As you can tell there are a lot of options so how do you decide where to start?

 

First evaluate where you are and where you would like to see your church in the next year. Now let's make a plan to get there.

 

What systems do you currently have in place?  Do you have a system in place to capture information about people who visit your church. The tactics will be different for each event but each event does need some method of collecting their information. 

If you don't collect their information how will you be able to start a relationship?  When you are collecting information don't forget to collect other information such as what event they came from, whether they have kids and their ages. This will help you reach out with information that is more relevant to them.

 

Once you have started to collect this information decide how to use it. Depending on the information collected we have the option of reaching them in person by phone, email or mail. In person provides the best way to connect but also takes the most resources and many people are reluctant to let you into their home. The phone can be very personal but the challenge is actually reaching them. If you decide to reach out by phone make sure you have a scripted message for when you get an answering machine.

 

If you don't have an email program set up I recommend that you get one set up soon.  Use it for your regular newsletter and it will save you time and postage.  I recommend iContact. It is easy to use and we support it with templates and regular outreach messages. If you would like to explore iContact more click here.

One of my favorite marketers is a guy named Jay Abraham and he stresses  reaching people through different media.  This allows businesses to grow exponentially and it will help your church grow faster too. 

What does that mean to you?  Instead of having one way to reach people look at reaching them in multiple ways.  If you set up a program that involves print (handing out flyers throughout your neighborhood etc), email, social media, and internet advertising then you will be reaching a number of different people. 

If you need help or would like to set up a consultation please complete the form below.  We're here to help you reach out with God's message of love to a world that needs Him.

              

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Evangelism needs to be a mindset of the church but start from where you are.  Do you have an evangelism committee? Are they active?  Are they passionate?  Can you find twelve people who want to help your church grow?

 

Help them to become focused on the goal:  reach your community with the love of Christ. We've created a little devotional to help your team focus on this mission. Feel free to copy it and change it in anyway you want to.  We have a link to a text document so you can download it.

 

Devotional:

 

This devotional is designed to help you focus on fulfilling the great

commandment.

Day 1 -  Reach the World

Mark 16:15 And then Jesus told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone

How is your church fulfilling the great commission?

What are  two more ways in which we could share Gods love with our community? Pray for the team. For wisdom and guidance for each member of your team..

 

Day 2. Look around you

John 4:35 - 36 You know the saying, 'for months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around.  The fields are already ripe for harvest.  The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.

Look around you what do you see?  Do you see hurting people?  People struggling with relationships, money, work?  People who need to experience God's love?  What do you think God sees?

How does that relate to your evangelism team and it's mission?

What is one thing that your team could do to help your church members feel more passionate about outreach?

How can you help your church to see people as God sees them?

 

Day 3 - Be Relevant

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: "Men of Athens, I noticed that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines.  And one of your alters had this inscription on it: "To an Unknown God."  This god, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling your about. Acts 17: 22-23

How did Paul adjust his message to reach the people of Athens? 

The word of God does not change but the way we present it must relate to the people you are talking to. Jesus met people where they were.

Each church usually attracts certain groups of people. Sometimes it happens by accident but many times it is the result of a few people 

feeling passionate about a particular group. Who do you want to reach?  

What steps can be taken to do a better job reaching the group.

 

Day 4 -  The power of 12

Luke 6:12-13  One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.  At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus picked 12 people to help him? After all he is God and yet he choose to start with 12 people. Through that small  group the world was changed. 

How about your evangelism group?  Do you believe God is calling you to change the world?  Pray for each other. Pray for focus and a burning desire to change the world. Make your plans and then take action.

 

Day 5 -  So many Opportunities

 

3Matthew 9:37 - 38 He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."

 

Rick Warren says we won't be in heaven five minutes before we regret how much time we spent on things that don't matter. Americans are busy people. Ask the average person how they are doing and busy is often the answer. Are we busy doing things that matter?  Your church probably does not need to be busier. We need to be more focused. 

Consider light: Unfocused it provides light, focused it cuts through steel. Jesus tells us we are the light of the world but to be effective we must focus like the light of a laser.

 

What can your group do to encourage the church to feel more passionate about reaching out to our community?

 

Day 6 -  Be Radical

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.  Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!". And they left their nets at once and followed him.  Mark 1:16-18

 

Picture yourself as Simon for a moment living an ordinary life until today anyway. Today was the day that would change his life and forever alter his life's mission. In three short years he would go from Simon the fisherman to Peter upon whom Jesus would build his church. When Peter woke up that morning did he have any idea what lay ahead of him?  What made him accept Jesus' challenge in the first place?

 

Is His call to you any less radical?  He is calling you to become fishers of men.  Peter's life was changed forever by Jesus call.  What about yours?  Pray for your group. That they may feel God's call in their life and may respond as Peter did.

 

Day 7 -  I am with you always

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, a baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.". Matthew 28:18-20 Our mission is clear. The challenge is how to effectively fulfill it in  the 21st century.

For ideas visit www.GrowingChurches.wordpress.com