Last night there was a report on Nightline about an Eagle scout who got addicted to porn. He started at age 12. The report is shocking.

I did a report on this myself at Two Things The Church is Ignoring Part II: Porn

There are some great resources to hold people accountable like Covenant Eyes software that reports every website you visit to your accountability partner. They also have filters that can help keep porn away from you.

If you use the code “podcast” you can get your first month free (and it’s less than $10 a month). They have tools for your PC, iPad, Iphone, etc. This is an epidemic people, and the church needs to stop putting its head in the sand. As a geek I asked all the questions to see if this could really “Stop” someone from looking at things they shouldn’t, and it does (so using the “private” surfing hide your habits). It’s a great tool to help keep ou on track. You can have reports on the sites you visited sent to your spouse, your friend, a church leader. If you disable the software, you can’t surf the Internet. Check it out at covenanteyes.com and use the code “Podcast” for your first month.

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Is Your Church Addressing the Porn Epidemic? is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

I love this video. It moves me, so I thought I’d share. Enjoy.

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Jesus Blood Never Fails Me is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

The latest edition of outreach Magazine is focusing on Technology. You can buy just that issue or subscribe at amazon.com Here are some of the items included:

The books and media influencing how we reach our community and the world. The 9th annual celebration of the best books and curricula in evangelism, apologetics, leadership, culture, missional church, missional living, pass-along, small group curricula, cross-cultural, compassion and justice, biography, children’s outreach and youth outreach.

A NON-GEEK’S GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHURCH

What you need to know and how to get it done: Practical ideas and tips for more effective outreach using the Web, social media, mobile technology, apps and software, video, audio and more.

THE OUTREACH INTERVIEW: BOBBY GRUENEWALD

From YouVersion to online worship: the LifeChurch.tv pastor and innovation leader talks about technology, opportunity, ministry … and a journey of faith

Each issue of Outreach is designed to bring you the ideas, innovations and resources that will help you reach your community and change the world

Check it out this issue at Amazon.com or purchase a subscription and receive 6 issues in one year.

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Technology and the Church – A Non Geeks Guide is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

Outreach Magazine has a great article by Nathan Rice that talks about small church strategies. I thought I would share these, and chime in with my own opinion as well.

- – - – - – -

Nathan Rice, blogger and small church attendee, with comments from Perry Noble and Steven Furtick

There are countless numbers of websites and blogs out there dedicated to helping churches realize the potential of developing a strategy for effective ministry. Unfortunately, there is a curious shortage of strategies that can be easily implemented by a small church with limited resources.

I can proudly say that I’ve been a member of the smallest of churches and visited the largest of churches in my area. There is indeed a sharp distinction between the two, and for good reason. Larger churches have the added luxury of expendable cash and lots of willing volunteers. While this may not always be the case, it certainly is most of the time.

The problem lies in the smaller church’s ability to effectively minister to its congregation. Perhaps the pastor has to work another job because of the lack of funds, rendering him unable to adequately prepare, or perhaps the lack of members makes for a lousy, boring and dull music service. The problem is still the same. As a member of a church like that, you take it upon yourself to search for strategies to help your situation. Unfortunately, all you find is big church people, giving out big church strategies, to help the big church get bigger. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it certainly doesn’t help you much.

That’s why I wanted to write this post. This post is for smaller churches looking to find a way to help your church be more effective in its ability to minister. A worthy goal indeed. So without any more rambling from me, here are 10 strategies for small churches:

1. Develop a strategy to minister to both current members and potential members.
One way to guarantee that your small church stays small is to only think about, minister to, pray for or pay attention to your current members. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting you ignore them, but you have to look beyond the needs of just the people in the building and start looking at the community.

Dave’s Comments: Wayne Gretzgy was one of the best (if not THE best) hockey player. When asked how he became so good he said, “Most people skate toward the puck, I skated to where the puck was going to be.”

