Barry Howard serves as pastor of Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta, and he serves as a columnist and leadership coach with the Center for Healthy Churches. What does the Bible say about death and what our perspective should be of it? The more you know about lament, the more things really come alive to you in reading Jeremiah's lament. Jump on Zoom or some other way you can see them face to face. Instead of focusing on the what-ifs, how about meditating on those promises of future glory? And you see, whats deadly about that is when you doubt Gods goodness, you quit running to him for help because you dont tend to go for help to someone you no longer trust. Use this as an opportunity to invite church members to get into gospel conversations. Paul is the author of Tips for Starting a College Ministry and the co-author, with Steve Shadrach, of The Fuel and The Flame: Igniting Your Life and Your Campus For Jesus Christ. I just think, in a God-ordained way, if my sister hadnt died our team wouldnt have pivoted and put on this program.. Unbelievers should fear thoughand we should fear for them. coronavirus, Evangelism. Praise God we have lots of online technologies to harness for the task. How about intentionally looking around at all the things for which, today, you can give thanksall the evidences of Gods provision, all the evidences of his care, all the people that love you, all those things that you would take for grantedhow about counting your blessings? We need you. Hebrews 2:15, Because death has been conquered, those of us who have put our faith in Jesus need not fear death. Children Christmas Church Profiles Community Diversity Easter. The final promise of the gospel is this: that in this present world, we will face troubletroubles of various kinds (John 16:33). 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. 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. They risked their lives to care even for non-Christians, demonstrating radical biblical values quite unknown in Roman culture of their day. Is there a way we can take advantage of this coronavirus crisis for the sake of the gospel? These are simple but powerful steps that show a genuine concern for their well being. So Why Are Luther Bibles Selling So Well? Challenge your church members to watch No Sweat Evangelism(www.nosweatevangelism.com) to learn how to share Jesus in their context. Barely Anyone Reads the Bible in Germany. CP VOICES do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post. 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. If you have specific questions for a ministry, please use the contact information on the ministrys staff page. Although it has not killed as nearly as many as the current H1N1 Flu epidemic, many epidemiologists agree that, sooner or later, a sweeping flu virus could kill hundreds of millions of people. This moment is a physical trouble, a trouble that can infect, weaken, and for some of us, destroy the body. 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. With that said, more than ever before, now is the time for churches and congregations . Join the movement of #ReflectJesusWithMe. While it is important for churches to live out foundational convictions, most people are not looking for a litany of legalistic dogma. The next chapter of church life will be much more incarnational and much less institutional.. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. As parts of our everyday life evaporate, they reveal a world desperate for deliverance from the effects of sin. All Rights Reserved |, Here are other creative and doable servant evangelism ideas. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Here he shares some of his experiences and ideas for evangelism under lockdown. @JimStitz Future metrics for effectiveness may focus on life transformation, community connections, ministry touch points, mentoring relationships and funds invested in missional causes. The pandemic, loss of income, and altered daily rhythms torment us outwardly, yet those realities can be overshadowed by the fear, anxiety, loneliness, and anger that erupt within. What is he doing now? Rodney Stark, author of The Rise of Christianity, demonstrates that some of the striking growth of the church in the early centuries can be attributed to the compassionate care the first Christians showed for the sick. 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. The Christian life isnt guaranteed to be without struggle and strifeand it undoubtedly requires courage. 4295 Brogdon Exchange With so much common ground, Christians have a great opportunity to reach others for Christ. It's more dangerous and more destructive than COVID-19 will ever be. It's a simple fact of nature: You cannot spread COVID-19 if you don't have COVID-19. We are all practicing social distancing now and sadly, we have to be separate from one another on Sundays as well. The same can be said of the Gospel. The goal is to deepen those relational ties we already have with people far from Jesus as well as to shepherd our own flock. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. What about trashing your talk for this Sunday or next Wednesday and talk about life and death. With the variety of online programs now available, pastors are seeking the best ways to train/equip (often using how-to videos) their small group leaders to construct/host engaging out-of-the-building gatherings. In 1918 the Spanish Flu killed between 50-100 million people worldwide. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. In 2020, Pulse shared the Gospel with over 120 million households from 140 countries during Easter Week alone, Hall said. Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell, Lost Boys of Sudan: St. Johns Baptist Charlotte, Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church, Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center, Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio, Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). Calling/texting neighbors when doing a grocery run to see if they need anything. When people see that the economy, the government, and modern medicine cannot give them inner peace, they turn to God. It is the deepest, darkest infection. This passage gives us three key truths that can become talking points for our next youth meeting: "Because Gods children are human beingsmade of flesh and bloodthe Son also became flesh and blood." Let them know youre all in with them. Your greatest friend, your deepest lover, your sweetest companion has no distance between him and you. Request info today! In fact, it reminds me that the progress, the move of grace in our hearts and lives, is not from dependence to independence but from independence to greater dependence on God. Lets go and do it. God looked at his world in awesome mercy and love and decided he would not let us die from this disease. Prepare a two-minute testimony and casually share it via video on social media. Here are 10 simple ideas for leveraging this season to advance the gospel. Follow up personally with those who comment. Church Planting Discipleship Evangelism Global Leadership Megachurch. Young people from these countries have a surprising amount of culture in common. The question with every new outbreak, like the coronavirus epidemic in China, is, "Could this be the big one?". Go down your friend list and message everyone you know. One young church plant that normally sees just over 200 in Sunday attendance is now delighted to find up to 1,500 viewers to their online services. As God that payment for sin was infinite. Sharing the Gospel Even With a Stranger. Hope in this promise is not some faint, dreamy wish for those who are embracing some kind of religious delusion. Evangelism in a Time of Social Distancing. Be resourceful. This is a beautiful desire The Lord has placed on your heart. Isnt it amazing that although things, to us, seem out of controland in many ways, humanly, are out of controlthere is one who sits on the throne of the universe? When the weather cleared up this week our family took walks and met many neighbors wed never met before. Rebecca McLaughlin: No Greater Love. Pray proactively. What a beautiful thing that is. the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray, & Pray. He draws near in love and grace, empowering us to face what we could not face without him. Evangelism has changed But while the gospel remains the same, the way we reach people with it has had to adapt. 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. Christians who are adept at using the internet in ministry can find common ground with young people from almost anywhere, he said. 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.. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. The pandemic may rage on, but we long for others to know the peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). At all times, especially during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is comforting to hear God's enduring words found in Scripture. People tend to be open to Christ during trouble and transition. Plan regular times to spend with lost friends. When he died he destroyed death and defanged the Devil. 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). Philip Ryken: Defining and Proclaiming Our Shared Gospel Message . When many families are reorienting their lives and schedules around more time at home, we hope you will find these resources helpful in grounding you in the hope of the gospel. God has used COVID-19 to create the greatest evangelism opportunity in history, said evangelist Nick Hall.
Sebastian Police Department,
Articles E