1 -- Unleashing the Power of Story
- Sharing the Gospel in Narrative
- Current example: Inside Story Conference
2 -- Visual Story-telling
- The Power of Films
- Underdevelopment with Steve Rodd (JPO & Global Short Film Network) - Mini-Short Film Festival
3 -- Evangelism and the Creative Arts
- Leveraging creativity to reach students in the arts and through the arts
- Current Examples: The Creative Summit and Soularium
4 -- Equipping Conversational Evangelism Virtually
- Deploying e-Learning and Evangelism Training
- Under development: CoJourners training on-line
5 -- The Gospel for the Whole Person
- Finding connections for gospel relevance
- An example out of Europe Evangelism Strategies: EQ Seminars
6 -- Good News & Good Deeds
- Humanitarian efforts as a context for evangelism (with unbelievers, not just to unbelievers)
- Still learning lessons from 9/11, Tsunami & Katrina
7 -- Evangelism and the Web
- Web 2.0 – Social Networking
- Utilizing Facebook, U-tube & other social-networking platforms
Leave a comment on what you think... Thanks.
10 comments:
Pops,
This is the first time I have ever checked in on your blog and I am rather impressed that it was updated as of today. However two of your 7 ideas for evangelism are terrible. The E-training for evangelism is a terrible idea...just look at how little I learned from all of my online classes at UF, you should aim for a little bit better retention when it comes to evangelism. The facebook evangelism idea is also terrible, I know the Holy Spirit can potentially use anything but I would count it as a major miracle should someone actually come to a saving knowledge of Christ thanks to Facebook, Myspace, or Youtube.
Nate
Nate's comment "two of your 7 ideas for evangelism are terrible" made me laugh...how often the ideas people are so strongly against end up being the ways the Lord uses for his purposes. I am reminded of the times Bill Bright went against the things his staff said would not work when He thought God was showing him they would work. Online classes are not ideal - but they provide a means to train those in hard to reach countries where we can not send many people and they are often the ones with more zeal, passion and courge to reach others. The facebook and myspace and you tube I also think could be and actually already are a powerful bridge to draw in people for more...while they may not work for instant conversions they are none the less a great means for connecting to people we would not other wise meet and inviting them to events. I have met multiple people I would not otherwise have met apart from those social networking sites and we can also learn from the secular world, those online social sites remain online from advertisers. Advertisers only continue to pay for those things of which bring them people to present their product or service. The gospel is certainly not a product, but just like the secular world we desire to present the gospel to people and to do this we must first have their attention. Online social networks are a means from which to gain their attention, if it were not, I seriously doubt the networks would continue to stay online to offer the services for free with no revenue from advertisers. Will they work, who knows, but I find often the things people are quick to tell us will never work are at the very least worth looking into more.
I agree that facebook & social networking strategies *could* work, as long as it brings people into contact with real people and organizations - at the very least personal mail or IM conversations. The idea "post a link from your site to a page with the gospel message with your e-mail address" not being what I'm thinking of. I find very little fruitful thought on these ideas on the net, and frightfully little has been done that I am aware of which shows any kind of yield.
Facebook evangelism is not terrible at all. I am actually growing several relationships with friends and acquaintances right now, and using the comfort zone facebook allows to let them ask questions and ponder things. We're planting seeds, mind you--not aiming to necessarily "convert" people on the spot.
The last comment is exactly what i was going to say. i just finished a facebook instant message conversation with an old friend that ended with me giving him my a Pastor/friends email so he could talk to him about God. We go out , and on mission trips to evangelize,we overlook those we already know. The usefulness of being a good friend in God's mission is endless. To extend friendship and and care(even through a facebook conversation) to others is a powerful testament to what God has done for us, and non believers can not ignore the difference they see in a content, outgoing and loving person .
I know of a summer ministry training project that challenged the students to send out a set of questions to friends on facebooks to engage them (as interested) in spiritual conversation through Facebook. I was told it was not only a good step of faith, but initiated a significant number of very positive interactions about spiritual matters and the gospel.
I will concede the following, to the extent that facebook or any other website provides a medium for personal correspondence (i.e. not wall postings and not little blurbs declaring "religion: I don't do religion I have a relationship with Jesus Christ") it could have the potential to provide for valid spiritual discussions, just as snail mail correspondence is. However there are many people out there who use computers as a way to impersonally interact. It is very detached to be able to sit behind a screen, in our own little safe room, and right bold things. I submit that it is both far more effective and far more frightening to man up and present the gospel in person to people actually in your real life.
Hi Keith, I'm a journalist working on pitching a story about how Christians are sharing their faith on social networking sites like Facebook. I'm really interested in the story you mentioned in your last comment about the summer ministry training project. I'd love to hear more details about this story. Could you e-mail me at catherinenchicago@gmail.com so I can ask you some questions?
Thanks!
I have just returned from an amazing trip to India with compassion uk. We have sponsored a child for years, from the poorest of the poor. It was an honour and privalidge to travel with Justin Dowd, Ian the CEO, Graham Kendrick, and other major donors.
to see the work of compassion was really moving. I saw the mud built homes/rooms 6 people families live in. From sponsoring a child they get fed, clothed, schooled in a four part curriculum, spiritual-led to Christ and discipled, education, health and social training and are part of a local church.
often the whole family come to faith in Christ and attend the local church!
an infrastructure is raised up from grassroots providing training, empowerment, employment and they take responsibility for the projects, it was deeply moving. I got to see the work and minister to many young people and teams and churches. Terry Eckersley will be promoting the work of compassion and acting as an ambassador for them. I call it " intelligent missionary work! " it was really moving to visit the continued work of mother Theresa, I asked a sister, " do you need medical qualifications to do this work. " she answered........ " two hands to serve and one heart to love! " I was moved to tears. We complicate things so much. Continue to pray for us as we share the. Gospel and promote the work of www.compassion.uk I'm writing this from our other strategic partners at www.ucb.com www.ucb.co.uk helping pioneer Christian TV in Bulgaria and. Europe. Then winding down for C heist as, it's been a fruitful year, leading people to Christ ALL over the uk, Europe, India, USA. Rest and soak in His prescence this Christmas season. Terry and Jill Eckersley.
I have just returned from an amazing trip to India with compassion uk. We have sponsored a child for years, from the poorest of the poor. It was an honour and privalidge to travel with Justin Dowd, Ian the CEO, Graham Kendrick, and other major donors.
to see the work of compassion was really moving. I saw the mud built homes/rooms 6 people families live in. From sponsoring a child they get fed, clothed, schooled in a four part curriculum, spiritual-led to Christ and discipled, education, health and social training and are part of a local church.
often the whole family come to faith in Christ and attend the local church!
an infrastructure is raised up from grassroots providing training, empowerment, employment and they take responsibility for the projects, it was deeply moving. I got to see the work and minister to many young people and teams and churches. Terry Eckersley will be promoting the work of compassion and acting as an ambassador for them. I call it " intelligent missionary work! " it was really moving to visit the continued work of mother Theresa, I asked a sister, " do you need medical qualifications to do this work. " she answered........ " two hands to serve and one heart to love! " I was moved to tears. We complicate things so much. Continue to pray for us as we share the. Gospel and promote the work of www.compassion.uk I'm writing this from our other strategic partners at www.ucb.com www.ucb.co.uk helping pioneer Christian TV in Bulgaria and. Europe. Then winding down for C heist as, it's been a fruitful year, leading people to Christ ALL over the uk, Europe, India, USA. Rest and soak in His prescence this Christmas season. Terry and Jill Eckersley.
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