2. Get a website.
Hear me out. Some of you may think that this is a big church strategy, but it’s not. Web hosts are cheap, and most churches can afford them. The design part can be a little tricky, but there are many Web people out there who would be more than willing to help out. Here’s the key though: You have to use the website. Pastors, use the website as a way to connect to those potential members. I’m sick and tired of seeing pastors be lethargic concerning technology. You need to be the one who pushes the idea. You need to be the one who encourages your people to visit the site. You need to be the one who organizes programs to promote and utilize the website. If you don’t do it, who will?

Dave’s comments: You can get a website for $9 a month for the website and $12 a year for your domain name. If you don’t have a website I can set it up for free. I make a commission on the sale of the hosting that pays for my time to set it up.  Contact me.

3. Think smaller—as in height.
The kids are the single most important part of your ministry. Spend a lot of time, money and effort on having a good children’s program. Make church a place they want to be every week. If that means asking Betty, the lady who has been teaching children’s church for the last 30 years, to step aside, so be it. You have a responsibility to those kids to give them a good foundation. Ever wonder why you have 15 4- to 12-year-olds, but only have three teenagers in your church, and absolutely no 18- to 30-year-olds? Somewhere along the line, they got bored with church. Use the core group you have now to develop a good group for the future. Trust me, if the kids like church, the parents won’t have any choice but to bring them. And for heaven’s sake, don’t make the kids sit through the regular service. Give them something that they will enjoy, and let the grown-ups worship in peace!

Dave’s Comments: Think of the sotry of Moses where he had to hold his arms up to ensure the younger people would be victorious in a fight. It took the older and younger people working together to succeed. (Exodus 17:12)

4. Be willing to make the tough decisions.
If that means canceling the Wednesday night service because only a handful of people are coming, grow a spine and do it. If that means standing up to “that family” who tries to run the church, be a man and do it. People will follow leadership (more on that later).

Dave’s Comments: My grandmother lived to be in her 90s. She was born in 1899 and in her lifetime she saw technology go form horse and buggy to the space shuttle. My point is the delivery of people changed, but the concept of getting from one point to another did not. The gospel message will not change, but how its delivered will. We spoke about this on one of the early episodes of this podcast.

5. Utilize your strongest assets.
Every church has someone that has a talent. Maybe your church has a great singer, or a good financial manager, or a great pianist, or a computer geek, or a great manager. Whoever they are and whatever they can do, take advantage of it. Find out who has a passion to serve and what their talents are, and develop a relationship with them. Call them into your office and share your vision with them, instill your passion in them, and demonstrate your leadership to them. People naturally respond to passion, vision and leadership, and when goals are clearly laid out, talented people with passion usually respond in a big way.

Dave’s Comments: Growing up I watched Earl Campbell play for the Houston Oilers. He was an awesome running back, and he got the ball A LOT. Today he can barely walk. My point is, you want to get the talented passionate people involved. However, be careful to not put too many things on their plate. This can lead to them resenting worship, and eventually leaving the church. You basically “burn them out.”

6. Use media to compensate for lack of resources.
If you don’t have the greatest singers in the world, use things like videos and soundtracks to open up the service or play during the offering. We did this for the Christmas Eve service at my dad’s church, and it worked wonderfully. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about this, so be careful. If you don’t have a video projector, just use your P.A. system. The effect won’t be quite as dramatic, but it will still work.

Dave’s Comments: Again, put your best foot forward. The old, “It’s perfect by the time it gets to God’s ears” is often used to “mail in” your worship. I undertand that concept. I also know if you read the old testament that when God was giving directions on how to build the temple, he is obviously into details, and enjoys a good presentation that is pleasing to the eye.

7. Teamwork.
Pull together a team from your members and brainstorm. What are you planning on preaching next week? Run it by them to see if they have some good ideas to add. Let them give you creative ideas to help the message be clearly transmitted. Give them copies of your notes and give them a couple of days to critique it. Using a variety of minds to develop a service will help your church communicate more clearly.

