Churches of God Eastern Regional Conference Commission on Evangelism BLOG

16 NEW BELIEVERS

Dr. Steve Dunn — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:40:00 GMT

Last night I sat down in a meeting of our Commission on Christian Education. It had been a long, intense day that had included an opportunity for me to discuss guilty, freedom and God's will with a man in the restaurant I frequent. (A man who intentionally sought me out for that purpose.) We had three commission members missing, a light agenda, and I did not anticipate anything particulary exciting

God had something else in mind. Our CE Commission oversees youth ministry in our church. It is called BURN denoting the passion for Christ that we hope to spark in kids. Wednesday night is a worship, teaching, and fellowship time. We began this in February. Our church has 250-260 members, arund 200 in worship Sunday mornings. BURN last week had 40+ kids in attendance.

But the big deal was when he announced that 16 kids had made commitments to Jesus Christ that night, with an equal number making recommenitms. Jeremy said he was struck silent for a time in awe, as did Denny McFarland, one our chaperones. But then the joy began, as they celebrated sixteen new lives born into the Kingdom.

In about three weeks, I will baptize many of these kids--the largest group I have ever baptized

There was rejoicing in the Multipurpose room that night ... and there was a party in heaven!

RESOURCES WORTH EXPLORING

Dr. Steve Dunn — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:46:00 GMT

We are finding some books that are well worth your time and effort if you want to group in your understanding of evangelism and outreach. Three come to the forefront quickly and we hope to have copies of them available for the 2010 ERC Conference Sessions.
Kevin Harney has written one of the best and most useful books on evangelism of 2009. It is called Organic Outreach for Ordinary People (Zondervan. $14.99 paper). Subtitled Sharing Good News Naturally Harney's book supplies a wonderful resource on the basics of evangelism that is biblical, creative and highly practical. Divided into three sections: Preparing the Soil, Planting and Watering, Bearing Kingdom Fruit we are given insights into the biblical teaching on evangelism, the importance of prayer and incarnational living, and practical tools like engaging in spiritual conversations and telling your story.

Perhaps the best section of the book is the first where we are introduced to the need to embrace the Bible and truth (with a superb section called "Doctrine Matters"), the "One-Degree Rule: identifying the means of raising our evangelistic temperature, and "Everyone Plays," a compelling teaching on how the whole Church can get into the game, evangelistically.

Those familiar with Becoming a Contagious Christian and Becoming a Contagious Church will see some familiar ideas, especially in the final section on tools but pastors and evangelism leaders, especially those in traditional churches whose evangelism ministry can grown dormant, will find fresh and inspiring insights to help their people again catch a vision for sharing their faith.

This book will be the text for the third course in this year's School of Evangelism DEVELOPING A STRATEGY FOR EVANGELISM IN THE LOCAL CHURCH/

GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING INCREDIBLE

Pastor Dan Masshardt — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:56:00 GMT

WRITTEN BY STEVE DUNN--POSTED BY DAN MASSHARDT--ON LOCATION IN HOUSTON AT THE GLOBAL MEDIA OUTREACH CONFERENCE

"If you want to know the will of God, figure out where God is working and go and join him." - Henry Blackaby, roughly paraphrased

God is up to something incredible! He is engaging the world in a work through an amazing outreach on the Internet. Global Media Outreach, an arm of Campus Crusade, sponsors 102 websites to present and explain the Gospel in all 12 languages found on the Internet. Dan and I sat in a meeting in Houston Friday afternoon to learn about the work of God through the GMO. In the first 90 minutes of this presentation, these 12 web sites reported in real time 15,000 people around the world inquiring about Christianity and Jesus Christ and had recieved a gospel presentation. 1845 made decisions to follow Jesus Christ and 350 had requested follow-up from on-line missionaries and disciplers.

In 90 minutes !!!!

