Some exciting news. Grace Christian Community now has it's own proper web-address, complete with a brand new website and blog :)
It's exciting to be at this stage. The plan is to move some of the posts from this blog along to the new one, as well as continuing to add posts to that new one, hopefully a bit more regularly than we did for this site!
You can check the new website at: www.gracechristiancommunity.org.au
Check it out :)
love Belinda
A Church planting in Box Hill in 2012
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
FIEC Conference Reflections Part 2
One of my highlights from our FIEC Conference was a seminar that I went to on the topic of evangelism. This was run by the Pastors who oversea evangelism at two FIEC churches: EV Church and Hunter Bible Church. Some of these things I had heard before, but it was helpful to hear them again, and particularly to hear them in regards to what things we need to plan as we begin our outreach to Box Hill next year.
The session began with 6 myths of Evangelism. They were incredibly helpful, and an excellent way of introducing why these two churches do their evangelism in the way that they do.
Myth 1: Personal Evangelism verses Event based evangelism
There is a view out there that Personal evangelism is better than Event/course based evangelism. But the speakers helpfully pointed out that this is a false dicotomy. Firstly, most people find Personal evangelism from scratch (ie sharing the gospel within a relationship only) very difficult, and Events and courses are often a really helpful catalysts for personal evangelism. It can be hard for someone who share the gospel with their friends, a much more helpful starting point is to invite them along to an event or course, and this can be something which can stimulate their discussions. So rather than thinking One versus the other, we need to think more about how the two interact, and to create an intergrated method which can help people in the process of sharing Jesus with their friends.
Myth 2: Get the right Course and it solves everything
There are many different courses out there which are really great for sharing Jesus. But there is so much more to do. Often it is how it is implimented, and particularly how it is advertised to those inviting their friends- which really makes the difference for whether it succedds or not. But more about that in my next post.
Myth 3: More training equals more Evangelism
I am a big fan of training in Evagelism, having run much of it myself and having benefitted from it greatly. But often people will do a course, have very little fruit, and it will loose it's motivational and skills benefit quickly. More thought needs to be put into how training and your overall evangelistic strategy fit together- so that those who learn can have encouragement and oportunities to use what they learn.
Myth 4: I don't have enough takers/enquirers to start a course
Often what happens with evangelistic courses is people are waiting for that "critical mass" to start a course, and so it just never happens. And people, rather than taking oportunities to invite that come up in relationship, only feel like they can invite at times when something is on and advertised. To have regular courses that are running means that when a friend expresses interest in coming, you have an approaching event ready to go, is much more effective. And these groups can be run in a way that suits however many people can come along at the time.
Myth 5: People are converted after 6 weeks.
Deciding to become a Christian is a huge deal! We shouldn't expect it to happen in such a short time. Particularly people need to build up trust in their leaders, trust in the Bible, and need time to process what they are learning. It is helpful to think of a course as the start of the thinking process, and to have follow up oportunities to learn in the future.
Myth 6: Mission Pastors or Evangelists in the congregation do all the evangelism
This is a common and dangerous perception. This is particularly true of me, for although my portfolio is women and kids, realistically with the things i do, I do end up with an almost "Evangelist" job description. I (and those around me) can be tempted to think that it's my job to reach the world with the gospel. But I'm just one person, and I can only do so much. I need to keep training and encouraging others, so that we can all work together to share Jesus. Because one person can only make a small impact, a whole church reaching out can do amazing things.
These myths were helpful in and of themselves. But they are just hte beginning in thinking through evangelistic strategies for a church. In my next post I will talk about some of the other things I learn from this seminar :)
Belinda
The session began with 6 myths of Evangelism. They were incredibly helpful, and an excellent way of introducing why these two churches do their evangelism in the way that they do.
Myth 1: Personal Evangelism verses Event based evangelism
There is a view out there that Personal evangelism is better than Event/course based evangelism. But the speakers helpfully pointed out that this is a false dicotomy. Firstly, most people find Personal evangelism from scratch (ie sharing the gospel within a relationship only) very difficult, and Events and courses are often a really helpful catalysts for personal evangelism. It can be hard for someone who share the gospel with their friends, a much more helpful starting point is to invite them along to an event or course, and this can be something which can stimulate their discussions. So rather than thinking One versus the other, we need to think more about how the two interact, and to create an intergrated method which can help people in the process of sharing Jesus with their friends.
