A Challenge form Our District Superintendent, Meg Taylor
Now for the challenge: The Holston Evangelism Conference in Knoxville this past week-end was outstanding…several of you were there and brought people from your churches. We were all amazed at the number of people who came, mostly laypersons.
There were 350-400 there and as one speaker said, “There is something about to happen in this conference. This many people don’t give up their week-end to come to a church meeting unless the Spirit is drawing them.” As you know, Holston has a goal of baptizing 3000 people on Pentecost Sunday (May 23rd).
This number may sound unattainable, but the Lord gave me a formula to break the number down so we could have a more realistic goal. If we divide the 3000 by 12 districts, each district will need to baptize 250 people. If we divide 53 (the number of charges/station churches we have) into 250, each of our circuits/station churches will only need to baptize 4.7 people! If every district would “do the math”, each church/circuit would know what they should aim for, and then pray for the Lord to show them who to talk to, who to witness to, etc.
You know, sometimes there are people who have attended church for a long time and who have never joined, who would really like to be baptized and make a confession of their belief in Jesus. Sometimes we don’t think to ever offer baptism, etc. Other times, church members will say, “I have a family member who has talked about getting baptized…” I am praying for new converts….but also let’s look around….there may be people who haven’t been offered baptism or offered Christ, right under our noses.
Our goal for WY District is for 53 pastors to baptize 4.7 (how about 5!) people! Can we do it? No, but the Lord can! Does this district rise to challenges? Absolutely. We always give more than the goal set…we always fix more food baskets/health kits than the goal set. Please share this challenge with your church/churches.
In prayer with you and for you,
Meg
Bishop Swanson requests: ‘Please join me in 40 days of prayer’
On Feb. 19-20, 353 persons representing 100 churches gathered at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville for the Holston Evangelism Conference. After hearing presentations by the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and the Rev. Bob Pierson, participants were led in worship by Bishop James Swanson.
Now, Holston members will join in a 90-day campaign to baptize 3,000 people by Pentecost Sunday. The campaign begins with 40 days of prayer (Feb. 23 to April 3), followed by 50 days of evangelism (Easter Sunday/April 4 through Pentecost Sunday/May 23).Ongoing information and resources will be provided at Holston.org and through The Call.
In the meantime, Bishop James Swanson appeals to Holston’s 904 churches in east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and north Georgia to join this conference-wide effort beginning Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Episcopal Letter from Bishop James E. Swanson Sr.
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Episcopal Letter
40 Day Prayer Journey Begins Tomorrow
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Go with us on a Journey for the next 90 Days
Tuesday February 23rd will start the 1st phase of our Holston Conference emphasis on Evangelism. I hope that you will come along and join us. God is at work!
I will be posting each day of the 40 Day Devotional here on the blog. Each day has been inspired by something in Harry Denman’s life. I hope that you draw closer to God, get a passion for leading people to know Jesus and get to know more about who we celebrate in Harry Denman. Please pray that God will help us to discover those he has already prepared for this time.
Ronnie
Introduction to A 90-Day Investment in the Lives of 3000 People
By Ronnie G Collins
Chair: Holston Conference Witness Team
February 23rd, 2010
You are about to embark on an adventure with God. What will this adventure look like?
It could mean that you will pray, fast, and seek God’s face and that He will lead you to people that
need to know Him, people who need to be baptized, people who need to be discipled. It may mean
that at the end of these 90 days, you will have drawn closer to God through the spiritual disciplines
of prayer, fasting, and the giving of your time and energy. It may mean that there will be more
people in heaven someday because you took the challenge to ask God for 3000 souls that will follow
Christ.
Matthew 28: 18-20
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to
commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by
baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I
have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the
age.”
The Message
Jesus said, go and make disciples and that is just what we intend to do. In order to find them, we
have to go. And in order to disciple them, we have to introduce them to Jesus Christ.
We are extending this challenge to you. Seek God in prayer and fasting in some form or fashion for
40 days, from February 23rd to April 3rd, 2010. Ask God to lead us, empower us, and embolden us
as witnesses that we might see 3000 people come for baptism on Pentecost Sunday 2010, May 23rd.
Use this devotional guide to lead your prayers over the next 40 days; after this 40-day period of
prayer and fasting, prepare to spend 50 intentional days seeking those who need to know Jesus the
Christ.
In answer to the question you may have about why 3000, I offer the following letter written by
Harry Denman in 1949.
Dear Friend:
This letter is to ask every pastor not to observe Pentecost on June 5, but to meet the conditions so
that every church will have a Pentecost on that day. It can be done if we will organize our church to
witness to the fact that Jesus is Christ and that he is alive and can save persons from sin and death.
Easter to Pentecost
Fifty Golden Days of Evangelism
EASTER, We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer. We have a living Christ. This
is the beginning of evangelism. Why shouldn’t every church organize visitation teams to visit one night
each week during this period and secure thousands of first commitments for Christ and his church, to be
received on Pentecost Sunday, June 5?
FAMILY WEEK. May 1-8, This is a splendid time to visit young families and secure their first
commitment for Christ and his church and establish a Christian home. What holy days there are, Easter to
Pentecost, Including Family Week!
There were One-hundred-twenty in the Upper Room. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
Three thousand were baptized that first Pentecost. How many will be baptized in our churches on
Pentecost Sunday 1949?
Let us pray and work daily that every church will have a Pentecost.
Your Friend, Harry Denman
Shepherds, May 1949
In memory of Evangelist Harry Denman, the Witness Team is presenting a challenge to all United
Methodist Churches in the Holston Conference.
Easter Sunday is April 4, 2010, and Pentecost Sunday is May 23. There are 50 days between
Easter and Pentecost. We are presenting the challenge to each church to organize visitation teams to visit
in your community, engage people on facebook, in e-mails, to come up with your own unique ways to
invite people to Christ, to church, during these 50 days.
In his book The Unchurched Next Door, Thom Rainer and his group conducted a scientific
survey and found the following results:
• 82 percent of the unchurched are at least “somewhat likely” to attend church if they are invited.
• Eight out of 10 unchurched persons said they would come to church if they were invited.
• Only 21 percent of active churchgoers invite anyone to church in the course of a year.
• Only 2 percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church.
• Very few of the unchurched have had someone share with them how to become a Christian.
• The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
“For years I have been asked how churches can grow. I have consulted with hundreds of church
leaders across America, leaders who sincerely desire that their churches reach people. ‘Why aren’t we
reaching people?’ I am often asked. ‘Why is our society so resistant to the gospel?’ many inquire.
“After nearly a decade of research and almost fifteen years of consulting with churches, I am
becoming more and more convinced that the answers to most of these questions can be found in the
mirror. Nearly 130 million people in the United States alone would come to church if they were invited.
And if they came, many would hear about the Savior who offers the only way of salvation.”
Thom S. Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
Please e-mail us to let us know that your church will participate in “50 Golden Days of
Evangelism 2010.” Let us pray and work daily that each of our churches will have a Pentecost Sunday on
May 23, 2010.
Enjoy the journey.
Ronnie G Collins, Chair – Holston Witness Team
If you have questions, please contact Rev. Ronnie Collins, Chair of The Holston Conference
Witness Team, phone 276-728-2434 or email
50 Golden Days Resources: 40 Days of Preparation Devotional Guide
40-Day Evangelism Devotional Guide_Download Here
40 Day Devotional
Prayer and Fasting
An Investment in the Lives of 3000
Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church
The following Devotions were inspired through the reading
The Prophetic Evangelist: The Living Legacy of Harry Denman
Excerpts from Prophetic Evangelist: The Living Legacy of Harry Denman, © 1993 Upper Room. Used
with permission.
50 Golden Days Resources: Holston Conference Audio/Visual Library Catalog
Holston Conference Audio/Visual Library Catalog
Revised September 2009
Some Resources Related to Evangelism
A MIRACLE IN CHINA American Bible Society
China…the largest and most populated nation on earth. For the last half‐century it was distant and
closed…but there is a new China emerging that is eager to accept the challenges of the future. And many
Chinese men and women have sought the Word of God to help guide them through their changing world.
“A Miracle in China documents this spiritual awakening by visiting Christians in churches and in meeting
points throughout the country and sharing in the unprecedented effort that is happening in China today.
A PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN Derek V Smith; AD; Book and Study Guide ‐ August House 2008;
A Purpose Under Heaven is a page turner that’s hard to put down. In less than two hours, you get a sense
of just how much technology impacts our lives, a vivid reminder of the need to stay involved and
connected with our family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
ACOLYTES, USHERS, AND GREETERS 31 min; UMCom; 2007
Three‐part resource that provides invaluable help for training those who are called to assist with worship.
AFRICAN YOUTH AND STUDENTS: The Impact of Christian Witness 15 min; guide; jh‐ad; Presbyterian
Church; 1991
Filmed at the All‐Africa Youth and Students Assembly, attended by young people from North America and
Africa. Highlights the role of the church in students’ lives, their role in the church, and global economic
issues with major impact on life in Africa.
AGAINST GREAT ODDS 30 min; guide; ad; Vision Video; 1992
Story of triumph of the African Meserete Christian Church in Ethiopia. Driven underground by the
Communist government, the church grew tenfold in ten years to a membership of 50,000. Tells how
small groups meeting in homes revitalized the church with courage, vision and faithfulness.
ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST 9 min; ad; General Board of Discipleship; 1997
To be used with the Lay Witness Mission Handbook‐ “Come and See”. Helpful for churches who have not
had a Lay Witness Mission; explains the goals, potential results, and the importance of thorough planning,
preparation and prayer.
ASSIMILATING NEW MEMBERS 120 min; ad; guide; 2000; Alban Institute
Based on Alban and other studies that led to the book The Inviting Church these tapes identify the
common characteristics of congregations that are warm, inviting and growing.
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BEYOND 30 SECONDS ‐ DEVELOPING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY guide; ad; UMCom; 2003
A seven‐session video curriculum for small groups. Used with to the Igniting Ministry Media Campaign.
BUILDING CHURCH AND COMMUNITY MINISTRIES 30 min; guide; ad; 1996
A “how to” package for small rural churches interested in revitalizing their congregations through
cooperative ministry.
CAN WE TALK…? DVD; 2005 United Methodist Communications
Since 1972, The United Methodist Church has struggled with a variety of understandings of this topic as it
relates to who we are as faithful Christians. Recently, church legislators strongly encouraged its agency
on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns to develop resources that help United Methodists talk with
civility about their different positions on homosexuality in an open atmosphere where unity and
understanding could grow. This DVD is one of those resources.
Christianity’s Family Tree, What Other Christians Believe and Why, Adam Hamilton
DVD, Study Book and Pastor’s Guide with CD‐Rom; Abingdon Press; 2007
In these video presentations, Adam Hamilton presents a welcoming, inspiring vision of eight Christian
denominations and faith traditions. Comparing the Christian family to our own extended families, he
contends that each denomination has a unique, valuable perspective to offer on the Christian faith. For
each group, he gives a brief history, outlines major beliefs, and describes some things we can learn from
that tradition to strengthen our own Christian faith. Church and Ministry/Church Life/Ecumenism
Session 1: Orthodxy 17:58
Session 2: Catholicism 17:02
Session 3: Lutheranism 18:12
Session 4: Presbyterianism 14:07
Session 5: Anglicanism 16:19
Session 6: Baptists 15:39
Session 7: Pentecostalism 16:28
Session 8: Methodism 16:46
CHUCK BRADLEY: series four videos, 30 min each; guide; ad; Church Growth
Increase commitment and involvement in the outreach and growth of your church with the lessons of this
series.
1. But I’m Just A Layman. God needs us to use our time, talents and skills to serve others.
2. For the Love of Pete The most fruitful opportunities for evangelism are among our unchurched
relatives, friends, neighbors and associates. These contacts present a natural vehicle for God’s love to be shared.
3. Possibility Sunday School Help your Sunday School staff realize their part in a growing
Sunday School program committed to building disciples.
4. See You Sunday? Shows how important it is for church members to make visitors and new members feel
welcomed, accepted, wanted and loved.
CHURCH IN A CHANGING CULTURE Five 60 min sessions; guide; ad; Word Ministries; 1994
George Barna leads this complete video seminar. Material includes 3 videos, text, supplementary text
and reproducible notebook.
1. Strategic Ministry
2. Dynamics of a User Friendly Church
3. Discovering God’s Vision for Your Church’s Ministry
4. Pastoral Leadership in the Church
5. Understanding and Reaching the Unchurched
CLOWN MINISTRY: Floyd Shaffer Collection 3 videos; oe‐ad; Mass Media; 1979
As Socataco the Clown, Lutheran pastor Shaffer uses timeless symbols and antics to help us see our
lives and faith in new ways. His nonverbal parables challenge the dehumanization of our society and
celebrate the power of compassion and community.
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1. CLOWN IS BORN 15 min. Socataco, who sees every person as a neighbor, tries to help the
neglected and exploited. Although his kind deeds bring joy to others, he is rejected and cast
aside. But then he meets a welcoming congregation of clowns and joins them in a colorful and
moving celebration.
2. CLOWN MINISTRY KIT 93 min; multiple sessions; handbook. Discover how your youth
group can reach out with a clown ministry…taught by the nation’s leading expert, Floyd
Shaffer. The step‐by‐step leader’s guide has everything needed to get started: “Basics‐
Creating Your Clown”; “Powerful Clown‐Ministry Tips”; “Clowning in Your Community”;
“Practical Ideas for Church Clowning”.
3. MARK OF THE CLOWN 15 min; Socataco demonstrates the ministry of the clown as he
encounters a passive Sunday “audience” and helps to transform it into a worshipping
community.
CONFRONTING THE CONTROVERSIES 105 min; ad; guide; Abingdon Press; 2005
Adam Hamilton leads seven 15 minute small group lessons that explore from a biblical perspective, some
of the most challenging topics of our time: the separation of church and state, creation and evolution in
the public schools, the death penalty, euthanasia, prayer in public schools, abortion and homosexuality.