GMO records it inquiries in daily tallies. In the first 14 hours of March 5 (which included our 90 minutes) 155,390 persons had made inquiries and 24,715 of these persons had indicated decisions for Christ. 4150 had directly requested follow-up by on-line missionaries,

In 14 hours !!!

The Commission on Evangelism is exploring how the Churches of God of the ERC can be a part of this incredible movement of God.

DEADLINE FOR NEXT CLASS IS MONDAY

Pastor Dan Masshardt — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:46:00 GMT

MONDAY IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE SECOND CLASS IN THE 2010 SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM. EMAIL YOUR REGISTRATION TO sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org. The text SHARING JESUS IN THE POSTMODERN WORLD will be sent immediately.

GLOBAL MEDIA OUTREACH

Pastor Dan Masshardt — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:32:00 GMT

The Commission is exploring a new web tool for evangelism. Always Ready is a new online missions program being designed by Global Media Outreach. GMO is an arm of Campus Crusade. GMO employs global communication technology to conduct online evangelism and discipleship worldwide.

Every day, 2 million people search the Internet for God, for meaning, for hope. They are people in crisis: facing loneliness, addictions, suicide, domestic abuse, divorce, hopelessness. With nowhere to turn, people are turning to the Internet in astonishing numbers trying o fill the emptiness inside. Through GMO's web tools, Christians around the world can be ready to meet them at the very moment of their need, when they are mst ready to listen.

Dan Masshardt and Steve Dunn from our commission are in Houston today through Saturday to examine this resource, assess its viability for Churches of God, and to identify ways to give our local churches to become a part of this great movement of God. Watch this blog in the next few days for updates,

AND NOW CHILE - WERE THE MAYANS RIGHT?

Dr. Steve Dunn — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:12:00 GMT

http://sdunnpastor.wordpress.com

Note: I posted this earlier at the Wordpress version of my LIFE MATTERS under the category, A GOOD QUESTION. (The link appears at the top of this page) It is an example, I believe, of how to use a blog to start a spiritual conversation with nonChristians, especially those shaped by the media culture. What are some ways that you have used current events to start a spiritual conversation? - Steve

On February 27, just off the coast of Maule, Chile, an earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter Scale rocked our planet. Literally, rocked us on our axis shortening the day by three seconds. Immediately tsunami warnings were issued for the entire Pacific, particularly for the "Ring of Fire" - so named because of its volcanic activity. It es an earthquake of far greater power than the one that ravaged Haiti. Only its epicenter being away from a densely populated metropolitan area and tougher building codes kept its death toll to less mind boggling levels.

Chile has asked for help, and so it should. Tragedies like this remind us of our common humanity and our interdependence despite our diversity.

The disaster mongers are spinning theories of even greater potential destruction. The general public has voices raising the question, "Is the 2012 end of the world predicted by the Mayan calendar really a possibility? Were the Mayans right?"

I don't know.

Many biblical Christians point to earthquakes as one of the signs that Christ will return and the world as we know it will end. Being a Christian who believes the Bible to be God's Word, I don't disagree. However, I am more focused on what my own denomination's doctrinal statement indicates. "These signs have always been with us ..."

What is the purpose of a spiritual sign?

To get our attention and to point us in a direction.

Personally, I believe something Jesus said: "No one knows the hour or the time." xxx He was adding a more specific purpose to a sign--to focus you on preparing. For Christians preparing doesn't mean packing your bag to be ready for the rescue copters (or angels). It means to take care of your earthly business with a sense of deliberateness and urgency. Reconcile with your neighbor. Resolve your sin issues. Fulfill your calling to help reconcile people to God, inviting them to accept his offer of a personal relationship that gives you new life.

Instead of wasting time in explanation or speculation, we need to get about the business of loving God and loving our neighbor to the max.

HOW CAN THE COMMISSION HELP?

Dr. Steve Dunn — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:55:00 GMT

The Commission meets on March 17. As we continue implementation of our new philosophy and preare for annual conference, please share with us your thoughts on how the commission might help your church in its work of evangelism. Also, what would you like to see on our web site?