Myth 2: Get the right Course and it solves everything
There are many different courses out there which are really great for sharing Jesus. But there is so much more to do. Often it is how it is implimented, and particularly how it is advertised to those inviting their friends- which really makes the difference for whether it succedds or not. But more about that in my next post.
Myth 3: More training equals more Evangelism
I am a big fan of training in Evagelism, having run much of it myself and having benefitted from it greatly. But often people will do a course, have very little fruit, and it will loose it's motivational and skills benefit quickly. More thought needs to be put into how training and your overall evangelistic strategy fit together- so that those who learn can have encouragement and oportunities to use what they learn.
Myth 4: I don't have enough takers/enquirers to start a course
Often what happens with evangelistic courses is people are waiting for that "critical mass" to start a course, and so it just never happens. And people, rather than taking oportunities to invite that come up in relationship, only feel like they can invite at times when something is on and advertised. To have regular courses that are running means that when a friend expresses interest in coming, you have an approaching event ready to go, is much more effective. And these groups can be run in a way that suits however many people can come along at the time.
Myth 5: People are converted after 6 weeks.
Deciding to become a Christian is a huge deal! We shouldn't expect it to happen in such a short time. Particularly people need to build up trust in their leaders, trust in the Bible, and need time to process what they are learning. It is helpful to think of a course as the start of the thinking process, and to have follow up oportunities to learn in the future.
Myth 6: Mission Pastors or Evangelists in the congregation do all the evangelism
This is a common and dangerous perception. This is particularly true of me, for although my portfolio is women and kids, realistically with the things i do, I do end up with an almost "Evangelist" job description. I (and those around me) can be tempted to think that it's my job to reach the world with the gospel. But I'm just one person, and I can only do so much. I need to keep training and encouraging others, so that we can all work together to share Jesus. Because one person can only make a small impact, a whole church reaching out can do amazing things.
These myths were helpful in and of themselves. But they are just hte beginning in thinking through evangelistic strategies for a church. In my next post I will talk about some of the other things I learn from this seminar :)
Belinda
Monday, August 22, 2011
Some Reflections from the FIEC conference- Part 1
Things have been ticking away with our plans for the church plant, though slower than we would like. The main issue seems to be time, with Tim in his most hectic semester of Bible College so far, and me with my work at church, it can be hard to set aside the time that we want for planning for next year.
But we are slowly getting there :) An ABN has been acquired and a website is in the process of being made. A prayer letter will soon be written and we are looking forward to doing some fundraising soon.
One of the things that we did last week was go along to the FIEC conference. FIEC stands for the "Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches", and is an organisation that GCC will be affiliated with. It is not quite a denomination, but it functions in many similar ways, offering support, pastoral care, encouragement, and various administrative things. It is a great blessing, because as Christians we don't want to be wholly "independent". The Gospel acts to bring people together and it is great for like-minded people to encourage and inspire each other in their churches ministry, and particularly to help each other to keep on track with their mission.
I loved it! It was really exciting to see a group of different churches who had similar passion and goals as Tim and I. As an organisation it just started as a group of mates who were all church planting, and decided that they could be more effective if they shared resources and met to encourage each other. And over time, as those churches planted other churches, and as other church planters connected up with the Fellowship, it grew to be quite substantial.
But the thing I love the most about it (of course, knowing me:), is that everyone who is part of it is all about reaching the lost. They look out at the Australian scene and they see how many people do not know Jesus, and this is the driving force behind all they do. They don't focus on how many people are "in" their churches. They focus on how many people are lost and on their doorstep, and they pray and think and plan how they can tell them the good news.
You can find out more about FIEC on their website: http://www.fiec.org.au/
Some great things to pray for us this week:
-Pray for Tim and his studies, that he would be able to get the most out of this last semester and that it will equip him for a life-time of pastoring
-Pray for me (Belinda) that God would give me boldness in my evangelism, and wisdom in my teaching.
-Pray for our current Church- Chatswood Baptist as they begin to look for a replacement for Belinda for next year.
