APOSTOLIC INFORMATION SERVICE
VOL. 28 NO. 8
Outreach Ministry Copyright Apostolic Information Service, a ministry of Indiana Bible College, PO Box 47917 Indianapolis, IN 1-800-800-0247 T. W. Massengale, Editor
4 Signs Your Church is Ready to Reach the Lost
Your Services Include Teenagers. Do the teens in your church love your services and want to invite their friends? While the entire service cannot be focused centrally around them, considering that there are other age groups in the church, the revival that will take place in the twenty-first century will be a revival largely among young people. This means that they will need to be used in ministry, incorporated into the service, and thought of when conducting programs and agendas. People in Your Church Actually Know Unchurched People. All too often, it is common to see church members only associate themselves with each other. This is, of course, the purpose of the body of Christ—to have fellowship with like-minded believers as we make our way to heaven. But the congregation must be reminded that the church must reach beyond the four walls to touch the lives of nonbelievers. This cannot happen if your church members do not have connections established with those who do not yet know Christ. Encourage your members to have a network of people whom they are constantly trying to reach. You Have Dropped All Assumptions. It is very easy to assume that unchurched people “must know” at least a little about Christianity. While this might actually be true much of the time, it is never safe to assume with anyone. One sign that your church is ready to reach the lost is when they are prepared to deal with a generation of new converts who have never heard of the Gospel message, who have never been taught any form of holiness standards, and who ultimately may have many questions regarding the faith. You Are Honest About Life’s Struggles. The final sign that your church is ready to deal with the lost is when you recognize that the church is not a “perfect” place in a sense. While the liberating power of the Holy Ghost is absolutely perfect, the people within the church are not. Being honest about life’s struggles will help to give the lost an honest view of your church.
Outreach Ministry Calendar: - February: Spend time during one service taking requests specifically pertaining to the outreach ministry. This will keep the congregation focused and driven for outreach.
Establish Meaningful Connections. Connection is the third, and often overlooked, element in a successful church outreach. You’ve worked so hard at getting visitors to your church—-now get them connected and part of the church. Connection begins with friendly faces at the front door, and a welcoming, informative atmosphere throughout the church. But remember, people aren’t looking just for friendly people—they’re looking for friends and meaningful relationships! Make the connection. Create opportunities for people to build relationships through fellowship, service, small groups etc.
Resource Files for You OPMC01.txt “You Have a Ministry” Your effectiveness is possible and vital. OPMC07.txt “Recruiting as Jesus Did” Having the mind of Christ for outreach.
IBC Perspectives Magazine If you are in ministry leadership, be sure not to miss out on an excellent publication written just for church leaders. The IBC Perspectives magazine is a 20-page color publication published monthly by Indiana Bible College. It features interviews with growing revival churches and explores the methods and programs that make them successful. It also features articles devoted to: Feature Ministry Opinions, Plainly Speaking, Columnists, World News, Apostolic News, News You Can Use, Guest Pulpit and more. To receive a free copy and subscription form, call 1-800- 8000247 or write Perspectives, P.O. Box 47917, Indianapolis, IN 46247, or e-mail:
[email protected] or visit our web page at www.apostolic.edu. Subscription cost is just $20 per year for 12 issues.
