Evangelism Leaders Discuss Reaching Changing Cultures


Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 10 -- More than 120 ministry leaders who gathered in Minneapolis this week heard a challenge to rethink evangelism strategy to reach younger generations.

Miles McPherson, pastor of the The Rock Church in San Diego, Calif., addressed the Mission America Coalition (MAC) gathering of evangelism leaders from around the country on Wednesday.

"If you want to get people to be fired up about evangelism and if you want to reach young people," McPherson said, "we have to think of the starting point of evangelism….Instead of telling your story, listen to the cries of a broken world."

Recent statistics show that 88 percent of churched young adults leave the church after leaving home (Lifeway) and 61 percent of people in their 20s who were once churched are now disengaged (Barna). McPherson's church is an anomaly, thriving with 11,000 young worshippers in their teens, 20s, and 30s.

McPherson referenced Exodus 3:7 by noting that God always sent His deliverers at the response of someone crying out. He encouraged the MAC gathering to listen to the cries of the younger generation.

"Respond to someone's pain," he told the pastors, ministry leaders, and cityreachers attending. "Don't assume you know their pain. Go listen. If we go to church and don't deal with that, God says, 'What good are you?'"

"Kids want to know how to stand up for righteousness," he assured. "They want to be challenged and do stuff that we won't do anymore. They have no fear....These kids are ready, they are willing. God made them to serve Him."


Kids Who Keep Their Faith
Other speakers to the conference brought a message that resonated with McPherson's.

Kara Powell, executive director of the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at
Fuller Theological Seminary, shared Fuller Youth Institute research with the Mission America group. She identified commonalties among college students who do keep their faith. One common ground was their understanding of God.

"They know that God is close and caring," she said. She also reported that kids who kept their faith had experienced the opportunity to ask questions.

"Students who have a long-term faith…felt the freedom and had the opportunity to explore doubt. It gives them the roots and the wings that they need for all of the turbulence that awaits them in college," she said.

Also, the more students were involved in intergenerational worship before graduation, the better they held to their faith in college, according to Powell. Worship with adults of all ages offers opportunities for young people to experience the support and encouragement of many in the church, not just other youth or a youth leader, she said.

Powell also brought up the issue that young people who go off to college do not know how to find a church. Jeff Schadt, founder of the Youth Transition Network, added that 93 percent of students leaving a high school youth ministry do not know the name of any college Christian ministry.

"We send our fruit off into enemy territory alone, with no connection to the Body of Christ—and then we are shocked at the outcome," Schadt said.

Reaching Millennials
In a panel discussion with a spectrum of youth leaders from across the country, panelists discussed how greatly technology defines kids' lives.

"They don't respond to email. They text, they twitter, and they talk on their phones," said Chuck Klein, director of Venture Media for Campus Crusade for Christ. "They are not techies, they are just technology users."

Klein said that young people are driven by extreme relational needs. "Inclusion is primary; who you know gives you esteem. Tolerance is needed to maintain relationships." As a result, he said, the demographic called millennials (born between 1982 and 2000) are the most tolerant generation that America has ever had.

"They are not just relativistic, they are extreme amorality; there is no truth or right from wrong that is better than another," he said. He also said they have a great potential to reach others for Christ.

"They are all are aspiring actors and actresses; they are bold," Klein said. "They have the capacity to take the gospel to the end of the earth. They are sometimes called the 'broken generation'… and God uses the broken."

In response to a question about how to connect with the millennial generation, panelists agreed: Start texting with your cell phone and participate in their technology.

"They don't expect us to live there," said Mark Fey, director of Christian Worldview and The Truth Project for Focus on the Family, "but they expect us to show up there."

Panelists also suggested that churches build outreach plans that depend on student leaders.

"Let youth own the ministry. Let them make major decisions. [You] just supervise it," said Chue Tou D. Vue, youth pastor of the St. Paul, Minn., Hmong Alliance Church and liaison for youth for the Hmong District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination.

"Involve them in our services and don't be so worried about quality control," agreed Paul Fleischmann, president of the National Network of Youth Ministries. "Take them camping and get them up in front of people [to tell about it]. Don't worry about what they say."

Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania ministries, one of the world's largest Christian youth organizations, offered a hopeful challenge. He pointed out that most people come to Christ before the age of 20, and only half of millennials are over 20.

"Make it hard for them to go to Hell," he encouraged those gathered. "We don't have to be cool, we can be the strategists. When we dream for them they will come. If MTV and BET are the only ones who dream for them, that's where they'll go."