DISCOVERING THE FUTURE, series of 3, 30‐40 min each; guide; ad; Charthouse; 1991
1. The Business of Paradigms Joel barker helps viewers to understand how paradigms
(the rules we take for granted) become barriers to new ideas, opportunities and solutions.
Suggests ways to unlock resistance to change and break out of “The way we’ve always
done it”.
2. The Power of Vision Designed to help viewers see how a powerful vision of the future
can; provide meaning and direction to the present; help improve the quality of decision
making; eliminate feelings of powerlessness; and help focus on goals and achieve results.
3. Paradigm Pioneers Joel Barker defines pioneers as risk takers ‐ settlers are prudent
followers. In today’s world the settlers are at risk! In this video he outlines the
characteristics and activities of a pioneer. Helps viewers understand the needs and
benefits of pioneering leadership.
EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE FOR MINISTRY 22 min; ad; Princeton Theological Seminary; 1995
Edward White, senior consultant for the Alban Institute, identifies obstacles to dynamic discipleship.
EVANGELISM ACTION PAC 45 min; guide; ad; Abingdon; 1992
Effective methods that encourage people who visit your worship service to return a second and third time.
Excellent resource for Evangelism or Worship Committee. Second part of tape provides training for calling on first
time visitors.
FAITH SHARING: Dynamic Christian Witnessing By Invitation ( REVISED & EXPANDED ) 68 min;
guide; adult; Cokesbury; 1996
Morris and Fox have revised and expanded their tried and proven strategy for outreach. Forward by Maxie
Dunham. George Morris and Eddie Fox lead this study to help persons use life situations for evangelism
and trust their own faith story to help persons understand Christian faith and commit their lives to Christ.
1. Overview, “Why share faith?”, faith‐partnerships.
2. Commitment, discipleship, barriers to faith sharing, obedience, spiritual disciplines.
3. Evangelism, telling our story, words and deeds.
4. Being sensitive to context and person, hearing your call to ministry.
5. Building strengths, inviting and incorporation into community, being intentional.
6. The Holy Spirit empowers lives.
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FAITH STEPPING STONES 45 min; ad; guide; Creative Outlet Video; 1995
Designed to challenge and equip church leaders to turn their church into a place that celebrates each
child, gifts to each family; and calls parents back to the promise made at baptism. Features 8 stepping
stones to faith. Includes workshop model.
FIVE PRACTICES OF FRUITFUL CONGREGATION Robert Schnase; HS – Adult; 5 DVDS one for each of the Five
Practices, One Leaders Guide and 5 workbooks; 2008 Abington Press.
1. Radical Hospitality
2. Extravagant Generosity
3. Risk‐Taking Mission and Service
4. International Faith Development
5. Passionate Worship
The focus on the Five Practices is a Congregation Wide Initiative that has been prepared in response to the
requests of many pastors and lay leaders. At the heart of the initiative is a five week congregation‐wide intense
focus of learning, and practice. This series is an eye opener, and makes us look at changes, and no longer using, Its
Always Been This Way.
FOUNDATIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP 124 min, nine 10‐min segments; ad; Gen. Bd.
Discipleship; 1992
Each portion relates to specific work area. Segments should be used separately. Designed to guide local church
leaders in determining: What is the task of the church? What is my job in the church? How do I do this job? What
resources are available to help me?
1. Primary Task of Local Church
2. Organizing for Ministry
3. Christian Education
4. Covenant Discipleship
5. Evangelism: Sharing the Good News
6. Lay Leader & Pastor: Modeling Team Ministry
7. Raising Prayer to a Lifestyle
8. Stewardship
9. Working on Worship
GO FOR IT! How to Share Your Faith four 30 min segments; guide; ad; Gateway Films; 1993
Film shows why sharing Christ is important and provides helpful guidance on how to get started.
Bible‐based advice on how to witness to friends, family, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances.
GROWTH FOR SMALLER CHURCHES, 2 videos, six 90 min sessions; guide; ad.
Church Growth; 1990
1. Twelve Growth Principles for the Smaller Church;
2. Effective Ministry for the Smaller Church
GROWTH PLUS: The Vision 45 min, 2 sessions; guide; ad; Discipleship Resources; 1987
This approach to evangelism and church growth teaches that new conversion is only the beginning of a continuing
process of holistic growth.
HELPING CHURCHES GROW 26 min; ad;
Practical ways your church can reach the unchurched.
HOPE FOR THE HURTING 83 min; ad; Christian Family Video
Max Lucado, radio evangelist, takes viewers through the last days of Jesus’ life on earth reflecting on how we can
emulate His character in the trying times of our lives. Reproducible worksheet.
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HOPE HAS ITS REASONS 2 vols. 90 min ea; ad; guide; Dallas Christian Video; 1998
Does it really make a difference to follow Christ? Explore what it really
means to be a follower of Christ.
Vol. 1 Facing the Mess Vol. 4 Wounded Healers
Vol. 2 Freedom to Live Vol. 5 The Process of Change
Vol. 3 The Power to Change Vol. 6 The Battle
I GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING, series 2 videos, seven 30‐min. sessions; guide, jh‐sh;
Creative Communications; 1990
Complete package for an effective youth evangelism training course.
“Loving Others With the Good News”
“Telling Your Story”
“Developing Your Prayer Strategy”
“Pursuing An Effective Quiet Time”
“Building Relationships”
“Communicating Christ to Others
“Helping Christians Grow”
I HAVE DECIDED TO LIVE LIKE A BELIEVER, series 5 videos, 30‐min. each; guide; jh‐ad;
Faith Films, 1984. Tony Campolo evangelism series.
1. LIVING WITH YOURSELF. Christians must be committed to following Christ before they can demonstrate
what they believe.
2. LIVING WITH YOUR SPOUSE singleness, work and marriage as means for servanthood.
3. LIVING WITH YOUR FAMILY. Parents’ responsibility to encourage children in living the Christian life.
4. LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY. Community ministry and working with others.
5. LIVING IN THE WORLD. In a world of injustice…serve in His name.
IGNITING MINISTRY: EXPRESION PACKAGE DVD/VHS/CD‐ROM; UMCom2005
Each commercial produced for the United Methodist Church begins with an eternal Scriptural truth, illustrated
with modern imagery and language. These advertising spots, designed to appeal to thoughtful, intentional spiritual
“seekers” 25‐54 years old, provide the basic themes for complementary advertising for other media, such as radio,
billboards, and newspapers.
Volume 1. The Journey
Volume 2. The Gift
Volume 3. Prayer
Volume 4. Faith
IGNITING MINISTRY PLANNING KIT 3 vols; ad; guide; 2001; UMCom
Your Hospitality and Media Planner for use with the Official Media Campaign of the United Methodist Church.
INVITING AND ENGAGING CHURCH Five 13 min programs; ad; McEwan Prod;
Dr Pat Keifert examines Biblical texts that suggest new understandings about the identity of the church in a
post‐Christian world.
1. The Inviting and Engaging Church Draws upon church leaders to define the emerging world in which the
church will operate, and to specify the witness tasks.
2. A Tent in the Wilderness Focus on ministry in small groups
3. A Temple for All Nations The church as a welcoming, open community of diverse seekers ‐ techniques for
effective hospitality.
4. A Public Well of Eternal Life Center on outreach and mission into the stranger’s territory.
5. A Table on the Way The growing phenomenon of revolving door churches. Ministry to those who are on
their way to somewhere else.
JUST DO IT! Share Jesus With A Friend 55 min; WCLF‐TV; 1992
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To emphasize that witnessing can be fun, easy, simple and enjoyable. To take the seemingly authentic reasons
most Christians do not witness and replace the reasons they cannot with reasons they can. “Just Do It!” is not
preachy but helpful, not heavy but light, spiced with pictorial visuals, and a touch of humor. It has been church
tried and tested.
JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM, by Bill Hybels, Zondervon, This dynamic four‐week experience is designed
to equip and inspire your entire church to participate in that same pattern of grace‐giving by taking simple walks
across rooms – leaving your circles of comfort and extending hands of care, compassion, and inclusiveness to
people who might need a touch of God’s love today. Kit includes DVD, CD‐ROM, and book. Adults
LEADING EDGE‐CHURCH LEADERSHIP, George Barna series of 4, 60 min each; ad; guide; Gospel Light; 1996
1. How To Turn Your Church Around Overcoming barriers to growth and bringing new life to your church
2. Ten Myths About Evangelism Surprising insights on how to reach a changing generation
3. Trends That Are Changing Your Ministry World America is either facing moral anarchy or spiritual
revival
4. What Evangelistic Churches Do “Ultimate 12 step program”‐the common traits of churches that reach
people for Christ
LEADING GROUPS OF VOLUNTEERS 45 min; Communicating Services, Inc; 1994
A video‐based training program for volunteers who lead other volunteers. The program is divided into three
sections: The leader’s role before, during and after meetings.
LEADING IN THE SPIRIT: Learning Leaders in the Church 59 min; ad; guide; Discipleship Resources;
1997
Use this resource to celebrate and encourage spiritual leadership in congregations. Designed to be used with study
groups for clergy and/or laity, church retreats, and training sessions for congregational leaders.
Divided into four fifteen minute sessions:
1. Embracing Creation: Vision and Creativity
2. Sowing Seeds: Spirituality and Developing the Ministry of the Baptized
3. Gathering Gifts: Identity as Leader and Discovery of Gifts
4. Renewing the Body of Christ: Integrity/Wholeness and Continuous Learning
LISTEN TO THE CHILDREN: Putting Children and Their Families First 35 min; guide; ad; Gen.Bd.
Discipl.;
1996 Takes a look at children‐their needs, fears and hopes. Highlights children in four congregations‐at Kingston,
Jamaica; Flint, Michigan; Nashville, Tennessee; and Rabun County, Georgia.
LIVING THE GOOD LIFE TOGETHER ‐ HOSPITALITY: risking welcome
A Study of Christian Character in Community
What does it mean to give and receive welcome? What can we learn from it? Why is it risky? In this study,
David O. Jenkins helps us to understand why hospitality is basic to our lives as Christians. Topics include:
Receiving Welcome; Risking Welcome; Risking Worship; Risking Justice. This kit includes: a study and reflection
guide; DVD; leader guide. (Christian Living/Spiritual Growth/General)
LIVING INTO THE NEW WORLD‐How Cultural Trends Affect Your Congregation 40 min; ad; guide; 2000;
Alban Institute ‐ Alban senior consultant Gil Rendle describes key trends in our culture that affect the work of faith
communities. Leaders are helped to understand the changes in core values that affect their ministry
LIVING THE UNITED METHODIST WAY Duke Divinity School; sh‐ad; SEJ ‐ 2008 ‐3 DVD set of the
presentations, that were heard at the SEJ in July 2008. These DVDs are teaching moments. The set includes:
* Teaching Session #1 ‐ The United Methodist Way ‐ Dr. Randy Maddox
* Teaching Session #2 ‐ Mission and Evangelism ‐ Dr. Laceye Warner,
Dr. W Stephen Gunter and Dr. Edgardo Colon‐Emeric
* Teaching Session #3 ‐ Teaching and Preaching ‐ Bishop Kenneth Carder
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LONG JOURNEY TO HOPE 32 min; guide; ad; Seraphin Prod; 1995
Part 1: The story of a couple who went from being children of the church to pursuing spiritual development and
social action outside the church. Through personal tragedy they find their way back to the church.
Part 2: A discussion of what the church needs to do to attract and retain people of the baby boomer generation.
LOVE OUT LOUD, Simply Youth Ministry ‐ Want to motivate your students to take Jesus outside the walls
of the church? Then take them on this 6‐week small group video journey with Doug Fields. In Love Out Loud,
Doug Challenges students to put their faith into action in ways that are meaningful, practical and godly. And with
everything already written up (and tested!) for you, this is an easy‐to‐implement way for you to help students
embrace living a gospel lifestyle, not just talking about it. You’ll get everything you need to run this as a small
group. Lessons include: Love Out Loud; Love Risks; Love Serves; Love Multiplies; Love Forgives; and Love Lasts.
DVD; Youth
MAKING SUNDAY WORSHIP WORK four 30 min. programs; guide; ad; Franciscan; 1988
An example of a congregation that revitalized its liturgy.
1. Introduction and Ministries of Welcome Decorating the worship space; welcoming worshippers;
animating the congregation; and greeting the people.
2. Ministries of Music The role of congregational and choral music in worship and prayer.
3. Ministries of the Word Proclaiming the Scriptures with power and conviction.
4. Ministries of the Table Communion liturgy and symbols.
MOBILIZING CHURCH VOLUNTEERS, series of 2 videos; 70 & 85 min; guide; ad; Volunteer Management
Assoc. 1988.
Practical ideas for recruitment and training volunteers.
1. “Phenomenon of Pillars and Pew Sitters”.
“Reasons Why People Say “Yes” to Volunteering”;
“Exercise: Volunteers in my Congregation
Worksheet; “Why People Don’t Volunteer”
“Six Reasons Pew Sitters Give for Not Getting Involved”
“Demographics and Implications”
2. “Four Principles To Help Get Pew Sitters Involved”;
“Leadership Styles”
“Three Common Characteristics of Good Leaders”;
“Creativity: Management Functions (includes ‘Goal’ and ‘Objectives’)”
“Exercise: ‘Write one specific, measurable, achievable, compatible objective for your program.”
‘Discovering My Gifts’ worksheet”
MOMENTUM FOR LIFE Michael Slaughter ‐ SH – AD; Participant DVD/ Journal & Paper Workbook; In the
journey of life and faith, most good things don’t happen magically or suddenly. They are the result of
predetermined desire, an ongoing commitment to work toward the desired goal or outcome. What keeps us
moving forward? Momentum. Abington Press 2008
THE ONCE AND FUTURE CHURCH 75 min; ad; guide; 2001; Alban Institute
Three 25‐minute segments present a provocative look at the church past and present, the culture in
which the church ministers today, and the shape of the new mission frontier. Excellent for use with board
members, planning teams, and adult classes.
