Your Journey Blog

Evangelism Tools for Easter!

One of the joys I receive is hearing stories for pastors and leaders who are using the Spiritual Journey Guide in creative ways that i never thought of ... and are achieving great results.

Mark Bjorlo of Journey North Church sent me this exciting email after that last Easter. "Hi Gary! Everyone who came to The Journey North today got the new Spiritual Journey Guide and I ended the message by walking them all through it - over 20 people came to Christ."

So I asked Mark if he would respond to a couple of questions to address the why's, and the how's in using the Journey Guide last Easter.

Question: What were some of the motivating factors for using the Spiritual Journey Guide on Easter Sunday?

Mark Bjorlo:   I feel that Easter is a Super Bowl event for the faith.  So many people who only come to church a few times a year will walk into our doors.  The stakes for their faith is really huge.  I am concerned with how the Gospel can be shared in ways that are accessible to those who God is stirring and that I don't get in the way of the opportunity by not being clear, not being complete or not being compelling.   Easter is just to important, so I love using tools that can help me clear, complete and compelling.  The Spiritual Journey Guide did that for us.

Question: How did you tie it into Easter?

Mark Bjorlo: The Journey Guide gives a way for people to take a very quick self assessment and allows me to become a spiritual ally in helping them take the next step.  I walked the congregation through the guide and asked them to be honest with themselves about where they were on their journey. 

Question: How did you actual use it and present it to the congregation?

Mark Bjorlo: It was handed to everyone as they came in with the bulletin.  It was simple to incorporate right into the message and just walked them through it as if we were sitting eye to eye, toe to toe at a coffee shop.

Question: What were the immediate results?

Mark Bjorlo: Over 20 ... I think 23 to be exact!

Question: What were the lingering results?

Mark Bjorlo: We followed that up with 65 Baptisms

Question: Have you used the Spiritual Journey Guide in other venues?

Mark Bjorlo: I am teaching about Generous Faith this weekend and will be using the guides to teach the church how to use it as a tool for spiritual conversations.  Also, everyone who indicates through our response card in the service that they are interested in learning how to have a relationship with Jesus gets sent the Journey Guide.  That provides us with a great tool to follow up with when we call.  We can ask them to grab it and walk through it with them right over the phone.

The Spiritual Journey Guide is a simple conversational guide that helps people self-assess where they are on their spiritual journey while providing guidance and direction for taking the next step towards spiritual discovery and spiritual maturity. (Click to see a Sample Version)

Use the Spiritual Journey Guide for your Easter Outreach this year and get 25% off by entering "easter" as the discount code.

Seth Godin: Initiative isn't given, you take it

The amazing thing is that unlike taking an apple or a chocolate bar, there's no loss to the rest of us. After you take it, we all benefit.

There's one other thing you can take at work, easily and with approval: responsibility. In fact, they sort of have to go together. One without the other is a mess.

via sethgodin.typepad.com

Ramping Up for Easter Outreach by Chris Walker

What the numbers might mean for Easter Sunday

Let’s say this statistic would hold true for your congregation.

If you had 100 members, and 30 of them made personal invitations.

We know that not all invitations will be accepted.

But if half of them accepted and brought their families, you will have 15-60 visitors in your congregation on Easter. 

That’s huge potential!

Potential Impact and Reach of Easter Sunday

Some of them will be out of town visitors who won’t come back any time soon, but several will be local.

Some may be seekers and your church can have that evangelistic impact of influencing their decision to follow Christ!

Some of them will connect with your congregation and join you on your mission to the community.

Launching a sermon series at the same time will give your new visitors reason to make that second and third visit.

4 Ways to Maximize your Easter Outreach

1. Call your members into a season of prayer for 3-4 weeks ahead of Easter.

Our church is currently in a 21 day season of prayer in preparation for Lent.

Each morning our pastor emails us 3 scriptures to read and some guidance for prayer, and we commit to 3 times of prayer during the day – 9am, 3pm, and 9pm.

Praying through these Scriptures and the prayer guidance takes about half an hour each time.

As I’m praying through these items, I’m

• thinking about the sermon series that is coming,
• praying that we’d encounter people wrestling with the series topic.
• giving invitations to come and join us.
• praying for the particular friends on my prayer list.
• praying for my community – it’s schools, the government, businesses.

Prayer is preparing me, as well as preparing the church for the spiritual work of evangelism that is coming.

Possible Action steps before easter:

• Find a short 21 day email prayer guide, or create your own
• Launch a “Pray for 5 neighbors, 5 minutes a day for 5 weeks or something similar.”
• Ask God for opportunities to invite people.
• Read 10 ways to pray for more invitations.

2.  Fix and update your church website for Easter.

With the invitations that your church will be making this Easter, potential visitors will check out your website to learn who you are, what they might experience on Easter Sunday.  