Dave’s Comments: Try to have a wide variety of people on your team. Don’t just assemble of bunch of “yes” people who think all of your ideas are awesome.

8. Put it on a screen and/or put it in my hand.
Give me something that I can take home and continue to digest through the week. Put the summary and notes (with blanks to fill in) in the handout to encourage involvement during the message. Use perforated cards on the bulletin that can be torn out and given to friends as an invitation to upcoming services.

Dave’s Comments: I’m not sure why when people attend school, or a meeting, they bring a pad and pencil to take notes. Yet in church they receive life changing content, and don’t take a single note. People called Jesus “Teacher.” There is nothing wrong with exchanging the word “Sermon” for “Teaching.” Would you rather be taught to, or preached at?

9. Themed Message series.
I visited Marathon Church here in the upstate probably over a year ago, and I still remember the message. Why? Because the stage was creatively decorated and the pastor came out dressed as a police officer. Like it or not, themed sermons help the audience retain information. You do want them to learn something from your service, don’t you?

Dave’s Comments: As a person who has lead classes on Customer Service you would be amazed at how a very small bit of effort can make you stand out. I once told a person I would call them back in six weeks. When I called in six weeks they were amazed. All I did was do what I said I was going to do. How can you stand out? I once did a teaching on how Christians should stand out from the crowd. Our lifestyle should make us stand out from the rest of the world. I stated that we shouldn’t be afraid to look silly, or different. To accent my point when I would get done with a page of my notes, I wadded it up and tossed it into the congregation. People remember that sermon.

10. Have lunch with pastors and church planters.
Let some of their passion and vision rub off on you. Unfortunately, many pastors treat the ministry as a competition with the pastor down the road. It’s not. Realize that we all have “special teams” that we are coaching, but we still work for the same “Head Coach.” Swallow your pride and pick up the phone. You’ll be glad you did.

Dave’s Comments: Amen. I believe one of the reason this podcast has not received feedback from the listeners is people don’t want to give away their “best” ideas. WE forget we are all on the same team.

BONUS #1:
Perry Noble [senior pastor of Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C., wrote the following in response to my email:

“Illustration: Have you ever been dressed to the nines for a wedding and had to stop along the way at a gas station? Feels pretty silly to be dressed so nice pumping gas. And it almost feels like you need to explain to everyone: ‘I’m going to a wedding …’ whether they ask or not.

“But when you get to where you’re going, you’ll look great. You’ll fit right in.

“Church growth is like this. It feels silly sometimes to build structures and systems that accommodate more people than you’re currently serving. But you must. In fact, my mentors have told me to structure Elevation like we have twice as many people as we currently do.”

Read the rest of “Dress for the Wedding, Not the Gas Station” over at Steven’s blog.

Well, I hope that’s helpful to all the smaller churches out there. What are you waiting for?

Nathan Rice lives in the Southeast, works in the field of information technology, is a Christian and blogs on a variety of topics.

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Small Church Strategies in a Big Church World is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

A new Viral Video is going around that could lead to some good discussion with your youth.

Have you heard about Ben Breedlove? Breedlove created the popular OurAdvice4You channel on YouTube in November 2010. He would give out relationship advice to his viewers and interview family members and friends. On May 23, 2011, he launched his second channel, BreedloveTV, a companion channel to his first, where he would answer questions about dating, relationships and advice.

As of 29 December 2011 OurAdvice4You has a total of 38 videos, and nearly 60,000 subscribers, and BreedloveTV has 17 videos and almost 20,000 subscribers.

A third channel was created by Breedlove on December 18, 2011, entitled TotalRandomness512. This channel is the host of the two-part video, “This is my story“, which has since become viral.

If you haven’t wathced thses videos, they are touching. Sadly Ben died on Christmas 2011 a week after his last video.

