Workshop 2: Evangelism

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faithful practices, youth ministry

Dietrich Kirk (executive director of Center for Youth Ministry Training

nobody in the group felt comfortable defining it

What do we THINK evangelism is?
standing on the street corner holding the sign
living your life the way God intended, and in that you spread the love of God (so that others exp. God)
sharing w/ others WHY you live how you live
conversion
witnessing - talking about what God has done in your life
sharing the Gospel (what's the Gospel? - the good news: Jesus)
*sidenote - need lots of definitions b/c of all our diff. backgrounds
taking the message of Jesus and meet them where they are
sharing the story of "our" faith - not just mine, but of the community

Why DON'T we evangelize?
rejection
don't want to offend people
feel inadequate (not able to start what you finish; not a sufficient example of Christ ourself)
don't have words
not encouraged
never been told how
generation of "whatever-ism"
don't want to force beliefs (can we actually do that?)
not clear what we're sharing
time commitment
never experienced it (grew up in church)
we're methodist, not baptist

Evangelism is Scriptural (Jesus said go...baptize...disciple)
In the greek it is a message, a messenger coming with ____
Early church seemed to be able to feed the poor, comfort the afflicted and to bring the good news,
Be prepared to tell why we have hope...Scripture reference from 1 Peter 3:15?

Evangelism is a set of intentional activities governed by the goal of initiating people into the body of Christ

Why? Living life the way God intended it to be, to experience here and now the most of the kingdom of heaven.

Types of Evangelism
1) Peer to Peer (often done w/out training the kids for it)
2) Adult (sending out/hiring the cool young straight out of college kid; also adults going to where kids are and developing relationships w/ them)
3) Students and Adults Work in Partnership (from Augustine...engage them in whatever the heck they're doing; adults join in with what the kids are doing/planning)

Responses to Brainstorming: Ways to create Evangelsim in our Congregation
1) Flyers, door-to-door, inviting them to a softball game/picnic at the field by the church. No in-depth bible study, 5-minute devotional at the end. Tip: have something to give the kids that tells them when you normally meet.
2) Re-building a playground; invite youth of community to help.
3) Survey of spiritual beliefs/teaser questions to people in the area, while owning up that you are the church. Let people know you are open to hearing their questions.
4) Going to school and have lunch w/ kids from your church (you'll be rubbing elbows w/ non-church kids).
5) Tagging along w/existing community events (have a float in the parade; booth at the fair).
6) Small group ministry (kids who have kids coming to their house all the time). Outside of church might be less intimidating; small number less, too.
7) Big events don't equal evangelism. Must go deeper. There must be a plan.
8) Spend time teaching kids how to tell their story. What is the 6th grader's story? Must be intentional. Not just a generic story, but their story. When they don't think they have one, help them understand it.
9) Benefit Concert - live out our mission

There NEEDS TO BE A PLAN. Evangelism doesn't happen accidentally. We don't have to apologize for wanting to share something that we think will make a difference in peoples' lives. It doesn't mean we have to be good salesmen.

Some steps:
ENGAGE - invite a friend, event, an introduction; promote that it's a both/and, very diff. than a bait and switch. teach students it's great to have them bring friends to church (being lowered through the church; healed b/c of the faith of his friends).
NOW WHAT - be up front; say we're gathering your info (if you give it) b/c we want to share more with you. invite them to say they go to church elsewhere.
FOLLOW-UP - invite them to next events
Have a regular bring-a-friend night that helps introduce new kids w/ what we're doing.

Create time and space for Holy Spirit to do its work.

Program retreats around the explorer, to the kids who are being introduced. not a bad thing for the regulars to get again.

Teach students to be comfortable in their Christian skin.

Encourage kids to invite people and to let you know they're bringing someone.

"Whatever it is that you all have that makes you love each other like this, I want that." Have a plan (for this story it was to read the Gospel of Mark).