Nothing is worse than for someone to get an intriguing advertisement drives them to your church website only to find something that’s out of date and embarassing.

• Have a promo piece for your Easter sermon series on your church home page.
• Clearly list any special Easter services on your home page.
• Special webpage for the sermon series or Easter.
• Refresh your webpage following this checklist. [yvon's link]
• Make sure your address and directions are on the footer of every page.

3. Enable your members to easily give invitations for Easter.

• Make flyers or business cards for members to give away.
• Use social networking tools to raise awareness of your Easter service.
• Pastor, make sure you are personally inviting people to church this Easter.

4. Review and refresh your Hospitality systems prior to Easter

• Refresh the vision of the importance of hospitality for Easter.
• Sneak in a last minute training for hospitality volunteers before Easter Sunday.
• Review your systems for hospitality to see what you can fix right now (download a free hospitality audit).
• Review your systems for follow-up contact.  (HT)

Chris Walker started EvangelismCoach.org an excellent site for those looking to sharpen their outreach skills.

Seth Godin "Coughing is Heckling"

The other night I heard Keith Jarrett stop a concert mid-note. While the hall had been surprisingly silent during the performance, the song he was playing was quiet and downbeat and we (and especially he) could hear an increasing chorus of coughs.

"Coughs?," you might wonder... "No one coughs on purpose. Anyway, there are thousands of people in the hall, of course there are going to be coughs."

But how come no one was coughing during the introductions or the upbeat songs or during the awkward moments when Keith stopped playing?

No, a cough is not as overt or aggressive as shouting down the performer. Nevertheless, it's heckling.

Just like it's heckling when someone is tweeting during a meeting you're running, or refusing to make eye contact during a sales call. Your work is an act of co-creation, and if the other party isn't egging you on, engaging wth you and doing their part, then it's as if they're actively tearing you down.

Yes, you're a professional. So is Jarrett. A professional at Carnegie Hall has no business stopping a concert over some coughing. But in many ways, I'm glad he did. He made it clear that for him, it's personal. It's a useful message for all of us, a message about understanding that our responsibility goes beyond buying a ticket for the concert or warming a chair in the meeting. If we're going to demand that our partners push to new levels, we have to go for the ride, all the way, or not at all.

via sethgodin.typepad.com

15 Things Not to Say to Your Boss

  “Think before you speak” is always a good policy, and in the workplace the maxim could be further refined to “think before you blurt out something to your boss that could hurt your career.” We checked in with some bosses, and came up with this list of 15 phrases bosses definitely don’t want to hear: 

1. “I’m only doing this job for the money.”

No boss wants to hear that your sole motivation for showing up is your paycheck. She may know that money is your motivation, and you may know she knows, but it’s still better left unsaid.

2. “I’m broke/in debt/one step away from bankruptcy.”

Your financial woes are not your boss’s concern. Period.

3. “I’m going to quit after I (fill in the blank).”

No matter how noble your future plans are -- you may be saving to start your own company or go to grad school, for example -- it’s usually best to keep those plans to yourself or to refer to them only vaguely. If your boss knows there is a definite end date to your employment, she may start to shop around for your replacement before you are ready to leave.

4. “I partied a little too hard last night.”

Buck up and get through the day with some ibuprofen, extra undereye concealer and coffee. But don’t share the sordid details of your night on the town with your boss. He’s just as likely to react with (unspoken) disdain as sympathy.

5. “It’s not my fault.”

Are you a whiny 8-year-old or a take-charge professional? Assume responsibility and take steps to fix a problem that you did, in fact, create. And if you are being wrongly blamed for a problem, saying “let’s get to the bottom of this” or “what can we do to make it right?” is much more effective than saying “it’s not my fault.”

6. “I’m bored/this job is boring.”

Didn’t your mother ever tell you that only boring people get bored? If you’re constantly twiddling your thumbs, ask for extra work and be as specific as you can. And if you’re busy but think your assigned tasks are less-than-stimulating, start strategizing about how you can get the job you want, either within your company or elsewhere.

7. “My job is too easy.”

Sure, you may think a monkey could do your job. But don’t give your boss any ideas -- your company could probably pay a monkey less than it pays you.

8. “I can’t work with so and so. I hate him.”

Involving your boss in personality conflicts should always be your last resort. So unless you are being threatened, scapegoated, encouraged to participate in unethical behavior, or your colleague or customer is engaged in other egregious workplace conduct, try to work it out between yourselves first.

9. “I can’t do that because of my other job.”

In your boss’s mind, a second job is not a valid excuse for why you can’t stay late, work extra hours or finish a project on time. She may question your priorities, and rightly so.

10. “Oh my Gawd! How did you do this job before the Internet/text messaging/Skype?”

