Last May we conducted an extensive survey in our Care Groups to receive feedback on how we can become more effective in evangelism. Last July we identified 10 action steps we were taking in response to the survey. I want to take a moment, six months into our plan and update you on our progress.1. We wanted to provide training to help CrossWay answer the most common objections to the gospel. Last summer we hosted our Difficult Issues series that answered six common questions and this summer we are planning a similar series to equip CrossWay.
2. We wanted to make it easier for people to commit to inviting people and attending Exploring Christianity. This past fall we reduced the course from 10 to 8 weeks and the affect has been higher total attendance, more consistent attendance, and the a stronger overall curriculum.
3. We wanted to provide an evangelism equipping seminar for the people of CrossWay. I have been planning a Called To Witness series that will offer several 3 hour training modules for CrossWay. The modules will be offered regularly throughout our calendar and do not need to be taken in any specific order. The first module is scheduled for May 16th and it will focus on the practicalities of sharing the gospel.
4. We wanted to improve the effectiveness of our existing Guest Sundays in the fall, Christmas, and Easter. Specifically, we have taken steps for our guests to fellowship longer after the service. This past fall we hosted our Harvest Festival and this Christmas we offered cookies and coffee after the service. We will continue to seek ways to extend fellowship.
5. We wanted to encourage our Care Group Leaders to strengthen the role Care Groups play in encouraging personal evangelism. This includes praying for our witness as a church, implementing some form of personal accountability, and promoting greater participation in the evangelism initiatives we host as a church. Work still needs to be done here.
6. We wanted to strengthen our ability to be able to identify, connect with, and welcome our guests on Sunday morning. This ministry year we have experimented with our weekly Guest Center in the lobby where a member of the leadership team is there to welcome and answer questions for our guests.
7. We want to provide more resources to encourage CrossWay’s personal evangelism. I have reviewed several books and I am in the process of reviewing several DVD series. I want to provide resources to encourage, equip, and be used as tools in personal evangelism.
8. We want to encourage people to use their own gifts, styles, and relationships for personal evangelism. What I don’t want to communicate is Exploring Christianity is the only way to do evangelism. What I do want to communicate is do evangelism the way God has gifted you and use Exploring Christianity if it will serve you. I am trying to communicate this on Missio CrossWay, up front, and by offering other resources and ministries.
9. We want to encourage CrossWay to reach out into our community with acts of mercy, compassion, and justice. We have had several food drives over the year, we have recently encouraged a CrossWay SERVICE WEEK, we have recently come along side the Shalom Center, and we are planning an after school tutoring ministry.
10. Finally, we want to continue the conversation about mission, outreach, evangelism, and mercy into our community and the world. I will continue to encourage this through Missio CrossWay, I ask for your help in encouraging others to sign up for Missio CrossWay and your help in bringing some of these items as prayer requests to your Care Groups.
