Author: art rogers
Programming Evangelism
Wednesday, June 21st, 2006 @ 5:26 pm
When I preached in view of a call at my new church a few weeks ago, I was asked what kind of visitation program I could possibly bring to enliven outreach. Good question. Outreach programs are hurting in most every church in America.
I think my answer was definitely unexpected. I told them that there were a few that had been modified to some degree, but for the most part, programs were going the way of the dinosaur, so to speak. The fact is, the reason the visitation programs weren’t working wasn’t because the church was sick. It is because programs don’t work in our changing culture.
I told them that we were going to have to quit thinking of sharing Christ as something we do at a particular day and time, and in a particular fashion. In fact, we can do a program, but success in reaching our lost culture when we start oozing our relationship with God out on everyone we know.
Not in an “In your face,” confrontational way. Just being Godly in the lives of others and referencing what you know about God in the flow of conversation - not manipulating that conversation to a Gospel presentation, either.
The easiest way to do it is to simply tell whomever whatever you know about God that you think is relevant. As the Holy Spirit leads, you will say what needs to be said, and those words will fall on fertile ground, which will, in time, produce fruit.
Simply put, we have got to quit programming evangelism and start living as salt and light in our culture.
There, now. A non-political, theological moment here at 12 Witnesses. Who would have believed such a thing?
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Church, General Christian, Missional, SBC
June 21st, 2006 at 5:57 pm
I thought the program F.A.I.T.H. was making a big splash with convention churches. Am I misinformed? I agree with you, I just can’t articulate a good argument for it.
Tim
June 21st, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Not sure about the non-political part. I’m sure there are some that see the end of Tuesday night visitation as an attack on evangelism or lack of concern for the lost. Regardless of how clearly you explain to them that your way is actually MORE effective and shows MORE concern for the lost, some may see it differently. It’s kind of like the Calvinists who have abandoned a “come to the front of the church” altar call in favor of a “come to Jesus” invitation. No matter how much you appeal to Scripture, some see it as a lack of evangelistic zeal and desire to see people saved. Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to be a downer.
I am praying for you in your transition and as you lead this flock. I pray that they would be patient and loving and encouraging toward you and that you would love and challenge and feed them from God’s Word. Blessings.
Dave
June 21st, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Dave,
Never said it wasn’t “contraversial.” Just not having to do with the inner workings of convention politics.
However, Tim brings up a point. In fact, immediate past president Bobby Welch’s church is the start of the FAITH program, so some could mistakenly apply my words to a critique of Dr. Welch. Not true.
I am downing all programs equally.
As far as programs go, FAITH is one that has found some success in adapting to our culture to some degree. GROW is another such program.
What I am saying is not that programs don’t work at all, but that they are diminishing in their influence - rapidly - and if we want to reach the coming generation we are going to have to do so in a different way. I don’t know any “program” that is reaching 20 somethings. Y’know what I mean?
June 21st, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Art,
Good clarification. I am familiar with FAITH, having been trained and having participated in two churches I’ve served in. I personally find it lacking in content (starting with Forgiveness and never establishing why we would need it, for instance), but I like the approach of using it to link people to a small group which can help with accountability, meeting needs, etc.
And I’m with you on the quick death of programs. I see it even in rural north Texas, the last bastion of traditionalism.
Dave
June 21st, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Excellent post, Art. And you were brave–but right–to answer the question the way you did. While there certainly is some “in your face” evangelism in the Bible (Isaiah, Amos, et al.) the vast majority of reaching folks for Christ came through relationships. In fact, I think the thing we miss too much is that the words “make disciples” in the Great Commission really mean to build an ongoing relationship and disciple people long term, not just a one time and you’re done sharing of the gospel.
June 21st, 2006 at 8:36 pm
I’m a semi-retired pastor, now interim at a very small country church. Twenty yrs ago, I asked Dr. Wayne Oates at a conference about visitation programs and how they never seem to last. He said some flowers are perennials, but others are annuals and need to be replanted every year.