"Whoever owns their heart has the most authority in their lives," he said, urging parents to "build a culture in your home stronger than the culture destroying your kids."

State of the Church
The conference closed with Dave Olson, founder of the American Church Research Project, discussing his current research. Olson reported that only the largest churches (more than 2,000 in attendance) and smallest churches (up to 49 in attendance) are growing. The vast majority of churches are shrinking according to his research, which is based on church statistics, not surveys of churchgoers.

"The smallest churches have intimacy—if you don't show up, someone calls you," he explained. "Large churches have money and resources and people to do really good ministry. Middle churches are too big to be intimate and too small to have money and resources."

Olson identified the significant need for church planting. "Just as young people inject incredible energy into the human race, new churches inject incredible energy into the American church."

"More well-conceived, new churches have to be the number one mission focus for every denomination and missional church," he said. "We have to think of new ways to plant churches."

He said the contemporary church is off-pitch in its culture. "We are discordant to our culture," he said. "We say the gospel and do things in our churches and we are close [to the mark] but not quite because we don't really love this culture that we live in."

"A missionary needs to love its culture," he said.

He depicted a long bridge with three pillars holding it up. The pillars represented doctrine, morality, and social ethics; the roadway was the message and mission of Jesus.

"We've made the mistake of mixing up the pillars with the road," he illustrated. "Nobody becomes a Christian because of doctrine. People become Christians because they become captivated by Christ. In our interaction with the world, focus on the mission and message of Jesus," he encouraged.

Dave Olson's research and presentation on the state of the church is available at www.theamericanchurch.org.

Dr. Paul Cedar, chairman of the Mission America Coalition, was encouraged by this week's meeting. "This was one of the most effective meetings for the Mission America Coalition in our history. Our major focus was on how we can reach out to the younger generations of our society with the love and grace of Jesus Christ with the prayer-care-share lifestyle. The response of leaders representing denominational, city, marketplace, and other Christian ministries was outstanding."

The Mission America Coalition is a network of national church leaders, representing denominations, ministries, and other key Christian leaders with a shared vision to collaborate in prayer, evangelism, and revival. Since its inception, leaders from 81 denominations, more than 400 ministries, and dozens of ministry networks have been involved in the Coalition. Mrs. Vonette Bright (Campus Crusade for Christ), Dr. Billy Graham (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association), and Dr. John Perkins (Christian Community Development Association) serve as honorary co-chairs. The Mission America Coalition is the U.S. Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization.

--
By Susan Brill
Director of Communications
Mission America Coalition

IPHC Ministries is a partner church in the Mission America Coalition.

Every year, Youth Quest tries to make an impact in the host community through some sort of outreach.  The main project was to hand out bottled water to beachgoers, then invite them to the Thursday evening service.  This year, however, Youth Quest took outreach a step further with the Superservants project.

Pastor Charles asked for a few youth groups that wanted to go above and beyond.  Two groups responded to the call.  I got to tag along with a youth group from North Carolina. They had no idea what they were in for! 

"I want you to go down to the Wendy's and clean their bathrooms and tables for free," said Pastor Charles.  "Do anything you can do... wipe down tables, take trays for customers, open doors, greet people as they walk in the door.  Then go down to the 7-11 and do the same thing." The idea was to give back to the Daytona Beach community, especially to area restaurants and stores that had served teens throughout the week.

To my surprise, the teens didn't seem taken aback by the request.  Instead, they seemed excited.  "It sounds kind of fun, actually," said youth group member Van Dues.  "If you open your arms to [all these] kids, I think the least we can do is clean your bathrooms," added Steven Johnson. 

As we walked down the street, the teens discussed how people might react to their random acts of kindness. Pastor Charles had already warned them that none of the fast-food chains in town would agree to let the kids work behind the counter without signing a waiver. "They're afraid of getting sued,"  he explained.  Even though the restaurants knew the kids were coming, no one knew what the reaction might be. 

But youth leaders Mark and Bridget Reynolds weren't worried. They knew their kids were up to the task.  Mark explained that God had prepared them for this type of outreach months before through a similar project at their church.  He went on to say that the teens were originally planning to spend the afternoon swimming, but decided to join the outreach project instead. 

As we stepped inside Wendy's, the group stood still for a moment.  The place was packed with the lunch hour crowd, some of whom were Youth Quest attendees.  Then youth pastors Mark and Bridget Reynolds took the lead.  "Ok, who wants to hold the door and greet people?  Those folks are getting up... someone go over there and offer to take their trays.  I'll go ask the manager if we can have a cloth to clean the tables." 

