desperately seeking advice on non-used-car-salesman evangelism

[Heather W. Reichgott]

Some Presbyterian friends and I really want to start a new church. This means evangelism. In some ways evangelism excites me and in other ways it totally depresses me. So I'm asking for help.

Here's the part that depresses me: evangelism that's like a used car salesman. You know. "We have this product called Jesus, you need this product, and you should buy it from us." With the thinly veiled fact that the end goal is actually getting more butts in the church's pews and more dollars in the offering plates. This kind of evangelism turns me off because I am not a salesman. It turns off other people (like my secular and Jewish friends) because it's obviously fake--the goal isn't real religion nor real friendship, it's membership numbers and money.

I'm not exactly a novice at evangelism--I've handed out church flyers at farmer's markets, I've hung out with the other groups that rent space from the church, I've started a youth group, I've helped church members learn to share their faith stories naturally and honestly with others. But starting a new church is a whole other level. I would love to hear advice from those who know how to do evangelism in some kind of way that is real and authentic and doesn't make people think we're just selling a product.

[David Hackett]

1) Do the orthodox thing in the unorthodox place. 2) Hold inviting events that are friendship-building, and have lots of cards, banners, balloons, whatever, directing them to a website where they can learn more about your emerging fellowship/church.

Dave

[John Gay]

Heather, I can totally relate to this problem. I was raised as an atheist and came to Christ as an adult - and now I'm a pastor - go figure. The key here is "authenticity" (I know it's an overly used word today, but it's true) - you need to learn how to share your faith and your love of Christ without selling it.

Sharing, not selling. As David Hackett said, have events that are friendship building. One sort of thing that I've enjoyed is having an event where people get to ask you questions. If you're honest, and you have someone there to stop attacks rather than questions, a great amount of faith in what YOU believe in can be built. If someone asks you to explain the Trinity, for example, try. Just don't be afraid to say that it's a mystery. Or that you don't know but would love to find out with that person.

It sounds like you're not new to this sort of thing. Just think bigger. Tell people your faith story - and don't forget the WHY you believe. That's more important than anything else. I honestly believe that people listen for the WHY much more than they listen for the WHAT. God bless and good luck!

[Carl P. Spiva]

What has been the growth in your church?
Growth rate per year?

Carl Spiva
Past Moderator, Stockton Psby

[Geoff Kohler]

I started a church with 18 folding chairs.
We were planted in a shopping center and every day I started by praying for the people who would sit in those chairs. I also rearranged the chairs. Every day I began by setting the chairs into different patterns as I prayed. So some days there were little groups of three and some there was a big circle of 18. Pretty soon the door of my space was opened by curious people. "What goes on in here? I can tell you have a lot of meetings with a lot of people because every time I go by the chairs are in a different arrangement."
I also went to all the merchants and talked with the owners or managers of each shop. I got to know something of their hopes and dreams and backgrounds and also learned, after they came to trust me, some of their prayer requests. They became good PR for me.
I held home parties for people who hated church but were very interested in God and Jesus. [They aren't that hard to find.] There I talked about my own hopes and dreams, my story and I began to build friendships. I invited everyone I met who didn't go to church. Just as David and John have replied, authenticity and friendship go a very long way. We started with dinners instead of worship services, but there was music and prayer and Scripture and I shared some thoughts about what it meant each time. These later became what we called "Celebration" services which were brunch/worship experiences with tons of food and great worship and we held them on Sunday mornings.
Evangelism is sharing good news which to me is telling the truth about God. If that's what you're doing you're not selling anything. If you're trying to control outcome - like getting butts into seats - then you're just a salesperson and you should go find a real job. God doesn't need new churches. God wants communities of people who love him.

[Heather W. Reichgott]

Thanks for the comments. I especially appreciate Geoff's stories about what worked for him. The dinner idea is something I was thinking about already and it'd be terrific in our location. Yeah, I think what we're all trying to do here is to go for authentic relationship, meeting people, becoming part of a community while creating a new community. That bit about "God doesn't need new churches" is awfully challenging and humbling (esp. while applying for a New Church Development conference, um...) yet true--community and love of God first.

[Luke Hyder]

I know I'm getting in on discussion late... and I probably don't have any "answers" to offer you, Heather, because I'm asking all the same questions about the nature of authentic, conversational evangelism.

