Christian Photographers Community

I was wondering if any of you have found effective ways to get into photography locally. I love photography, and have spent a stash on gear (SLR digicam, lenses, etc) and would like to get more involved with it locally, even if that only means I offer myself to people who can't afford a proffesional photographer as a ministry.

Have any of you worked to make an in locally? What have you done? Have you found anything that just has or hasn't worked?