The reaction was overwhelmingly positive.  Teen girls raved about the "gentlemen" who offered to carry their trays.  Diners were pleasantly surprised by the high school students who offered to carry their trays.  One older gentleman even commented on how these kids were different from the teens he was used to seeing in Daytona Beach. In the end, even the manager was pleased - he came out to say thanks and took a picture with the group!

The reaction at 7-11 was a little different.  As the teens offered to wash the windows, one employee said, "No, thanks.  I can do it."  Instead, the teens made their way through the store, straightening shelves and racks.  The held the door and greeted customers with a smile.  When a family of four came in to buy drinks, they offered to give free bottles of water to the children. 

But the greatest moment happened at the end of the outreach.  A lady came into the store and began chatting with the group.  They soon learned that she lost her job and was looking for a new one.  Pastor Mark asked, "Can we pray with you?"  And there, outside a 7-11, the real meaning of the outreach was revealed as 10 teens gathered around a complete stranger to intercede on her behalf.  At the end of the prayer, she said, "This morning, I told myself something good was going to happen today.  And then I met you guys!" 

At the end of the afternoon, the group trekked back to the convention center, tired but excited about what God had done.  And they even had time to go swimming. It just goes to show - when we give our time to God's work, he will always make it worthwhile!

It would be easy, especially for a Christian college, to simply put on a show for incoming freshman and returning students. Just hire a charismatic speaker, add a rock band, read some Scripture, and you have the recipe for a typical weekend “welcome” retreat. But the leaders at Emmanuel College had a better idea.  ALPHA weekend was not about hype or unrealistic emotional highs—instead, it was about the process of connecting with God on a foundational, holistic level.

“Starting the year off in the right way is very important,” said Dr. Michael Stewart, President of Emmanuel College. “The ALPHA Conference, August 14-17, focused on the Christ-centered mission of EC and our need for God’s help in fulfilling it.”

Campus Pastor Chris Maxwell set the spiritual tone for the semester by preaching on the biblical basis for the college’s credo: Emmanuel College is a Christ-centered, liberal arts institution which strives to prepare students to become Christ-like disciples who integrate faith, learning, and living for effective careers, scholarship, and service. “Plan to enter this new season of education by experiencing God,” Maxwell said. “Let’s be changed together as we welcome Him into our faith, our learning and our living."

Emmanuel’s student volunteers helped Pastor Maxwell plan the weekend so that new and returning students could have a fresh start. “Many students arrive at (or return to) Emmanuel College with poor habits regarding their faith, studying styles, and personal lives,” explained Sean Williamson, Director of Counseling Services. “ALPHA weekend is a time for them to examine those areas. Are they prepared to make a change? I believe many of our students are ready."

They were.On Saturday night of the conference, after Maxwell had given a sermon entitled Why is Learning So Important?, sophomore Ann Macmillan realized her attitude toward homework needed to be altered.

"I always dreaded doing my assignments,” Ann confessed, “But during ALPHA, I became conscious of the fact my schoolwork can be a form of worship. Since then, I’ve been more diligent in completing things on time, and more open to what God might teach me through my work.” While no one is necessarily begging for extra homework, ALPHA weekend did help many students understand the connection between learning about God and loving Him.

Students were not the only ones affected by ALPHA. Dr. Deborah Stark, a professor of music at EC, said, “God spoke to me on Friday night of the conference. The Lord let me know that he is in control and I simply need to be obedient in faith.” Besides the spoken word, Stark was ministered to through other aspects of the services. She commented, “I loved the artistic diversity! Seeing the various mediums of drama, music, dance, video, lighting, and testimonies all connecting thematically was powerful.”

One of the most refreshing aspects of ALPHA weekend was the creative freedom the students enjoyed. The conference marked the debut of the Creative Worship Teams at Emmanuel College. A network of greeters, prayer ministers, musicians, publicists, media producers, and hospitality workers fostered a sense of community in chapel services. The Emmanuel College Players performed two dramas that incorporated complicated dance moves. Melissa Morrison, Miss Emmanuel, appreciated the alternate form of worship. She remarked, “A lot of people think worship is just someone with a microphone singing Shout to the Lord. But I think diverse ways of praise can reach the diverse student body of Emmanuel College."

Emmanuel’s student body is diverse, but thankfully ALPHA weekend allowed for students and faculty from assorted backgrounds to unite in celebration of a new semester. EC President Dr. Michael Stewart rejoices in this unity. He stated, “Students, faculty, and staff together worshiping the Lord and affirming our mutual commitments---that is a great way to begin the year!”

