And maybe those questions wont be fully answered here and now; but again, we know who God is, we know what he promised us, and we know that this moment points us to how much we need one who is greater than us, who has greater power than us, who has greater control than us, who directs things we cant direct, who is never weak, who is never tired, and who is never weary. As God that payment for sin was infinite. Most evangelical leaders agree that the current COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine provides churches with wonderful opportunities to do community outreach and share the good news of Jesus. Young people from these countries have a surprising amount of culture in common. The Bible says, Gods near. We thank God for the incredible scientists and medical professionals serving the infected. This is a major sea change, an ecclesial paradigm shift, so let us be faithful and flexible as we navigate uncharted waters. In a post-pandemic world, the church, in the words of Mark Twain, may need to declare, The rumors of my death are grossly exaggerated.. Here are a few ways to get started with evangelism in crisis and maybe spark even better ideas. Tugis life was full of dignity and worth. Everyone is online now, and most have more time on their hands, so going live has great potential. Persons of Peace in their community, who know the young church plant genuinely cares about people, are passing on the names of needy families. Mosaic Baptist in Brooklyn, New York, founded by BBS Master of Divinity grad Stephen Stallard (13), is doing weekly distribution of boxes of essential food items along with information cards about the church, a scriptural gospel booklet and a gospel message. Your pastors are working hard to serve and love you. Volunteering to serve will mean a lot to your church leaders during this season. Everything will be as its supposed to be and function as it was meant to functionin peace and righteousness forever and ever. Deliver sanitized iPads to nursing homes quarantined from visitors so they can connect with family and church services. Unlike previous generations, young people around the world share a single culture, said Hall. You can call or message them and say something like, One thing thats keeping me encouraged and connected during this time is my small group from church. Just as Jesus moved into the lives of those who were experiencing crises, we as a church can be his hands and feet during this time. I believe there is. There is no story when there is prosperity and it results in good things for people of faith.. The spread of COVID-19 has convinced the world to consider the imminence of death and the purpose of their lives. New metrics of effectiveness will emerge. Everybody knows Lionel Messi. It is my contention that leaders will need to be creative and think out of the box to discover new strategies and platforms for these challenging times. No, becoming a contagious church only happens on purpose!. LCMS Disaster Response provides four downloadable devotional booklets which include Bible passages, meditations, prayers and hymns to bring Gods comfort and peace during a crisis. While it is true that many struggling churches may close, merge or re-purpose in the near future, this process already was under way and will only be accelerated by factors related to COVID-19. So Why Are Luther Bibles Selling So Well? Jesus welcomes us when were weary to come to him and cast our cares on him. Theres such an opportunity for those who can get their eyes lifted beyond their own circumstance and realize that God is over it. Reflecting Jesus in a Time of Pandemic. Return to homepage. Most evangelical leaders agree that the current COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine provides churches with wonderful opportunities to do community outreach and share the good news of Jesus. In Maryland, a study found that suicide rates decreased by 45 percent for white . If you need some tips about how to mobilize or get these leaders going, check out this post. Our churches must be willing to take risks and prepare for what lies ahead. We must address the anxieties and fears of those ministering on the front lines of the epidemic, and comfort those dealing with loss of loved ones. If you use a platform like Zoom, screen share and provide a gospel illustration like 3 2 1, Two Ways To Live or The Story Film. Last week, we had a student start a spiritual conversation with a girl in India while they were playing video games on Discord. . Effective churches will adopt a new apologetic, taking on more of a Mars Hill flavor, where seekers and believers meet near the altar of the unknown god to discuss the meaning of life. Paul is the author of, How J. K. Rowling Played, then Lost, the Polarization Game, GAFCON IV: Lessons from a Communion in Birth Pains, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Christian Nationalism, What to Do When Your Child Is Addicted to Video Games, Radical Christian Gentleness in an Era of Addictive Outrage, The FAQs: Anglican Group Calls on Church of Englands Leader to Repent, Whats the Earliest Evidence for Christianity? Brother-pastor, let me encourage you to look and listen for such men. The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod has also compiled a downloadable pandemic planning guide to help congregations with communication, worship, pastoral care, leadership and community outreach. With COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatment, events and travel are coming back in many places. Were continuing to explore creative ways to have fun together online during this odd time. I believe there is. We are now six months into dealing with coronavirus concerns, and we are still discerning the impact the health pandemic will have on the church in the short term and the long term. If youre already involved in a small-group Bible study and its an open group, why not invite a few friends? The risk worth taking is not one that endangers someones physical wellbeing by violating the spatial separation we must maintain. He is the national collegiate evangelism director for the North American Mission Board. Ive heard of churches using their parking lots or drive-in movie theaters to provide drive through virus testing and/or food pantries for the needy. When we are weary and we are distraught, we have a place to go. The same can be said of the Gospel. Go down your friend list and message everyone you know. Bible App for Kids . The risk worth taking is one that is bold enough to confront the spiritual and eternal danger others are already in. Guilt-ridden, judgment-infused, condescending approaches to evangelism will give way to Jesus-centered conversations about deliverance, healing, forgiveness and life transformation. So believers need not fear death. God looked at his world in awesome mercy and love and decided he would not let us die from this disease. And be sure to have them download theLife in 6 Words appso that they can share the hope of true life, eternal life, with all of their friends. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. That same peace guards the hearts and minds of those who turn from their sins and believe in Christ alone for salvation (Romans 10:9). Many pastors are asking how to be on mission as traditional avenues of face-to-face outreach and serving are no longer viable. He sent his son to live as we could not live, to die an acceptable death, and to rise againconquering sin and death so that there would be a cure for the ultimate disease. 2023 Baptist News Global. Effective evangelism will become more relational and less transactional. Their urgency is an example to us all. With COVID-19vaccinations, testing and treatment, events and travel are coming back in many places. As you move your services to an online format: Remember that more lost people may view it, so be intentional about presenting a clear gospel presentation at the end and be clear on how someone can respond. Faculty, alumni, and students have contributed articles, video, and devotional messages in a range of publications that offer ministerial perspectives and . Jesus died as a human sacrifice for all of humanity's sin. coronavirus, Evangelism. Ive never met anyone who was offended by an offer for prayer. Monday Thursday, 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. This is significant because our teens need to know that, amidst of all the fears and dangers in this world, that we have a God who empathizes. Deliver sanitized iPads to nursing homes quarantined from visitors so they can connect with family and church services. Other online evangelism groups including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Global Media Outreach and Cru have also experienced a rise in the number of people interested in faith. Please make sure all fields are filled out. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s). People around the world face fear, isolation, and loss of their regular flow of life. Congregations will be better stewards of campus space. Therefore, the place to begin your evangelism is always with prayer. Always ready. In his book, Becoming a Contagious Church, Mark Middleburg writes the following: One thing is for sure: without intentional planning, prioritization, decision making and leadership, and a whole lot of course corrections along the way, a church will never experience sustained evangelistic fruitfulness. Return to homepage. The Apostle Paul considered as first importance the good news of Christs atoning work (1 Corinthians 15:3). The early church was known for sacrificially serving the dying and unselfishly embracing the sick, wounded and destitute who were often abandonedand so must we. Hebrews 2:14, 15 gives us a healthy perspective, "Because Gods children are human beingsmade of flesh and bloodthe Son also became flesh and blood. In repudiation of its devastating Doctrine of Discovery, Vatican masks the history and responsibility of Catholic Church, $2.3B awarded in sex abuse lawsuit that named Mormon church, 60 years on, Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail relevant as ever, say faith leaders. Rebecca McLaughlin: No Greater Love. There is more openness now than ever before, Hall said. But as waves of COVID-19cases, also called outbreaks, happen, it's important to stay flexible with your plans. And how will they hear without a preacher? Today, we must deliver that saving message! This would be a great time to encourage them. Praise God we have lots of online technologies to harness for the task. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. 1. Certainly we need to pray for evangelism and the spread of the gospel. Copyright 2023, Southern Equip. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. We must tie in current events with the timeless truth of Scripture to help our teens have a Biblical worldview of, well, the world. Were meeting on Zoom this Thursday night, and I can share the link with you. With the readily accessible tools of social media, many congregations are learning how to leverage online technologies like Zoom, Facebook live or Microsoft Teams to create weekly interactive evangelistic Bible studies and gospel-rich daily devotionals. However we interact with them, tell them you are praying for them. Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for All Rights Reserved |, Here are other creative and doable servant evangelism ideas. He doesnt turn his back on us, but he draws near. But, if you haven't also made more time to pray, you need to do that ASAP. Here are other creative and doable servant evangelism ideas suggested by and adapted from the Billy Graham Centers Send Institute: These are certainly challenging times with lots of uncertainties about what the future holds. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. Yet many of us are wrestling with how this is to be done wisely and winsomely with government mandated restrictions upon us. As 2 Corinthians 5:8 reminds us,"to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." No doubt we can all identify at least one unsaved person whom we can engage with the gospel. For general inquiries to the Georgia Baptist Mission Board or about the website, click the button above.
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