PENTECOST JOURNEY‐ A Planning Guide for Hispanic Ministries 93 min; ad’ guide; General Board of
Discipleship; 1999
This video is designed to help congregations fulfill Christ’s mandate to make disciples, with particular focus on
helping local churches understand issues related to developing ministry with the Hispanics. The guiding principle is
the vision of Pentecost in which the uniqueness of the Hispanic cultures is affirmed as ministry is developed.
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THE PERMISSION GIVING CHURCH: SACRED COWS series of two, 113 and 108 min; ad; guide; 21st
Century; 1997
Churches function best when ministry is allowed to occur anywhere, any time by anyone. This workshop focuses
on how to identify and defeat the sacred cows so that contributions can be made to the Body of Christ without
having to ask permission first.
POWER OF IMAGE 37 min; 5 sessions; guide; jh‐ad; Mass Media; 1989
From the sacramental dimension of images in ancient times to Hollywood’s manipulation of the subconscious,
images flood our senses. Media experts help the viewer make connections and discover new insights.
“Media and Culture”
“Sacramental Image”
“Potential of Television”
“Selling the Message”
“World‐wide Impact of Media“
QUESTIONS OF FAITH I; series of 6 videos; 30‐min each; guide; adult; UMCom; 1988
Several prominent thinkers from varied fields share their thoughts on faith issues. Motivates viewers to consider
and discuss these issues.
1. WHO IS GOD? What is your image of God?
2. WHAT GOOD IS PRAYER? What happens when you pray?
3. WHAT’S GOD GOT TO DO WITH EVIL? How can a good God permit evil?
4. WHAT’S BEING GOOD GOOD FOR? If I’m good, can I expect rewards?
5. WHO NEEDS ORGANIZED RELIGION? How do you deal with religious differences?
6. WHAT MATTERS ANYWAY? What sustains your faith? What does it mean to be fully human?
QUESTIONS OF FAITH II, series of 6 videos; 30 min each; guide; adult; UMCom; 1989
1. WHO IS JESUS? What does one have to believe about Jesus to be a Christian?
2. WHAT’S THE USE OF THE BIBLE? What authority does the Bible have?
3. WHO’S GOT THE TRUTH? How do you deal with people who believe differently from you?
4. HOW DO WE RIGHT THE WRONG? How does faith affect your view of social issues?
5. WHAT GIVES YOU FAITH? How did you come into your faith? How do you sustain and share your faith?
6. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH? What does life after death mean to you?
QUESTIONS OF FAITH FOR YOUTH, series of 6 videos, 20 min each; jh‐sh; UMCom; 1992
High school and college students and young adults respond to questions on issues of faith.
1. What’s God Like?
2. How Do You Deal With Drugs?
3. What is Sin?
4. What’s A Friend?
5. What About Sex?
6. What Can the Church Do About the Future?
REACH OUT TO SINGLES 30 min; guide; adult; Presbyterian; 1984
Three leaders in Singles ministry explore these issues: stereotypes, myths, needs, language, and who single adults
are.
SCRIPTURES ALIVE! series of 30 min videos; guide; ad; UMCom; 1994
Challenges viewers to think and make decisions about issues, culture and news facing our world today. Each
program includes biblical stories and theological insights.
SERIES I
1. God Prefers the Poor What the Bible says about the poor and downtrodden people of the world
2. Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? The ‘Historical Jesus’, what really happened?
3. Violence and the Faith The relationship between the violence of the Bible and efforts toward a non‐violent
society
9
4. Many Religions, One God? Different religions, faiths, beliefs and practices in Bible times and today.
5. Religion and Politics The Bible and the conservative‐liberal political debate.
6. Graying of the Church Growing old in Bible times and today.
SERIES II
1. Miracles: Special Moments in Ordinary Lives. Outlines characteristics, biblical descriptions and
expectations of miracles.
2. Dreams, Visions and Other Talks With God Explores the possible sacred nature of dreams, and the ways
in which dreams, visions, and hallucinations differ.
3. 2001 ‐ A Christian Rapture? Looks at the theory that the world will end with the new millennium and asks
hard questions about the end of time.
4. Checking Out Early: Suicide Examines biblical accounts of suicide, and questions the meaning and
significance of suicide.
5. Healing the Sick ‐ Health Care and the Bible Searches the scriptures for new perspectives on the current
issue of health care.
6. How Your Faith Can Survive Belonging to the Church Questions whether the church can get in the way
of faith.
SERIES III
1. Improving Life or Playing God? Explores major ethical questions about genetic engineering.
2. Nuclear Energy Searches for biblical guidance concerning questions, issues and fears surrounding this
controversial topic.
3. Capital Punishment Explores biblical ideas about the death penalty and searches for new understanding of
this issue.
4. Terrorism: Sacred and Secular Explores biblical stories of terrorism and discusses responses to violence.
5. Taking Care of Business: Biblical Morality in the Workplace Looks for moral guidelines the Bible offers
for the corporate world.
5. Religious Coalitions and the Challenge to Faith Explores current attempts by conservative Christian
organizations to change the face of US politics, and their effect of the faithful.
SCRIPTURES ALIVE V series of six, 30 min each; ad; UMCom 1996
1. Teach Us To Pray: Biblical Models of Prayer
2. Spreading The Word: Biblical Models of Evangelism
3. Dead Sea Scrolls: Fact or Fiction
4. E.T., UFO’S and Other Questions of Faith
5. Relating to Our Environment: Ecology & The Bible
Resurrection: Physical, Spiritual None of the Above
SEEDS 30 min; guide; ye‐ad; Mediascope Prod; 1992
Storyteller Jim Bergwall visits a farm and discusses the different ways Jesus used seeds to illustrate a point.
Important point include: Seed often seem to be disguised; Seeds always hatch the next generation from which
they came; Seeds can be dormant for many years. Rich and challenging material.
SPEAKING OF JESUS, curriculum series 8 lessons; guide; ad; 2100 Productions; 1995
Host Mack Stiles provides practical training in sharing your faith. Includes text and discussion guide.
1. Communication Contrasts: the learning curve of sharing your faith.
2. The Christian Job Description: the essentials of evangelism.
3. The Christian Ambassador: the marks of a representative.
4. Adventures in Immigration: taking risks to tell the truth.
5. Beyond Comfort Zones: hints for breaking barriers.
6. Listen Up: learn to be attentive and relevant.
7. The Politics of Apologetics: navigating through questions and answers.
8. Windows to Jesus: telling your story.
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STAINED IMAGES: Christianity‐Looking Beyond the Stereotypes 25 min; guide; jh‐sh; Intervarsity; 1989
Negative images from church politics, media reports and Sunday School experiences influence our impressions of
Christianity. In this video people talk honestly about Christianity and Christians and explore these issues and
misconceptions: Christians as hypocrites, Christians wanting to convert others, the reward of “heaven” for being
good, etc.
STRAY 15 min; guide; ye‐adult; Teleketics; 1971 Award winner.
A modern parable of a field trip to the zoo and the driver’s search for a lost child.
TALE OF “O”: On Being Different 27 min; guide; adult; Goodmeasure Inc; 1979
A training tool for managing diversity. Video is a portion of total training program. One of the most effective videos
on diversity ever made.
TALKING ABOUT GOD series of 7, 20‐25 min ea; ad; guide; UMCOM 1998
This series raises important questions about God and provides responses from a variety of people who think about
God a lot: theologians, pastors, a rabbi, a teacher of disabled children and others. Some of the names you may
recognize –Marcus Borg, Burton Visotzky, Janet Wolf, James Cone, Bill Hinson and more.
Vol. 1What’s Your Experience of God? Vol. 4 Where Is GodYour Life?
Vol. 2. How Do You Talk About God? Vol. 5 What Is God Doing?
Vol. 3 Who Are You to God? Vol. 6 Whose Side Is GoOn?
Vol. 7 How Can Believers Live Together?
THEY LIED TO US 45 min; jh‐ad; Gospel Films; 1985
This evangelical film looks at the conflict between the world’s values and God’s values. Particular emphasis on the
influence of media: television, movies, music and print. Asks: What price do we pay for popularity and happiness?
TRANSFORMING CONGREGATIONS series of two, 92 and 84 min; ad; guide; 21st Century; 1997
A six session study designed to help church leaders see the basic changes occurring in the world and the basic
ministries and structures that are transforming declining congregations.
The Reality of Change
Future Active Leadership
The Role of Laity in the Church of the Future
Organizing Around Small Group Ministries
Worship for the Seeker Sensitive Church
Where Is Our Church Going?
TUG OF WAR 16 min; guide; oe‐jh; Mass Media; 1986
Modern version of parable of Prodigal Son. This is a parable of temptation and forgiveness in which a young
runaway finds more adventure than he can handle and a greater lesson than he ever expected. No dialog ‐ story is
told through action and symbol.
VALUING DIVERSITY, series of 5 videos 30 min each; guide; ad; Griggs Prod; 1991
A workshop model designed to provide understanding of problems among people who are different; generate
sensitivity to differences; enable people to value differences; and remove barriers to working together. Secular.
1. CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY A documentary film about change. Senior executives share why they are
“champions of diversity” and how they change their own behavior and lead their organizations in change. Special
emphasis is given to personal growth, changing demographics and the benefits of diversity.
2. COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES Dramatically shows how misunderstandings result from different
styles of communication. It also addresses the discomfort people feel when dealing with issues of race and gender,
and suggests ways to communicate more effectively.
3. DIVERSITY AT WORK Discusses upward mobility in the multicultural organization. Dramatic illustrations
show how stereotypes and actual differences affect each employee’s ability to succeed. Diverse individuals present
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strategies for employee self‐development, team‐work, and relationship building with supervisors and peers who
are different from themselves.
6. CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY
7. PROFILES IN CHANGE
VEGGIE TALES 3 thirty min videos; pr‐ye; Big Idea Productions; 1994
Each video includes two related stories teaching biblical values for dealing with everyday issues.
Animated vegetables are appealing and entertaining.
Are You My Neighbor?
Story of Flibber‐o‐loo
The Gourds Must Be Crazy!
VISITOR 30 min; guide; jh‐adult; Creative Communications; 1986
Based on a Tolstoy short story, a contemporary retelling of Martin the Cobbler, who has lost interest in life, God,
and the people around him. An old friend helps fan the last flickering spark of faith and assures him that God is
coming to see him. Martin then reaches out to people in need who become channels of God’s grace.
WELCOME THE STRANGER 20 min; ye‐adult; Family Films; 1987; Puppetry
Nanny and Isaiah portray how all strangers are welcome at the manger. Two homeless children search for a place
where they will feel wanted.
WELCOMING THE CHILDREN 24 min; guide; adult; Friendship Press; 1994
Utilizing their own resources and partnering with other groups. Designed to encourage and inspire all people who
care about children. 1994 mission study resource.
WHAT SIZE SHOULD WE BE? Visioning the In‐Between Church 96 min; The Alban Institute; 2000
This video incorporates and expands on many of the ideas in Alice Mann’s book The In‐Between Church:
Navigating Size Transitions in Congregations. The video provides congregational leaders with a provocative,
comprehensive guide to the theory of size transition. In addition, Mann outlines steps for exploring what has been
happening in a congregation and possible solutions that will help members discover and carry out the ministry to
which God is calling them.
WHAT’S RIGHT WITH THE CHURCH? 60 min, 3 segments; guide; adult; UMCom; 1986
William Willimon uses a warm, inviting and personal style to present a lively defense of the church, presenting an
analysis of the role of the church in our society.
1. “Ways the Church Makes Us Uncomfortable (and Should)” Jesus’ expectations of us as disciples.
2. “Good Things that Happen to Us in Worship” discusses activities and excesses in the church; what Jesus
might say about our churches; and how the church reinforces the self‐esteem of Christians.
3. “How Does the Church Impact the World?” is religion a private matter; does the church accommodate
itself to the world; what political causes should Christians be involved in; and what is your church doing right now
for the old, young, poor and retarded?
WHAT SIZE SHOULD WE BE? Visioning the In‐Between Church 90 min; ad; guide; 2000; Alban Institute
Alban senior consultant Alice Mann helps congregations to recognize six possible size transitions‐three resulting
from growth and three resulting from contraction and ways to navigate these changes.
WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS MY NAME 17 min; guide; adult; Discipleship Resources; 1985
Evokes a vision, a hope and a dream of reaching out to unchurched persons. Celebrates the new life in Christ which
Sunday School programs can offer those in need of spiritual growth, support, and community.
THE WIDENING CIRCLE 26 min; guide; adult; UMCom; 1994
Shows how churches can involve physically and mentally challenged people in the full life of the congregation. It
shows two UM congregations that have innovative programs that embrace persons with handicapping conditions.
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WIDEN YOUR CIRCLE 5 min; ad; UMCom; 1995
Five 30‐second promotional spots for the United Methodist Church. Good ideas for promoting your church.
Includes one in Spanish.
WILL OUR CHILDREN HAVE FAITH? 90 min, 3 segments; adult; Argus Films; 1983
John Westeroff explains how faith is nurtured by family and the community of faith.
1. “Remembering Who We Are” What is a Christian? What is faith? How can adults learn to live into their
baptism in order to further their faith?
2. “Made Not Born: Life in the Church” How can the church become more faith‐filled? New images of the
church as a faith filled community. Christmas, worship and the church as family.
3. “Pilgrims: Living into our Baptism” Who helped you to be a Christian? How do you pray and listen best?
Where you are in your pilgrimage and what help do you need to live into your baptism? Three pathways to God.
Importance of solitude and silence for the soul.
WITNESSES 58 min; guide; jh‐adult; Gospel Films; 1990
In this dramatic, yet very personal video, actor/author Curt Cloninger portrays eight adverse characters ‐ witnesses
‐ who knew Jesus.
WORLD GOD LOVES 38 min; guide; jh‐adult; 2100 Productions; 1993
Eight short segments describe cultures, religions, and people throughout the world. Message is the need for
Christians to reach out to those who have not heard of Jesus Christ. Good Confirmation resource. Segments focus
on:
1. World Overview 4 min
2. World Religions 3 min
3. Hinduism 4 min
4. Buddhism 3 min
5. Islam 5 min
6. Children and Youth 4 min
7. The Poor 10 min
8. Urbanization 4 min
DAN WAKEFIELD: Returning ‐ Wakefield reads from his autobiographical account of his journey from
agnosticism/atheism to the restoration of his Christian faith.