DEVELOPING RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING

Dr. Steve Dunn — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:35:00 GMT

The final spoke in the Commission's new operational philosophy is DEVELOPING RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING. Because of our desire to assist our local churches in an effective way, we will try developing new resources that specifically meet the needs of our local churches. Or we may offer conference or district wide programs that will raise the evangelistic temperature and skills of our local churches. In the past three years we have developed two tools - GOING FISHING by Jack, which is an evangelism curriculum piece to be used in small groups and Sunday school to help people do evangelism in the work place. We have developed a one-day workshop called BRIDGE BUILDERS - How to engage your culture for Christ without engaging in a culture war. Written by Steve Dunn, this is intended to help local churches look at the issues of sharing Christ in an unchurched culture, with people who have no significant Christian roots. Piloted at Martinsburg and Enola, we will be offering this twice in 2010 in a district-wide setting. At the same time we will be training trainers who can help use this in a local church..

In the works is Evangelism Summit in 2011, an evangelism guidebook to help churches develop an evangelistic strategy, and some simple tools to be used on church web sites to introduce people to Christ.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S EVANGELISM IS SPOKE 4

Dr. Steve Dunn — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:02:00 GMT

Micah Brickner of Caring Community Church and Samuel Ruggiero of Landisville are the commission point persons on perhaps the most important of the five spokes of the evangelism wheel-YOUTH AND CHILDREN. This is an area that we currently provide assistance in through a youth version of Becoming a Contagious Christian, with Micah as the trainer. And we also provide an elective in the School of Evangelism (this past October taught by Micah, Steve Dunn, and Lisa Kilgore, Children's Director of Landisville Church of God.

Here is where we are beginning to explore a whole host of tools and opportunities for helping children and youth find faith. With most studies showing that 80-90% of people become Christians before their 18th birthday (we think that age is high, more like 14-16), developing an understanding and tools is one of the most vital pieces of our evangelism strategy. Youth evangelism particularly focuses on teaching the kids how to be apologists and evangelists to their peers.

Into this area, we plan to pour much of our efforts in 2010 and 2011. We are particularly looking for college age adults and olders with a passion for sharing the faith with new generations in culturally relevant ways. If you have an interest, we would love to explore your becoming a part of the ministry team that focuses on this spoke of our strategy.

UPDATING NEXT SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM ENROLLMENT

Dr. Steve Dunn — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:31:00 GMT

Ten more days to enroll in the next session of the School of Evangelism, March 13, 2010. For this class we have students signed on from Enola, Mount Olivet, Mount Joy, Harrisburg First, Bare Memorial, and Windsor. Don't miss what we believe is one of our very best of the six core courses. Enroll today via email. Simply send a message with your name, address, local church to the following link. Textbooks will be sent Tuesday, March 2. http://www.sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org

SPOKE 3 - WEB SITE AND RESOURCES (BLOG AND OTHER RESOURCES)

Dr. Steve Dunn — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:50:00 GMT

The other element of this third spoke is the Commission's blog EVANGELISM TODAY (which is what this post appears on) and a Recommended Resources Library. The blog is intended as an ongoing dialogue with local church leaders on the ideas, issues, and resources of evangelism in the 21st century. Currently Dan Masshardt and Steve Dunn moderate this blog, to which any person can subscribe and join in the discussion by posting comments. The blog has an archive of articles and postings. Some of the materials here will be cross-posted on the web site.

The Commission will also be reviewing new resources that become available, placing some in its lending library. This especially includes training kits like Becoming a Contagious Christian and Just Walk Across the Room. It will also be concerned with helping churches gain access to new resources in the most economical manner.

