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Engaging Immigration

Today's church faces profound challenges within the broader culture: political correctness, postmodern relativism, religious pluralism. We live in a gild full of unchurched people who don't know the basic tenets of Christianity or the redemptive story the Scriptures tell. The church at large has a poor reputation among non-Christians. Many agree distorted views of Jesus, the gospel, and traditional Christian faith, then they are biased against the states earlier nosotros've had a chance to showtime a chat.

Our ability to appoint the world is also hampered by internal problems. Some Christians question the motives behind traditional outreach efforts, viewing them as a bunko. Many in our congregations seem reluctant to share the gospel, either challenge that evangelism isn't their gift or hiding in fear of potential rejection.

In low-cal of these challenges, how can our churches share the Expert News of Jesus Christ in a dark world that badly needs it?

Show: Reaching Out Through Love and Service

In recent years, a strategic shift has begun to take place from the programs and events of traditional outreach to more organic forms of cultural date. At the eye of this movement is a want to heed Jesus' command to go into the world.

Support members on mission.
Pastor Eugene Cho says, "Our congregations are our greatest assets. Disciples, ambassadors, missionaries … God is doing amazing things in and through them already. The question is, 'How can nosotros come aslope them?'"

One mode Cho'south Quest Church in Seattle does that is through their "Joining God'southward Mission" initiative, which highlights ane person or organization every Sunday. By supporting them with a $1,000 donation and communal prayer, they sow seeds into the rich soil of local outreach efforts and cast a vison of God's mission to the congregation.

Imago Dei Community, led by pastor Rick McKinley, is doing something similar in Portland. They requite missional grants to people in their congregation engaged in local initiatives. "We're giving authority and responsibility to people in the public square," says McKinley. "Simply more so, nosotros're empowering and unleashing them as we shepherd them in that process." Not only does Imago Dei's leadership surround them with relevant expertise, but information technology as well calls their people to join in the work, tackling issues such as sexual activity trafficking and foster care.

With "Change for a Dollar," Imago Dei makes the change collected in their offering available to members who desire to meet needs outside of their church community. A member recently used $1,000 to go along a neighbor from being evicted.

Be present.
Missio Dei Chicago, a multi-congregational church seeking to bring the gospel to bear on each of its unique neighborhoods, encourages its pastors to build relationships with local city leaders, serve on community boards, or join the PTA. The church's Gospel Communities—missional small groups gathered by neighborhood—take part in their communities past caring for refugee families, joining in metropolis farming, and getting active in local events.

"We need to learn to address the gospel differently than we have, in means our displaced culture tin understand." —Matt Brown

Atomic number 82 pastor Josh Taylor says, "We're non trying to build a mega-church across Cipher codes. We're going for the presence of Christ in a specific neighborhood. With no strings attached, we're seeking to live out of the question, 'How can we be a blessing to this community?'"

Their "Yous Are Loved" events are designed to demonstrate God'south love to Missio Dei's neighbors. Congregants offer coffee to commuters, provide free portraits in less flush areas, and share h2o with festival-goers at Chicago'south Pride Parade. Some other church building seeking to exist present in the lives of their neighbors is Peace of Christ Church in Westmont, Illinois. David Fitch and his co-pastors teach the importance of presence, encouraging people to engage their communities, from neighborhoods and workplaces to moms' groups and recreational activities. As Fitch says, "Pray for that infinite and get sensitive to what God is doing." I manner they pursue this is by gathering around the dinner table. They've plant openness inviting others into their homes, in a culture where people are hungry for relationships.

Tell: Inviting People Into the Gospel Story

Just as leaders are exploring fresh means of reaching our neighbors, they're likewise rethinking our approach to evangelism. While the message hasn't changed, they've found ways to tell that story in accessible, inviting, and relevant means.

Testify authentically.
As Matt Chocolate-brown, evangelist and founder of Recall Eternity, points out, "We demand to acquire to address the gospel differently than nosotros have, in ways our displaced culture can understand." Brown sees this gaining traction through authenticity. People are increasingly turned off by canned presentations, so he advocates allowing ourselves to be known. In Brown's view, a perfect identify to exercise this is on social media. Since most Americans are on it, Brown sees social media equally a vast mission field.

Geoff Holsclaw, co-pastor at Life on the Vine in Long Grove, Illinois, encourages his people to shift "from evangelism that declares what God can do for you to sharing out of their own lives—begetting witness to what God has done for them." This makes our evangelism more personal and requires us to know and feel God in authentic discipleship.

Tell the story.
Josh Taylor explains, "When we call up of the scope of the gospel—the renewal of all things—that is the story to tell, the one worth telling." This vision has moved Missio Dei toward a more thematic approach to preaching, illuminated by art, poetry, and song.

Invite response.
No matter how our outreach methods develop, one thing stays the same. Kevin Palau reminds us that "We cannot declare the gospel without using words. In fact, at some point, we must use words." As president of the Luis Palau Association, he's no stranger to evangelism, having planned some of the largest Christian outreach events ever held.

Beyond intentionally initiating conversations, asking questions, and being unashamed to share the gospel, he suggests that we demand to boldly requite people opportunity to respond. "At some bespeak, we must phone call people to commitment. Of grade, nosotros ask the question humbly. But what we're doing is helping them confirm a delivery to follow Jesus."

Palau recalls one young pastor who had never shared his faith. After seeking out Kevin's begetter, evangelist Luis Palau, he decided for the showtime fourth dimension to include an opportunity for listeners to answer to the gospel during his Easter service. Following Luis' advice, he permit people know early in his message to expect it, gave them infinite to pray afterward, and then asked them to stand up and punch their fist in the air, declaring, "I believe!" That Easter morn, this pastor learned the importance of being assuming in give-and-take and human activity. Nearly 100 people responded. Many were baptized on the spot.

Kevin Palau'south pastor friend discovered that, even in our jaded culture, people are all the same receptive to the gospel—if they're given the right introduction. If you lot're reluctant about leading your congregation in outreach and evangelism, endeavor out these church leaders' strategies. Exist assuming in word and deed. Who knows what God may practice?

Rob Toal is a pastor, writer, and editor living in Wheaton, Illinois with his wife and iii young children. When he's not wrestling with the question of how to faithfully be the church in our shifting culture, he's working in the m, running through boondocks, or auspicious on his dearest Chicago Cubs. You tin reach him at scribaltheory@gmail.com.