YOU CAN’T DO THAT IN CHURCH 24 min; guide; sh‐adult; UMCom; 1984
People on the street are asked to “name something you can’t do in church”. Helps congregations define their
communities – not on the basis who already comes to church or who they would like to come – but on the basis of
those for whom they must take responsibility.
Revised September 2009
Holston Conference Audio Visual Library References_ evangelism_Download Here
50 Golden Days Resources: Fifty Characteristics of Disciple-Making Congregations
Fifty Characteristics of Disciple-Making Congregations
by Dean McIntyre
At The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, we invest a lot of time and energy in
thinking and talking about what it means to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world. We also study congregations that we think are successfully
engaged in that primary task. We recognize that disciples are not made at General Conference,
in any general agency office, or in any bishop’s cabinet meeting. Disciples are made in the
local church, and the rest of us assist in that primary task in a variety of ways. Through
offering training events and developing resources for use across the denomination, the General
Board of Discipleship works with local church and annual conference leaders to help
congregations in their disciple-making efforts.
In a recent e-mail message, I asked the entire staff of our agency, “What are the characteristics
or activities of a local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged
in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world?” I asked my colleagues
not to respond with explanations, philosophy, theology, or theories. I really wanted short,
specific, and practical answers to the question. There were nearly 100 responses with some
duplicates. I have eliminated the duplicate responses and ordered the replies under different
areas: Worship and Hospitality, Ministry of the Laity, Mission-Outreach-Evangelism, Nurture,
Christian Faith and Life, Education and Training, and Small Groups. Similar responses with
slightly different content have been grouped together under one response.
I invite you to consider your own congregation in light of these characteristics. I also invite
you to send additional characteristics that don’t appear on this list to music@gbod.org.
Worship and Hospitality
A local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged in making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world . . .
1. Engages in vital worship that helps worshipers encounter the presence, love, grace,
call, forgiveness, comfort, power, and peace of God.
2. Welcomes visitors.
a. Visitors become active members.
b. There is an open door policy. The congregation sees itself as a hospital for
sinners, not a museum of saints.
c. Empty seat and open door.
3. Worships with eyes open to needs and circumstances around the church (with the
intent of being the embodiment of Christ wherever needed).
4. Keeps the light of Christ out front like a beacon.
5. Offers numerous points of entry into congregational life.
6. Loves and affirms those whose lives don’t measure up to conventional standards of
intelligence, beauty, success, or morality.
7. Encourages and affirms diversity.
8. Shares Communion every time it meets in worship.
9. Is small enough to welcome and large enough to serve others.
Ministry of the Laity
A local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged in making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world . . .
10. Emphasizes that all are called to ministry through baptism.
11. Stresses impact awareness. Leaders within the congregation have a plan for growth
and development, and they qualitatively measure the impact (value) of what they do
in faith formation.
12. Has an outward focus. People do not exist to serve the institutional church; rather, the
institution exists to equip, train, and support people to be the church in the world.
13. Ensures that empowerment isn’t just a buzzword, but central to a truly “gifts-based”
ministry where the clergy’s gifts are counted equally with those of laity to provide a
foundation for leadership based in gifts rather than structure.
a. Equips people to discover and use their spiritual gifts in ministry.
b. Assists people in identifying spiritual gifts.
14. Delegates ministry responsibility to visit members who are sick, hospitalized, in
nursing homes, or convalescing at home.
Mission-Outreach-Evangelism
A local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged in making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world . . .
15. Helps members see that their primary place of ministry is beyond the church walls.
a. Ensures that the church is involved in the community in which it resides.
b. Serves the community in practical ways to convince people of God’s love for
the world.
c. Values community.
d. Gets out in the community and REALLY reaches and accepts people where
they are.
e. Reaches out to others in the community.
f. Leans into the hope of God that God’s mission is bigger than our own limited
sight/plan.
g. Believes that community matters.
h. Ushers each person into a safe place within community to grow faithfully.
i. Involves people in service and outreach (works of mercy).
16. Lives what it proclaims; extends its worship and witness to the community(ies)
outside its walls.
17. Engages members in local and global mission outreach.
18. Does more for others than for itself.
19. Reaches the lost
20. Witnesses
Nurture
A local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged in making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world . . .
21. Nurtures and equips people through vital worship, active small groups, and
challenging outreach opportunities.
22. Cares for one another.
23. Respects each person for being a child of God (not outward signs of power or
position).
24. Has leaders who know the names and faces of all members.
Christian Faith and Life
A local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged in making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world . . .
25. Provides opportunities for personal growth and spiritual formation of its members’
progressive journey.
There is a clear, mentored structure that moves people to ever deeper, broader
experiences of living and learning the Christian faith.
26. Helps people develop language for talking about God in their lives
27. Engages people “where they live” and starts the journey from that point;
Welcomes folks as they are.
28. Prays often (corporately and privately).
29. Helps people study the Bible and apply its truths to daily life.
30. Teaches people how to pray and encourages prayer;
Teaches formative spiritual practices, such as prayer and devotional study.
31. Practices spiritual disciplines, intentionally and corporately.
a. Practices the means of grace.
b. Equips and encourages people to practice spiritual disciplines (works of
piety).
32. Regularly makes clear, specific, and consistent assertions of beliefs.
33. Guides new converts into a personal relationship with God that creates holy,
righteous living.
34. Is authentic; walks the talk.
35. Practices good stewardship for all ages.
36. Encounters and is empowered by God in worship, in study and in action, and in all
the means of grace.
The church is more concerned with relating people to God in supporting Christian
community than it is with comparative statistics, profits, and safety margins.
37. Attends to justice and advocacy issues as well as mercy and compassion.
38. Exhibits the ability to think and act theologically.
39. Connects with God in everything it does.
40. Gathers as a community of faith and scatters as a community of hope.
41. Believes in asking questions and discerning answers together.
42. Makes certain that people know and experience God.
43. Believes that discipleship means more than membership.
44. Preaches, follows, and introduces Christ to others in a changing way.
45. Knows the theory behind faith development and human development (Kohlberg,
Paiget, etc.) and plans a systematic way of congregational life that moves people
along the progressions of faith and human development.
46. Clearly understands the fruits of the spirit, the importance of practicing faithful
disciplines, and holds people accountable for growth in and practice of faith.
Education and Training
A local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged in making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world . . .
47. Offers appropriate and effective age-level Christian education and spiritual formation.
a. Offers Bible-based Sunday school classes.
b. Offers Bible study; isn’t past-time; it’s shared praxis.
c. Teaches the faith.
d. Offers Bible study that is both deep and wide.
48. Engages conversations among children, youth, and adults in order to discuss (and
dive deeply) into lively conversation about faith, theology, ethics, moral behavior,
and so on.
Small Groups
A local United Methodist congregation that is actively and successfully engaged in making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world . . .
49. Offers small groups.
a. Offers content-oriented small groups.
b. Has class meetings or Covenant Discipleship groups.
c. Offers spiritual formation small groups.
d. Provides small-group settings for accountable discipleship.
e. Has small groups dedicated to study: Bible, church history, current affairs.
f. Expects participation in small groups that includes mutual accountability and
support for growing in love of God and neighbor.
50. Offers high commitment intimacy groups. (I’m avoiding using the term “small group”
as much as I can. Faith formation happens best in dialogic settings. Worship is
important, especially when it is focused on God [and not merely a tool for evangelism
or education], but discipling is an interactive process best handled in smaller
settings.)
• • • •
Dean McIntyre is the director of music resources for the General Board of Discipleship in
Nashville, Tennessee.
Copyright © 2004 The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, PO Box 340003,
Nashville TN 37203-0003. Telephone 877-899-2780, ext. 7070. E-mail address
WorshipCenter@gbod.org. Website: http://www.umcworship.org.
(This article and listing may be downloaded, reproduced, and used by United Methodists for
the purposes of study and discussion, provided that the copyright citation is included on each
copy made. It may not be published for profit or included on another website without further
permission.)
Posted 6-2-04
Fifty Characteristics of DiscipleMaking Congregations_Download Here
EVANGELISM RESOURCE LIST
EVANGELISM RESOURCE LIST
WEB RESOURCES:
Evangelistic Preaching Helps (archives page) — an occasional online resource that helps
individuals prepare sermons from an evangelistic perspective.
http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/articles.asp?loc_id=1101
The Faith Sharing Initiative — a strategy for training the churches laity in how to share
their faith. Rev. Royal Speidel provides training for the faith sharing initiative. [Email
rspeidel1@comcast.net ]
http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/fsparticipants.pdf
The Faith Sharing Initiative also is available in Spanish.
http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/elcompromiso.pdf
General Board of Discipleship Evangelism Web Site
http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/
Offer Them Christ – Holston Conference web site offering resources related to offering
Christ
http://holston.org/about/offer-them-christ/
Offering Christ Today (archives page) — a weekly online resource that provides helpful
tips on evangelism and offers suggested evangelism resources.
http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/articles.asp?loc_id=1100
Rethink Church Web Site
http://www.10thousanddoors.org/site/c.ruI4KbMRIvF/b.4877557/k.BF1F/Home.htm
http://www.umcom.org/site/c.mrLZJ9PFKmG/b.4696269/k.18F8/Rethink_Church__Wha
t_if_Church_was_a_Verb.htm
Stories for Survivors are Bible stories with discussion questions created for survivors of
disaster. The stories are told without extensive commentary in order to allow personal
and group discovery of the spiritual truths in each text that are most relevant to the needs
of people who are in crisis and transition.
http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/articles.asp?item_id=15243
PRINT and VIDEO RESOURCES:
Ancient Future Evangelism: Making Your Church a Faith-Forming Community by
Robert E. Webber
Robert Webber presents a model of evangelism and discipleship firmly rooted in
Scripture, attested to in the history of the church, and authentic to the postmodern world
in which we live. Webber surveys evangelism throughout the centuries, tracing the
development of the ancient process of Christian formation. He translates that process for
the 21st century, presenting four stages — conversion, discipleship, spiritual formation,
and Christian vocation — that can easily be adapted to various church traditions.
http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Future-Evangelism-Church-Faith-Forming-
Community/dp/0801091608/sr=1-1/qid=1158866180/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1975385-
1204743?ie=UTF8&s=books
Beyond the Roll the Sunday School and Evangelism. A Workshop for
Congregational Leaders + Instructional DVD
This flexible workshop can be used in a variety of settings and includes everything a
congregation needs for focusing the work of Sunday school for its mission of making
disciples of Jesus Christ.
The primary audience is a leadership group within the church, including Sunday school
teachers. The workshop begins with a Bible study pointing to the “main thing,” examines
cultural changes that have contributed to the decline of the church, and focuses on the
potential within the Sunday school for making new disciples.
http://abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=Beyond%20the%20Roll%20Bo
ok&pid=0687641403
Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism Living in a Three-Story Universe, by Walter
Brueggemann
Brueggemann here describes evangelism as a drama in three scenes, concerning (1) God’s
victory over the forces of chaos and death, (2) the announcement of that victory, and (3)
its appropriation by those who hear the announcement. This same dramatic sequence, as
he shows, is many times re-enacted in the Bible; the times and circumstances of the reenactment
may differ, but the essential message, as well as the structure of its
presentation, remains the same.
http://abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=biblical%20perspectives%20on
%20evangelism&pid=412331
Church for the Unchurched By George G. Hunter III
Hunter discusses the rebirth of the apostolic congregation, Christianity’s vision of what
people can become, how small groups shape an apostolic people, how lay ministry
advances the Christian movement, and how apostolic churches reach secular people.
http://abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=church%20for%20the%20unch
urched&pid=277329
The Church in Many Houses: Reaching Your Community Through Cell-Based
Ministry by Steve Cordle
The Church In Many Houses: Reaching Your Community Through Cell-Based Ministry
makes the case that the cell model will work— if key assumptions about spiritual growth
and the nature of the church are reexamined and renewed. Steve Cordle identifies the four
pivotal philosophical shifts necessary for the cell approach to work:
• programs to relationships—the purposes of the church are best fulfilled in the
cell group instead of in programs
• member to disciple-maker—every member can and should become a group
leader
• educating to equipping—spiritual growth is not knowing more but applying
more
• “come and see” to “go and show”—the power of penetration evangelism.
http://abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=steve%20cordle&pid=06873257
9X
Deepening your Effectiveness, Restructuring the Local Church for Life
Transformation by Dan Glover and Claudia Lavy.
Proposing a “deep-sea change” from the typical church plan, Glover and Lavy offer
experienced coaching in how to systematize disciple-making in a congregation.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=343629
Faith-Sharing: Dynamic Christian Witnessing by Invitation by Eddie Fox and
George Morris. The text answers, the fundamental questions of why, who, what, when,
and how of personal witnessing.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=155037
Faith-Sharing New Testament and Psalms. An inexpensive translation of the New
Revised Standard Version with personal helps. For those wishing to be grounded in the
Christian faith, and to share gracefully that faith with others and lead them to Christian
commitment.
http://store.wmepress.org/fanewteandps.html
Faith-Sharing Video Kit. This video presents a six-session study of personal faith
sharing, based on the book, Faith-Sharing.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=154979
The Faith-Sharing Congregation, by Roger K Swanson and Shirley Clement. This
book is a strategy for doing evangelism. Based on the quality of Congregational life,
which includes building a discipleship system, paying particular attention to ministries of
hospitality, personal relationships, storytelling, the domestic Church of the family, and
the family as the Body of Christ.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=154960
How Great a Flame! Contemporary Lessons from the Wesleyan Revival by James
Logan
Logan highlights key elements in that fanned the flames of the Wesleyan Revival. The
discussion questions that follow each chapter make this a good four-week small group
study resource.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=228449
Journal of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education
The journal contains scholarly articles and book reviews, and the minutes of the annual
meetings of the Academy of Evangelism and Theological Education. This journal
provides a medium for the responsible sharing of ideas among those engaged in the
teaching of evangelism, primarily at the seminary level, as well as those whose ministries
involve them in serious research and writing in the field.
