I believe sendoutcards can be a meaningful part of strengthening the bonds within a congregation. I know it has in Mountain Home.

By sending cards to brothers or sisters we are able to fulfill many scriptures and scriptural principles.

Col. 2:19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Eph. 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Rom. 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Heb. 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mat. 25:40 inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Gal. 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Jn. 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Rom. 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love

Rom. 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

I Cor. 12:25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

Eph. 4:32 And be kind to one another

I Thes. 3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

I Thes. 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

I Pet. 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

I Pet. 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another,

I Jn. 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Send Out Cards has helped to strengthen the bonds within our congregation and demonstrate to our visitors how important they are to us.

According to Ephesians 4:11-16 and I Corinthians 12, we are responsible as a congregation (especially the leadership) for helping babes in Christ move from merely attending to having a sense of belonging. Lyle Schaller, in his book Assimilating New Members, suggests "at least one-third, and perhaps as many as one-half, of all Protestant church members do not feel a sense of belonging" within the congregation of which they are members. We usually do better than that, but whether it is new members or individuals who do not have family within the body, there are those who tend to be neglected in every local body. These members can be easily discouraged by the burdens of life.

Research by Sociology Professor and church of Christ elder, Flavil Yeakley, Jr., revealed that the number of friendships established within a congregation determine support the Scriptural mandate of keeping the congregation interconnected in maintaining church growth (Why Churches Grow) In his interviews with 50 active new members, all 50 could identify at least three friends within their first six months of placing membership (45 of the 50 listed six friends or more). He also interviewed 50 inactive new members and his findings showed almost the exact opposite pattern. They did not establish new friendships in their church in sufficient number to build the relationships necessary for effective assimilation. Error! Bookmark not defined.

I'm using Send Out Cards a lot with prospects and members across the brotherhood. I believe it has really helped bring our congregation closer together.

One another
Birthdays Anniversaries
Sickness
Death
Invite most interested evangelistic leads to meetings, etc
Can design own cards and tailor to special needs
Not everyone has email for ecards and many that do are afraid of known viruses on some ecards ads and don't open them up, but everyone has an mailing address!

Brett Hickey