I agree totally, that life-style evangelism is by far the best. But for the weakness of the flesh, perhaps we need things like FAITH and GROW as training. People - I think - are more likely to cooperate by coming to the church on Mon nite, or whenever. After doing this awhile they may become more secure and voluntarily witness as they wander thru life.
June 21st, 2006 at 8:45 pm
A good word, Perry. Thanks for the viewpoint.
June 21st, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Art,
You are definitely on to something. I would not throw out the visitation and outreach though. They can be beneficial if done right, but that cannot be all we do. Your right, our witness must be 24/7 not just 1 hour on Monday night.
June 21st, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Brother Art,
I remember in the training I took for FAITH they kept saying over and over, this is not a program it is an outreach strategy that is tied to the Sunday School.
I found though that as Baptist, we still see it as a program. Just a quick plug for something that is similar to GROW and it is called CARE. Brother Greg Mathis at Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville, NC has it implemented and it may be something you can start with your people. It certainly teaches that one night a week is not all that we need to be doing in order to reach the lost.
Tim
June 21st, 2006 at 10:02 pm
I tend to agree with Perry.
I also think it is helpful to get organized or programized so that your church can rally around something important and encourage one another.
I’ve been trained in FAITH and I’ve led our church in GROW and there is a value in getting members invested in the church by dedicating the hours it takes to be trained and go out and visit.
Dr. York, my favorite former prof. at Southern, really pressed up on the need to have an outreach program not just to keep the church busy with the G.Commission,
but because when we do so, the other programs just seem to go better cause people are invested and looking outward more than inward, and they see the success of the church as a shared responsibility.
Of course this doesn’t mean we don’t teach people to be missional (if that’s the right use of the word), but we need both.
Peace out!
June 21st, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Art,
This is my favorite thing to talk about in ministry. I starting talking about Jesus when I first got saved.
I was not very good at it because I did not know much. I found myself repeating what the pastor of our church had said on Sunday. I thought that I needed to preach people into Heaven or Hell the first time I talked to them.
I am not an inhibited person so I would say whatever popped into my head. I scared some people almost to Heaven but not all the way.
Finally I learned from a good guy that the best way to share was to just tell what Jesus had done for me in a simple conversational way.
He also told me that it would help if I was nice to people rather than to get them in a “headlock” when talking to them.
To my surprise it worked. When I went to Bible college and seminary I had to learn plans and programs. I will not name them, but I know 9 by heart even to this day. I have used them all.
One day it dawned on me that what I had learned from Randy worked better than all of the programs.
I went back to just involving myself with lost people on a regular basis (daily). I would get to know them and talk in a casual way about Jesus in my life and the lives of others. The Spirit has honored the fact that Jesus is made real and I have seen people saved.
We have 18 hours of organized visitation in our church ministry every week. I have no idea how much visitation goes on without my knowledge. We do not use a program. We just give cups of “cold water” in Jesus’ name and befriend the people we visit.
Relationships are built and some people get saved. Some do not. We still try to visit and minister to them. I do not think we should ever give up hope or ministry to a person.
Reach, Teach, Win, and Develop is the motto that works for me. It is just one begger telling another begger where he found the BREAD OF LIFE.
To sum it up. I go on intentional visitation 18 hour weekly, but I do not carry a “steel trap” in my pocket. I just offer “cold water” ministry where needed and share Jesus as the Spirit opens the door.
I am sorry for going on and on, Art. I could talk about this for days and never finish.
cb
June 22nd, 2006 at 12:05 am
Art, thought provoking post.
In the churches I have been a part of in 2 states over the past 5 years, I’ve noticed a few items that seem pertinent to the issues you’re raising.
1. The unfortunate trend among evangelical people to insulate themselves from lost people. I worry at times that we are creating a “Christian ghetto” in which outside of our immediate relatives, many Christians just don’t have friendships with lost people. The onus is on us to be more intentional with becoming friends with people of all types and being the “cold water” that CB describes.