$10 per book.
Checks payable to JAETE. Mail to:
Dr. Ronald W. Johnson, Managing Ed., Jaete, Mercer School of Theology, 3001 Mercer
University Drive, Atlanta, GA 30341-4115
Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So! By H. Eddie Fox and George E. Morris
The book explores the fact that many churches do not believe that witnessing is their
calling. Fox and Morris say that churches are shy about their lack of knowledge and
ability to effectively communicate the message of the Gospel. Let the Redeemed of the
Lord Say So! attempts to erase the fears of inadequate witnessing and give confidence to
Christians to spread the Word. It is a book for individuals who long to be effective
witnesses, for congregations who have a desire to reach people and grow, and for college
and seminary classes that are designed to motivate and inspire witnessing.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/productdescription/
157736158X/ref=dp_proddesc_0/104-1975385-
1204743?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
The Pathways to Christ Tract Series:
DR446 Begin with Jesus DR450 Hacia una nueva vida en Cristo
DR447 Understanding My Faith Journey with Christ. DR524 Mi jornada de fe con Cristo
DR448 Learning New Habits DR522 Nueva vida, nuevo habitos
DR449 Gifted in Christ DR523 Mis dones en Cristo
Church members and leaders often struggle to explain to unchurched friends and
acquaintances the importance of being a disciple of Jesus and growing in faith among a
community of believers. That’s where this series of tracts can help.
Powerful and priced right to leave with the seekers you meet, each attractively designed,
brief tract builds on the others with the goal of inviting seekers to know and follow Jesus
Christ in clear, non-churchy language.
Each title has a study guide companion available as a free pdf download.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/search_page.asp
Personal F.R.A.N. Plan. Sold in groups of 100. These wallet-size leaflets are designed
for praying and for sharing one’s faith, with a friend, relative, associate, or neighbor.
Available in English and Spanish.
English http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=155022
Spanish http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=155108
Radical Outreach. The Recovery of Apostolic Ministry and Evangelism by George
G. Hunter III
This book tells how the contemporary church can reclaim its ancient witness through
hands-on ministries with the unchurched.
http://abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=radical%20outreach&pid=0687
07441X
Transforming Evangelism: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith, by Henry H.
Knight III & F. Douglas Powe Jr. This book focuses on personal and communal
transformation and the practice of evangelism with a distinctive Wesleyan approach. This
book can be used as a six-week study resource.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=358091
Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism by Martha Grace Reese. (church leaders)
Unbinding Your Heart: 40 Days of Prayer & Faith Sharing (All-Congregational study)
Unbinding Your Church (pastors, teachers & church musicians resource guide)
(This book emerged from a national four-year study, the Mainline Evangelism Project.
Over 1,000 people were interviewed. The book looks at evangelism in mainline churches
today. It shows examples of great churches sharing their faith. Finally, it helps readers
move into the possibilities God has in mind for them.
For more info, download free chapters: www.GraceNet.info
http://www.amazon.com/Unbinding-Gospel-Real-Life-
Evangelism/dp/0827238045/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4097576-
8726552?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187214739&sr=8-1
Vital Signs: A Pathway to Congregational Wholeness by Dan R. Dick. Dan Dick
offers helpful suggestions about how different types of congregations can move in the
direction of vitality. This book is for church leaders who believe God calls all Christians
to participate in Christ’s mission to…be the body of Christ for the world.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=426042
Your Church Can Thrive: Making the Connections that Build Healthy
Congregations, by Harold Percy. Percy provides a practical how-to book that helps
churches focus on their main mission—making disciples. Provocative questions lead
readers through rich times of discovery and reclamation of purpose.
http://abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=your%20church%20can%20thri
ve&pid=9780687022564
HOSPITALITY/WELCOMING RESOURCES
GO FISH! series of T.I.M.E. – Together In Ministry Everyday. T.I.M.E. outlines an
easy, effective, and cost-free way for churches to make an immediate impact on their
community – have congregations volunteer 90 minutes every 90 days in some form of
community service work with established local agencies engaged in helping with such
issues as hunger, aging, school, grief counseling, or housing. Abingdon Press resource.
www.GoFish4People.com
CATCH: Attracting and Connecting Visitors by Debi Williams Nixon with
Adam Hamilton
CATCH brings a comprehensive plan for implementing the proven marketing and
visitor follow-up techniques from Church of the Resurrection. This kit includes a
leadership team handbook and workbook for evaluation, discussion and planning,
a handbook of 40 daily devotions and a resource DVD. Part of the GO FISH!
series
http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/Home.aspx?bsc=000379058
Igniting Ministries Web Site http://www.ignitingministry.org/default.aspx
BEYOND 30 SECONDS: Developing a Welcoming Congregation
This seven-session small-group video series is for all local congregations wanting
to go beyond the 30-second length of the national television commercials to
explore what may block our ability to welcome others.
http://www.ignitingministry.org/getstarted/products.aspx
Living Our Promise: The Igniting Ministry Trainers Toolbox 12 Complete
Training Sessions
Living Our Promise of “open hearts, open minds, open doors” requires constant
effort and attention. Help your congregation embrace the idea of welcoming as a
lifestyle with these 12, ready-made training sessions. From an overview of
Igniting Ministry, to a worship service that teaches welcoming, to a session that
helps your congregation through transition and change, this toolbox offers stepby-
step suggestions to enhance your church’s welcoming ministry.
http://www.ignitingministry.org/resources/product.aspx?iid=1124
Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith by Bill Hybels
This practical book invites us to understand the deeper relationships in living a life of
invitation. Not every “faith sharing” moment leads to a prayer of conversion; however,
Hybels challenges the readers to live in 3D (Develop Relationships, Discover Stories and
Discern Next Steps) listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit in guiding us to speak and
when to stay silent. Good look at challenging us to step out of our “Circle of Comfort.”
Book includes discussion questions for each chapter. DVD and church campaign
curriculum kit
http://www.justwalkacrosstheroom.com/faqs.aspxit
Making Room Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition by Christine D. Pohl
This book revisits the discipline of welcoming strangers and provides the foundation for
renewed commitment to recovering hospitality as a Christian tradition.
http://www.cokesbury.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=christine%20pohl&pid=08028
44316
The Race to Reach Out Connecting Newcomers to Christ in a New Century by
Douglas T. Anderson and Michael J. Coyner
The authors believe that to assimilate newcomers into the life and ministry of the
congregation, the whole church system must be involved. Anderson and
Coyner demonstrate how to identify and respond to visitors in a nonthreatening, yet
interested way; how to share information about them with the leaders of those ministries
and programs in which they would be most interested; how best to help them in their
decision to become church members; and how to help them understand and fulfill their
own call to ministry in the congregation.
http://abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=michael%20j.%20coyner&pid=
0687066689
50 Golden Days Resources: Christian Witnessing and Evangelism
Evangelism/Radical Hospitality
March 2009
Anne Travis
1
Christian Witnessing and Evangelism
Evangelism is, at its heart, sharing faith with others, particularly with those
who are unchurched or disconnected, and inviting them to follow Jesus Christ
as Christian disciples. (Guidelines – Evangelism, Cokesbury, 2004, page 8)
What Holston Conference said …
We have a Spiritual Longings for More in Holston Conference.
(from Vision Process at Annual Conference 2005)
♦ We long to be more evangelical, reaching out to the un-churched and
those who have left the church.
♦ We long to be more inclusive and diverse, to move out of our comfort
zones and reach out to those who are different, and to be truly inclusive of
all regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, socio-economic status, age.
♦ We long to be more active and effective in outreach and in mission to
those in our neighborhoods and those in the world.
♦ We long for growth in terms of deepened spirituality and commitment and
in terms of having people join the church.
♦ We long for more action, less talk, and more going out and doing.
♦ We long to move from institutional maintenance to mission. We long for
less politics and business and more living out of the Great Commandment
and the Great Commission.
♦ We long for more lay and clergy teamwork.
♦ We long to be more prophetic and less complacent to what goes on around
us, to not be afraid to speak out boldly against those things that are
contrary to the Kingdom of God – poverty, war, oppression, injustice,
addiction.
Churches in Holston Conference that are receiving new members on
Profession of Faith have these characteristics in common:
- • Vital and energizing worship of varying styles and at varying times
- • Working very hard at being a welcoming congregation
- • Intentionally encouraging members to invite persons to church
- • Very intentional ministries reaching out to younger families with children
and youth
- • Offering their buildings to persons in the community for very little or no
charge
- • Providing many mission opportunities for members
- • Encouraging intentional faith sharing by their members
Evangelism/Radical Hospitality
March 2009
Anne Travis
2
“Fifty Characteristics of Disciple-Making Congregations” by Dean
McIntyre, General Board of Discipleship
* Welcomes visitors.
* Visitors become active members.
* There is an open door policy. The congregation sees itself as a
hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
* Empty seat and open door.
Abingdon Press resource: GO FISH! series of T.I.M.E. – Together In
Ministry Everyday. T.I.M.E. outlines an easy, effective, and cost-free way for
churches to make an immediate impact on their community – have
congregations volunteer 90 minutes every 90 days in some form of
community service work with established local agencies engaged in helping
with such issues as hunger, aging, school, grief counseling, or housing.
www.GoFish4People.com
From Guidelines – Evangelism: Sharing the Good News (by Roger K.
Swanson; updated by Shirley F. Clement, General Board of Discipleship,
2004)
How to get started in evangelism
1. Build an Evangelism Ministry Team
2. Assess your current reality
3. Develop a shared vision
4. Establish a plan
5. Set your plan into motion
The mission of The United Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus
Christ for the transformation of the world.” (para. 120 of Book of Discipline)
We do this by (1) reaching out to people wherever they are and receiving
them as they are, (2) relating them to God through Jesus Christ, (3)
nurturing and equipping them for Christian discipleship, and (4) sending
them out into the community to be the church in the family, the
neighborhood, the community, and the world.
The F.R.A.N. Plan (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors) to reach the
unchurched people we already know
1. Bring a friend Sunday
2. Establish relationships
3. Provide faith-sharing training
4. Visit your visitors
5. Tell your story
6. Make membership more meaningful
7. Relate people to God
8. Equip people for service
Evangelism/Radical Hospitality
March 2009
Anne Travis
3
Practicing Radical Christian Hospitality
“Can the church practice Christian hospitality? Hospitality is not fixing up
your church just the way you like it and then inviting others to come and
enjoy it with you. That form of hospitality suffers under the needs of the new
people invited in. Hospitality in the biblical sense is making space for new
people to do what they need in their search for God and their practice of
discipleship. Can the church make this shift?” (“Welcoming ‘Time Share’
Christians,” by Gil Rendle; Circuit Rider, United Methodist Publishing House,
Nov/Dec/Jan 2008-09, p. 16)
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase, Abingdon Press,
Nashville, 2007, Chapter 1, “The Practice of Radical Hospitality”
“What is radical hospitality? Radical means ‘drastically different from
ordinary practice, outside the norm,’ and so it provokes practices that exceed
expectations, that go the second mile, that take welcoming the stranger to
the max.”
What do people need that congregations offer?
1. People need to know that God loves them, that they are of supreme
value, and that their life has significance.
2. People need to know that they are not alone; when facing difficulties,
they are surrounded by a community of grace.
3. People need to know the peace that runs deeper than an absence of
conflict, the hope that sustains them even through the most painful
periods of grief, the sense of belonging that blesses them and stretches
them.
4. People need to learn how to offer and accept forgiveness and how to
serve and be served.
5. People need to know that life is not having something to live on but
something to live for, that life comes not from taking for oneself but by
giving of oneself.
6. People need a sustaining sense of purpose.
People do not need to be told what they need! Instead, most people discover
their need for God’s grace and for the love of Christ through the experience
of receiving it.
“Radical hospitality describes churches that strive without ceasing to exceed
expectations and to accommodate and include others. … With every
ministry, they consider how to reach those who do not yet know Christ.”
“Word-of-mouth is still the most important form of human communication,
and when people talk about congregations as places that make people feel
welcome and loved, then the church thrives.”
Evangelism/Radical Hospitality
March 2009
Anne Travis
4
“Bishop Sally Dyck once said that for the visitor or the person who is
searching for spiritual help, ‘This Sunday is the only Sunday that counts!’”
Questions churches must regularly ask themselves:
- • How are we doing at inviting guests and at teaching people to invite
others?
- • How are we doing at genuinely and authentically welcoming people?
- • How can we offer Radical Hospitality we see in the life, teachings, death,
and resurrection of Christ?
- • And how can we do better?
Other items to consider related to Hospitality:
- • Signs? Can people easily locate your church? Once they arrive, is it
obvious how to get into the building?
- • Are they greeted before they enter the building?
- • Once inside, are they greeted and offered immediate assistance?
- • Are persons invited to Sunday school and helped with finding a class or
classroom?
- • Is it easy for them to find their way to a classroom or sanctuary? If not,
are signs available? Is a person available to assist?
- • Are children made to feel safe and welcome? Do they know when and
where their parents will come back to get them? Are the children assigned
a “buddy” to be sure he or she has all needed supplies and knows where
to go or what to do?
- • Are youth introduced and welcomed enthusiastically? Does another youth
in the church “buddy” with the visitor to make sure he or she feels
welcome?
- • In Adult Sunday school, are newcomers greeted formally by a class
leader? Does someone write them a note thanking them for visiting and
inviting them back?
- • In worship, do you regularly welcome visitors? Do you ensure that they
have a bulletin (if applicable)? Is the bulletin easy to follow, or does it
assume that they know the Doxology and Lord’s Prayer (and not give the
visitor info on where to find these rituals)?
- • Do you have a method to ensure that each visitor is greeted by several
persons before he or she leaves?
- • How soon after visiting your church does a visitor receive communication
from the church – ideally a visit, but perhaps a phone call? A loaf of
bread?
Evangelism/Radical Hospitality
March 2009
Anne Travis
5
Did You Know?
- • 62% of Protestant churches have a church website.
- • 25% of Protestant churches have a presence on such social networking
sites as MySpace.