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This is My Story Ben Breedlove is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

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Big Churches Getting Bigger – Free eBook is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

I was unaware that May 15th is Internet Evangelsim Day. In honor of this day, a bunch of ebooks (and some for Kindle) are availabel for download. Some are available Month, and some are only available on May 15th (so mark your calendar). You can find them at http://www.internetevangelismday.com/free-christian-ebook-downloads.php

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Free Evangelism eBooks is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

A new report from the barna group is out talking about “What Americans Believe About Universalism and Pluralism” it shows how many people think that “We’re all ok, and we are all saved.” The part of the report that shocked me was the Christian Persepctives. Here they are:

“Christians’ Perspectives
When looking at the Christian community, born again Christians were more likely to be interested in sharing their faith with others as well as more likely than average to say they desire active, healthy relationships with people of other faiths. [Born again Christians are defined by Barna Group as those who have made a commitment to Jesus Christ and who believe they are going to heaven because of their confession of sins and accepted Christ as their savior. It is not based upon self-identifying with the label “born again.”]

Nevertheless, despite their own personal faith convictions, many born again Christians embrace certain aspects of universalist thought. One-quarter of born again Christians said that all people are eventually saved or accepted by God (25%) and that it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons (26%). An even larger percentage of born again Christians (40%) indicated that they believe Christians and Muslims worship the same God.”

To this I have one response:

John 14:6  ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There isn’t a lot of room for interpretation there…

Christian Confusion is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

I found a great article from Outreach magazine. That has a list of items you shold be doing to make sure Easter does not sneak up on you.

Encourage Invitation

•Step 1 – Ask church members to pray for 5 people to invite on Easter Sunday.
•Step 2 – Equip them with printed invitations and set up a Facebook event page so that they can easily pass-along the invite.
•Step 3 – After service, provide an element of fun. Host an after gathering—a church picnic, coffeehouse, or meet and greet.

Get the Word Out

•Door to Door: Walk the neighborhood with door hangers, or send a last-minute postcard to your target demographic.
•Banners & Signs: Hang a banner on church property or businesses around town. Provide yard signs to members.
•Media: Approach your local radio station, newspaper or news station with a press release for Easter events.
•Internet: Take out Facebook ads, create a Facebook event page, and post comments regarding Easter services to your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Take out a free ad on Craigslist. Try free Google Advertising.

Crash Someone Else’s Party

•Local Easter Festivities: If your city or mother’s club is hosting a big Easter egg hunt or parade, ask how your church might help. Host a booth, pass out Easter baskets and invites, or help stuff plastic eggs for the kids.
•Another church’s special event. Partner up with another area church already planning an event or gathering outdoors.

Clean House

•Church Building & Grounds: Provide a hospitable welcome. Clear debris, spring clean, and provide a welcoming and updated atmosphere.
•Church Website: Assess your website for design and functionality, and provide Easter specific information. Make sure you are listed on Google when someone searches for “church” alongside your city name.
•Accessibility: Provide easy parking for visitors, and directional signage.
•Information: Ensure your info center is current and relevant for visitors.

Not-So Random Acts of Kindness

•Photo Opp: Snap photos at the local Easter event. Provide free CDs to each family of the images, or pass out invites and cards indicating where people can view or purchase photos (try Shutterfly.com, SnapFish.com, Flickr.com, or a similar photo sharing service).
•Easter Basket Craft: Bring plain Easter baskets to a nearby retirement home, and spend time decorating them with the residents.
•Neighborhood Seder: Encourage members to host neighborhood Seder dinners, inviting unsaved neighbors and explaining the traditions behind the meal.
•Spring Cleaning: Enlist the youth group to clean yard debris, do odd-jobs, and plant gardens for shut-ins or families in need.
•Adopt an Easter Basket: Ask members to each donate a filled basket, and coordinate with a family shelter, school or food bank for distribution to families in need.
•Basket Invites: Suggest that members assemble custom Easter baskets for friends as an Easter invitation. Baskets might include a Bible, music CD, candy, gift cards, book, an invitation to Easter services, and other thoughtful items.

