the path from skepticism to Christlife

1. Bringing Jesus to the North Central United States by planting & growinghealthycongregations advanced by boldly apostolicleaders working synergisticallytogether

2. I believe in God, the Father Almighty,    the Maker of heaven and earth,    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,    born of the virgin Mary,    suffered under Pontius Pilate,    was crucified, dead, and buried;He descended into hell.

3. The third dayHe arose again from the dead;He ascended into heaven,    and sitteth on the right handof God the Father Almighty;    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

4. I believe in the Holy Ghost;the holy catholic church;    the communion of saints;  the forgiveness of sins;the resurrection of the body;and the life everlasting.Amen.

5. the path from skepticism to Christlife

6. Barriers in Reaching Unchurched • The unchurched are not lazy but passionately disinterested. • Stirring worship, better pews, cool events are NOT compelling.

7. step iNto the iPath iNvite iNcrease iNvolve iNvest

8. Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren

9. INVITE

10. INVITE INCREASE

11. INVITE INCREASE INVOLVE

12. INVITE INCREASE INVOLVE INVEST

13. Assumptions • God wants a relationship with everyone, and wants to empower His body to be on mission. • Love is a universal language. • People are not looking for your church. They are looking for reasons NOT to go. • You cannot influence toward Christlife until someone has connected with you.

14. Vital Signs • How many accepting Jesus as Savior? • How many baptisms are you doing? • How many are bringing friends to church? • How many first time guests do you have? • How many evangelistic outreaches to you schedule? • How often are you praying for the unchurched?

15. iNvite • Community Presence. • Impact Ministries. • Marketing. • The Big Day. • Community Service. • Personal Invitations. • Social Networking. A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.‘ "But they all alike began to make excuses ... "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.‘ "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.‘ "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'“ Luke 14:16ff Move from Community to Crowd

16. iNcrease • First impressions • Worship connections • Parting gift • Hope-filled follow-up Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1,2 Move from Crowd to Congregation

17. iNvolve • Don’t Wait for Conversion • Don’t Wait for Understanding • Do it with 2nd Time Guest • Do Discern Gifts and Abilities • Do Provide Clear Instruction • Do it Right Away Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people. Matthew 4:19 Move from Congregation to Commitment

18. iNvest • Give vision large enough to sacrifice for. • Set the generosity pace. • Communicate Biblical giving principles. • Provide contemporary means of giving. • Equip people to be financially solid. As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.“ Luke 21:1-4 Move everyone to partner tangibly in the mission

19. Community Presence • Impact Ministries • Marketing • The Big Day • Community Service • Personal Invitations • Social Networking iNvite

20. PRESENCE • Church people must be visible in the community. • Connect with community picnics… • Community wide-rallies... • Community concerts… • Community projects. • Join with soup kitchens… • Join tutoring programs… • Key… Identifiable and consistent. • Shirts, hats, conversation "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16

21. IMPACT • ID Need You Can Meet • What are your passions • What are your gifts • What are your resources • What are community needs • What are community resources • Change Lives • Bridge Credibility Gap Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Mark 20:30-34

22. Marketing Marketing is the social process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others. Philip Kotler Kellogg School of Business We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1John 1:3

23. Marketing • Putting your identity into the public forum. • Know your identity and who you are trying to reach. • Develop a plan. • Best marketing remains word of mouth. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1John 1:3

24. How to do Big Day • Decide to do it. • Pick the day. • Choose a series. • Set Big Day goal. • Plan for the Big Day. • Week before Big Day • Conduct Big Day • Follow Up Nelson Searcy, Ignite/Fusion/Activate

25. BIG Day… Decide to do it BIG DAY DEFINED REASONS FOR BIG DAY Reach new people Make the devil mad Grow your people Build momentum All out push toward a single day for the purpose of breaking the next growth barrier and setting an attendance record in order to reach as many people as possible for Jesus.

26. BIG Day … Pick The Day BIG Day Natural Waves Choose Your Series Speak gospel to people’s needs. You always lead off. Give next step invitations. Three to Six in series. • Easter • Fall … Back to School • February … Lovin’ It • Special Day/Summer • Avoid… Built in conflict

27. BIG Day … Set Your Goal • Pray, involve leaders in prayer • Staff or key leaders (top 10% of church) set Spirit-infused goals • Goals push you to become more than you are. • Big idea: Double average attendance with each Big Day

28. BIG Day … PLANNING FOUR P’S IN BIG DAY PLANNING PROMOTION: Key element in letting your community know that your church exists. PRESERVATION: Evangelism is pointless without retention. We need to plant seeds AND harvest crop. Give birth AND grow up. • PASTOR: Set evangelism priority through example and guiding strategy and culture. • PERSONAL EVANGELISM: Church members share faith and invite people to church and Jesus.

29. SET THE STAGE Tell your evangelism stories Receive testimonies Preach on evangelism Give immediate opportunity Use preaching calendar

30. BIG Day … The Week Before • Preach on importance of BIG Day. • Pray and invite prayers • Servant Evangelism Saturday before. • Invitation Tools. • Rehearse and debug • Blasts and Reminders

31. Flex and Release

32. BIG Day … Conduct the Day • Pray thoroughly • Ensure plenty of everything… • Rehearse and debug

33. iNcrease BIG Day Follow Up • Pre-Service • First impressions • In-Service • Worship connections • Parting gift • Post-Service • Hope-filled follow-up Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1,2

34. Pre-Service • Greeted • Directed • Treated • Seated

35. In-Service • Gather Information • Connection card • Everyone Does It • Offering • Everyone participates • Key Elements • Name • Email • Best Phone • Next Steps

36. Post-Service • Gift • Case for Faith • How Good is Good Enough? • Info about church • Biggest investment first time guest. • Best if visitor does not need to talk to people.

37. Follow Up Days, Week & Month • Pastor or Team • Connect by Tuesday • Email (phone, visit?) • Connect by Thursday • PERSONAL Letter with GIFT • Connect within Month • Letter/Email thanking for visit and inviting to next step event.

38. iNvite • Community to Crowd • Community Impact • Big Day organization • iNcrease • Crowd to Congegation • Pre-Service • In-Service • Post-Service • iNvolve • Congregation to Commit • 2nd Time visitors • Everyone • iNvest • Everyone to Contribute • Biblical principle • Make it easy