- • 13% of Protestant churches have blogs or pages for people to interact
with church leaders.
- • Currently, 80-85% of people are finding their church on the web.
- • 64% of wired Americans use the Internet for spiritual or religious
purposes.
Sources: Barna Research, Your Church magazine, and the Bulletin of the
American Association of Christian Counselors.
Resources for Evangelism
Web Sites and Phone Numbers
Holston Conference
Website: www.holston.org
Phone: 1-865-690-4080
E-mail: connectionalministries@holston.org
The Foundation for Evangelism
Website: www.evangelize.org
Phone: 1-800-737-8333 (toll free)
E-mail: info@evangelize.org
General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church
Website: www.gbod.org/evangelism
Phone: 1-877-899-2780 (toll free)
E-mail: gbod@gbod.org
Discipleship Resources
Website: www.discipleshipresources.org
Phone: 1-800-685-4370 (toll free)
E-mail: sclement@gbod.org
Books
The Faith-Sharing New Testament with the Psalms, prepared by H. Eddie Fox
and George E. Morris, Cokesbury Press, Nashville.
Faith-Sharing: Dynamic Christian Witnessing by Invitation. Revised and
Expanded. H. Eddie Fox and George E. Morris, Discipleship Resources,
Nashville.
Evangelism/Radical Hospitality
March 2009
Anne Travis
6
How United Methodists Share Their Faith, Rodney E. Wilmoth, Abingdon
Press, Nashville.
Eight Life-Enriching Practices of United Methodists, Henry H. Knight III,
Abingdon Press, Nashville.
Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good
News, Rick Richardson, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois.
Faith-Sharing Congregation: Developing a Strategy for The Congregation as
Evangelist, Roger K. Swanson and Shirley F. Clement, Discipleship
Resources, Nashville.
Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation. Evangelism: Sharing the good
news, Roger K. Swanson, updated by Shirley F. Clement, General Board of
Discipleship, Nashville.
What You Should Know About Sharing Your Faith, pamphlet, purchased at
Cokesbury Bookstore. Prepared by Classic Scriptography.
Witness: Exploring and Sharing Your Christian Faith, 25-week study available
from Discipleship Resources, Nashville. www.gbod.org/witness or
www.evangelismwitness.org.
Christian Witnessing and Evangelism and Hospitality_Download Here
50 Golden Days Resources: Intentional Ideas for Effective Evangelism – Inviting People to Your Church
Intentional Ideas for Effective Evangelism – Inviting People to Your Church
1. Start a Facebook Page, it is free and can be used to get to know the people in your
community. Check out the free online e-book, Facebook for Pastors. However, it is not just
for pastors!
2. Start a blog; this one is also free. Check out this resource, The Blogging Church
www.wordpress.com
3. Visit people who visit your church or invite them for a cup of coffee at the local coffee
shop.
4. Acts of kindness with a card that reads, “Serving because of Jesus.” List the name,
address, and contact information of your church. Give directions and worship times.
Examples of acts of kindness:
• Wash windshields at WalMart or the local grocery store – You may be able to
work with a local gas station to was windshields for their customers.
• Soft drink giveaways at sporting events where concessions are not available.
• Trash pick-up in your community
5. Pens, pencils, and Post-it® notes giveaway
6. Mother’s Day carnation giveaway
7. Oil changes for single parents
8. Door-to-door free Sunday paper and coffee with information about your church
9. Tutoring at your church for local students, free of charge, and provide a snack or
meal for those who might not have enough to eat a home
10. Clothing giveaway in your community, advertise “Come Take What You Need”
11. Offer parenting classes
12. Offer financial planning classes
13. Hold 5th Quarter gatherings with free food and sodas after football and basketball
games
14. Hold Extra Innings after baseball games
15. Hold Block Party for Youth with free food, Wii, videos, etc.
16. Make prayer walks through neighborhoods, praying for each household
17. Make a Top 10 List of the people you want God to reach and start praying for those
persons
18. Host a community event such as Team Impact or The Power Team
Do you have other ideas to suggestions?
Bishop James Swanson will Preach @ The Holston Evangelism Conference February 19th & 20th
“My dream is to see the United Methodist Church turn this declining membership around,” Swanson said soon after his election. “I really feel we have a message that the world needs to hear. We believe in personal salvation. We are so committed to social justice.” The church has a mission to make a difference in the world, he said, adding, “I want to see the church having fun doing that, that’s my dream.”
JAMES E. SWANSON, SR.
RESIDENT BISHOP
THE HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Bishop James Swanson is a native of Houston, Texas and the son of Carl Edward Swanson and Arnola V. Triplett both deceased. He is married to the former Delphine Yvonne Ramsey. They have six children and ten grandchildren.
He received a Masters of Divinity degree from C.H. Mason Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA in 1980. He was ordained an elder in the South Georgia Conference where he has served the Statesboro Circuit a four-point charge, the Palen-Mt. Zion Charge a two-point charge and the St. Mary’s Road Church in Columbus, GA, the first cross-racial appointment in that conference. Under his able leadership this congregation grew from an average attendance of 12 to an average attendance exceeding 550.
He has served in many leadership positions in the communities where he was appointed and on the Annual, Jurisdictional, and General Conference levels. He was elected to the office of Bishop during the 2004 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, while serving as the District Superintendent of the Savannah District in South Georgia.
He has been a guest speaker, workshop leader, and preacher not only in the United States, but in Maputo, Mozambique; the Bahamas; Brazil; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, and Liberia West Africa.
He now resides in Knoxville, Tennessee where he serves as the Resident Bishop of 910 congregations in Northeast Georgia, East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and West Virginia.
Rev. Rudy Rasmus will Speak @ The Holston Evangelism Conference, Feb 19th & 20th
Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus
Pastor Rudy Rasmus
Rudy Rasmus is an emergent messenger, an urban prophet, and global humanitarian with a passion for outreach to our world’s poorest citizens. Pastor Rudy co-pastors the St. John’s United Methodist Church located in Downtown Houston with his wife Juanita.
Beginning with 9 existing members in 1992, St. John’s has grown to over 9,000 members (3,000 of the total either are or were formerly homeless) in sixteen years into one of the most culturally diverse congregations in the country where every week people of every social and economic background share the same pew. He attributes the success of the church to a compassionate congregation who has embraced the vision of tearing down the walls of classism, sexism, and racism and building bridges of unconditional love, universal recovery, and unprecedented hope.
Pastor Rudy founded the Bread of Life, Inc. (a not for profit corporation) with Juanita in December of 1992 and began serving dinners to the homeless in the sanctuary at St. John’s. Years later the Bread of Life has changed the landscape of Downtown Houston providing an array of services to homeless men and women seven nights a week in the Bread of Life Community Health Facility on the St. John’s campus. The project provides over 10,000 hot meals each month to the homeless men and women and distributes over 9 tons of fresh food each week to hungry families and provides shelter to over 100 homeless individuals every night from 7pm-7am in an innovative housing first initiative called “After Dark” where services are provided during the critical nighttime hours. The HIV “Get Tested” Project provides HIV/AIDS testing on Sundays after church services and throughout the week to thousands each year. As a result of many years of service to the community, Pastor Rudy received the coveted 2009 Jefferson Award at a ceremony in Washington DC which is considered the Nobel Prize of community service.
Thanks to generous donations from long time members Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and the Knowles Family, the campus now includes the $1.2 million Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth and the $5 million Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments. The project is a 43 unit Single Room Occupancy (SRO) development designed to provide transitional living accommodations for women and men who are taking significant steps in improving their lives after personal and natural disasters. Pastor Rudy also coordinates domestic and global anti-hunger initiatives in conjunction with Beyonce’s concert tours throughout the year.
Pastor Rudy is a monthly contributor to Oprah Winfrey’s “O Magazine” in an ethics column entitled “Now What Do I Do” and is the author of a new book entitled “Touch: Pressing against the wounds of a broken world” (Thomas Nelson Publishers) which profiles his interesting life story and his unique brand of faith sharing and radical hospitality.
Rudy and Juanita have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of two daughters, Morgan and Ryan.
Dr. Robert (Bob) D. Pierson will leading workshops for Holston Evangelism Conference
Dr. Robert D. Pierson
7103 S Columbia Place
Tulsa, OK 74136
(918) 477-7549
(918) 809-7489
bpierson@leadershipnexus.net
Bob Pierson recently retired after serving as senior pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Tulsa for 37 years, leading that mid-town congregation to grow from an average attendance of 200 to over 1,700. He was one of the founders of the Large Church Initiative of the United Methodist Church, a fellowship of 3,000 of the larger United Methodist churches across the United States, and he served for 15 years as chairperson of that organization. He chaired the Mission Evangelism Department of the General Board of Global Ministries World Division for 4 years.
He is currently serving as chairman of the Discipleship Ministry Team of the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church, executive director of Churches Uniting for Growth in Ministry, an ecumenical organization for leaders of larger churches that was founded by Dr. Robert H. Schuller in 1990, church relations director of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and executive director of the Leadership Nexus Foundation. He is author of Needs Based Evangelism, published by Cokesbury.
He is presently serving as a consultant for a number of churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. He is a regular speaker and teacher at conferences and in churches. Dr. Pierson often does one-day workshops on Needs Based Evangelism for local churches or conferences, providing information on church growth that is natural, systematic, and effective.
He is married and he and his wife Delia have 6 children and 5 grandchildren. Delia often does workshops with Dr. Pierson in the area of worship. She has served as the Worship Director of Christ United Methodist Church in Tulsa for 10 years and is presently vice-chair of the Worship Committee of the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Needs-Based Evangelism – Becoming a Good Samaritan Church is a book written by Dr. Bob Pierson out of his experience in leading Christ United Methodist Church in Tulsa to successful growth over the 30 years he pastored there. Christ Church is a midtown church that does not naturally have any of the kinds of thing that help a church to grow, yet by using the simple techniques of Needs-Based Evangelism the church grew significantly to over 1,700 average attendance. The principles taught in Dr. Pierson’s book are used by most growing churches of any denomination. The advantage of using Needs-Based Evangelism techniques is that they are natural, and people who become members of the church and make a commitment to Christ will naturally become involved and take on leadership roles in the church.
Holston Evangelism Conference
Holston Evangelism Conference
February 19 and 20, 2010
Cokesbury UMC, Knoxville, TN
Speakers: Rev. Rudy Rasmus, Rev. Bob Pierson, and Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr.
Register here evangelism-witness
Print form to mail here Evangelism_Conference_Registration_Form.pdf
We welcome the Rev. Rudy Rasmus, Rev. Bob Pierson, and Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr., to lead us through this inspirational and motivating event. We will celebrate the past year’s theme and covenant to “Offer Them Christ” and invite Holston to the next steps toward Pentecost 2010.
Friday: Optional Mission Outreach 2:00-4:00; Registration 5:00-7:00; Session I begins at 7:00 pm with Rev. Rudy Rasmus. Three plenary sessions will be held on Saturday with Rev. Rasmus and Rev. Bob Pierson, and Bishop Swanson will conclude the conference by 3:00 pm.
The cost for Holston Evangelism Conference will be $30 per person with a maximum of $100 per church group (cost includes lunch on Saturday). Deadline for registration is 5:00 pm on February 15.
Online registration is available at http://www.holston.org/ministries/connectional-ministries/evangelism-witness/ (After February 15, cost is $30/person with no group maximum.)
Contact Name ___________________________________________________________
Church ______________________________________District_____________________
Address ________________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________ State __________ Zip _____________
E-Mail __________________________________________________________________
Telephone ( ) ________________________
Friday Mission Project: _____ Working Poor _____ Homeless (Please check one) Please see back of flyer for corresponding items to bring.
Number Attending ______________ @ $30/person Please provide names of all attending. Make check payable to: Holston Conference
Mail registration to: Evangelism Event, Holston Conference, PO Box 850, Alcoa TN 37701
40 Days of Prayer and Preparation Beginning on February 23rd, we will encourage every congregation to pray, fast, and ask God for a burden for the lost. Churches may organize specific prayer groups or teaching or preaching about prayer and fasting or may find other creative Holston ways of preparation. The Witness Team will provide a 40-Day Prayer Guide, which will be daily devotions written by lay and clergy members of our Conference. At this time, we are working on the best delivery of these guides, but at the least we will be e-mailing copies to local church pastors and designated leaders for copying and distribution.
On Friday afternoon, two opportunities will be available for hands-on mission projects in Knoxville. One opportunity will be to provide food baskets to working poor persons through the Salvation Army, and the other opportunity will be to provide homeless packets to persons through Highway and Byway Ministries.When you register, be sure to sign up to participate in one of these ministries and watch the web site for further details.
The following Knoxville hotels will provide special rates (be sure to mention Holston Evangelism Conference) for the Friday night of the Holston Evangelism Conference:
Best Western Cedar Bluff Inn, 420 N. Peters Rd., 865-539-0058
Hampton Inn West, 9128 Executive Park Dr., 865-693-1101
Holiday Inn Cedar Bluff, 304 N. Cedar Bluff Rd., 865-693-1011
Jameson Inn, 209 Market Place Lane, 865-531-7444
Homeless Packets 1 two gallon zip lock bag .40 .40 Wal-Mart 4 Federal 8 inch candles .88 3.52 Wal-Mart 1 bar Dial antiseptic Soap .49 .49 Wal-Mart 3 Pair Crew Socks .84 2.50 Wal-Mart 16oz Hydrogen Peroxide .76 .76 Wal-Mart 1 Box Curad Band-Aids .96 .96 Wal-Mart 1 Box Safety Matches .73 .73 Wal-Mart 1 Box GV Granola Bars 2.00 2.00 Wal-Mart 1 6-pack GV raisins 1.58 1.58 Wal-Mart 1 Pack GV Trail Mix 4.98 4.98 Wal-Mart 1 Winchester farms Beef Summer Sausage 3.68 3.68 Wal-Mart 1 Pack Cheese Sticks 2.98 2.98 Wal-Mart Total $24.58 Food Bags for working poor 2 Two Gallon zip lock bags .40 .80 Wal-Mart 2 lbs Rice 1.54 1.54 Wal-Mart 2 lbs Soup Beans 1.08 1.08 Wal-Mart 6 Ramens Noodles .16 .96 Wal-Mart 2 lbs Sugar 1.66 1.66 Wal-Mart 2 bx Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix .42 .84 Wal-Mart 1 box GV Granola Bars 2.00 2.00 Wal-Mart 1 box GV Oat Meal 1.68 1.68 Wal-Mart 2 can GV Lunch Meat 12 oz 1.92 3.84 Wal-Mart 2 can GV Chunk Chick Breast 12 oz 2.08 4.16 Wal-Mart 2 can Sunkist Lite Tuna 12 oz 2.32 4.64 Wal-Mart Total $23.20
For additional information or to register, visit the web site at http://www.holston.org/ministries/connectional-ministries/evangelism-witness/
Evangelism in Today’s World
Here are tools that I will be using in my Ministry Presentation with The Abingdon District United Methodist Church on Sunday January 10th, 2010.