Comeback Events

•An Intriguing Series: Follow up Easter with a testimony series or other interesting sermon series.
•A Special Event: Host a family-fun park day, concert, beach bonfire, or buy out a day at the pool or bowling alley in the weeks following Easter.
•Ministry Events: Ask ministries to each plan a special event in the following month. Include them in Easter announcements.
•Open House & Orientation: Cast the vision for your church and various ministries, and provide an introduction to the faith.
•A Newcomers Class: Start a Bible study for new believers.
What is your church planning for Easter Sunday?

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Easter Service Checklist is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

We have a special deal for the Grow Your Church Show listening audience. You can receive one free audio book and a 14 day trial from Audible. There are over 1008 titles in the Religious and inspirational category alone (over 85,000 titles on the whole site).

You could sign up for your free trial any choose titles such as

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

Master Plan of Evangelism

Prophetic Fishing: Evangelism in the Power of the Spirit

More Than a Carpenter Today

Conquer Your Fear, Share Your Faith: Evangelism Made Easy

Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps for Pointing People to Faith

“I Can” Evangelism: Taking the “I Can’t” Out of Sharing Your Faith

Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary

as well as titles such as “Just as I am” The autobiography of Billy Graham

Audible not only works on your computer, but it also works on your iphone or android app.

For more information go to www.audibletrial.com/dave

-Dave Jackson
Host
Grow Your Church Show

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Free Christian Audio Book is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

You want to have a full church on Easter. You hope the “Chreasters” can make it this year. Well Easter is four weeks away (if not less) and in theory you should’ve already made plans, had posters printed, and be promoting your plan starting last Sunday. If you’re stuck, or have no budget, here is an idea.

Instead of thinking about getting hundreds of people into the church (which can be overwhelming), why not get your congregation to focus on one person per member. You can blow this up as big as you want, but the thought is the same. Don’t go for the grand slam, go for the base hit. Go for one.

Here are some ways to help promote this idea:

Have bracelets made (they are all the rave ya know) with the phrase ONE on them. Wearing these will remind people to ask their friends and family, and may be an ice breaker (What’s the bracelt about?).

Have a card made, or use a sheet of paper for people to fill our their one name and have them brind it forward at the end of the service. Have the pastor pray over the names, and continue each week to pray over the names. have the members keep a copy of the paper so they can remind themselves to PRAY for this ONE person.

Scripture: Luke 10:2
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Remind them that just hoping people will show up is not enough. A farmer does not plant seeds and then HOPE that the crops end up in the storage silohs. He has to go HARVEST the crops. It’s time to harvest the lost. They need christ more than ever.

Getting People Into Church on Easter is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

[amazonify]0310245907[/amazonify]Here is another book that may help you to get inside the mind of the people you are trying to reach. Here is what one reviewer said at amazon.com

Everyone who takes the Christian faith seriously should read this book and be prepared to do some sober reflection. Whether a pastor, youth worker, elder, deacon, lay leader, or church member – those who take Dan Kimball’s book to heart may very well need to make some significant changes in their approach to outreach and evangelism.

In They Like Jesus But Not The Church, Dan Kimball first points out the convicting and humbling truth that the longer one is a Christian, the less likely one is to have significant friendships with those who are not Christian. Instead, most Christians today find their lives consumed with church-related activities – and those whose primary jobs are ministry-related are often the worst offenders. How can anyone know what the needs of the unchurched are unless they are involved in trusting relationships with them?