Although not a cardinal workplace sin, making your boss feel old will not score you any points.

11. Sigh. Grimace. Eye roll. Wretching noises.

Actions can speak louder than words. A poker face and silence are golden when you’re displeased with your boss.

12. “Do it yourself!”

No need for explanation. Just never say this. Ever.

13. “It’s always been done this way.”

You don’t want to gain a reputation as an inflexible dinosaur, so keep an open mind about how you do your work. And if you’re convinced that a new way of doing things is going to harm your company, present your case without using “because that’s the way we’ve always done it” to support your position.

14. “Let me set you up with...”

Avoid the urge to play matchmaker for your single boss. The potential benefit is far outweighed by the potential risk. For that matter, any socializing with your boss (even something as simple as friending him on Facebook) can cause you to share too much information, so consider limiting social interactions entirely.

15. “Sorry, I must have drifted off.”

C’mon, wake up! If you’re caught with your eyes closed, feign deep concentration rather than admit you were dozing.

                                                                    By Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer HT

St. Patrick's Day Celebrating A Church Planter!

St. Patrick the Church Planter

St. Patrick was a Romano-British citizen, kidnapped in Britain at age 16 and served as a slave for 6 years in Wood of Fochoill, Ireland.  He later returned to the homeland of his captivity, Ireland, to spread the gospel and plant churches.  His mission to Ireland 457-492 began at age 40 after being turned down after his first request to be commissioned as a missionary.

Patrick was a man of remarkable faith and mission. In the 5th century, Patrick planted more than 200 churches and won 100,000 people to Christ. How did this happen? Far from a come-and-see approach, Patrick pioneered mission to the pagan tribes of Ireland through innovative strategy, intense suffering, and robust faith in Christ.

St. Patrick’s Strategy

When entering a new town or province, the first thing Patrick would do was befriend the local ruler. Very often that leader would come to Christ and permit Patrick to evangelize the area. Next, Patrick would establish monastaries for the training of Christians, but unlike many of his contemporaries, Patrick emphasize mission as a part of Christian training. In essence, he estbalished missionary training centers in every city in order to effectively reach the whole of Ireland.

Patrick also learned the local language, the old Gaelic, and translated the gospel into their culture. He developed their “flavor of writing” and adapted colloquialisms and was known for his persistent study of Gaelic culture. He painted heaven as a great feast, not an angelic reunion, which appealed to the banquet culture of the Irish.

St. Patrick’s Contextualization

Patrick was a savvy missionary and developed numerous ways to communicate the gospel which reflected thoughtful engagement of culture. When confronting pagan Druid religion, which used the circle to represent reincarnation, Patrick superimposed the cross onto the circle of reincarnation to demonstrate the triumph of the cross over druid belief. Hence the Celtic cross. Notice that the circle never overlays the cross, but the cross is on top of the circle.

To be sure, this was no artistic whim; it was a direct power encounter with the pagan belief of his day. Patrick new that the gospel must interact with the world; it must reject, redeem, and recreate life and culture under the lordship of Christ. Maybe we need to come up with a cross over the top of a $100 bill! It was also Patrick that used the indigenous shamrock (three-leaf clover) to explain the Trinity to the Celts. Three leaves, one clover; three persons, one God.

Man of God
In addition to his wise missionary strategies, Patrick’s Confessio reveals a man who was immersed in Scripture, which shaped his relationship with the Trinity and passionate and devoted call to the Celts. An exemplary prayer for any Christian or church planter:

Without complaint I would faithfully be of service to that pagan people to whom the love of Christ translated me and granted me, as long as I live, if I should be worthy; that at last with humility and in truth I might serve them. And so, according to the measure of faith of the Trinity it is my duty without the fear of censure to make known the Gift of God and his eternal consolation without fear faithfully to expound everywhere the name of God (Confessio, I. 65-75)  

                                                                                            Source: Church Planting Novice

Essential Skills for Missional Leaders Part 1

The church is desperately in need for more missional leaders to rise up in it ranks. Over the next four weeks we will be look at the essential skills that help a leader align their churches with God's mission.

1. Empowering leaders around them.

Missional leaders are multiplying leaders. They understand that within the Great Commission they have all they need to get the job done. They have been empowered with spiritual authority, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18 NIV) They have been entrusted with a specific task, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) They have the encouraging promise of His presence to help them along the way, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

Missional leaders understand that the mission is bigger than them and that they will need hundreds and thousands of other leaders to achieve God's missional goals. They make it their business to always be on the search for emerging leaders, with the eye of an eagle they look for those who possess the raw leadership skills. My friend, Tom Nebel, likes to say that he is not a recruiter but just a spotter always looking for potential in those around him. They are leaders who never do anything alone. They always have some one along observing because they understand the power of the informal equipping process and that more is caught than taught in leadership settings. They understand that everything the church does revolves around one aim "make disciples". If a church is good at making disciples it will be good at making leaders because in the end, a good spiritual formation plan will lead to an accelerated spiritual multiplication. Missional leaders are always evaluating and tweaking the spiritual formation process or system to see if they are hitting their mark.

