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Evangelism
and Witness Resources
 The
Alpha Course
Suggestion submitted by Dr. Bill McConnell of First
Christian Church
This is a 15 session course on the "Basics of Christianity"
designed to reach those outside the church who have some basic
questions and some basic misunderstandings about the Christian
faith. The course originated in the Church of England and
is available on video. During the sessions attendees watch
the video and then divide into small groups to discuss the
topic of the night. The small group leaders are trained to
field all questions, even the hostile ones, with grace and
love. A part of the Course is a "weekend away" where
the participants have the opportunity to hear about the Holy
Spirit. From the perspective of the First Christian Church
of Harrison, Ohio the Alpha Course has been a powerful evangelism
tool. "We have had over 300 people take the course, seen
many long time church members "connect the dots about
their faith" and catch on fire for God. We have also
seen dozens of people accept Christ through the Alpha Course.
The Alpha web sites are www.alphacourse.org
and www.alphausa.org.
For information about Alpha from a Disciple's perspective
contact Dr. Bill McConnell at bill@harrisonfcc.org
or visit First Christian Church web site at www.harrisonfcc.org.
How to Become A Contagious Christian
Suggestion submitted by Dr. Bill McConnell of First Christian
Church
A very short course that uses some video that teaches Joe
or Jill Average Christian how to share his or her faith in
a way that is comfortable. It is evangelism done within the
context of relationships. The course is based on the best
selling book BECOMING A CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN by Bill Hybels
and Mark Mittelberg. At First Christian Church, we try to
teach this course once a year at our church. We are considering
using the curriculum in all 30 of our small groups this year.
Material is available at www.willowcreek.com.
Look at evangelism under resources. To talk to a Disciples
pastor who has used this material e-mail Dr. Bill McConnell
at bill@harrisonfcc.org.
Servant Evangelism
Suggestion submitted by Dr. Bill McConnell
of First Christian Church 
This is an evangelism tool that is completely non-threatening
and thus it is easy to recruit even the most reticent church
member to do evangelism. It is based on the concept of doing
random acts of kindness (RAKs). First Christian Churhc has
handed out 500 balloons at the local Memorial Day Parade,
provided umbrella escorts on a rainy day at the local Biggs
store, washed windshields at a local gas station and handed
out free pop and water at a four-way-stop in town. All of
this is done free with no strings attached. When asked we
tell people we just want to bless them and let them know that
God loves them.
Servant Evangelism is effective because it is:
- quick
- high volume
- done in groups
- culture-current
- gives the Holy Spirit an open door to convict those we
are leading to Christ
- allows shy people to launch into effective evangelism
- an approach families can do together
- easily picked up by new Christians
- simple
- friendly non-pushy, non-aggressive
- appeals to every segment of our cities
- emotionally safe
- giving-centered rather than asking-centered
- provides a safe place for ambitious people to expend their
energy
- provides an open door for the miraculous—if God so moves
- big fun!
To learn more about Servant Evangelism read Conspiracy of
Kindness by Steve Sjogren, founding pastor of the 6,000 member
Vineyard Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and/or visit www.servantevangelism.com.
To talk to a Disciples church that is doing Servant Evangelism
e-mail Dr. Bill McConnell at bill@harrisonfcc.org.
Available from Disciples Home
Missions through the Ministry of Evangelism
Bring a Friend Sunday
Studies show that seventy to ninety percent of those who join
a particular church already had friends or relatives in that
church. It is also well known that getting an individual to
attend worship for the first time is often the most difficult
of all the steps leading toward commitment to Jesus Christ.
And we also understand that every member of the congregation
should be involved in the task of evangelism. Bring-A-Friend
SUNDAY is built on these principles.
Claiming God's Vision
A fully instructional self guided tool for a visioning process
for small membership congregations to use on their own in
seeking the future God desires for them. It may be used in
the context of a congregational retreat. The Body grows in
health and vitality as all the "parts" work together.
Available in Spanish and Korean.