The Commission is currently considering involvement with Global Media Outreach, an arm of Campus Crusade. This would be a new tool that would allow local churches become involved in worldwide evangelism and discipling via the Internet. Steve Dunn and Dan Masshardt will be attending a meeting in Houston next week to explore this possibility. More on this in a posting following that meeting.
You can learn more about this yourself by going to http://globalmediaoutreach.com

We are also currently recommending a personal blog by our Commission Chair, Dr Steve Dunn of the Landisville Church. This is a blog intended for the larger church. It is called THE OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH. You can check out and subscribe to this blog by going to http://theoutwardfocusedchurch.blogspot.com

SPOKE 3 - WEB SITE AND RESOURCES (WEB SITE)

Dr. Steve Dunn — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:31:00 GMT

The third spoke in the operational strategy is WEB SITE AND RESOURCES. The Commission will seek to help the local church by maintaining a WEB SITE. The website is currently called EVANGELISM RESOURCE PAGE. It can be accessed by going to
www.ercevangelism.com. The web site is currently under some reconstruction and design, but is intended as a permanent home by which to provide information on the following areas - a sort of web library for materials and information pertinent to evangelism within the Eastern Regional Conference. Larry Hale and Dan Masshardt are the Commission members who provide overall leadership to this third spoke of our FIVESPOKES operational design. Additional categories are being considered and they would be open to any suggestions you might have. Just click on that website and go to CONTACT US.http://WWW.ERCEVANGELISM.COM

Evangelism Mentors If your church is ready to become more evangelistically effective, but you're not sure where to start, you'll want to consider teaming up with an evangelism mentor. These individuals have completed our school of evangelism and have been approved to serve you.	School of Evangelism Our comprehensive School of Evangelism is not more accessible than ever. Day-long sessions will offer you the necessary theological foundation and then build upon it with practical tools for understanding our culture and communicating the love of Jesus most effectively.
Resources on the Web There are so many great resources on the internet that we're just not aware of. On our resources page, we'll keep you up to date on what's out there. If you've come across something great, let us know about it.	Workshops at Your Church Sometimes the best way to get your congregation equipped is to bring the training right to them. We can bring great tools like Becoming a Contagious Christian and Just Walk Across the Room to you.
Library You don't always need to spend a lot of money to access the tools you need. Check out the books and teaching materials that we have available to loan to churches.	Tell Your Stories Testimony is not only a great way to share your faith, it's also a great way to share with others ways that you have shared the love of Christ. What practices have you found most effective?

SPOKE 2 - LOCAL CHURCH TRAINING

Dr. Steve Dunn — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:21:00 GMT

Local church TRAINING focuses on providing tools and training local churches in the use of those tools through commission-certified trainers. This was the initial thrust of the commission and currently it has the following programs available:

BECOMING A CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN This tool has recently been revised and introduced and provides six sessions for teaching people how to build redemptive relationships, tell their story of what Christ has done, and inviting people to become Christians. The new tool also contains resources to help a local church engage in an evangelistic program at the same time.

JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM The prequel to Becoming a Contagious Christian. In four sessions (accompanied with four sermons), participants are taught how to leave their comfort zone, connect with others by listening, tell their stories in a way to makes Christ attractive, and develop a lifestyle that impacts the lives of others.

BRIDGEBUILDERS is a four session workshop usually done on a Saturday which focuses on helping traditional Christians understand and share the gospel with persons with little or no Christian roots.

BECOMING A CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN (YOUTH VERSION) is for teenagers.

GOING FISHING is a 13-session Sunday School course on sharing your faith in the workplace.

As part of this strategy, we will be offering two district classes on BRIDGEBUILDERS this summer and fall to help persons learn to usse this tool in their local church.

The Commission currently has trainers available in all of these programs but is looking train others who might assist churches that do not have someone in their own church with the time or experience to lead such a seminar.

