Spirit.
2. Discussion activities about outreach and church growth.
3. Hands-on sessions where people work on outreach ideas.
4. Next steps time to decide what your meeting will do after the workshop.

You can also plan a multi-session series or a mini-conference if you have more time.

Involve the Meeting

Invite Friends from your meeting to help plan and lead parts of the workshop. Include people with different gifts and skills so the workshop reflects your whole community. Planning together also helps Friends feel ownership of the event.

Use Outreach Tools and Activities

Choose outreach activities that fit your goals. You can use exercises that help Friends think about:

• What your meeting offers the local community.
• How to tell your meeting’s story.
• Ways to welcome and connect with newcomers.

Look at workshop guides below like “Outreach Is…,” “Sharing Our Spiritual Stories,” and “Welcoming Role-Play” for ideas you can include.

Make It Welcoming and Visible

Make sure your workshop feels welcoming to all participants. Include worship, time for sharing, small group work, and rest breaks. Offer clear information about the event in your publicity so people know what to expect.

Follow Up After the Event

After your outreach workshop, gather feedback from participants. Discuss what worked well and what could improve. Use what you learned to shape future outreach plans and events.

Outreach Workshop Topics

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Last updated December 18, 2025.