8 Steps to Penetrating Lostness Through New Groups...This is some great information for reaching people who don't have a relationship with Christ through new groups.
Guide your church or new groups to pray for God’s heart for the lostness in your community and world. Then follow His leadership to penetrate that lostness by starting new groups through which He will draw people to saving faith in His Son. Here are eight steps to consider:
Pray to know God’s heart for the lost.
Put names and faces on lostness in your Jerusalem… and to the ends of the earth.
Pray for laborers. (Matthew 9:35-38)
Commission and equip teams (2 or more people) to start new groups.
Pray for God to open your eyes to see where He is working and join Him. (John 4:35)
Pray for open doors. (Colossians 4:2-6)
Invite people to listen to God, learn from Him, and come to Christ. (John 6:45)
Tell your own story of what good things Christ has done for you. (Mark 5:18-20)
As you pray, consider new groups for:
Age Groups: Who and where are they?
Sunday Workers
Socio-economic groups
Language Groups/Ethnic/Cultural (see: peoplegroups.org)
Geographic Areas (other towns, villages, neglected regions)
Trends in Today's CultureIn this training you will be confronted with present trends in religious behavior and the influence those trends are having on our churches. You will also identify the emerging social trends that impact the effectiveness of our churches. We will also learn the future projections based on the latest data. The participants will also receive 10 action steps to combat the present negative trends.
Download Listening Guide: <a href="https://gabaptist.egnyte.com/dl/LNWFEd4QiB" target”_blank”>Trends in Today’s Culture</a>
Impact of Sunday School & Groups - J. Robert WhiteListen to Dr. J. Robert White share how Sunday School classes and small groups serve as important platforms for a great amount of church ministry to take place. These groups are where Bible study and discipleship take place; it’s where close bonds of Christian love, care and fellowship take place; and it’s one of the most effective tools for outreach and evangelism.
<b>About Dr. J. Robert White</b>
Dr. J. Robert White has served as the executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board since January 1993. The Convention, with more than 1.3 million members, is the state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. White came to the GBC from First Baptist Church of Paducah, Kentucky where he served as pastor for eleven years. His earlier ministry includes pastoral leadership of churches in Alabama, Indiana, and Georgia.
He has served as a member of the SBC Empowering Kingdom Growth Task Force, the SBC Task Force on Cooperation, the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, as president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, as a board member of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools, Global Resource Services, the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and the Board of Trustees at Georgetown College, Kentucky.
Dr. White has been a community leader in several different capacities, including the American Cancer Society, the United Way, the Paducah Housing Authority, and Western Baptist Hospital. He is a regular preacher, speaker, conference leader, and has led evangelistic endeavors across the United States and locations around the world including Hong Kong, Germany, Africa, South America, and South Korea, Moldova, France, Russia, Mexico and India.
Dr. White is a weekly contributor to the Life With Purpose radio program. He has been a weekly host on the <em>GoodNews</em> television program; did a weekly live telecast on WPSD; national telecasts for five years on the ACTS Network while in Paducah, Kentucky; and was the president of the Paducah ACTS Network.
A graduate of Samford University in Alabama, Dr. White received both his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a member of the honorary society Phi Kappa Phi.
A prolific writer, Dr. White has published several articles in the following magazines: <em>Church Administration, Church Training, and The Baptist Program</em>. He is the author of <em>Healthy Kingdom Churches: Ten Qualities of Healthy Churches</em>, published by Baxter Press in 2002, and <em>Words of Life</em>, a collection of his radio devotionals, published by Baxter Press in 2007. Dr. White also writes an article for each issue of <em>The Christian Index</em>.
Evangelism in VBS - Jenni CarterMany of us know that VBS is the most evangelistic event that most churches have each year. But how do you make sure your VBS is evangelistic? Well, you have to be intentional. Intentional with your promotion, training, prayer, Gospel presentation and especially Follow-Up.
