Category: Missions/Evangelism

I have been developing a witnessing tract that people could download and print. Well, it is finally complete–content wise. I just need to get the page layout complete so I can get it as a downloadable PDF. Once it is available, I'll post a notice here and link to it in my store.

Today, I felt like I ought to start prayerwalking around where we live. While I was doing that, it struck me that I ought to track this somehow. I had a map of Richmond, so I could highlight it, but then I thought why not do it on the computer. So, that is what I did. Below are some thumbnails if you want to track my progress.

[Update 2012-12-26 16:24:18] I moved these images over to flickr

This is pretty cool. Think of the posibilities for evangelism research.

http://65.39.85.13/google/

It seems that Kirk Cameron is troubled by a poll that shows 68% of evangelical Christians think that Jesus is not the exclusive way to God.

Kirk Cameron is troubled? What about me? I'm troubled by this too! Are you?

Along the same lines, Dr. Mohler has an article on his blog today about inclusive positions on the way to heaven. I think these two things speak towards our belief (or lack of belief). If people really believe the Bible, would they believe this way?

Jesus claimed repeatedly to be the exclusive way to Heaven and a right relationship with God. The Bible says it…. Are we willing to stand by the Bible? Why do "Christians" play church and believe the Bible in such a wishy washy way? It would be much easier for them to just admit they aren't Christians and quit playing church. They could then go golfing, boating, or insert your favorite activity here on SUnday morning and not have to worry about anything.

I was reading this blog entry today on the church/missionary detachment. It gives me a chance to tell part of the reason I am a Southern Baptist. From the article:

Lately, I had a chance to think about a problem that most churches face relating to the missionaries they support: most missionaries feel distant from the churches that support them. The problem is made worse by the fact that most missionaries are supported by dozens or even hundreds of churches and often must spend the little time they have away from the mission field traveling from church to church in the hope of increasing their support. In response to this problem some churches such as Park Street Church in Boston have committed themselves to providing most or all of the support for a smaller number of missionaries.

Clearly, a situation in which missionaries must spend the better part of their furlough visiting church after church, thus depriving them of the ability to rest during their short time away from the mission field is far from ideal. If for no other reason than this, the model embraced by Park Street Church, in which a smaller number of missionaries receive all or nearly all of their support from a single church, seems a far better option.

Southern Baptist missionaries supported by the International Mission Board are fully supported. They don't have to worry about raising money. The Cooperative Program (combined with the Lottie Moon offering) provide 100% of the support SBC missionaries need in the field. When they are home on furlow (not really a vacation), they spend time with churches talking about the IMB, what is happening on the field, etc… When they are on vacation–yes, they get vacation too–they are on vacation.

This means that the missionaries don't have to worry about funding for next year, next month, or tomorrow. Southern Baptists cooperate together to support them.

Over the past week, I have started reading more and more blogs. I started with a few, and as they referenced others, I added them to my list. Some are good, others are so so, and others aren't very good at all. I read them all though to get some different viewpoints. Sometimes the stuff I read is very good. Other stuff just makes me think. This set of articles at Van S' Blog is one that made me think. I'm still trying to figure out how it relates to "church" in the US.

I do know that the International Mission Board sends people to be an incarnational witness. I know that the people at Sagemont Church started by moving from where they were into the neighborhood where they started the church. All in all, part of being a good witness is simply being around people and loving them as you go about your normal life.

In short, I think the "right" balance is probably somewhere between Incarnational and Attractional. But, I think that balance will just happen. As you are incarnational with people, develop friendships, witness to people, love people, care about them, and disciple them to do the same once they get saved people will be drawn. People wo't be drawn by what WE DO but simply because we are allowing Christ to live through us.

Below are links to several articles. Enjoy!

Incarnational Practice 1: Move and Observe
Incarnational Practice 2: Practice Strategic Consumerism
Incarnational Practice 3: Gather in 3rd Places and Homes
Incarnational Practice 4: Mobilize Discipleship
Incarnational Practice 5: Volunteering (instead of starting new programs)
Incarnational Practice 6: Limit Through-Traffic

This is one of the first posts I have read on this paticular blog, but it sounds like a really neat idea.

As many in the ministry are probably now doing, I have adopted Starbucks as a second office for my personal study, and also my sermon preparation…

One of my main purposes in using Starbucks to study is that I am with people. It has been my prayer and hope that God would give me some people to share my faith with. Finally, it happened today.

— Good Coffee, New Friend

This ties in nicely with the idea of Strategic Consumerism. In some ways, I wish I had a job that would allow me to do something like this.

Just open your eyes and you'll be amazed at what God is doing around you. Just remember to follow God and be real.

Van posts in his blog about Intentional Friend Making. For those of you who visit these types of places, you may find this interesting (I don't really care for the bar idea though).

Pay attention to where people congregate and hang out. It could be a coffee shop, it could be a bar, it could be the park, or the library, or a cruddy diner, or the local YWCA, or community center, etc. We should try to spend our time more and more where neighborhood people spend their time.

 

My boss knows a lady who works at one of the universities in town with international students who are coming here to school. This lady has a program where she tries to hook internationals up with local people who will show them around, be friends to them, have them over for dinner, etc…. Basically, you befriend them. I'm interested in this program because I have been wanting to try and find a way to hook up with people from other countries. I think it would be cool to have a chance to get to learn more about other cultures, learn how to cook their food, speak a little of their language, and be friendly to someone else (on a side note, it could also give me a chance to witness to them).

Once I talk to Cyndi about it and, if she is agreeable, find more out about the program, I'll post some details here. Who knows…it may serve as an inspiration to others.

After lunch, I usually take 5-10 minutes and walk around our building. This time is reserved for prayer for co-workers and anything I may have on my mind. Anway…. on today's lap around the building, I got some interesting ideas and wanted to share them with everyone to get some feedback.

1. – offer to watch neighborhood kids one or two days a month while the parents go out and run errands, etc…. I'm thinking something like "We'll watch your kids from 10am – 2pm on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
2. – I offer to spend 1 Sat a month helping whoever with yard work, chores, etc….
3. – Offer computer help to the people as they need it (call and we'll arrange a time kind of thing).
4. – Game night. Have a neighborhood game night once a month at our place. We live across the street from a Jewish center or a church we may be able to borrow space from if it gets too big.

We would introduce this to the community (I'm talking 1 or 2 blocks initially) by passing out flyers, explaing what we are doing, and inviting them all over for a community cookout in Mid September.

What do you guys think?