Evangelism in Today’s World
The Witness Team
Holston Evangelism Conference
40 Days of Preparation-Fasting and Prayer
50 Golden Days of Evangelism
A 90 Day Investment in the lives of 3000 People
Facebook for Pastors
Click this link to download the Free E-Book facebook-for-pastors-by-chris-forbes.pdf
Free Blogs here WordPress www.wordpress.com
Leadership Nexus – Workable Evangelism
The Out Of The Box Story
Started in October of 2008 with approximately 17 to 20 senior youth, we now average 55 to 65 senior youth each Wednesday night for Bible Study and we often hold events that draw more than 100 teens.
Latest Information on Holston Evangelism Conference and 50 Golden Days
Here is some important information for you as you plan to attend the Holston Evangelism Conference. The Witness Team is meeting tomorrow (Thursday) in White Pine Tennessee to finalize plans and I hope to have more information posted here by late tomorrow night.
Blessings and please help me pray for what I believe is a vision that God has given us for New Life and Excitement in Christ. This could start in Holston and Spread Far and Wide.
Ronnie
Feb 19-20 Holston Evangelism Conference – This event will be held at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN.
We welcome the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and Bishop James Swanson to lead us through this inspirational and motivating event. We will celebrate the past year’s theme and covenant to “Offer Them Christ” and to invite Holston to the next steps toward Pentecost 2010. Friday: Optional Mission Outreach (“Grace bags” to Knoxville Homeless) 3-5; Registration 5-7; Session I begins 7pm. Bishop Swanson will conclude the conference by 3pm on Saturday.
40 Days of Prayer and Preparation — beginning on Feb 23rd, we will encourage every congregation to pray,fast and ask God for a burden for the lost. Churches may organize specific prayer groups, teaching or preaching about prayer and fasting, or other creative Holston ways of preparation. The Witness Team will provide a 40 Day Prayer Guide which will be daily devotions written by lay and clergy members of our Conference. At this time we are working on the best delivery of these guides, but at the least we will be emailing copies to local church pastors and designated leaders for copying and distribution.
The Witness Team is asking that every Pastor and Lay member who has a blog to add the daily devotional to your church and personal blogs.
The cost will be $30 per person with a discount for groups of 7 or more. The cost includes lunch on Saturday.
Ronnie
50 Golden Days – Harry Denman – Holston Conference 2010
Witness Team Challenge 2010
The following is a letter written by Harry Denman in 1949
Dear Friend:
This letter is to ask every pastor not to observe Pentecost on June 5, but to meet the conditions so that every church will have a Pentecost on that day. It can be done if we will organize our church to witness to the fact that Jesus is Christ and that he is alive and can save persons from sin and death.
Easter to Pentecost
Fifty Golden Days of Evangelism
EASTER, We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer. We have a living Christ. This is the beginning of evangelism. Why shouldn’t every church organize visitation teams to visit one night each week during this period and secure thousands of first commitments for Christ and his church, to be received on Pentecost Sunday, June 5?
FAMILY WEEK. May 1-8, This is a splendid time to visit young families and secure their first commitment for Christ and his church and establish a Christian home. What holy days they are, Easter to Pentecost, Including Family Week!
There were One-hundred-twenty in the Upper Room. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Three thousand were baptized that first Pentecost. How many will be baptized in our churches on Pentecost Sunday 1949?
Let us pray and work daily that every church will have a Pentecost.
Your Friend, Harry Denman
Shepherds, May 1949
Source: The Prophetic Evangelist
In memory of Evangelist Harry Denman, the Witness Team is presenting a challenge to all United Methodist Churches in the Holston Conference.
Easter Sunday is April 4th, 2010 and Pentecost Sunday is May 23. There are 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. We are presenting the challenge to each church to organize visitation teams to visit and knock on doors in your community one night each week during these 50 days with the intentional purpose of inviting people to church.
In his book “The Unchurched Next Door”, Thom Rainer and his group conducted a scientific survey and found the following results.
- 82 percent of the unchurched are at least “somewhat likely” to attend church if they are invited.
- 8 out of 10 unchurched persons said they would come to church if they were invited.
- Only 21 percent of active churchgoers invite anyone to church in the course of a year.
- Only 2 percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church.
- Very few of the unchurched have had someone share with them how to become a Christian.
- The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
“For years I have been asked how churches can grow. I have consulted with hundreds of church leaders across America, leaders who sincerely desire that their churches reach people. “Why aren’t we reaching people?” I am often asked. “Why is our society so resistant to the gospel?” many inquire.
“After nearly a decade of research and almost fifteen years of consulting with churches, I am becoming more and more convinced that the answers to most of these questions can be found in the mirror. Nearly 130 million people in the United States alone would come to church if they were invited. And if they came, many would hear about the Savior who offers the only way of salvation.”
Thom S. Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
When is the last time you invited an unchurched person to church?
The Witness Team will offer suggestions for the teams of people in your church who will be visiting the homes in your community.
We will provide you with computer models of door knockers to leave at the homes where no one is available, post cards to make follow-up contacts and many other tools for reaching your community for Christ. We will make these tools available on the Holston Conference web site in the near future.
There will be a reporting tool on the web site as well as a phone number that you can call to report the number of visits made by your church as well as the visitors who attend your services.
Please e-mail us to let us know that your church will participate in “50 Golden Days of Evangelism 2010”. Someone will then contact you with further information.
Let us pray and work daily that each of our churches will have a Pentecost Sunday on May 23, 2010.
If you have questions, please contact Rev. Ronnie Collins of The Holston Conference Witness Team 276-728-2434 or ronnie24317@yahoo.com
Witness Team Challenge 2010 Holston Conference
Witness Team Challenge 2010
The following is a letter written by Harry Denman in 1949
Dear Friend:
This letter is to ask every pastor not to observe Pentecost on June 5, but to meet the conditions so that every church will have a Pentecost on that day. It can be done if we will organize our church to witness to the fact that Jesus is Christ and that he is alive and can save persons from sin and death.
Easter to Pentecost
Fifty Golden Days of Evangelism
EASTER, We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer. We have a living Christ. This is the beginning of evangelism. Why shouldn’t every church organize visitation teams to visit one night each week during this period and secure thousands of first commitments for Christ and his church, to be received on Pentecost Sunday, June 5?
FAMILY WEEK. May 1-8, This is a splendid time to visit young families and secure their first commitment for Christ and his church and establish a Christian home. What holy days they are, Easter to Pentecost, Including Family Week!
There were One-hundred-twenty in the Upper Room. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Three thousand were baptized that first Pentecost. How many will be baptized in our churches on Pentecost Sunday 1949?
Let us pray and work daily that every church will have a Pentecost.
Your Friend, Harry Denman
Shepherds, May 1949
Source: The Prophetic Evangelist
In memory of Evangelist Harry Denman, the Witness Team is presenting a challenge to all United Methodist Churches in the Holston Conference.
Easter Sunday is April 4th, 2010 and Pentecost Sunday is May 23. There are 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. We are presenting the challenge to each church to organize visitation teams to visit and knock on doors in your community one night each week during these 50 days with the intentional purpose of inviting people to church.
In his book “The Unchurched Next Door”, Thom Rainer and his group conducted a scientific survey and found the following results.
- 82 percent of the unchurched are at least “somewhat likely” to attend church if they are invited.
- 8 out of 10 unchurched persons said they would come to church if they were invited.
- Only 21 percent of active churchgoers invite anyone to church in the course of a year.
- Only 2 percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church.
- Very few of the unchurched have had someone share with them how to become a Christian.
- The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
“For years I have been asked how churches can grow. I have consulted with hundreds of church leaders across America, leaders who sincerely desire that their churches reach people. “Why aren’t we reaching people?” I am often asked. “Why is our society so resistant to the gospel?” many inquire.
“After nearly a decade of research and almost fifteen years of consulting with churches, I am becoming more and more convinced that the answers to most of these questions can be found in the mirror. Nearly 130 million people in the United States alone would come to church if they were invited. And if they came, many would hear about the Savior who offers the only way of salvation.”
Thom S. Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
When is the last time you invited an unchurched person to church?
The Witness Team will offer suggestions for the teams of people in your church who will be visiting the homes in your community.
We will provide you with computer models of door knockers to leave at the homes where no one is available, post cards to make follow-up contacts and many other tools for reaching your community for Christ. We will make these tools available on the Holston Conference web site in the near future.
There will be a reporting tool on the web site as well as a phone number that you can call to report the number of visits made by your church as well as the visitors who attend your services.
Please e-mail us to let us know that your church will participate in “50 Golden Days of Evangelism 2008”. Someone will then contact you with further information.
Let us pray and work daily that each of our churches will have a Pentecost Sunday on May 23, 2010.
If you have questions, please contact Rev. Ronnie Collins of The Holston Conference Witness Team 276-728-2434 or ronnie24317@yahoo.com
Holston Challenge 2010
Witness Team Challenge 2010
The following is a letter written by Harry Denman in 1949
Dear Friend:
This letter is to ask every pastor not to observe Pentecost on June 5, but to meet the conditions so that every church will have a Pentecost on that day. It can be done if we will organize our church to witness to the fact that Jesus is Christ and that he is alive and can save persons from sin and death.
Easter to Pentecost
Fifty Golden Days of Evangelism
EASTER, We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer. We have a living Christ. This is the beginning of evangelism. Why shouldn’t every church organize visitation teams to visit one night each week during this period and secure thousands of first commitments for Christ and his church, to be received on Pentecost Sunday, June 5?
FAMILY WEEK. May 1-8, This is a splendid time to visit young families and secure their first commitment for Christ and his church and establish a Christian home. What holy days they are, Easter to Pentecost, Including Family Week!
There were One-hundred-twenty in the Upper Room. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Three thousand were baptized that first Pentecost. How many will be baptized in our churches on Pentecost Sunday 1949?
Let us pray and work daily that every church will have a Pentecost.
Your Friend, Harry Denman
Shepherds, May 1949
Source: The Prophetic Evangelist
In memory of Evangelist Harry Denman, the Witness Team is presenting a challenge to all United Methodist Churches in the Holston Conference.
Easter Sunday is April 4th, 2010 and Pentecost Sunday is May 23. There are 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. We are presenting the challenge to each church to organize visitation teams to visit and knock on doors in your community one night each week during these 50 days with the intentional purpose of inviting people to church.
In his book “The Unchurched Next Door”, Thom Rainer and his group conducted a scientific survey and found the following results.
- 82 percent of the unchurched are at least “somewhat likely” to attend church if they are invited.
- 8 out of 10 unchurched persons said they would come to church if they were invited.
- Only 21 percent of active churchgoers invite anyone to church in the course of a year.
- Only 2 percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church.
- Very few of the unchurched have had someone share with them how to become a Christian.
- The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
“For years I have been asked how churches can grow. I have consulted with hundreds of church leaders across America, leaders who sincerely desire that their churches reach people. “Why aren’t we reaching people?” I am often asked. “Why is our society so resistant to the gospel?” many inquire.
“After nearly a decade of research and almost fifteen years of consulting with churches, I am becoming more and more convinced that the answers to most of these questions can be found in the mirror. Nearly 130 million people in the United States alone would come to church if they were invited. And if they came, many would hear about the Savior who offers the only way of salvation.”
Thom S. Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
When is the last time you invited an unchurched person to church?
The Witness Team will offer suggestions for the teams of people in your church who will be visiting the homes in your community.
We will provide you with computer models of door knockers to leave at the homes where no one is available, post cards to make follow-up contacts and many other tools for reaching your community for Christ. We will make these tools available on the Holston Conference web site in the near future.
There will be a reporting tool on the web site as well as a phone number that you can call to report the number of visits made by your church as well as the visitors who attend your services.
Please e-mail us to let us know that your church will participate in “50 Golden Days of Evangelism 2008”. Someone will then contact you with further information.
Let us pray and work daily that each of our churches will have a Pentecost Sunday on May 23, 2010.
If you have questions, please contact Rev. Ronnie Collins of The Holston Conference Witness Team 276-728-2434 or ronnie24317@yahoo.com
3000 Baptisms Around Holston Conference in One Day – It can happen!
We are looking for Christians who will Fast and Pray and ask God for 3000 souls on Pentecost Sunday 2010. I believe that God has given me a vision of 3000 people being introduced to Jesus Christ in the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost 2010. In order for that to happen God’s People will have to pray and participate.
Will you participate?
Let me hear from you.
Ronnie
3000 Baptisms in Holston on Pentecost Sunday
50 “Golden Days” of Evangelism
40 Days of Prayer and Preparation
TELL ME MORE!
You may remember hearing from the stage of Annual Conference that the Conference Witness team would challenge us to celebrate 3000 baptisms on Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2010) in Holston Conference. The Witness Team would like to take this opportunity to “brief” you, our Conference leaders, on the plan, invite you to ask questions, share comments, and help publicize as we continue refining and developing this time for an exciting and potentially Conference-transforming Spring in Holston Conference. Info coming soon in the Call, Call 2 and a save the date(s) letter to each pastor under appointment in Holston.