2. Perhaps a method seems a bit too pat for some lost folks? I don’t know how best to describe this–perhaps a simple formula to the deepest issues of life is a little suspect to the lost? Sometimes I feel like gospel tracts are sort of an algebra problem. Whenever I used to start with CWT I felt like a vacuum cleaner salesman.
3. Personal encounter. Maybe we are in the midst of a time when people really do crave a personal sort of experience wtih God? I always feel more comfortable when I’m talking about Jesus. With folks who consider themselves “spiritual but not religous”, I at least have a starting point.
4. My own numbness to eternal realities. I don’t think I’m alone with this. Sadly, we don’t seem to concerned like Jesus was about the kingdom of heaven being at hand. Part of this solution is in the pulpit, but not all of it.
Thanks for posting, it spurs good thoughts.
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:28 am
I wrote something similar on my own latest blog entry here. Basically, the post is about 90% of ministry in the Gospels is spontaneous ministry, it just happens IF we are aware of all those daily opportunities the Lord brings to our path.
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:34 am
Art,
You knew I would agree with you here. I would rather make our services so attractive so we can partner with our people in doing evangelism. As a former Evangelism Pastor–the Program Evangelism doesn’t work well in larger cities. I’m not saying it doesn’t work at all but in Atlanta and Charlotte CEO’s and business people don’t care for people stopping by without appointments.
I share my faith as much as anyone, but I do it on other people’s turf and when the HS has given me the go ahead. I pray each day for God to send me a person of Peace.
I don’t like the “SURVEY” that one program uses because it is dishonest. It is just an excuse to share the Gospel. We never tally up the results. I also don’t like the mentality of becoming someone’s friend so we can hit them with Jesus. We should be everyone’s friend and because they are our friends we should tell them about Jesus.
Good discussion!
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Art,
I just can’t let this alone. Kevin is right as rain. You must be on the other guy’s “turf”.
If you hang out with the lost you will “win” the lost.
If you stay away from the lost except ome night a week your ministry to the lost will be “lost”.
cb
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:36 pm
Art,
It would be good if I could spell. The word is “one” not “ome”:-)
Also, I think we should be soul- cultivators rather than soul-winners. If you allow me I will speak to that later. I don’t want to kidnap or hog up your blog.
cb
June 22nd, 2006 at 3:49 pm
CB,
Never had a “guest poster” before. That might be fun.
art
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:42 am
This is something that I’m trying to convey in my new church. Evangelism and Outreach are not moments to be scheduled and marked on the calendar–they are to be a life lived. A true, thoughtful Jesus loving disciple is going to take and seek to advance their love for Christ in every relationship–maybe not every conversation but every relationship.
One way I have suggested is that whenever anyone goes out to eat, assuming there isn’t some language barrier, try to do 3 things:
1. Learn your servers name and use it.
2. Before you pray for your meal, ask your server if there is anything you can pray for them about. Most will not refuse, though they may be so caught off guard they don’t know what to say. Also, maybe 1 in 10 or so will really have a burden that you can minister to.
3. Be generous with your “thank you”’s and your tip, even if the service wasn’t that great. Also, if your church has a promotional business card with contact information and service times, write a thank you note on the back for their service and leave it with your tip. (Our culture can be threatened with big tracts as has been mentioned but we’ve been conditioned to receive business cards without much threat.)
We complain about many people not being in church with us on Sunday, when many of those people are waiting for us to get out so they can serve us. And to our shame, many of them will say they hate working Sunday Lunch more than any other time b/c the people are more demanding, more “entitled”, and less generous. They judge Jesus because of the attitudes we literally “bring to the table”.
Great comments Art.
Pursuing Answers to Questions of Faith & Life,
Kelly
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:20 pm
There is a revolutionary new Evangelism Training Revival, Every Believer a Witness that is designed to first motivate (no guilt)and then train Sunday morning attenders to share their faith daily.It can be done either on a Sunday morning-Wednesday evening revival format, or the pastor can teach it over 5-6 Sunday mornings. It is evangelism for everyone, and is also a good feeder for FAITH or GROW, or whatever outreach visitation a church may use.
I encourage everyone to check it out at http://www.livingthenewlife.org.