There are really no secrets or shortcuts in ministry. There are tools (ways of starting conversations or events), there are crutches (tracts, cheap dramas, and other things that oversimplify and shut down conversation), but when it all comes down, ministry is simply people helping people. We can either understand this in terms of "one beggar telling another where to find bread" or discipleship, "follow me as I follow another" (hopefully Jesus, but we have others who lead us too). Discipleship is doing: this might look like serving the poor, creating community, praying for others, studying the Bible, etc etc etc.
As for outreach, true outreach is simply this: "Hello, my name is James. What's your name? Where are you from? What do you do? What do you believe?" We can't force, cajole, or convince anyone to love Jesus, and if we could, we wouldn't want to. I only hope and pray that, if Jesus is the first thing in my life, He will come up in natural conversation and others will see that. If we are passionate about our beliefs, we will ask others about theirs. Sometimes, they will give us a chance to share, but often times not, and that's okay. Especially if you are going around for the purpose of "outreach" they're going to be on the defensive. Don't escalate. Ask questions. Don't debate or get upset, unless you have a close relationship.
Are you truly interested in the people around you? Curious about what they can teach you? Do you love them, and will you still love them, even if they decide to go further away from God after meeting you? If you can't answer yes to these things, or at least strive for these things, you don't need to be doing ministry. As long as your trying to build your kingdom and make yourself or your church or your ministry into something, you are not loving your neighbor, you're just being self-absorbed and trying to be cool. Don't use the name of God in vain. Don't pretend to know things you don't know. God is God, and you are not. If someone doesn't want to hear it, you can offer, but don't be a jerk. Show respect to everyone.
Don't talk in generalities, except when necessary. You weren't there when God created the world, you weren't there when Jesus died, and you haven't been to heaven yet. You were there when you were convinced that God was real and that following him was your purpose in life. Talk about that instead.
I try to introduce myself to everyone I meet, everyone who piques my interest. (and if they don't, I question my preconceived ideas) If I see someone on the bus reading a book I like, or I see someone alone and they look interesting, I try to say hi. Our American society is very strange and unnatural, in that we pretend not to see the people we walk past. I always try to greet them, make eye contact, to keep my eyes open and in whatever way possible say, "I see you." If I see someone doing something cool, I ask them about it, if I see a girl who has cool shoes I say "Hey, cool shoes." Why do I introduce myself to everyone I can? 1)Because I have a lot to learn. The people I talk to have taught me as much or more as I've learned from school or books. 2)Because God has put them in my life. Maybe God wants to teach me something. Maybe I have something to give them. I feel like two gifts all Christians should strive for is the ability to pray over others' needs and to listen. 3)Because life's too short to play these funny social games where we save face and stay alone.
Young Life teaches that we should "earn the right to be heard." Covenant House taught me to "seek first to understand." Outreach for conversion's sake, on the spot, is usually ridiculous, and somewhat unhealthy. It's not discipleship, and the stats from Billy Graham crusades, when it comes to follow up and who actually ends up involved in a church, are pretty dismal. It's just not effective. Jesus limited himself, on some level, to twelve people. Full-time. If you really want to make a difference in the lives of others, you need to look for quality, not quantity. Quality time, deep relationships. To love someone is to allow yourself to be changed by them.
The most effective means of outreach I've seen is just to meet people and offer to pray for them. It brings God in, most (NOT all) people are open to it, and it is genuinely concerned for their well-being and what they are concerned about. We're listening, and in turn, representing and bringing our new friends before God. Offering literature (not cheesy, simplistic tracts) that people might actually want to read is another example. I also like the "confession booth" idea from "Blue Like Jazz."
As for sharing life, I've seen many different examples of what that can look like, really, any activity can be a "church" activity. When I'm travelling, ministry for me often looks like letting my friend show me their town while I try to help them sort through their lives, doubts, and just whatever's bothering them. When it seems right and honest, I point them to Jesus. Our culture has a hunger for places of connection. I mean, especially once you're out of high school, you can meet people in bars, online, at work, or in church. Most people probably fall somewhere between the hardcore bar crowd and the church crowd. So churches and ministries have been doing things like coffee shops, sports leagues, and movie nights to get people connecting. My mentor's church in Lithuania goes on bike rides together and hosts open mic nights at a local pub. I think the church should try to create "sanctuary," a place where people are free to be themselves and meet with God.
Campus Crusade (now just "Cru") has long held a goal that everyone would know one committed Christian. I think on some level, this is a good goal. I think we should be involved in the lives of people who are like us, and people who are not like us. I've also seen events like topic-based discussion groups (Relationships, religions, you name it. As long as you keep the playing field even and respecful, you'll have a chance to share what you believe, you'll learn a lot, and you'll have a starting point for many deep and meaningful conversations.), testimony/worship times (either in public or in small groups). I've had testimony nights where agnostics and atheists felt comfortable sharing why they believe what they do, and many people come to worship nights just cuz they like to sing. It's just a matter of being respectful and relational. As long as both sides understand what's going on, we're good and we're all better for these kinds of interactions. (And if my atheist friend invited me to hear a speaker or a rock band, I'd hopefully make time to go.) Another thing would be to patronize or do events with the arts, and start discussions and relationships that way. And we shouldn't rule out Bible studies, inviting our friends to church, or prayer groups. Many people are open to these things, and if we're respectful and clear about our expectations and really host people (realizing they come from another culture), they'll be grateful, even if they decide they can't agree with what the Bible or preacher is saying. (I can't always agree myself if I'm honest.)
Eat together. You're not sharing life if you don't. Let your home be the hangout, a place for games, prayer, and where anyone can drop in when they want to. My favorite event (although I've never thought of it as ministry) is a "music night" where my friends all bring three songs that are very meaningful, listen to them, and we guess who brought each song. After we guess, the person shares why that song is meaningful.
Finally, I would say is "be about God's business." Part of that means talking about God and urging people to be reconciled to him. We are all called to repentance each day. But many people aren't interested in the church today because it isn't doing anything. In Europe, most people I meet agree that the church has done a lot of good. Americans sadly cannot agree. Work for the betterment of your community. Clean up parks, build your own co-ops, libraries, networks. Get involved with the events already going on. Make volunteering and helping out part of what it means to be a part of your group. Most people are bored with an intellectual faith that doesn't leave the building and the church's own programs, but they can understand loving their neighbors, oftentimes long before they might understand loving God. While the church must maintain its identity and its prophetic witness (hosting a political rally...probably not okay), if the church is a servant of its community, its state, its world, and especially of the parts that others have given up on or deemed "untouchable," each sphere and both servant and served (or equipped) will be transformed by love.
Lastly, and by that I mean firstly, bathe everything in prayer and walk in the Spirit, doing what you see God doing. None of any of the other things I said really matter, if God and love are in them. Ministry is just serving God and serving others. Serving others doesn't mean convincing them of anything. It means helping them, praying for them, and if they're willing, helping them sort their beliefs. God didn't bring you into the world to save it, and many times, your "mission" might be to give someone a hug, buy them a meal, or just smile or listen. Don't be afraid to talk about God, but don't get hung up on who's saved and who's not. At the end of the day, all you can really do is pray and point people to Jesus, they have to take care of the rest themselves. God loves the people I meet way more than I ever will, and he's gonna have to show up in their life somewhere if they're going to grow, be transformed, and have real relationship with Him.
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