Evangelism and Transformation

February 26, 2009Webinar with Dr. Ron Crandall

www.evangelismcoach.org

Housekeeping

• Q & A panel to the right. Submit questions there.

• We’ll tackle them at the end.• Occasional sound skip – VOIP.

Who is Ron Crandall?

• United Methodist minister in the Kentucky Annual Conference,

• Retired: Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary

• Ministry focus: smaller membership churches and effective Christian witness.

• Small Church Leadership Initiative of SLI • ABIDE. • Turnaround and Beyond—A Hopeful Future for Small

Membership Churches captures half of this story, • WITNESS: Learning to Share Your Christian Faith

““Turnaround and Beyond”Turnaround and Beyond”Leading TurnaroundLeading Turnaround

:

CONTENTS

1. Pathways to Turnaround2. Pastors as Turnaround Leaders3. Turning Toward the Spirit4. Overcoming the Obstacles5. Turning Toward Others6. Developing True Disciples7. Turnaround and Pastoral

Transitions8. Turnaround and Abiding

Participant/ContributorsIndicesNotes

A LITTLEA LITTLEBACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

A study of 100A study of 100““turnaround”turnaround”small churchessmall churchesin 26 states andin 26 states and

Puerto Rico.Puerto Rico.

““The Turnaround Study”The Turnaround Study” Leaders of over fifty of the largest denominations

were asked: “Would you identify for us two or three of your

smaller churches (under 200 members and/or 100 at worship) which have shown a remarkable turnaround in the last two to five years, including: A new sense of hope and empowerment, a new vision for mission, a new readiness to reach out to the community, a new effectiveness in evangelism, and new growth in membership/church school/ worship attendance?”

Over 200 churches were nominated, 186 were able to be contacted, 136 agreed to participate, 97 returned usable surveys. Three others were selected = 100.

We Found That . . .We Found That . . .Turnaround PastorsTurnaround Pastorsin Smaller Churchesin Smaller Churches

1. 1. Understand “Small” Understand “Small” DifferentlyDifferently

Their Biblical PerspectiveTheir Biblical Perspective

Turnaround PastorsTurnaround Pastors

1. 1. Understand “Small” Understand “Small” DifferentlyDifferently

Their Biblical PerspectiveTheir Biblical Perspective

Their Sociological ViewTheir Sociological View

We Found That . . .We Found That . . .Turnaround LeadersTurnaround Leaders

2. 2. “Step Forward”“Step Forward” Loving the PeopleLoving the People

Shaping the VisionShaping the Vision

Courting the FutureCourting the Future

3. “Step Into the Spirit”3. “Step Into the Spirit”

Special Events Small Groups Mission Experience Prayer Worship

4. “Step Over the Obstacles”4. “Step Over the Obstacles”

With . . .With . . .• a confident, vibrant faitha confident, vibrant faith

• a deep appreciation for gracea deep appreciation for grace

• a soft touch and tough skina soft touch and tough skin

• an understanding of conflictan understanding of conflict

• a passion for reaching others a passion for reaching others with a gospel of transformationwith a gospel of transformation

5. “Step Out for New people”5. “Step Out for New people”

With . . .• A Missionary Mindset A Missionary Mindset

A “Missionary Mindset”A “Missionary Mindset”

MISSION-aries . . .

1. Have a clear mission and believe it is of God;

Dennis to JoeyDennis to Joey

““Don’t ever play Don’t ever play hide-go-seek with hide-go-seek with

Mr. Wilson . . .Mr. Wilson . . .He don’t SEEK.”He don’t SEEK.”

Just for fun, a new cartoon . . . . What’s the Problem here?Just for fun, a new cartoon . . . . What’s the Problem here?

Favorite Biblical SourcesFavorite Biblical Sources for Creating the Vision for Creating the Vision

1. The Great Commission (Mt 28) -- 27x 2. The Body of Christ (Eph 4) -- 14x 3. Life / Good Shepherd (Jn 10) -- 11x 4. Pentecost (Acts 2) -- 10x 5. New Birth in Christ (Jn 3) -- 10x 6. God’s Activity in the Church (Acts) 9x 7. Seeking the Lost (Lk 15) -- 7x 8. Talents / Unto the least of these (Mt 25) -- 6x 9. Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) -- 5x10. The Spirit makes us witnesses (Acts 1:8) -- 5x

“Whom Shall I send?”“Whom Shall I send?” “Go therefore and make

disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Mt 28:19-20)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Mt 28:19-20)

A “Missionary Mindset”A “Missionary Mindset”

MISSION-aries . . .

1. Have a clear mission and believe it is of God;

2. Exist more to touch their mission field with the love of God and offer them Christ, than they do for their own pleasure and comfort;

A “Missionary Mindset”A “Missionary Mindset”

MISSION-aries . . .

1. Have a clear mission and believe it is of God;

2. Exist more to touch their mission field with the love of God and offer them Christ, than they do for their own pleasure and comfort;

3. Speak the language of the people and adjust their methods and ministries to fit the culture and meet the needs of those they want to reach.

5. “Step Out for New People”5. “Step Out for New People”

With . . .• A Missionary Mindset A Missionary Mindset

• A Contagious WitnessA Contagious Witness

“Whom Shall I send?”“Whom Shall I send?” Isaiah 43:10 “You are my

witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen.”

Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Isaiah 43:10 “You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen.”

Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

We found that . . .We found that . . .the pastors we studied were not just the pastors we studied were not just

shepherdsshepherds, they were , they were “good shepherds” (Jn 10; Lk 15)“good shepherds” (Jn 10; Lk 15)

In addition to caring for their sheep, they: – pursued lostlost sheep

– had been foundfound themselves

– believed in “push” & “pull” evangelism

– continued learning and growing

– helped others live as Christ’s witnesses and practice evangelism through invitation, visitation, and conversation.

