Comments on: What is the Emerging Church? (Part 1) http://www.faithengineer.com/2008/02/what-is-emerging-church-part-1.html Where Ministry and Technology Converge Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:14:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark http://www.faithengineer.com/2008/02/what-is-emerging-church-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-156 Mark Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:39:00 +0000 http://www.faithengineer.com/2008/02/what-is-the-emerging-church-part-1.html#comment-156 Mike,<br/>Thanks for the advice. I recently started studying relationship evangalism and I must admit, I'm impressed. The Institute For American Church Growth,who asked over 10,000 people this question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?” - Their replies:<br/>a. I had a special need - 2%<br/>b. I just walked in - 3%<br/>c. I like the minister - 6%<br/>d. I visited there - 1%<br/>e. I like the Bible classes - 5%<br/>f. I attended a gospel meeting - 0.5%<br/>g. I liked the programs - 3%<br/>h. A friend or relative invited me - 79%<br/><br/>Wow that's a huge percentage. I now know where to start! Mike,
Thanks for the advice. I recently started studying relationship evangalism and I must admit, I’m impressed. The Institute For American Church Growth,who asked over 10,000 people this question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?” – Their replies:
a. I had a special need – 2%
b. I just walked in – 3%
c. I like the minister – 6%
d. I visited there – 1%
e. I like the Bible classes – 5%
f. I attended a gospel meeting – 0.5%
g. I liked the programs – 3%
h. A friend or relative invited me – 79%

Wow that’s a huge percentage. I now know where to start!

]]> By: Mike http://www.faithengineer.com/2008/02/what-is-emerging-church-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-152 Mike Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:44:00 +0000 http://www.faithengineer.com/2008/02/what-is-the-emerging-church-part-1.html#comment-152 Mark, I would urge you to focus on several things. To grow, you need to focus on outreach (but not just by yourself) and focus on assimilation. I have been involved with outreach programs like FAITH and EE before, but I have never really seen them grow a church. I know they can, but I think a much better way is for a church to get to the point where people are actually inviting their friends. I am a huge believer in relational evangelism. I believe people are much more likely to be saved and start attending church through relationships with people in the church. <br/><br/>I would urge you and your church to be very involved in the community. We have tried to be at all the street festivals and parades and any other community event, just so people know us. The old adage "that people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care" is very true. <br/><br/>In our postmodern society today, confrontational evangelism is being replaced by relationship evangelism which is much closer to the model of Jesus. You have got me thinking so I will try to post a blog entry on this topic to go into greater detail. Thanks for the great question!! Mark, I would urge you to focus on several things. To grow, you need to focus on outreach (but not just by yourself) and focus on assimilation. I have been involved with outreach programs like FAITH and EE before, but I have never really seen them grow a church. I know they can, but I think a much better way is for a church to get to the point where people are actually inviting their friends. I am a huge believer in relational evangelism. I believe people are much more likely to be saved and start attending church through relationships with people in the church.

I would urge you and your church to be very involved in the community. We have tried to be at all the street festivals and parades and any other community event, just so people know us. The old adage “that people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care” is very true.

In our postmodern society today, confrontational evangelism is being replaced by relationship evangelism which is much closer to the model of Jesus. You have got me thinking so I will try to post a blog entry on this topic to go into greater detail. Thanks for the great question!!

]]> By: Mark http://www.faithengineer.com/2008/02/what-is-emerging-church-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-151 Mark Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:59:00 +0000 http://www.faithengineer.com/2008/02/what-is-the-emerging-church-part-1.html#comment-151 Hey Mike! This is your fellow engineer friend Mark from Fort Worth needing some guidance. It’s interesting that you talk about the emerging church and how it applies to the post modern culture of today. I joined a small church that has been struggling financially for years. They bought 10 acres of land 5 years ago that is located in a very affluent neighborhood and in 6 months will have it paid off. The church we’re currently in is run down because of the lack of funds, contributing mainly from the land payment, and the congregation is small to boot. I play in a praise band and also took on the leadership role as outreach director. Throughout the week, I go door knocking trying to pull more people into the church but there seems to be less people inclined in going to a church that doesn’t fit the new generational look. Before I joined a year ago there was no outreach program which I think is the essence in growing any church. I know in 6 months we’ll pull in more money having the land paid off but we’re a long way from building our new church. What recommendations do you have to offer to help stimulate our outreach program? Since we do live in a secular society, many people are looking at what a church has to offer instead of looking at what they can offer the church. I left a huge mega church in Fort Worth because there was no room for me to teach and grow. I joined the church I’m in right now because of the opportunity to contribute and I saw that it was struggling! I do realize that in this post modern culture many tend to look for the secular aspects of a church instead of growing” The Body” as a whole but I hope there is a way thru my outreach program I can bridge that gap! Hey Mike! This is your fellow engineer friend Mark from Fort Worth needing some guidance. It’s interesting that you talk about the emerging church and how it applies to the post modern culture of today. I joined a small church that has been struggling financially for years. They bought 10 acres of land 5 years ago that is located in a very affluent neighborhood and in 6 months will have it paid off. The church we’re currently in is run down because of the lack of funds, contributing mainly from the land payment, and the congregation is small to boot. I play in a praise band and also took on the leadership role as outreach director. Throughout the week, I go door knocking trying to pull more people into the church but there seems to be less people inclined in going to a church that doesn’t fit the new generational look. Before I joined a year ago there was no outreach program which I think is the essence in growing any church. I know in 6 months we’ll pull in more money having the land paid off but we’re a long way from building our new church. What recommendations do you have to offer to help stimulate our outreach program? Since we do live in a secular society, many people are looking at what a church has to offer instead of looking at what they can offer the church. I left a huge mega church in Fort Worth because there was no room for me to teach and grow. I joined the church I’m in right now because of the opportunity to contribute and I saw that it was struggling! I do realize that in this post modern culture many tend to look for the secular aspects of a church instead of growing” The Body” as a whole but I hope there is a way thru my outreach program I can bridge that gap!

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