In the book Prophetic Evangelist, Harry Denman called the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost the “50 Golden Days of Evangelism”. He also wrote a letter in which he called on every pastor not only to observe Pentecost, but to lay the groundwork for experiencing Pentecost. That is what we are praying for in Holston in 2010. Here is an outline:
* Feb 19-20 Holston Evangelism Conference
This event will be held at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN. We welcome the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and Bishop James Swanson to lead us through this inspirational and motivating event. We will celebrate the past year’s theme and covenant to “Offer Them Christ” and to invite Holston to the next steps toward Pentecost 2010. Friday: Optional Mission Outreach (“Grace bags” to Knoxville Homeless) 3-5; Registration 5-7; Session I begins 7pm. Bishop Swanson will conclude the conference by 3pm on Saturday.
* 40 Days of Prayer and Preparation — beginning on Feb 23rd, we will encourage every congregation to pray, fast and ask God for a burden for the lost. Churches may organize specific prayer groups, teaching or preaching about prayer and fasting, or other creative Holston ways of preparation. The Witness Team will provide a 40 Day Prayer Guide which will be daily devotions written by lay and clergy members of our Conference. (District Superintendents – if you haven’t already, there may still be space for you to add a day’s devotional writing…) At this time we are working on the best delivery of these guides, but at the least we will be emailing copies to local church pastors and designated leaders for copying and distribution. The Witness Team is asking that every Pastor and Lay member who has a blog to add the daily devotional to your church and personal blogs.
* 50 Golden Days of Evangelism — from Easter to Pentecost 2010, each congregation will be asked to intentionally concentrate on evangelism in their community. Again, the Conference Witness Team will supply a guide (“50 Days of Evangelism”) with concrete, specific suggestions for individuals and groups within churches to start conversations, build relationships, and offer Christ in your community. Some congregations may plan for a Pentecost celebration with dinner on the grounds where river baptisms and all other forms of baptism recognized by The UMC may take place.
*** 1 Great Day of Pentecost *** — baptisms, renewals and lives transformed for and by Jesus Christ
40 Days of Preparation + 50 Days of Evangelism = A 90 Day Investment in 3000 lives. Sound unlikely? Unbelievable? Too much? In our 904 churches, this would be an AVERAGE of 3.1 baptisms per worshipping community. What do we have to lose? Suppose we ONLY baptize 1000??? Help the Witness Team make this Spring of Pentecost preparation a reality for Holston. No single group, ministry team or leader can do this. We believe that God is in this… and we ask for your support, feedback and most importantly for your prayers.
With Bold, Passionate, Risk-taking love – The Holston Conference Witness Team
Contact Ronnie Collins ronnie24317@yahoo.com or (276) 728-2434
or Amy Rollins Probst pastor@broadwayumc.net or (865) 202-3019
with feedback or suggestions.
Holston – Take The Challenge
3000 Baptisms in Holston on Pentecost Sunday
50 “Golden Days” of Evangelism
40 Days of Prayer and Preparation
TELL ME MORE!
You may remember hearing from the stage of Annual Conference that the Conference Witness team would challenge us to celebrate 3000 baptisms on Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2010) in Holston Conference. The Witness Team would like to take this opportunity to “brief” you, our Conference leaders, on the plan, invite you to ask questions, share comments, and help publicize as we continue refining and developing this time for an exciting and potentially Conference-transforming Spring in Holston Conference. Info coming soon in the Call, Call 2 and a save the date(s) letter to each pastor under appointment in Holston.
In the book Prophetic Evangelist, Harry Denman called the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost the “50 Golden Days of Evangelism”. He also wrote a letter in which he called on every pastor not only to observe Pentecost, but to lay the groundwork for experiencing Pentecost. That is what we are praying for in Holston in 2010. Here is an outline:
* Feb 19-20 Holston Evangelism Conference
This event will be held at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN. We welcome the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and Bishop James Swanson to lead us through this inspirational and motivating event. We will celebrate the past year’s theme and covenant to “Offer Them Christ” and to invite Holston to the next steps toward Pentecost 2010. Friday: Optional Mission Outreach (“Grace bags” to Knoxville Homeless) 3-5; Registration 5-7; Session I begins 7pm. Bishop Swanson will conclude the conference by 3pm on Saturday.
* 40 Days of Prayer and Preparation — beginning on Feb 23rd, we will encourage every congregation to pray, fast and ask God for a burden for the lost. Churches may organize specific prayer groups, teaching or preaching about prayer and fasting, or other creative Holston ways of preparation. The Witness Team will provide a 40 Day Prayer Guide which will be daily devotions written by lay and clergy members of our Conference. (District Superintendents – if you haven’t already, there may still be space for you to add a day’s devotional writing…) At this time we are working on the best delivery of these guides, but at the least we will be emailing copies to local church pastors and designated leaders for copying and distribution. The Witness Team is asking that every Pastor and Lay member who has a blog to add the daily devotional to your church and personal blogs.
* 50 Golden Days of Evangelism — from Easter to Pentecost 2010, each congregation will be asked to intentionally concentrate on evangelism in their community. Again, the Conference Witness Team will supply a guide (“50 Days of Evangelism”) with concrete, specific suggestions for individuals and groups within churches to start conversations, build relationships, and offer Christ in your community. Some congregations may plan for a Pentecost celebration with dinner on the grounds where river baptisms and all other forms of baptism recognized by The UMC may take place.
*** 1 Great Day of Pentecost *** — baptisms, renewals and lives transformed for and by Jesus Christ
40 Days of Preparation + 50 Days of Evangelism = A 90 Day Investment in 3000 lives. Sound unlikely? Unbelievable? Too much? In our 904 churches, this would be an AVERAGE of 3.1 baptisms per worshipping community. What do we have to lose? Suppose we ONLY baptize 1000??? Help the Witness Team make this Spring of Pentecost preparation a reality for Holston. No single group, ministry team or leader can do this. We believe that God is in this… and we ask for your support, feedback and most importantly for your prayers.
With Bold, Passionate, Risk-taking love – The Holston Conference Witness Team
Contact Ronnie Collins ronnie24317@yahoo.com or (276) 728-2434
or Amy Rollins Probst pastor@broadwayumc.net or (865) 202-3019
with feedback or suggestions.
Holston Evangelism Conference -Rudy Rasmus & Bishop James Swanson
3000 Baptisms in Holston on Pentecost Sunday
50 “Golden Days” of Evangelism
40 Days of Prayer and Preparation
TELL ME MORE!
You may remember hearing from the stage of Annual Conference that the Conference Witness team would challenge us to celebrate 3000 baptisms on Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2010) in Holston Conference. The Witness Team would like to take this opportunity to “brief” you, our Conference leaders, on the plan, invite you to ask questions, share comments, and help publicize as we continue refining and developing this time for an exciting and potentially Conference-transforming Spring in Holston Conference. Info coming soon in the Call, Call 2 and a save the date(s) letter to each pastor under appointment in Holston.
In the book Prophetic Evangelist, Harry Denman called the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost the “50 Golden Days of Evangelism”. He also wrote a letter in which he called on every pastor not only to observe Pentecost, but to lay the groundwork for experiencing Pentecost. That is what we are praying for in Holston in 2010. Here is an outline:
* Feb 19-20 Holston Evangelism Conference
This event will be held at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN. We welcome the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and Bishop James Swanson to lead us through this inspirational and motivating event. We will celebrate the past year’s theme and covenant to “Offer Them Christ” and to invite Holston to the next steps toward Pentecost 2010. Friday: Optional Mission Outreach (“Grace bags” to Knoxville Homeless) 3-5; Registration 5-7; Session I begins 7pm. Bishop Swanson will conclude the conference by 3pm on Saturday.
* 40 Days of Prayer and Preparation — beginning on Feb 23rd, we will encourage every congregation to pray, fast and ask God for a burden for the lost. Churches may organize specific prayer groups, teaching or preaching about prayer and fasting, or other creative Holston ways of preparation. The Witness Team will provide a 40 Day Prayer Guide which will be daily devotions written by lay and clergy members of our Conference. (District Superintendents – if you haven’t already, there may still be space for you to add a day’s devotional writing…) At this time we are working on the best delivery of these guides, but at the least we will be emailing copies to local church pastors and designated leaders for copying and distribution. The Witness Team is asking that every Pastor and Lay member who has a blog to add the daily devotional to your church and personal blogs.
* 50 Golden Days of Evangelism — from Easter to Pentecost 2010, each congregation will be asked to intentionally concentrate on evangelism in their community. Again, the Conference Witness Team will supply a guide (“50 Days of Evangelism”) with concrete, specific suggestions for individuals and groups within churches to start conversations, build relationships, and offer Christ in your community. Some congregations may plan for a Pentecost celebration with dinner on the grounds where river baptisms and all other forms of baptism recognized by The UMC may take place.
*** 1 Great Day of Pentecost *** — baptisms, renewals and lives transformed for and by Jesus Christ
40 Days of Preparation + 50 Days of Evangelism = A 90 Day Investment in 3000 lives. Sound unlikely? Unbelievable? Too much? In our 904 churches, this would be an AVERAGE of 3.1 baptisms per worshipping community. What do we have to lose? Suppose we ONLY baptize 1000??? Help the Witness Team make this Spring of Pentecost preparation a reality for Holston. No single group, ministry team or leader can do this. We believe that God is in this… and we ask for your support, feedback and most importantly for your prayers.
With Bold, Passionate, Risk-taking love – The Holston Conference Witness Team
Contact Ronnie Collins ronnie24317@yahoo.com or (276) 728-2434
or Amy Rollins Probst pastor@broadwayumc.net or (865) 202-3019
with feedback or suggestions.
How many Holston Churches will commit to being involved?
3000 Baptisms in Holston on Pentecost Sunday
50 “Golden Days” of Evangelism
40 Days of Prayer and Preparation
TELL ME MORE!
You may remember hearing from the stage of Annual Conference that the Conference Witness team would challenge us to celebrate 3000 baptisms on Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2010) in Holston Conference. The Witness Team would like to take this opportunity to “brief” you, our Conference leaders, on the plan, invite you to ask questions, share comments, and help publicize as we continue refining and developing this time for an exciting and potentially Conference-transforming Spring in Holston Conference. Info coming soon in the Call, Call 2 and a save the date(s) letter to each pastor under appointment in Holston.
In the book Prophetic Evangelist, Harry Denman called the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost the “50 Golden Days of Evangelism”. He also wrote a letter in which he called on every pastor not only to observe Pentecost, but to lay the groundwork for experiencing Pentecost. That is what we are praying for in Holston in 2010. Here is an outline:
* Feb 19-20 Holston Evangelism Conference
This event will be held at Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN. We welcome the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and Bishop James Swanson to lead us through this inspirational and motivating event. We will celebrate the past year’s theme and covenant to “Offer Them Christ” and to invite Holston to the next steps toward Pentecost 2010. Friday: Optional Mission Outreach (“Grace bags” to Knoxville Homeless) 3-5; Registration 5-7; Session I begins 7pm. Bishop Swanson will conclude the conference by 3pm on Saturday.
* 40 Days of Prayer and Preparation — beginning on Feb 23rd, we will encourage every congregation to pray, fast and ask God for a burden for the lost. Churches may organize specific prayer groups, teaching or preaching about prayer and fasting, or other creative Holston ways of preparation. The Witness Team will provide a 40 Day Prayer Guide which will be daily devotions written by lay and clergy members of our Conference. (District Superintendents – if you haven’t already, there may still be space for you to add a day’s devotional writing…) At this time we are working on the best delivery of these guides, but at the least we will be emailing copies to local church pastors and designated leaders for copying and distribution. The Witness Team is asking that every Pastor and Lay member who has a blog to add the daily devotional to your church and personal blogs.
* 50 Golden Days of Evangelism — from Easter to Pentecost 2010, each congregation will be asked to intentionally concentrate on evangelism in their community. Again, the Conference Witness Team will supply a guide (“50 Days of Evangelism”) with concrete, specific suggestions for individuals and groups within churches to start conversations, build relationships, and offer Christ in your community. Some congregations may plan for a Pentecost celebration with dinner on the grounds where river baptisms and all other forms of baptism recognized by The UMC may take place.
*** 1 Great Day of Pentecost *** — baptisms, renewals and lives transformed for and by Jesus Christ
40 Days of Preparation + 50 Days of Evangelism = A 90 Day Investment in 3000 lives. Sound unlikely? Unbelievable? Too much? In our 904 churches, this would be an AVERAGE of 3.1 baptisms per worshipping community. What do we have to lose? Suppose we ONLY baptize 1000??? Help the Witness Team make this Spring of Pentecost preparation a reality for Holston. No single group, ministry team or leader can do this. We believe that God is in this… and we ask for your support, feedback and most importantly for your prayers.
With Bold, Passionate, Risk-taking love – The Holston Conference Witness Team
Contact Ronnie Collins ronnie24317@yahoo.com or (276) 728-2434
or Amy Rollins Probst pastor@broadwayumc.net or (865) 202-3019
with feedback or suggestions.
About Ronnie G. Collins
I am the Planting Pastor of Out of the Box Worship Center and I also serve as the Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Hillsville Virginia. We are a Multi Site Church, one church in multiple locations. Our 1st campus is located at 225 Fulcher Street in Hillsville Virginia. Our 2nd location is on Main Street in Hillsville, FUMC Downtown, Out of the Box Worship Center, and our 3rd location is 522 North Main Street in Hillsville and this is our Youth Ministry Center, FUMC Downtown “Out of the Box”, Youth Ministry. The most recent ministry we have is “Out Of The Box Worship Center” and we are located at 516 North Main Street Hillsville. This site is now my main focus, along with the Youth Ministry.
I have a Passion to see hurting people come to know Jesus Christ. I believe that we as Christians have to demonstrate God’s Love to the world, rather than just telling them they are loved. I am married and have 3 sons two very special nephews that are like sons, 2 grandchildren, 5 great nephews, and one great niece that are like grandchildren. I am a blessed man.
I attended school at Carroll County High School, Wytheville Community College, Liberty University, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
My passions are as follows:
God
Family
Others
Reading
Running
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/ronnie24317
Twitter http://twitter.com/ronnie24317
Three Minute Thursday’s http://www.facebook.com/threeminutethursdays
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