FIRST SPOKE OF THE STRATEGY - SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM AND LOCAL CHURCH MENTORS

Dr. Steve Dunn — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:17:00 GMT

The Commission on Evangelism works from the philosophy that it needs to resource the local church to do the work of evangelism. Many churches need specific assistance in order to be equipped to fulfill the Great Commission. Coaching or mentoring is the primary means by which the Commission seeks to effect this assistance. Currently it has three trained evangelism mentors, who can assist a local church in assessing its evangelistic potential, identifying its particular mission, and developing an appropriate strategy to accomplish this. The current mentors are Tom Myers from Mount Pleasant Church, Dave Anderson from Mount Joy, and Samuel Ruggiero from Landisville. These mentors have completed the basic six core courses of the School of Evangelism and an additional course in consulting. All three are currently available. A mentor typically works with a church and its pastor from 6-12 months These persons are compensated by the Commission on Evangelism, but a local church is asked to provide for some of this expense depending on its current financial situation. The mentors are assigned by a team made up of the Commission Chair, Chuck Frank and Dave Williams from the Conference Office. Initially you would contact Chuck Frank for the services of an evangelism mentor.

The School of Evangelism was created initially to train these mentors, as local church pastors and leaders who sought to deepen their understanding and skills in the area of evangelism. A series of six one day core courses are taught annually from January through November. These courses are self-contained so that a person can enter the cycle at any time in the year. Cost is $25 per course plus a text book charge. Scholarships are available. The School is now in its third year and is directed by our current commission chairperson, Dr. Steve Dunn. There are two theology courses, two courses on methods and strategy, two courses on apologetics. There are also three electives offered in 2010: Evangelistic Preaching to Postmoderns, Church Planting as Evangelism, and Youth Evangelism.

THE SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM SHARES THEOLOGY INSIGHTS FOR POST MODERNS

Dr. Steve Dunn — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:56:00 GMT

A powerful new book by Kevin Harney called Organic Outreach reminds us that "doctrine matters" in reaching postmoderns and emerging generations. "Our beliefs matter to God because he is the one who breathed thevery words of scripture (2 Tim.3:16). Our doctrine matters because what we believe determines how we live, love, and reach out to the world.The core beliefs of Christians are also of intense interest to those who are not yet believers in Jesus Christ. They are watching us and wondering if we really believe what we say we believe. (Read more of his comments and further commentary on THE OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH

http://theoutwardfocusedchurch.blogspot.com/2010/01/doctrine-and-contemporary-evangelism.html
What is important is to understand what components of our doctrine speak effectively to the questions that postmoderns are asking. A knowledge of this helps in our evangelistic enterprise in 21st century America. Understanding this is the heart of the next offering of the School of Evangelism on March 13, 2010 at Fairview Bethel Church of God. Class runs from 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Register today by emailing your intention to attend to sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org

The cost for the course is $25 plus a $5 notebook charge for the text Tell Them the Story of Jesus. Register as soon as possible so you can receive the text materials in advance. Registration deadline is March 8th.

NEW OPERATIONAL MODE FOR COMMISSION - 2

Pastor Dan Masshardt — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:22:00 GMT

The Commission on Evangelism has designed its operations along the image of a wheel. Picture a hub (the commission) with five spokes moving outward. The rim is where the work of the commission meets the everyday ministry of the local church. In our new design, commission members will specialize in one of these five spokes. When new members are recruited, we will be looking for gifts and passions that match that dimension of our ministry. In the hub sit the three administrative members - the chairperson and the recording and financial secretaries. As this ministry evolves, the chairperson will normally not work in an area of emphasis, but try to be the person that keeps all parts connected to the larger mission of the commission.

Those five spokes of ministry will be;
SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM AND LOCAL CHURCH MENTORS
EVANGELISM TRAINING IN LOCAL CHURCHES
WEBSITES AND RESOURCES
YOUTH AND CHILDREN EVANGELISM
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMING

At this time all these items have some already developed workings. The one that is currently close to its fullest development is SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM AND MENTORS. The other areas are really at ground zero in January 2010 , we some projects started or needing beefed up.

If you have an interest in working in one of these areas, you might want to be part of the commission - or at least one of the ministry teams that will carry out those specific areas of mission. You may contact our chairperson, Dr Steve Dunn at sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org. You are also welcome to attend the Commission's March 17th meeting at 9:30 am at the Church Center to learn more.

