Outreach
I've been teaching lately about outreach. We're doing the Inward Upward Outward thing, and are currently talking about the outward. Here we live in America where the country has been saturated with the gospel. According to Patrick Johnson of Operation World the US is the most evangelized country in the history of forever. Even if people don't really understand the gospel, they at least have a personal idea of what evangelism is, that Chrisitians want to convert them to Jesus, and they have feelings about that - probably not favorable for the most part.
On top of all that, the church has been slow to adjust her outreach methods for a changing world. We've used encounter evangelism methods for the past 60 years, meaning that we have seen ourselves like salesmen trying to close a deal. We push for a response. We've often been pushy and confrontational.
It used to work. I think it worked because the culture was largely Christianized and the evangelism methods tended to bring people home to the church - but people knew the language, they already knew enough about Jesus that they had fewer questions. That world is disappearing. Now those methods are more offensive than helpful.
The problem, to me, is that evangelism may not be like the 'glory days' again for awhile. At least not in the USA. So we are teaching people to embrace process conversion. That means that we anticipate conversion to Jesus to take more time. And in that process, we expect and anticipate questions - and we value the questions - and we let people belong before they believe. That's pretty different from the 'old days' that I was trained in. We wanted to debate the questions on the spot, try to 'win the day' and even if we didn't get a convert, we at least could give each other high five for winning a debate point for Jesus against an evil unbeliever. sigh
I have made a commitment to see all our events at AV as outreach events - part of the process. I intend to create events to propell the process, like Alpha groups and small groups geared toward evangelism. I am also going to regularly invite people to Jesus in every one of my messages, very intentionally. I want AV attenders to know it will happen and to be encouraged to bring their friends because they will be given an opportunity to sign up.
That's what I intend.
I think God is in it.
The story most on my mind? The pastor who prayed for months asking God what he should do for outreach. Finally he got an answer.
"Just do something."
posted by Kyle | 2:42 PM
6 Comments:
Hi Kyle,
Good to hear from you, and what a coincidence! I just started a new module on my blog that also pertains to evangelism.
I think you're right about the times changing. Generally speaking, people want to see how it works in your life for a good while before they are open to hearing an invitation. In fact, I think that in some ways they actually want to be included in our own Christian sphere, very slowly, so they can have a little taste of it with no pressure, long before an actual invitation for conversion comes forth.
I'd love to invite your insights on my blog if you have the time.
Loren
You may be right. But its second-rate evangelism. What happened to the "old days" when Peter stood up and preached under the unction of the Holy Spirit and 3000 were saved? What happened to the "old days" when 70000 people were converted in a matter of months during the welsh revival? As long as our evangelism is carried out in the arm of the flesh, this may be our only hope. It is just another indictment against the american church. That we will put up with, or tolerate, or resort to just about anything to lure someone into the Kingdom. I don't mean to sound legalistic or callous. My harsh tone is not directed at the unbelievers in the world. We need to reflect the characteristics of God in us. The world needs to see the grace of God through us. But, it seems to me a defeatist attitude that we drag drag some poor soul along until we finally convince them that the Good News is really good news. What we need is the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to fall on our nation.
Well, I agree that anything done in the arm of the flesh isn't worth much. So I'm looking fo biblical revival - which by the way may not be what you think. You see, the historical truth about the Welsh revival is that it wasn't lasting. Within 2 years everything was kind of back to normal. Paul talked about travailing with his people and compared seeing them come to Christ with a woman in childbirth. I think the difference between him and us is that he saw his call as a 'whatever it takes' call. He knew he would have to suffer for the sake of the kingdom - to the benefit of his hearers. We need the POWER and the SIGNS and the ENDURANCE and the SACRIFICE.
I hear you. I am not knocking your methods. Its pretty much the same all over. The church has taken one of two roads. We either embrace the culture, which usually weakens the church, or we withdraw into our own clique and push the world away. Neither has borne much fruit for the Kingdom. No, the Welsh revival did not have lasting results in Wales. It did however, spawn movements of the Spirit in other parts of the world. If that is not enough, consider the Moravian prayer vigil. (It was actually a lot more than that) A one hundred year prayer vigil that birthed missionaries that birthed the Wesley brothers that birthed a denomination (not God's idea or theirs) that eventually made its way to the Panhandle of Texas and birthed a Vineyard Pastor in Athens, Georgia. I am have the same heritage. I sat in the church in Herrnhut. I could only weep as God revealed that to me. That the Creator of the Universe made provision for a worm like me. It is an awesome experience. Oh, that we would seek God that way. Oh, that God would birth in us a passion to take hold of that birthright, that upward calling, that prize that is in Christ Jesus. If the world could see that "treasure in earthen vessels", our evangelism efforts would be much more fruitful. I am not a sign seeker or a power seeker. I don't relish the idea of suffering. But I am willing if it will make a difference in the Kingdom.
by the way, with regard to suffering, Paul told Timothy that ALL who seek to live a Godly life WILL suffer persecution.
re: "I don't relish the idea of suffering. But I am willing if it will make a difference in the Kingdom."
It will.
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