The church in America has become nearly irrelevant to most 20- and 30-somethings. Yet those who follow Jesus rarely venture outside our cozy Christian comfort zones to learn why. Unless individual Christians are actively engaged in open and trusting relationships with non-Christians (without a conversion agenda), the life-changing gospel message won’t effectively be spread merely by changing our worship service structure, format, or atmosphere. Furthermore, most Christians tend to compound the problem by generally taking one of two approaches to evangelism: either we see every non-Christian as a potential target, and if we spend any time with them at all the goal is to “seal the deal;” or we isolate our faith from our everyday lives and generally avoid faith- or church-related conversations with anyone other than our church friends.

One of the biggest strengths of this book are the voices of many people (most in their 20s and 30s) with whom Dan Kimball has spent hours in conversation. He has developed trusting relationships and most importantly has really listened to where they’re coming from when they talk about Jesus, the church, and Christians. Dan’s goal was not to convert them, but to hear them. And likely, in doing so, he began to remove some of the stereotypes about Christians and the church that they might have held.

It is surprising and refreshing to learn of the positive and often even accurate views many people outside the church have about Jesus. In general, they deeply respect him and his teachings. But they see the church as very un-Christlike, and the church must not ignore their perceptions and feelings. Whether or not their ideas about the church being homophobic, male-dominated, judgmental and negative, or having a political agenda are true of all churches or any single church, the reality is that these perceptions are a significant barrier to trust in the church and acceptance of Christianity.

Dan does not compromise his orthodox beliefs as he interacts and engages with the people and the issues, and neither does he advocate that any church or individual compromise. But he is willing to ask difficult questions – questions that any serious Christian should consider. At the end of each chapter are excellent discussion questions which challenge and provoke thought about specific issues, about the reader’s own attitudes and perceptions, and about ways the reader might take action.

This book has deeply challenged me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about our great commission to make disciples out of all nations. They Like Jesus But Not The Church is a reminder to me that God is indeed working in the world, and that I am called to be in relationship with people at all points in their journey of faith, doing what I can to help point the way to Jesus, yet trusting that each person is ultimately in God’s hands.

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They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

[amazonify]082543324X:left[/amazonify]

Author Randy Newman suggests that we engage people around us in the way Jesus often did- by asking questions, even answering questions with questions. By using dialogue in this rabbinic style, we can engage people in such a way as to get them to think about their beliefs. Furthermore, and maybe more importantly, by doing so we can engage their hearts because a person’s acceptance of the gospel is not solely based on their ability to reason. Questions can get people who have never considered why they believe some things to be true to honestly think about them. Asking questioning can tear down strongholds of false views and build plausibility for the gospel. Examples of this kind of questioning dialogue, often from real conversations, are sprinkled throughout this book.

Of course, not all questions are genuine, or even questions at all, but rather attacks. Newman is aware this. Sometimes the best response is not to answer the attack but to ask a question. Even simple questions like “really?” and “so?” can turn a conversation around. It levels the playing field and opens the path for further serious discussion.

While remaining accessible, the book gives insight on how to respond to weighty questions such as “Why does God allow evil?”, “Why are Christians so homophobic?”, and “If Jesus is so great, why are some of his followers such jerks?” There aren’t easy answers to all the questions. Sometimes there are no answers but the point of this book is not to tell you what to think, but rather to give perspective on how to think about various issues and how to relate to people. We don’t have all the answers and shouldn’t pretend like we do. Rather, it is more important that we honestly and wisely interact with people while pointing to the hope we have.

The intended audience is those who have a strong grasp of the gospel and a desire to declare it to others. Unlike declaring and defending the gospel that serve as a foundation, questioning evangelism doesn’t always strive to give solid answers. Sometimes were not after answers; sometimes were after compassion. Questioning Evangelism is a book on evangelism that isn’t wooden and recognizes that we are mind, body, heart, and soul-questions and all. Not only that, but it is also quite enjoyable to read with plentiful anecdotes and points to ponder. Who would have thought?