Barna Research 2003Barna Research 2003 4265 Telephone Interviews

“Shared your faith with non-believers during the past year”

Assemblies of God (67%) Non-denominational (51%) Pentecostal (50%) Baptist (40%) Presbyterian (31%) Lutheran (24%) Methodist (21%) Episcopal (13%) Catholic (10%)

The “How” of Contagious Witnessing

10,000 Interviews

over 15 years.

What Characteristic of theWhat Characteristic of thePerson Led You to DecidePerson Led You to Decide

3571 Cases3571 Cases

14%

27%5%

17%

25% 12%

Personality Rel w GodCared for Others Cared for Me

Explained Bible Insisted

relationship with God

explained the Bible

cared for me 1.

2.

3.

The Role of a “WITNESS”The Role of a “WITNESS”

1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ

as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

NIV

Contagious ChristiansContagious ChristiansIn your hearts set apart Christ as In your hearts set apart Christ as

LordLord.. Always be prepared to give an answerbe prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with with gentleness and respectgentleness and respect.. (1 Pet 3:15 NIV)

14%

27%5%17%

25% 12%

Personality Rel w GodCared for Others Cared for Me

Explained Bible Insisted

Rel w/ GodCared for me

Explained

Twenty-five weeks of adventure with a small Twenty-five weeks of adventure with a small group of fellow pilgrims learning to walk the walk group of fellow pilgrims learning to walk the walk

and talk the talk of being Christian Witnesses.and talk the talk of being Christian Witnesses.

5. “Step Out for New people”5. “Step Out for New people”

With . . .• A Missionary Mindset A Missionary Mindset

• A Contagious WitnessA Contagious Witness

• A Commitment to “Adopt”A Commitment to “Adopt”

Successful Small Church Evangelism Successful Small Church Evangelism MUST include MUST include AdoptionAdoption..

• As old as Acts 6:1-7As old as Acts 6:1-7

• Hospitality, invitation, and Hospitality, invitation, and visitation must lead to adoptionvisitation must lead to adoption

• Leadership is defined in terms Leadership is defined in terms of relational discipleshipof relational discipleship

• Programs are developed with Programs are developed with both an outside & inside viewboth an outside & inside view

So…10 Years Later

I did a follow up study of the original 100 congregations to see the long term impact of this kind of leadership.

Some Startling Discoveries

Some Startling Discoveries

Only 36 churches could be Only 36 churches could be contactedcontacted52 interviews were conducted52 interviews were conducted75% experienced loss of 75% experienced loss of momentum momentum or worse at first or worse at first pastoral transitionpastoral transitionGreatest success was when theGreatest success was when the

congregation kept same congregation kept same pastorpastor

Only 36 churches could be Only 36 churches could be contactedcontacted52 interviews were conducted52 interviews were conducted75% experienced loss of 75% experienced loss of momentum momentum or worse at first or worse at first pastoral transitionpastoral transitionGreatest success was when theGreatest success was when the

congregation kept same congregation kept same pastorpastor

What could this mean?What could this mean?

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth:

it is to your advantage it is to your advantage

that I go away,that I go away,

for if I do not go away,

the Advocate will not come to you;

but if I go,

I will send him to you.”

John 16:7

How can we help pastoral pastoral transitionstransitions lead to brighter and

more hopeful future?

How can we help pastoral pastoral transitionstransitions lead to brighter and

more hopeful future?

First,First,

I’m hopeful that this new book with discussion questions for groups will have an impact.

Second,Second,

A new approach for creating missional leadership teams for smaller membership churches is already underway.

ABIDEABIDE

A Movement for Renewing the Fruitfulness

of Smaller Membership Churches

ABIDING in Christ,

ADVANCING God’s mission,

ALIVE in God’s glory.

John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 “I am the Vine, “I am the Vine, you are the branches.”you are the branches.”

(grafted into the Life of Christ)(grafted into the Life of Christ)

1. (15:4-5) abide in me

2. (15:7) my word abides in you

3. (15:8) bear much fruit SPIRIT (quality & quantity)

(Gal 5:22)

“pruned” (15:2) “cleaned” (15:3)

SON

“rooted in love” (Eph 3:14-19)

FATHER

ABIDEABIDE

The ABIDE Model

Event 1 -- Celebration & RenewalEvent 1 -- Celebration & Renewal A refreshing A refreshing overnight retreatovernight retreat encouraging faith and encouraging faith and

stirring a vision of what Christ can achieve in any stirring a vision of what Christ can achieve in any congregation willing to abide in him and be shaped congregation willing to abide in him and be shaped for God’s glory for God’s glory

Event 2 -- From Vision to VitalityEvent 2 -- From Vision to Vitality A A day apartday apart that prepares and begins to resource that prepares and begins to resource

each local church team to make the Leach local church team to make the L33 journey of journey of Loving, Learning and Leading togetherLoving, Learning and Leading together

The Walk-Along-SideThe Walk-Along-Side A A twelve monthtwelve month LL33 incubator incubator & coaching process & coaching process

The L3 Transformation• L1 - Loving God and neighbor

through accountability, sharing and worship.

• L2 - Learning in community through instruction, discussion, and exercises to

• discover personal gifts and abilities, • investigate the current reality of our context, and• discern God’s direction for the future of our congregation.

• L3 - Leading togetherthrough living as a Christ-centered team that designs and implements a Ministry Action Plan.

Books