Missional leaders know what it is to be entrusted by someone with a task. They have, over time, cultivated the art of delegating responsibility to trusted leaders. They take the time to communicate expectations, responsibilities and parameters of the job. They provide guidance and encouragement through coaching. They provide positive reinforcement through celebrating the smallest victory in that leader's ministry. When I think of an empowering leader my mind always runs to Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, who earned the nickname "Barnabas, son of encouragement." (Acts 4:36 NIV) Barnabas was a 'leader-maker' who sought out potential leaders, who generously created opportunities for leaders to develop their area of giftedness and who walked alongside, nurturing leaders to encouragement. Barnabas sought out Saul, who became Paul, and together they sparked a revolution that still burns today all over the world.

Questions for Reflection:

• How are you reproducing yourself as a follower of Jesus?
• How are your leaders reproducing themselves as followers of Jesus?
• Could you or your leaders describe your spiritual formation pathway?
• Who are the ministry apprentices that you are mentoring or coaching at this time?
• Who are the leader makers in your church?
• How are you empowering the leaders in your church?

Next Week: Building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Excerpt from NextSteps for Leading a Missional Church

Seven questions for leaders by Seth Godin

Do you let the facts get in the way of a good story?

What do you do with people who disagree with you... do you call them names in order to shut them down?

Are you open to multiple points of view or you demand compliance and uniformity? [Bonus: Are you willing to walk away from a project or customer or employee who has values that don't match yours?]

Is it okay if someone else gets the credit?

How often are you able to change your position?

Do you have a goal that can be reached in multiple ways?

If someone else can get us there faster, are you willing to let them?

No textbook answers... It's easy to get tripped up by these. In fact, most leaders I know do.

via sethgodin.typepad.com

Check out our New Website YourJourneyResources.org

In 1995, Gary and Mary Rohrmayer launched a resource and consulting ministry called Your Journey Resources. This ministry birth out of a desire to emulate the ministry of Barnabas (Acts 4:36) in provide encouragement for ministry leaders. We have a deep conviction that no leader should travel alone!

 

Our desire was to provide reasonable resources, personal coaching and inspirational teaching for leaders, churches and organizations who are desiring to impact our culture and world.

 

Over the last 15 years we have specialized in developing reproducible, evangelistic and spiritual formation materials for adults and children. Over 2000 churches are using these materials across North America.

 

Check out the free church planting and evangelism webinar library, free resources, free articles and free downloads.

 

YourJourneyResources.org

Seth's Blog - Jumping the line vs. opening the door

Every morning, the line of cars waiting to get onto the Hutchinson River Parkway exceeds 40. Of course, you don't have to patiently wait, you can drive down the center lane, passing all the civilized suckers and then, at the last moment, cut over.

Drivers hate this, and for good reason. The road is narrow, and your aggressive act didn't help anyone but you. You slowed down the cars in the lane behind you, and your selfish behavior merely made 40 other people wait.

This is a different act than the contribution someone makes when she sees that everyone is patiently waiting to enter a building through a single door. She walks past everyone and opens a second door. Now, with two doors open, things start moving again and she's certainly earned her place at the front of that second entrance.

Too often, we're persuaded that initiative and innovation and bypassing the status quo is some sort of line jumping, a selfish gaming of the zero sum game. Most of the time it's not. In fact, what you do when you solve an interesting problem is that you open a new door. Not only is that okay, I think it's actually a moral act.

Don't wait your turn if waiting your turn is leaving doors unopened.

via sethgodin.typepad.com

Every morning, the line of cars waiting to get onto the Hutchinson River Parkway exceeds 40. Of course, you don't have to patiently wait, you can drive down the center lane, passing all the civilized suckers and then, at the last moment, cut over.

Drivers hate this, and for good reason. The road is narrow, and your aggressive act didn't help anyone but you. You slowed down the cars in the lane behind you, and your selfish behavior merely made 40 other people wait.

This is a different act than the contribution someone makes when she sees that everyone is patiently waiting to enter a building through a single door. She walks past everyone and opens a second door. Now, with two doors open, things start moving again and she's certainly earned her place at the front of that second entrance.

Too often, we're persuaded that initiative and innovation and bypassing the status quo is some sort of line jumping, a selfish gaming of the zero sum game. Most of the time it's not. In fact, what you do when you solve an interesting problem is that you open a new door. Not only is that okay, I think it's actually a moral act.

Don't wait your turn if waiting your turn is leaving doors unopened.