I say "Method" loosely, as we have in the last few years, been on an increasing trajectory away from structured programs (like Upward Soccer, for example, which after doing for 7 years, we decided to not do this year, due to the fact that the majority of the children who played were either from our church, or other churches, or from the local Christian school.).
Instead, being influenced by a variety of sources, Truly believe the following is the way forward to reach and disciple a community that increasingly sees church as irrelevant and often views a "Baptist Church" with hostility.
-Encourage and facilitate as many church members as possible to invite non-Christians into their homes for meals, or for cookouts; whether on their own, or with 1 or 2 other church families...at which times they are intentionally open about their faith in Christ, and their church, and are looking for opportunities to insert those into a conversation.
-Encourage and equip church members to be open about their faith and their church as they participate in community activities such as little-league, etc.
-Invite people to small groups, which happen regularly at various church member's homes.
-Use scripture to counsel our non-Christian friends in their life situations. This can and should be every church member, but we also have several trained counselors, and one primary Counseling Pastor, who does a lot of counseling. We want people know that the Gospel offers real help for their felt, and often more importantly, unfelt needs.
-Focus corporate worship on the Gospel, both in music and in message; unashamedly singing distinctly Christian songs, often songs that are very old, and very new, that are singable, and allow Christians to exult in the great truths that we believe, and allow visitors to see Christians worshiping.
-Encourage more and more church members to be meeting regularly with both another believer, and a non-believer, or perhaps someone about whom you are not sure, to read the Bible one-to-one.
These thoughts have been influenced in part by 2 excellent short books:
-Meals with Jesus, by Tim Chester - (partly about hospitality as mission).
-One to One Bible Reading, by David Helm - (Title is self-explanatory).
We have come to something of an agreement among our leadership that two often-used outreach methods from the past will not be as effective:
1. Inviting rank non-believers to church (we have done a lot of this, and almost nobody comes...people just have an aversion to it, for a multitude of reasons...The best most recent example is a couple who's journey to the church went like this: (a) got to know a church couple through youth football (b) were invited to that couple's house for dinner several times (c) were invited to a small group (d) finally attended church for the first time, expecting a stuffy, judgemental group of people, which is not what they found. They will be joining the church soon.
2. Door-to-door evangelism. (now you're going to get mad at me...even though most of us don't do this, we somehow think we should.) Think about how you feel if a door-to-door salesman, or the jehovah's witnesses come to your door. It seems that a rejection of THAT does not equal a rejection of the Gospel, but a rejection of someone intruding on their privacy. We want the offense of the Gospel to be clear and understood, and having people be already offended before we start talking is not generally helpful...I"m not saying you need to become a person's best friend before you share the gospel with them, but we DO need to show an initial kindness, and if we all lovingly and joyfully shared with the people we already know...it would likely bear more fruit than sharing with strangers.
What are your thoughts?
Instead, being influenced by a variety of sources, Truly believe the following is the way forward to reach and disciple a community that increasingly sees church as irrelevant and often views a "Baptist Church" with hostility.
-Encourage and facilitate as many church members as possible to invite non-Christians into their homes for meals, or for cookouts; whether on their own, or with 1 or 2 other church families...at which times they are intentionally open about their faith in Christ, and their church, and are looking for opportunities to insert those into a conversation.
-Encourage and equip church members to be open about their faith and their church as they participate in community activities such as little-league, etc.
-Invite people to small groups, which happen regularly at various church member's homes.
-Use scripture to counsel our non-Christian friends in their life situations. This can and should be every church member, but we also have several trained counselors, and one primary Counseling Pastor, who does a lot of counseling. We want people know that the Gospel offers real help for their felt, and often more importantly, unfelt needs.
-Focus corporate worship on the Gospel, both in music and in message; unashamedly singing distinctly Christian songs, often songs that are very old, and very new, that are singable, and allow Christians to exult in the great truths that we believe, and allow visitors to see Christians worshiping.
-Encourage more and more church members to be meeting regularly with both another believer, and a non-believer, or perhaps someone about whom you are not sure, to read the Bible one-to-one.
These thoughts have been influenced in part by 2 excellent short books:
-Meals with Jesus, by Tim Chester - (partly about hospitality as mission).
-One to One Bible Reading, by David Helm - (Title is self-explanatory).
We have come to something of an agreement among our leadership that two often-used outreach methods from the past will not be as effective:
1. Inviting rank non-believers to church (we have done a lot of this, and almost nobody comes...people just have an aversion to it, for a multitude of reasons...The best most recent example is a couple who's journey to the church went like this: (a) got to know a church couple through youth football (b) were invited to that couple's house for dinner several times (c) were invited to a small group (d) finally attended church for the first time, expecting a stuffy, judgemental group of people, which is not what they found. They will be joining the church soon.
2. Door-to-door evangelism. (now you're going to get mad at me...even though most of us don't do this, we somehow think we should.) Think about how you feel if a door-to-door salesman, or the jehovah's witnesses come to your door. It seems that a rejection of THAT does not equal a rejection of the Gospel, but a rejection of someone intruding on their privacy. We want the offense of the Gospel to be clear and understood, and having people be already offended before we start talking is not generally helpful...I"m not saying you need to become a person's best friend before you share the gospel with them, but we DO need to show an initial kindness, and if we all lovingly and joyfully shared with the people we already know...it would likely bear more fruit than sharing with strangers.
What are your thoughts?