During this video you’ll learn some ways to be intentional as you promote your VBS in your community and as you enlist and train your leaders. You will also find some ways to encourage your church to pray for the lost. Some churches wait until the last minute to make decisions about the Gospel Presentation, but these need to be done early so that there is adequate time to prepare.
You’ll also hear some tips to help your church follow-up with decisions that were made as well as unchurched families. And finally you’ll discover some Bible verses to share with children as well as some great questions to ask to be sure that they understand. I hope you’ll watch this video so that your VBS is evangelistic.
Evangelism Training: Kids Ministry & The Gospe...Summer is always an extremely busy time in Kids Ministry and we are given many opportunities to share the Gospel with children. As we talk with children about what it means to be a Christian we want to be sure they understand and that they are truly under conviction from the Holy Spirit. Please watch this video and share it with everyone who will be working with your children this summer. In this video Randy Mullinax shares his testimony of what happened to him as a child and then Maria Brannen closes with some great ideas and tips to help you as you counsel with children. Whether you’re helping leaders at VBS, chaperones for Kids Camp, Sunday School or other Kids Ministry leaders, or simply parents talking with their own children, I think you’ll find this video very helpful. God has called us to an awesome task as Kids Ministry leaders and this is one of the most important things we have the privilege to do. Let’s be sure we’re doing it well.
<strong>More from LifeWay</strong>
<strong><a href="http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2017/10/03/talking-to-kids-during-times-of-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Talking to Kids During Times of Crisis</a></strong>
The devastating crisis that occurred in Las Vegas has evoked many emotions. At times it’s simply been overwhelming. As we step back from media coverage and begin to process how we, as ministry leaders, can help parents and children navigate these emotions, here are some things to keep in mind.
Most young kids probably aren’t even aware of the tragedy that happened Sunday, thankfully. In this situation, ignorance may be the best plan. I suspect they’ll hear things…and you should be ready to have meaningful conversations, but I would advise to be careful about the media exposure and adult conversations that you allow your kids to be exposed to over the next few days.
When dealing with older kids, you’ll need a plan. Below are some ideas that might help you and the parents you serve as they deal with their children during this crisis.
Be Sensitive: I believe that God gives us a sense, a tug… the Holy Spirit… that leads us when we’re careful to listen. Be especially sensitive to His guidance during tragedy and crisis. Beg Him to lead you as you offer advice and comfort. He wants you to be successful. He wants you to “say the right thing.” Start with prayer.
Be Talkative: Talk with your children. Include them, when appropriate, in family discussions regarding the crisis. Find opportunities to talk to your child about the situation (around the dinner table, when “tucking” in your child for bed, in the car while driving to school). Most children are talkative by nature. Take advantage of this time to share and talk.
Be Honest: Tell the truth. Don’t deny that something bad has happened. Be honest with yourself. Recognize your own feelings. Understand that you have feelings regarding this crisis. Know how you feel and understand that your feelings play a part in shaping your child’s feelings.
Be Respectful: Ask your child how he/she feels about the crisis and be respectful of his/her feelings. Realize that their feelings are real and respect their feelings. Give your child permission to feel the feelings that they have.
Be Age-Appropriate: Each child develops at different rates. You know your child and their level of understanding. Some guidelines to follow might include the avoidance of euphemisms and complicated explanations. Answer questions asked but be careful not to overload your child with too much information. If they want to know and you’ve created an atmosphere of freedom to ask, they will!
Be Reassuring: Reassure your children that it’s going to be okay. Assure them that they are safe. Many children may begin to fear leaving your presence. Honestly assure them that their feelings are important and that you and those to whom you entrust them are considering their safety. If you’re visually frightened, your child is likely to assume your fears.
Be Hopeful: Support your child as they work through the emotions of this crisis. Expect them to be concerned but offer them the hope that we have as Christians. Explain that God is in control. He can use this crisis for His good. We may not understand His ways but we can trust His heart. Pray with your child. Teach them to seek God for their strength, especially in crisis. Allow this time to grow them as followers of Jesus.
