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. …
This week and next, you’ll be reading about small church transformation, particularly the role of evangelism, based on a study of small churches first done in 1995 and then updated in December of 2008. These first few posts setup some of the background and are meant to be in small blog-size portions for easy consumption. …
The first edition of Turnaround and Beyond: A Hopeful Future for the Small Membership Church was released in 1995 and was re-released and updated in December 2008. In the study Ron sought to explore strategies that enabled struggling and often run down small churches to experience lasting turnaround. “Turnaround” has gone by various terms in …
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?
As mentioned in the last post on Evangelism Prayer List, our family is participating in planting a new multi-national church in our city. I am not the lead pastor as the focus on our ministry is evangelism training in the Americas. When I lived in Richmond, I participated in an international church plant with a …
New Life Presents Real Men of Genius, Overzealous Greeter Guy
let me share some possible starting scripts that you can use yourself, or develop more fully into a resource you can use at your church.
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 …
Recently I visited a very elaborate website for a church and wanted to find out some information before potentially visiting. As part of a church’s marketing strategy, a website is a useful tool to help attract people to your congregation. While not directly evangelism, it is a tool that can help create evangelism moments by …
During this past month, I’ve talked with several pastors who are in church transformation contexts: Dying churches in survival mode. Churches on life support that don’t want to revitalize. Churches that put all their faith and burden in the pastor to save the day and make it grow, as if the pastor is a savior …
The wow factor can play a role in helping a church visitor come back for a second visit. That is one of the first steps to church visitor assimilation. Sharing a small gift as a token of appreciation after a first visit can be a way to stand out and demonstrate extra care. What are …
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 …
Recently, in late July, I was in Volcán Panama, teaching evangelism training workshops at the mission base of Operation Mobilization Panama. Missionaries from 6 different countries had come to Volcán Panama for two months of working with the local church. To double up the use of the time, I also had the opportunity to do …
The last two posts (part I and part II) shared common practices on welcoming visitors to church. Here are 20 blunders I’ve seen churches make in greeting visitors to church. Feel free to add your own in the mix (use the comments below). No One Said Hello. Bad breath. 20 question doctrinal exam to make …
According to a Barna Research survey of people looking for a church, “Friendliness to Visitors” is Extremely important: 71% Somewhat important: 21% Based on a national telephone survey of 1,015 people 18 or older; sampling error of plus/minus 3 percent. Citation: Moody (Jan/ Feb 2002); For 9 out of 10 visitors, the friendliness of your …
Evangelism Training in the local church helps believers to better share their faith
Many churches still use a bulletin or program to share the news of community life. Do you proofread your announcements? Is the font easy to read? Does the bulletin appear professional (not a 7th generation photocopy)? Are contact names and phone numbers included? If not, what central point can a person go to to get …
I visited a church website this morning (the day after Thanksgiving, 2007). The church was announcing the start up of an evangelism group. I like the idea — a group of people gathering regularly to encourage each other to do evangelism. This is an idea that I suggest to help develop evangelism training lab-time in …
Bill Easum writes a great article entitled How to Grow a Small Church. It’s geared towards pastors looking for the formula. It’s no formula, but their research shows “It’s a pastor who has one-on-one conversations withnon-Christians that leads to their conversion to Christ.” List for the small church pastor He also gives a good list …
The art of welcoming the first time guests who visit your church is to practice the art of church hospitality. Church Hospitality is not evangelism as we define and use evangelism here. Rather, church hospitality helps to shape the environment for hearing the joyful sharing of the good news of the sovereign love of God. …
