PROCLAIMING POINTS

1. PROCLAIMINGPOINTS What in the world are they, and How do I get one! By Steve Nerger

2. DEFINITION • A Proclaiming Point is: • an ongoing event or ministry • where the gospel is presented • that meets a need in a particular place or people group.

3. We Will Discuss • Why do we need proclaiming points? • How to discover places for proclaiming points • How to organize proclaiming points • How to fund proclaiming points • How to staff proclaiming points

4. REAL GOAL • To get you so excited about proclaiming points that you will go home and start the process without fear. • That you will have great confidence in your people to go beyond the walls. • That we will get out of our walls… and really expand the Kingdom of God. • Bring the fun back into ministry. • Reach our church planting capacity which is directly correlated to the number of proclaiming points.

5. Do We Really Need These Things? • 80% of our churches are plateaued or dying. Quite possibly more in N.E. • Less than 3% of New Englanders attend an evangelical church on any given weekend (which means that we have a wide open mission field, but going to church is not common practice) • Much of what is considered “going to church” in New England is social. Compared to the local bar of choice.

6. Do We Really Need These Things Cont’d… • People do not think of church as “ going to them,” but rather them “going to church.” Proclaiming points take away any stigma and brings the gospel to them. • There is an openness to talk about Spiritual things that the walls of the church block in many people (think of Elks clubs, veterans halls, pancake breakfast, Masonic lodge) • Many people have tried church and found closed groups. Not welcoming. One experience like that can stop someone from ever trying again.

7. It Is Biblical • Matthew 28 “Great Commission” • Mark 1 “There are currently hundreds and hundreds of places without a congregationalized evangelical presence in New England” • Acts 1:8

8. They are Necessary • The Majority of churches cannot reach enough people to sustain their attendance. • Each church loses a certain amount of people each year. (S. Fla 1/3 each year) • People who move • People who get mad and change churches • People who just drop out. • People who die • Our churches gathering methods are not working. • They are based on the last 40 years • They are boring • They are lazy • They are selfish • They are not Creative

9. They Are Necessary Cont’d… • Our People have become “watchers.” • Our People have become complacent. • Our People have unused talents. • Our People desire to be used in significant ways. • Our People are tired of the walls of the church. • Our People want to be set free in meaningful ministry.

10. They Are Necessary Cont’d… • Pastors do not know their mission field. • Mapping • People groups.info • Namb.net • Pastors stay with what they know and feel comfortable doing only that (unfortunately, this often does not take into consideration the talents of our members outside the church) • Pastors are under pressure to have great attendance inside of the church. • Pastors have become non- creative and often not risk takers. • Pastors have become possessive with their people.

11. What Do I Do Now? • Most churches know how do evangelistic events. However, they very seldom know what to do once they are over. • Almost every evangelistic event should lead to some other form of contact with those involved. I.e. another movement toward deeper relationship

12. What You Need to Know • If you plan on attempting proclaiming points you must begin to develop a DNA of outreach and evangelism in your church. • It is important to always have ministries that people can just join in and always be open to opportunities for them to “take the ball and run with it.” • Always have opportunities to learn and then allow them to lead.

13. Proclaiming Points Accomplish 3 Things: 1. Develop an evangelistic outreach DNA in your church. 2. Opens other doors for people to enter your church life if they want to. 3. Has the potential of becoming a lasting congregation that we call church.

14. Let’s Begin To Discover • How do you discover places or people for proclaiming points? • Scout the area • SEND Joshua and Caleb • SEND someone on Sunday Morning • SEND Yourself: reclaim your call as missionary, not just Pastor. • SEND mission groups into the harvest. • Begin Praying for God to show you and your people where a “door is open” • Corporate Prayer • Individual Prayer • Prayerwalking

15. What Do You Look For? • Ministries that already exist. • Homeless shelters • Feeding the homeless • Crisis Pregnancy • Make a list of all that exist in the areas of where your people live • Note. These activities are great for training your people

16. Look for Places Where People Meet Regularly • Laundromat • Roll of Quarters • 8-10 Chairs and Bibles • A Dozen Donuts • A Couple to lead it. • Park - “Moms and Children.” • Ladies with young children meet at park at the same time each week • Leads to activities with children teaching them about Christ. • Dog Park - take pictures on special days • Ronald McDonald house at the Hospital

17. Places People Meet Once or Twice a Year • Circus • Annual County Fair • Service for workers • Booth and Bibles • Sporting Event • NASCAR AND N.H.

18. Once a Year Opportunities • Christmas Eve prostitution ministry • Caroling in same place year after year • Shopping center • Neighborhood • If you meet in a school • Provide Christmas lunch for teachers • Hold October “Funfest” for community annually • Hold work day at school

19. Special Dates or Occasions During the Year • Thanksgiving: • Cook for those working in the community • Cook for the police officers on duty • Cook for a group home • Family invites group home over every year I.e. Set Free

20. Look for Places Where People Live in Seclusion. • HUD Housing ( Paul Hale) • Seniors • Low-income • Mobile Home Parks • Senior centers • Camp grounds • Apartment Buildings • Condos • Lofts • High rises

21. Places People Live Cont’d… • Homeless shelter • Half-way house • Group homes • Places People Congregated in the past. • Closed down churches • Restart the church • Make it into a youth center • Make it into a concert hall for community. • Just bring Christ into it in some manner • Closed down clubs • Closed down buildings of any sort.

22. Strategies • Evangelistic events lead to proclaiming points. • Relationships lead to proclaiming points • Meeting the community needs • Scouting • Finding persons of peace • Train and turn lay people loose to establish points • Work bible studies • Kids clubs on Saturday mornings • Any talent or opportunity that they have

23. How to Organize Proclaiming Points • Mission team in church organization • Scouts/ Exploration • Budget • Plan for them to happen. Never let an event into the community just stand by itself. It needs to lead the people somewhere else that is more permanent in relationship.

24. Funding • Put money in Budget • Each Sunday take an outreach offering • Make it a designated account • Partners • Usually does not take a lot of money.

25. Staffing • Do not start a ministry inside or outside the church without emerged, trained leadership and a great desire among the people. • Turn folks loose, they will respond. • Resource the needs • Make it a part of your DNA. Proclaiming points are not what you do, but an expression of who you are. • Plan and promote. Pastors: get involved and share your excitement. • Have various expressions for people to get involved in, given their time and talent and passion.

26. Tools Available • Epoch • Bivocational Church Planting

27. CONCLUSION • Proclaiming points are small lights that shine in a very dark world. • They are generated by pastors and lay folks who want to meet the needs of the people of the community whether or not they ever attend their church.

28. Conclusion Cont’d… • Proclaiming points are usually led by the people of the church who have a missional heart and are extremely capable. • Proclaiming points are necessary to fulfill “Reaching out in our Jerusalem”

29. FINALLY • Proclaiming points are fantastic in reaching people for Christ that will never, And I mean NEVER, come into the church without the church first coming into their world with love and

30. JUST DO IT!