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Questioning Evangelism is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

I just heard about a book thats getting a lot of response. It’s called Share Jesus Without Fear. Its got 4.5 out of 5 stars at Amazon (after 45 reviews). Here are some of the reviews from Amazon.com

Many evangelism styles are so challenging to the average Christian that they are like asking a baby to run a marathon before they learn to crawl. Share Jesus Without Fear is very practical and the principles presented can be practiced by both the experienced soul winner and the person who is scared to death.

Dr. Fay has witnessed to more than 25,000 people, so he is well able to address the common responses and reactions of people. He gives real-life scenarios that will open your mind to new possibilities with regard to sharing your faith. But the best part is how simple sharing the gospel becomes when you understand his approach. I have been a Christian 20 years, but this is the first time I’ve begun to feel confident to share my faith with anyone.

Share Jesus Without Fear is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  -Luke 6:45

The first law of effective outreach deals with the church’s heart for the unsaved. The heart leads us into both action and speech; and godly actions and speech without a matching heart make us like Pharisees (Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:6). It is important to start with a genuine heart for the Lord.

As Bob Pierce, the founder of both Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision once wrote in his Bible, “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.” While we are given glimpses of the Lord’s heart many times in scripture, Jesus’ ministry on earth gives us great examples…

In Luke 19:10 Jesus communicated his heart for the unsaved, his outreach identity: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus often broke bread with sinners, and cared for the unfortunate. Jesus’ heart was evident in his actions.

Your church has a similar opportunity to communicate its heart, and from it create a clear mission to reach the lost. Here are a few suggestions and principles to build your outreach identity in the 21^st century…

1.  Develop a Mission Statement

A mission statement establishes a foundation for your church. It defines your heart and passion, it prioritizes your programming and directs your resources (budget), and focuses your goals.

A Comprehensive Plan: Establish a vision, core values, and plan of implementation along with your mission statement.  

Inspire to Action: Constantly remind church members of your church mission. Reference it in your literature, in your church announcements and in your sermons on a regular basis.

2. Understand Your Community

Each community is a culture unto itself—with history, perceptions, and occupations unique to its locale. When you consider the demographics and needs of people in your community, your church can better approach them with the Gospel by meeting those needs or answering their important questions.

3. Understand Your People

Take an inventory of the members of your church to determine their gifts and abilities.  Discern ways these gifts can be used for new outreach opportunities. Try a spiritual gifts inventory, or Purpose Driven’s SHAPE assessment.

4. Take a Resource Inventory

Consider the various resources available to your church (in addition to dollars) that might be repurposed for outreach. Consider how resources like your church building, land or vehicles could serve your community. 

5. Assess Ministry Programs

Consider how ministries in your church family are currently reaching out. Every ministry should have at least one outreach component.

6. Identify Partner Ministries & Organizations

Charities likely exist in your community (i.e. your local food pantry). Discover how you might partner with them, leverage their existing networks, and reach even more people for Christ.

7. Update Your Image to Reflect Your Identity

Your image is your outward face of your inward identity. As a matter of integrity, the goal is to have an image that best reflects who you are as a church. Consider how your logo, signage, brochures, ad pieces, other communication materials, and your building work together to represent who you are.

8. Build Bridges Into Your Community

Build both short-term bridges, such as a specific one-time event or message series, and long-term bridges, which consistently meet the needs of people over time, like a support group or food pantry. For further insight on this subject, read The Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis.

For more information on the 4 Laws of Effective Outreach, and to purchase the 4 Laws seminar DVDs, please visit Outreach.com, or click here.

What is your church’s mission statement?

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Outreach Plan – Do You Have One? is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

We try and try to get people to come to church. We think “If they could jsut see how nice anf friendly we are..”

Well Christ called us to GO and make deciples of all nations and one church in Wisconsin is taking GO as a direct order and going to a place where you may find people in need of help: the pub.

