barriers

One of the best ways to educate someone is the Socratic Method. Instead of telling a student “the answer” a good teacher will guide the student through a series of question. As the students things about the questions and then poses. Questions of his own he will eventually discover “the answer.” However, if the original question is flawed the lesson learned may not be the lesson the teacher was trying to instill. Therefore, teachers must learn to ask the right question.

As churches try to reach the unchured and de-churched population in there community they often ask the wrong question. Man churches ask, “What can we do to attract people tour campus or worship service.” This is the wrong question and it will lead to the wrong answer. This question will cause the church to start new programs and develop new ministries. However, we all know that more is not always better. Actually, more can be the death nail for a church. Instead of trying to attract people to church, church leaders need to ask a different question.

The more appropriate question to ask is “What invisible barriers are keeping people away from out church?” While an attraction model might lead to more programs, this question will lead to a simple church and possibly a scaling back of programs. We have learned in the past few decades that the traditional Sunday morning “dress code” was a barrier for many people. Many people have to dress up all week long and do not want to put on a suit on Sunday too. However, some people simply cannot afford to “dress up.” The church at which I serve is located in an economically depressed area. As we try to reach out to out community we have discovered that many people do not have “Sunday clothes.” One of our pastors has a conversation with an African American lady. He discovered that she did not attend church on Sunday because she could not afford a “big fancy hat” to wear nor could her husband afford a nice suit. It is obvious that external factors keep people away from church, but what about the internal factors?

Apprehension about what to do in church keeps people away. This wall can be breached in several ways. Many churches have links on their websites that describe to potential quest what to expect when they arrive. Another answer to this dilemma is the Podcast. Numerous churches see the Podcast as an evangelistic tool. However, it can serve as a “marketing” tool as well. A quest will know what to expect form the sermon. She will know if the message is “hell-fire and brimstone” or if it is more topical and focused on life issues. Along the same lines churches can send CD’s or DVD’s into the community to let people know what to expect when they get to the worship service.

Another barrier to a potential guest might be your church building or campus itself. Our campus is over 100 acres and has 9 buildings. This can be really confusing to a guest especially if the signage explaining where to go is not strategically placed and informative. The answer to a confusing church or a campus might simply be new signs. A better answer might be the personal touch. You might want to station people at every entrance to your church or campus. These people can direct guest to the appropriate place. Even better than this solution, would be to direct them to a centralized welcome center. At the welcome center your “Guest Relations Expert” (AKA a friendly, well informed church member) can engage your guest in conversation and help them figure out where to go. This person can then take the guest to the appropriate place. The Guest Relations Expert (GRE) should first take the visiting family to the children’s and youth area and introduce them to the teacher for their child’s class. After the children are taken care of the GRE can take the parents to the mall group specially designed for them. However, it does not stop there. After the small group time, the GRE for the Adult class should walk the parents to pick up their children and then sit with them during the service. The GRE can act as a guide for the guest so they will know how to act during the service.

Christianity is about break down barriers. This was the goal of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. He broke down the barriers between God and humankind. I encourage you to look around your church and begin to identify the barriers that are keeping people away from your church. Only after you tear down the walls can you begin to ask the question, “What can we do to attract people to our now attractive church?

Summer of Service '06

Servant Evangelism, you have heard of it. You have railed against it, but have you seen it in action. Have you seen the faces of God's people living out his love for believers and non-believers? I have; it is amazing. According to Nelson Searcy, pastor of the Journey Church of the City in New York City, Servant Evangelism is “doing intentional acts of kindness with the express purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.” The summer of 2006 has been the Summer of Service at Emmanuel Church, in Greenville.

For the first six weeks of summer, we committed to leaving the church house and going out into the community. On Sunday nights, we meet at the church and then send out around two hundred people to serve our community. During this time, we have touched close to ten thousand people with the love God. How do we do this? We stand on street corners and give out free bottles of water. We go to Wal-Mart and wash windows. We go to the parks and give out free Popsicles. We go door to door, and we give out hundreds of bags of groceries. We have even gone to gas stations and pumped people’s gas and washed their windshield. All of this is done with no strings attached! We do not overtly invite people to Emmanuel; we let the accompanying connection card do that. We do not force the Roman Road on them or the Four Spiritual Laws. Servant Evangelism is not about that.

In his books Irresistible Evangelism and Conspiracy of Kindness, Steve Sjogren explains the place that SE plays in leading people to Christ. Imagine the road to Salvation as a golf course. A driver is used to put the ball in play. Then different clubs help move the ball toward the green. Then finally, while on the green, the putter helps place the ball into the hole. Far too often we think of “witnessing” as playing the green and using the putter. However, not every person is ready to “pray the prayer.” Therefore, we can not use the putter when “witnessing” to them. SE is the driver. Intentional acts of kindness will cause not-yet-Christians to ask questions. It will cause them to wonder about this thing called Christianity.

Servant evangelism is not something that will lead to an immediate salvation. In reality, once you put the ball into play you might never see it again. With SE you usually get to answer one question, “Why are you doing this?” Your answer, “I am simply trying to show God’s love in a practical way, with no strings attached.” Your answer may lead to a conversation, but it will probably lead to a funny look. Regardless of the initial response you have done the job of planting the seed of salvation.

Servant Evangelism is not only a good thing for not-yet-Christians, but it is also a good thing for the body of Christ. This summer having moved our Sunday night service to the street corner and the parking lot, I have watched friendship form between people. I have watched hearts re-kindle with a passion for God. I have watched new leaders step out from the crowd and take the reigns of ministry. Probably the best effect of SE on our local body has been the resurgence of excitement. When people come back on Sunday night excited about doing missions, watch out! When kids tell their parents “this is more fun than playing video games,” watch out! When people are sad because you do not go out and serve and instead you stay in and “have church,” watch out! Watch out because God is moving; He is unleashing a generation of people who are passionate about serving people into the Kingdom of God.

For information on Servant Evangelism projects please navigate your web browser to www.kindness.com.