Does STAGE THEORY apply to EVANGELISM?

Stage theory states that before a person can make a significant change they must move through a series of stages one at a time.   Efforts to accelerate the process or skip a stage usually leads to disinterest or rejection of the change being considered.   The Engel Scale was introduced years ago to apply this theory to evangelism.  Engel proposed 6 linear steps toward faith….1. Aware of supreme being but not of gospel. 2. Aware of gospel. 3. Aware of implications of gospel for themself. 4. Positive attitude toward gospel and implications. 5. Counting the cost. 6. Decision to act.  

The Engel theory gives some helpful insight into the place some people may be at in our web of relationships and may remind us of how we might work with them.  Much of the time it is about answering objections through word or experience.  OK.  But I wonder about this linear approach and the unfactored impact of the faith community on a person’s process.  What is that impact potential?   What have you experienced?   And for that matter…what are you finding helpful in bringing people along a spiritual path toward Jesus?

PLANTING BEHIND BARS

Rich Rienstra is working on a new planting model that just got a significant boost.    Rich has had a heart for prisioners for many years and recently was challenged to look into planting new congregations behind bars.   While many of us may have done the “prison chapel service” thing for a handful of inmates, few models of developing a congregation with indigenous leadership have emerged.  Wardens have been uncomfortable with “congregating” inmates.   Then a couple models emerged in South Dakota that worked, some key administrators and political leaders got in the loop and some denominational leaders put their heads together.   The result has been a grant given just this week from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship to fuel moving this toward reality.   We are encouraged and hopeful for next steps.   How will the penal system begin to engage this possibility?   What prision ministries might come together to move this forward?   How can we bless the effort and multiply the love and freedom of Jesus behind bars through new congregations?   This remains to be seen…but things are looking up!

58,000 people underserved in Kent and Ottawa Counties?

Roger Greenway, former missionary to Mexico and mission educator for 30 years, looked me in the eye.  From his perspective the hispanic community of west Michigan (7% of our population) is significantly underserved despite great opportunity to plant new churches.   “They are more open by virtue of their new environment here.  This opportunity cannot be missed!”   Hugo Vasquez and Carlos Devetac are making new headway in their church plants in Holland and Detroit (pray for them!).   Hugo reports 30 new professions in recent months.   Pray for God to send us leaders and readiness to plant more in this community. 

ORGANIC “GREENHOUSE” Nov. 16-18

Neil Cole and Brad Fieldhouse have confirmed their coming to W. Mich for a “Greenhouse” late fall 2007.   The event is likely to center on “life transformation groups” such that any church  could benefit with the added vision and training for the house church movement.   Details to come!

What is a "Missional Church"? Allelon Video

Our friends at Allelon have put up the first of two video casts with Ryan Bolger (prof at Fuller) and Alex Roxburgh (like I need to explain who he is). They are talking about what it means when we say “Missional Church.”

Check it out!

link

 

 

Technorati tags: Ryan Bolger, Allelon, videocast, Missional Church

STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP SESSION #1 A HIT!

Jonathan Mays sent me an email today….”The workshop friday was very, very valuable to me.   I can hardly wait for the next session!”   Sounds like an endorsement to me.   On Friday 13th Chuck Roost launched the first of 3 workshops designed to help ministry leaders grow stewards and support for their ministries.   Chuck shared openly about the early years of his ministry…how he disliked talking about money and even considered it a virtue to be able to do ministry without talking money.   Then a crisis led him to look more closely at scripture and eventually do doctoral work related to the work of stewardship development.   The in our first session we not only revisited the major biblical texts on the subject but then dug deeply into the theory of “change communication” leading to an exercise of designing a conversation guide to be used with a potential donor.    The next stewardship workshop is scheduled for May 24th.   THose seeking to join the group will need to make special arrangements with the Regional offices.  Talk to Ben….thanks Chuck!

PLANTERS DAY RETREAT on LAKE MICHIGAN JUNE 25

We have done it for 4 years now…Gord and Marg Niederveld have graciously opened their home on Lake Michigan for church planters to gather for a day retreat of prayer, reflection and “catching up”.    This year we are looking at June 25th.    Check your calendar and let us know if that works for you.    We will gather at 10 and be done by 3.     Thanks much Gord and Marg….your support of this effort is always appreciated!

ANXIETY MAKES ME STUPID

Those were the words of Jim Harrington at Western Seminary recently as he spoke on the issue of change and leadership.   Pastors who bring change (I think that includes church planters for sure!) need a place to off load anxious feelings and thoughts.   Left to ourselves, the anxiety that comes through times of change is likely to bring out our best and some of our worst!    Little wonder coaching and pastoral networks are critical to keep cool under pressure and panic.   So….how are you doing with anxious feelings?

HAS YOUR COACH MADE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE LATELY?

Every planter needs a coach…it’s axiomatic in ministry and especially when ministry is planting.   There are so many hard things to be done and done well.   The world loved by God deserves the very best from us and coaching is a way of encouraging that.    Good coaching involves three key skills….1.  Asking good questions…the kind that cause you to pause and think deeply, perhaps uncomfortably about your priorities and actions.  2. Listening…giving a chance for the coached one to think out loud.  3. Silence…permitting space for the words/values/perspectives to hang in the air and be absorbed or questioned by the one who has just spoken them.   All of this can be fairly uncomfortable…but it is in that very discomfort that we do some of our best internalization of what needs to happen in the hard work of planting.   Who does this kind of thing?   People (coaches) who love us and the work we are committed to.   Thank God they are out there!

What if your people went OFF THE MAP?

If you are aware of the work of Jim Henderson (particularly his book AKA LOST) you know the ministry of OFF THE MAP.  Jim has brought really good, simple and “doable” coaching to evangelism.     Here is an opportunity to take some of your people to a training event that will help them in this area so critical to planting.   Contact Immanuel Grand Rapids for details…957-9117.   As planters we often carry so much motiviational work…why not let Jim help?

A PRAYER FOR CHURCH PLANTERS ON GOOD FRIDAY

Father in heaven…I pray for the ones who put seeds in soul-soil by planting new churches.   They often feel they give more than they get, spend more than they receive and encourage more than they are encouraged.   They prepare for fewer than they hoped for, they work harder to see results that come slowly, they risk when there was a safer path, they get by on less while they need much more….they search when others have become satisfied, they stay up late when others have retired, they do the tasks that others rely on staff to perform.   O great suffering Savior of Souls, on this day when we consider your great passion and sacrifice, grant that the labors of your planting servants will be rewarded with joy and blessing….as was said of Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despised the shame and is set down at the right hand of God the Father.   Amen.

ORGANIC CHURCH “GREENHOUSE” COMING TO W. MICH…..are we ready for this?

Many of us have read Neil Cole.   Now there is the prospect of having him here in W. Michigan!   Currently an approach is being made and we hope to see a “Greenhouse” by fall or winter ‘07-’08.   Working with partners from the CRC, Wesleyan, Non-denominational and others the hope would be to see a good group for the event.   I am left wondering if west Mich is ready for this.

It is not that we don’t need organic church efforts here or that there is not opportunity to plant.   It just seems that W. Mich is still highly calibrated toward attractional church.   We still prefer to show off our abilities in preaching, programming, buildings and crowds rather than leadership development and deployment of missional communities.   Don’t get me wrong…we will do whatever we can to help this move forward but I am wondering what needs to happen “pre-event” that will help us accomplish all the good Lord would have?     ”O Lord hear our prayers….”