THE MISSIONAL CHURCH ... simple

Pastor Dan Masshardt — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:45:00 GMT

This is Steve posting something I got from Dan Masshardt on another blog. You can find more thoughts on this at theoutwardfocusedchurch.blogspot.com

NEW OPERATIONAL DIRECTION IN 2010 FOR THECOMMISSION ON EVANGELISM

Dr. Steve Dunn — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:02:00 GMT

In 2010 the Commission on Evangelism is undertaking a redesign of our ministry. Our primary operational value has always been to resource the local church as the front-line of where the work of evangelism occurs. Even when we plan conference or district-wide events, those are for the purpose of equipping the local church to carry out its ministry of evangelism upon the mission field where God has placed them. It is not do evangelism per se as a conference.

Initially we set about trying to provide resources on what evangelism involved and also to help individuals practice evangelism. In our first 2-3 years that was our sole purpose. In 2007 we expanded our area of concern to youth evangelism, helping to resource the CLAY EVENT for the Commission on Youth and Family Life and commissioning a new tool based upon the youth edition of Becoming a Contagious Christian. In year four (2008) we inaugurated the program of evangelism mentors, training persons t come along local churches in developing and implementing individual strategies. The School of Evangelism was created to help achieve this goal.

Now in year six, we are going about this far more aggressively by venturing into resourcing and equipping with an emphasis on media tools, multidenominational resources, and developing the whole idea of mentors to a more sophisticated level y expanding the School of Evangelism. The task now requires us to have new and more personnel to serve as leaders and policy makers for this commission.

We have adopted a new operational philosophy called – FIVE SPOKES (Renewal has its “tree rivers.” In Thursday’s post we will share an overview of that philosophy.

SNOWBOUND AS A COMMISSION

Pastor Dan Masshardt — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:27:00 GMT

We have been a little bit in hibernation as a commission these past three months, Normally we do not meet November and December, but our January meeting fell victim to commission members' schedules and today's rescheduled meeting has to be scheduled again as post-blizzard driving conditions made such a meeting hazardous.

However, not total hibernation. The School of Evangelism started its third year in January with the first of two classes dealing with theology and evangelism. Students have joined us from Mt. Olivet, Enola,Roaring Spring, Harrisburg First and Windsor. The next class is March 13th at Fairview Bethel Church. I will be teaching the second class dealing with theology - this one on theological issues that must addressed as we evangelize postmoderns. Deadline for registration is March 7th - just email me at sdunnpastor@cglandisville.org to be a part. Cost is $25 plus a $5 textbook fee.

Some of us have been busy reading books and reviewing websites to recommend on this blog. One of our mentors, Dave Anderson, has been doing some work with Harrisburg First.

We are engaging in a major reoranization to help us move in a new and more effective direction in 2010 and beyond. Here's where we would be interested in some help. We are looking for potential commission members who are capabale of "thinking outside the box" on evangelisitc methods -- who have a passion for reaching emerging generations and unchurched people for Jesus Christ -- who have an interest in using our media and other technology to spread the Good News -- who have a heart for evangelism for youth and children. If you fit one of these categories -- we would be interested in talking to you about joining us. We have a meeting in Harrisburg on March 17th where we will be focusing on our new strategy. Again, contact me at the above email address if you are interested. - Dr Steve Dunn, Commission Chair

NEW BLOG FOR OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCHES

Pastor Dan Masshardt — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:10:00 GMT

A new blog is now available for churches who seek to turn around from a traditional and inward focus to becoming missional churches seeking to impact their communities for the Kingdom. It is called THE OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH. The blog has been created by Dr. Steve Dunn of our Landisville Church. Steve invites persons to subscribe and to comment on the posted articles. The blog can be accessed at www.theoutwardfocusedchurch.blogspot.com He also invites people to submit articles for inclusion by sending them to him at sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org.