Develop the Welcoming Habit
A booklet with an assessment tool to help congregations evaluate
their hospitality, a Bible study on hospitality, ideas for
encouraging members to invite guests, and ways the congregation
can follow-up with worship guests. Cost $6.00
Developing Deeper Discipleship - "3-D"
A curriculum packet for small group ministry designed to deepen
one's life in three dimensions: broadening community, deepening
spirituality and widening witness. 3-D is a 20 week user friendly
small group process with groups meeting for 1 ˝ hours per
session to explore living a contemporary Christian life. Studies
included to date: Acts study and the Mark study
Acts Packet- $45.00
Mark Packet with video- $50.00
I & II Corinthians Packet- $50.00
Three Marks of a Faithful Church- $50.00
Evangelism Tool Kit
An ecumenical catalogue of resources for congregational vitality
and evangelism from member denominations of Evangelism Connections.
Resources include:
Communication Evangelism
Community Outreach
Cross-Cultural Evangelism
Discipleship
Event Evangelism
Hospitality and Worship Evangelism
Evangelism Leadership
Personal/Relational Evangelism
Prayer Ministries
Revitalization Evangelism
Theology of Evangelism
Faithful Planning - A comprehensive guide
for Congregations Seeking God's Direction
This resource engages strategic planning with a faith perspective.
It outlines an intentional planning process based on the Biblical
image of the church as the body of Christ. A congregational
survey, demographic and assessment tools designed to help
gain understanding of the congregation and the community the
congregation serves are made available. The goal of Faithful
Planning is to develop the congregations's mission and the
ministry plans to effectively carry out that mission in the
near future.
Cost $10.00 for each Workbook/ contact Faithful Planning
Office for additional cost.
Growing Disciples: Creating a Climate for
Growth in Your Congregation
Growing Disciples is a simple process for congregations to
use over the course of one year. It involves calling forth
a group of spiritual leaders called the “Prayer Force.”
The “Prayer Force” provides prayer support for
the process and encourages others in the congregation to engage
in the practice of a “Daily Appointment with God”
and to participate in a small group. The “Prayer Force”
will experience authentic Christian community in their own
small group and then lead small groups of other congregation
members. Cost $17.00
Sharing Your Faith
This training course is designed to help church members grow
into a deeper commitment to God and God’s Son, Jesus
Christ, and in so doing, develop a lifestyle of evangelism.
The aim of this course is not to enlist callers for an evangelism
program. Persons who participate in this course will not be
asked to sign up as bearers of a specific formula which they
memorize and use in order to “convert” persons.
While the terms “evangelizing” and “witnessing”
are good descriptive words, coming from the ministry of the
early church, because of some negative understanding of the
terms today, one prominent church leader in evangelism has
used the term, “spiritual guide” rather than “witness”
or “evangelist.” In this course the words “sharing
faith” will be used instead of “witness.”
Cost $5.00
Taking the Name of Jesus
This resource has a congregational growth emphasis that is
based on the congregation yielding openings for God's Holy
Spirit to touch and shape lives in and beyond the congregation.
It is designed for a 18 month time frame in three phases which
include "practical steps for growing spiritually,"
"God's mission for the congregation," and "doing
mission with vitality and an evangelistic edge." Cost
$3.00
Waking Up a Sleeping Congregation
Healthy, growing congregations are spiritually alive, have
a clear sense of purpose, are actively involved in the mission
of Jesus Christ, and are making new disciples. Does this describe
your congregation? If not…this packet of materials is
designed especially for you. This packet contains simple ideas
for people who care about congregations that are stagnant
or declining in membership, where morale is low, where it
is hard to get anyone to do anything, and where members seems
spiritually asleep.
Disciples of Christ Past and Future
Minister and author John Cunyus traces the history of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from its Reformation
roots to the present day. The complete text with review questions
is now available at no cost online at www.cunyus.com/docpf.
The book is presented in brief chapters, heavily footnoted,
with review questions for class and small-group discussion.
The book's appendices include three significant documents
in the history of the movement "The Last Will and Testament
of the Springfield Presbytery," by Barton Stone; the
Thirteen Proposition from "The Declaration and Address"
of Thomas Campbell; and articles I through IV of the Design
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)."
In Between Times
This video helps explain why an interim pastor is so important
to your congregation when you are between ministers. Order
from Interim Ministry Network, 1-800-235-8414
Link2Lead.com - A web site with online resources to
enhance your leadership and mission planning from Church Extension
and Disciples Home Missions. Explore the latest demographic
information about your ministry area and more.....at not cost
to you. On the web at:
http://www.Link2Lead.com.
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