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Churches learn how to reach out
By Michael Wacht
LEESBURG — What do puppets, parrots, traffic jams and dusty old rooms have in common? They’re ideas for ministry and evangelism shared at the Vital Churches in Changing Situations retreat Sept. 8-9 at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg.
Sponsored by the conference’s Vital Churches Ministry, the retreat brought together pastors and laity who wanted to learn more about how their churches can be in ministry to their communities. Retreat participants shared ideas that have worked for them and frustrations they’ve felt along the way.
“We want to find better ways to reach the community,” said Jan McCully, outreach chairperson at First United Methodist Church, Coral Springs. “I hope to leave here with ways to fire up people — to give them the tools for outreach.”
The Rev. Abe Harris, pastor of the Montverde United Methodist Church, shared one of his tools. He said he uses a parrot, as well as videos, coloring books and puppets, to catch children’s attention and communicate the Gospel.
Harris and the Rev. Jay Goforth of Community United Methodist Church in Daytona presented outreach programs that have been successful in their churches, both of which received the 1998 Ted McEachern awards. The awards are given annually to two churches in the Florida conference that are finding creative and innovative ways to impact their communities.
Goforth spoke about “the idea of doing the same thing in a different way” and said change is essential to any successful outreach program.
His church is currently turning its dusty, unused chapel room into a contemporary worship center with lights, sound system and multimedia projection equipment. He said members are also learning to reach out to new groups of people. “We have people going out of their way to invite people to church that don’t look like them,” Goforth said.
Despite his enthusiasm for what his church is doing, Goforth warned that every church and situation is different. “What worked for us will probably not work for anyone else,” he said.
Harris said his church has had success reaching out to children by holding a Children’s Jubilee instead of the traditional vacation Bible school. Although the ideas of Bible study, game time and witnessing to the children were the same, the new name and excitement drew many children and adults from the Montverde community who have since joined the church.
“It’s wonderful,” Harris said. “They’re hearing the Gospel, and they’re coming back.”
Harris said the key to evangelism and church growth is “to ask God for a vision for the local church and community, and seeking that vision daily.”
The Rev. Jacques Pierre, pastor of Highlands United Methodist Church in Lakeland, said his vision for evangelism is to see the congregation serving people in the community. “My goal is not to multiply the congregation, but to touch lives,” he said. “It’s time to go out and do what we’re called to do.”
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