But I think I can offer some resources which are beginning to be of help to me. Have you heard of a book titled: Holy Conversation: Talking About God in Everyday Life by Dr. Richard Peace? It's a wonderful small-group guide that approaches the subject of evangelism by helping participants practice telling and their own stories of how God has been active in their lives and also retelling in their own words God's story as we know it through Scripture. As participants go through the book together, they are also encouraged to find a conversation-partner outside of the church who agrees to let you "practice" with them.

This and other similar resources are helping me change our church's paradigm of evangelism from something that is done by the ministry "professionals" for them, to an integral part of the way they interact with their friends and acquaintances as they live their daily lives. (which is where I believe the true heart of evangelism lies)

[Katherine S Redmond]

Heather, perhaps evangelism begins by examining our stereotypes of people. My suggestion is to hang out with a few used car salesman and discover in them something authentic and real.

Christ is head of the church. If God is calling your friends to "start a new church" be assured that God has gone before you to draw people to Christ. Speak good news to every clerk, salesperson, CEO, farmer, immigrant, and allow the Spirit of Christ to do the "selling". I am always surprised that I am the one "evangelized" when I witness God at work among us.
Blessings in your ministry
Katherine

[Chris Walker]

Evangelism comes in all shapes and sizes and mental images. The challenge is finding what fits your personality. I too recommend the book Holy Conversations.

Sorry, I'm late to the covnversation. There are plenty of items at www.evangelismcoach.org to help you. Dig around.

Chris
www.evangelismcoach.org

[Uncle Max Bialystock]

I am often the "lone voice crying in the wilderness." Pardon my out-of-step observation in response to your desire to start a new church. (By that, I think you mean starting-up a new congregation?)

The "short answer" is that I just don't get it. I dunno why "evangelism" needs to be connected to starting-up new congregations. I'm a pastor in our denomination. I see gazillions of struggling, small congregations both in big cities and out in South Podunk and East Zero. If we want to introduce or reintroduce people to Jesus Christ and his church with a PC-USA frame around the effort to do so, why not support the EXISTING congregations that are already there??? Of course, that is a rhetorical question, because we can't decide even among ourselves what it means to be Presbyterian. So if a small band of people are willing to put themselves under our Presbyterian auspices, we'll jump to accept them as such. It matters not whether their own doctrine requires that the church building (if they have one) be painted hot pink, or whether their preferred likeness of the Lord is a "Buddy Jesus" statue from Kevin Smith's film, "Dogma:" a Jesus portrayed as winking at us, and giving everyone the "thumbs-up" sign. Our easygoing, attractive, non-demanding "Buddy Jesus."

Evangelism is essential, it's true. But more often than we might prefer to recognize, the "mission field" is all around us, within our own congregations. A great many are quite sincere in their faith, but that's about all you can say. Too many of our own baptized members, even those who have made their own Profession of Faith, are utterly ignorant about the CONTENT of our faith.---"Uncle Max Bialystock."

[Carl P. Spiva]

Surveys continually show that PCUSA members are not very well grounded.
Needless to say, you can't profess your faith if you don't KNOW your faith.
We have too many church members who come to church each Sunday, sing 3 hymns, listen to the Choir anthem,
heara sermon, put their fire insurance in the offerting plate, and go home thinking they have "done church"!
Some of the might even have served on the session or other committees, and have worked handing out food
at shelters, etc. These surveys nearly always point out the most members have never won anyone to Christ!
Only about 5% or less have brought someone to the throne of Grace!
The reason: We haven't taught them that soul winning is in their job description as a Christian.
The Great Commission and Ephesians 4:11-12 spells it out clearly.
One thing is certain. If a Pastor isn't sold on evangelism, it won't happen!

[Bob Wollenberg]

Just a couple of thoughts. First, our tradition is steeped in the idea that God chooses us more than we choose God. Therefore, it's hard to think of marketing the church. Marketing assumes that we are encouraging a choice in someone else. Whereas, we believe that God has already chosen. Secondly, someone once reminded me of the idea that, "The redemptive presence of Christ always goes before us." In other words, when we reach out to someone with the gospel, it is not as if we are the first ones to encounter that person...Christ has already preceded us. Christ is the primary evangelist. We are not Lone Rangers out there doing what God is unable to do. We can help point to the Christ who is already there. We can remind people of the Christ who is already present. We can help dull the distractions that prevent people from noticing Christ. But we are not the ones introducing Christ. He has already done that for us. Anyway....that's my thought today.