And it was.

By Georgia Meredith Grady

Two buses pull up in front a first class facility at Redemption Ministries Conference, full of children from the inner city of Petersburg, VA. They are hardened by violence, drugs and the horrible clutches of poverty they face each week.  Impact is a ministry of CrossRoads that brings these precious little ones out of that for two hours to ‘impact’ their lives with a new destiny. Free Camp came to take the impact one step further – to isolate these children from the violence, drugs, and poverty for four days and three nights.

There was a large “army” of missionaries from First Church in Goldsboro, NC, a few soldiers from Christian Heritage Church of Amarillo, TX and a host of valiant warriors from CrossRoads church in Petersburg. We watched as God supernaturally moved in the hearts of these young special children to bring them hope. Here are their stories. 

Gary was a ten year-old deaf child who had never been asked about his relationship with God.  When Carolyn Burd, the camp director, learned there was a deaf child in the crowd, she backed up from the microphone and began to sign her directions as she led the camp.  This is the economy of our God – he brought a lady 1600 miles one way to reach one special child.  During the camp, Gary understood the Gospel for the first time and received Jesus as his savior and Lord.  On the last night, he took the microphone and “sang” for the first time from a heart filled with love by Jesus.  Tears ran down the cheeks of the adults all over the tent.

A new destiny was unveiled for an eleven year-old boy who had been identified as the next “Drug Lord” of his neighborhood.  The first night Pastor Amber in the message challenged children to lay something down that was controlling them. He wrote on his paper to stop fighting. He did well until the last night but when confronted he broke and wept, realizing he had failed and asking for forgiveness. The staff of Impact assured him of God’s grace and felt this was a miracle!

An entire group of children discovered a new destiny when Matt, a Free Camp volunteer, led each one of them to a commitment to Christ.  Matt is employed by Habitat for Humanity but stated that he received so much from this mission trip – touching the children directly.

A new destiny for Free Camp in Petersburg was secured when Camp Director, Carolyn Burd, passed the mantle to Pastor Kevin McBride the last afternoon. He led the camp as if he had been doing this type of thing all his life.

Pastor Bob Parada summed it up when he stated that working with these children for two hours a week is good but isolating them from the horror of their environment for this camp made the difference. Now they can nurture these tender hearts each week.

Free Camp wants to thank CEM for sending the IPHC’s National Children Pastor, Elaine Wood, to the camp. Elaine was a major contributor to the success of this camp.

Thanks to CrossRoads for taking the risk and the step of faith to bring these precious little ones to this camp. They carried the weight of the burden and met the challenge.

Redemption Ministries and their staff went above and beyond making us feel welcomed – thanks.  

Finally, thanks to the young people who gave in the Global Quest offering that assisted in this great effort.   You all had a part in this year’s Free Camp!

Liz Maschkywitz has been a part of Metro Ministries in Brooklyn, New York for nearly 10 years. Seven months ago, Liz and her husband, Simon, became the church's youth pastors. Metro Ministries is one of the most unique churches in the country.  The church has the largest Sunday School in the world, reaching over 23,000 inner city children each week. 

Liz and Simon recently took a group of teens to Youth Quest in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Four of the teens participated in the Fine Arts Festival.  "Youth Quest... helps us to let them see that there are people that have the same heart, same passion," said Simon.

Youth Quest is expensive, and many youth groups find creative ways to raise money.  But for Metro teens, raising the money to attend can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Most come from poverty-stricken homes.  "They don't come from families that can just give them [money]," said Liz.  To ask each teen to pay for the entire cost of the trip would have been impossible. Instead, each person was instructed to raise $250.  How did they do it?  A little creativity and a lot of hard work!

The youth group had several fundraisers.  Iwanza McMorris, a junior who won the Omega Female Vocal Solo division, paid her way selling lollipops.  The group also put on a bake sale.  Several of the girls got together and baked 10 cakes for the fundraiser. 

But it didn't stop there. They sold t-shirts. Their church took up an offering.  Their district took up an offering.  Some of the teens even took on last minute jobs to raise enough money to go to Florida.  "They really did work their hardest," said Liz.

For these teens, spending a week at the beach, interacting with teens from across the country, is a well-deserved reward.  Despite their inner-city upbringing, they are one of the best-behaved groups to attend. "It's exciting to be able to know that what they go through at home...99% of them didn't grow up in Christian families...[that]we can really trust these kids, and they really do try their best."