Radiant Felloship Church in Waupaca Wis has “Church at the Pub.” A time where members of the church (with permission from the pub owner) hang out and talk everything from sports to pop music with patrons.  The church members buy nonalcoholic bevergaes and listen in a nonjudgemental way to anyone who needs someone to listen. They’ve even helped a woman escape a deomstic violence situation.

They have also given away gas cards, bibles, and grocery gift cards. They may even buy pizza for the patrons.

If they won’t come to you, you need to go to them.

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Church at the Pub – Taking the Church to Them is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

I’m about two chapters into the book Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey and its becoming very hard to put down. It talks about how the driving force of Congregational Change is Spiritual and Relational Vitality. Jesus even told us this when he said Love the lord your God with all your heart…. (Spiritual Vitality) and to love one another (Relational Vitality).

The authors are Jim Herrington, Mike Bonem, and James H Furr. who have helped churches turn themselves around. As they worked with churches they noticed patterns, and techniques. It really begins with changing yourself from the inside out. I’ll keep you posted as I continue more. The interesting thing is the book is available on the Kindle, but NOT as a hardbound. The Workbook is available in hard bound but not (understandably) on the Kindle.

Leading Congregational Change Part Book Review is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

Is one of the things holding you back from sharing your faith is you think you will be faced with a question you can’t answer? This new book is for you. The best thing of all (if you own a kindle), the book is FREE for the next 10 days.

Here is the book description from amazon.com

Why are Christians against same-sex people getting married? . . . Why do you believe God exists at all? . . . Why would God allow evil and suffering? . . . Why trust the Bible when it’s full of mistakes? . . . How could a loving God send people to hell? . . . What makes you think Jesus was more than just a good teacher? . . . Why are Christians so judgmental?”

Some questions can stop a conversation. Today, more than ever, people are raising difficult, penetrating questions about faith, God, and the Bible. Based on an exclusive new Barna survey of 1,000 Christians, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask presents compelling, easy-to-grasp answers to ten of the most troubling questions facing Christians today. These include everything from the existence of heaven to the issues of abortion and homosexuality, as well as the question of whether evolution eliminates our need for a God.

Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask – Free Kindle Book is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

While surfing around Amazon.com from some outreach ideas, I came across a book bundle from outreach magazine. These books are titled
25 Proven Outreach Ideas, and Keep the Change outreach ideas on a shoestring. Here is the description from amazon.com

Includes the one copy of the booklet 25 Proven Outreach Ideas for Your Church and Keep the Change: Outreach on a Shoestring both from The Editors of Outreach magazine. 25 Proven Outreach Ideas for Your Church includes: Step-by-step instructions and resources for 25 creative outreach ideas already working in churches across America (plus some new ones!) including: Photographic Connection. Visitor Gift? Make it Big. Unconventional Chaplaincy. Where could you become a chaplain in your town? VBS Makeover. Make your regular VBS an outreach tour-de-force. Keep the Change: Outreach on a Shoestring includes 22 simple and inexpensive outreach ideas that you can use, or that will inspire you to discover one of your own, including: Make friends with your facility, Create a community presence, Connect with the needs of your neighbors. Books are available separately, or buy here as a bundle and save money.

82 pages. Order Here

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Outreach Ideas Book Bundle is a post from: Grow Your Church Show

According to a new report, The Cystal Cathedral home of the “Hour of Power” and previously headed by Robert Schuller (now by his daughter Sheila Schuller Coleman) filed for bankrupcy today. They are in debt to the tune of $43 million.

Some might wonder why? I thought it was interesting that the story states, “The church was founded at a drive-in theater and attracted congregants with its sermons on the power of positive thinking.”

Who else is big on this theme? Jesus loves his children, but you don’t become a Christian for the dental plan. You study and come close to God so you can prosper in his plan. I don’t know (I never attended this church), but I know we are told to preach the gospel, the full gospel, and not just the warm and fuzzy parts.

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Even MegaChurches Have Issues is a post from: Grow Your Church Show