As I continued to read through Ron Crandall’s book, he gives a list of principles for church renewal and revitalization from the ages of church history. It may seem like a no-brainer, but at least observations through church history back it up. 1. Personal renewal. Renewal of a church begins with renewal of the individual. …
During January, I received a series of questions via Ask Evangelism Coach section. A series of posts this week will focus on sharing these. It’s my hope that our readers will join in the conversation. The question for today: What is the difference between Evangelism and Worship?
Take a look at this list. As you think through your 2009 goals as a church, use this checklist to help you plan your evangelism strategy. What can increase your focus on attention on evangelism/missions? What evangelism tools can cause you to think outside the box? What does your heart desires for reaching your …
Later in December, I will give a talk on helping churches evangelize in areas of extreme poverty, with lots of high-risk or at-risk children. At-risk or high-risk is defined locally as children who are Abused Addicted Abandoned Children of an addicted parent. Fourteen churches want to send their pastors and children’s workers to a day …
One of the blogs I read (Fierce Grace) decided to do something entirely different on a Sunday morning. Cancel the service. Serve the neighborhood. Read about it at The Church Has Left the Building.
Today’s guest post is from Robert Shaw, Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Winfield Indiana. I’ve met Robert at the Evangelism Conference for the PCUSA last year, and ran into him again at the transformation pastors conference that just ended in St. Pete’s Beach in FL. He shares with us some of the things that …
Over the next few days, I will be sharing some articles from guest contributors, as I will be away in Venezuela to conduct pastors training for a couple of days. Today’s article is from a close friend of mine, Rob Burns of Crestwood Presbyterian Church in Richmond Virginia. ________________________________________________ “This is the best thing that’s …
I’ve spent the last month talking with pastors around the US about church transformation. A few pastors are in really difficult situations (read more at: Leaving Egypt and Not Liking it). From those discussions, it seems that a common meaning of church transformation is Church transformation is to move a church that is stuck or …
In the course of my consulting and speaking at evangelism training workshops, I’ve encountered many churches that have very active outreach and community service programs: After school tutoring Shut in or Prisoner Visitation Habitat for Humanity work projects Medical outreaches for the community Participating in Crop Walks for Hunger Relief Food pantries, clinics, shelters for …
On a human level, first time church visitors will come to your church because they have Been invited by a friend. Seen your building in their commuting patterns. Been referred by a friend in their social grape-vine (network). Heard about your church through your marketing (direct mail, website, door hangers, business cards, radio, TV, phone …
Church Hospitality is not evangelism. I’ve written in the past about the connection between Christian Hospitality and Evangelism, particularly as to the connection to welcoming first time visitors. I’ve published stories of being a first time church visitor and experiences of welcoming church visitors: But I want to develop a little more depth on church …
As part of our 5 week road trip, we are collecting stories of evangelistic outreach ideas, and learning what some churches are doing successfully or not. Meeting a Community Need One community church had heard that a local city council banned people from walking their dogs in the local park. If you owned a dog …
I came across this list of 10 Distinctives of Postmodern Churches from Ed Stetzer’s book, Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age. Be unashamedly spiritual. People are tired of the modern belief that everything can be answered by science and reason. They are open to something mystical and spiritual. Promote incarnational ministry. Authenticity is essential. …
Check out this article about the impact a Maryland church is having in its community. Church prays for passion for the lost. McCready and 14 others began praying in January 2002 that God would give them a passion for the non-Christians in their community. In the ensuing six years, nearly 260 people have made professions …
God has appointed us to live in certain places at certain times (Acts 17:26). It’s reasonable to extend this to the church that you are connected with being planted in the neighborhood. Here are a few study questions for your community exegesis: Who are the unchurched in your community that your church could easily reach? …
If you haven’t done it already, what is your church’s evangelism strategy for 2008? Have you set measurable evangelism goals? I met a pastor last week who was telling me that their church will be focused on Evangelism as one of their top priorities in 2008. He has invited me to come in my role …
The News-Enterprise (link broken), a newspaper in Kentucky, reports about a church that brings smiles to the neighborhood on Fridays. Members stand on the corner, smile and wave at people. It may seem a little cheesy, like hawking pizza or tax services, but there is an impact: “Sometimes drivers stop and ask for prayer. . . …
I’ve had many a conversation with church planters who want to start a coffee house church members who want to start a coffee house ministry church members who want to run a coffee shop churches who want to deal Fair Trade Coffee (such as Beyond Beans) for their gatherings. building committees that dream a coffee …
I had the privilege this week of preaching at a church in Marietta Georgia. It was a church in the Pentecostal stream of the Body of Christ. It was ok with them my ordination is with the Presbyterian Church. I’m a Presbyterian that’s been “tampered with,” meaning I don’t fit a stereo-typical Presbyterian pastor.
I just read a timely article about this in Net Results Magazine’s September/October 2007 Issue. Bill Easum writes “Back to Basics,” calling on church leaders to get back to the great commission and the great commandment. In returning to the Great Commandment, he exhorts congregations about the need to return to the basic ministry of …
Today I read a post at 9 Marks about the corporate role of the church and its support of personal evangelism. The writer asks: What is the role of the local church (i.e., corporate witness) in our personal evangelism (i.e., individual, personal witness)? Consider the ethos of your church. Are you proud to invite a …
This morning, I was talking to a fellow about where he lived. He had moved to the area from out of state, and had been living in his home for under 1 year. “I live down the street from the church.” I asked, “What church is that?” His reply: “For the life of me, I’ve …
These are six ways that I’ve seen used to help the church engage the local neighborhood. Throw an annual block party. Hold a medical fair in your fellowship hall. Classes on community felt needs – parenting or economics, home ownership. Hold a job and community service fair. Hold a free dental clinic using student from …
In one my list of evangelism definitions, we looked a little at the distinction between actions and words in evangelism. John Stott speaks a little on social action and evangelism in this now classic book: Christian Mission in the Modern World (IVP Classics). The 1975 Chavasse Lectures were given by John Stott to a packed …