-Pray for God to continue to build up a core-team for our church plant
-Pray that God will provide the people, resources and finance we need for next year.
Thanks for your prayers and interest in GCC!
:)
Belinda
But we are slowly getting there :) An ABN has been acquired and a website is in the process of being made. A prayer letter will soon be written and we are looking forward to doing some fundraising soon.
One of the things that we did last week was go along to the FIEC conference. FIEC stands for the "Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches", and is an organisation that GCC will be affiliated with. It is not quite a denomination, but it functions in many similar ways, offering support, pastoral care, encouragement, and various administrative things. It is a great blessing, because as Christians we don't want to be wholly "independent". The Gospel acts to bring people together and it is great for like-minded people to encourage and inspire each other in their churches ministry, and particularly to help each other to keep on track with their mission.
I loved it! It was really exciting to see a group of different churches who had similar passion and goals as Tim and I. As an organisation it just started as a group of mates who were all church planting, and decided that they could be more effective if they shared resources and met to encourage each other. And over time, as those churches planted other churches, and as other church planters connected up with the Fellowship, it grew to be quite substantial.
But the thing I love the most about it (of course, knowing me:), is that everyone who is part of it is all about reaching the lost. They look out at the Australian scene and they see how many people do not know Jesus, and this is the driving force behind all they do. They don't focus on how many people are "in" their churches. They focus on how many people are lost and on their doorstep, and they pray and think and plan how they can tell them the good news.
You can find out more about FIEC on their website: http://www.fiec.org.au/
Some great things to pray for us this week:
-Pray for Tim and his studies, that he would be able to get the most out of this last semester and that it will equip him for a life-time of pastoring
-Pray for me (Belinda) that God would give me boldness in my evangelism, and wisdom in my teaching.
-Pray for our current Church- Chatswood Baptist as they begin to look for a replacement for Belinda for next year.
-Pray for God to continue to build up a core-team for our church plant
-Pray that God will provide the people, resources and finance we need for next year.
Thanks for your prayers and interest in GCC!
:)
Belinda
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Life and Death Moments
A few weeks ago I got asked the question- "How do you know if you are good enough to go to Heaven?"
These are the most wonderful and most scary parts of my current job (doing women's and children's ministry). The question comes up, and immediately the adrenalin starts to course through me. My mind reels and I think to myself, "Don't stuff this up, say the right thing. This is a Life and Death moment!"
This was my chance to share the Gospel. I share it regularly, and I have said it before to this person, but this is a special opening, this plea for hope and security and assurance where there has never been any. It is a Life or Death moment.
But even as I thrill at the opportunity, even as I quaver, I am reminded that it is God who has given me the chance, and God who gives me the words to say.
I turn to Colossians 1:21-23
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel."
"Without blemish and free from accusation". It is an incredible reality that takes my breath away as I share it. That God can look at me, sinful and foolish and disobedient and selfish, and can yet see one who is without blemish and free from accusation. It is mind blowing.
And I am reminded again that this is what I want my life to be about. Sharing this great message. And no matter the butterflies that are beginning, as we hit the 5 month before we move to Melbourne and begin to church plant. This is what our lives are all about. Moments like this. This is what church planting is all about- Life and Death moments.
What a privilege!
Belinda
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Don't put down your sword!
One of the things that is so great about church planting is that you have a certain amount of freedom to do things.
But it's also one of the dangers.
Because there are things that make a church a church which you simply can't get rid of, even if they seem a little foreign to those who aren't Christians.
But the biggest danger I think is that the Word of God can take a back seat. And this isn't just a danger because it's wrong! It's dangerous because it's the equivalent of pausing in the middle of a sword fight, throwing down your sword and saying- "I think from now on I'll try fighting with my fists".
The word of God is described as a sword in two places in the Bible. In Ephesians 6, when talking about preparing yourself for the heavenly battle, it is described as "The Sword of the Spirit". And in Hebrews 4 it is described as being "sharper than a double edged sword". They are powerful images, and they suggest a powerful, life changing weapon. Yet how hard we find that to believe! My experience of my Christian ministry life is that so often I use the Bible, in my evangelism, in my Bible studies, in my teaching, because I know I should. But over and over again God convicts me that his Word is powerful, and that I should use it not just because God tells me to but because that is how God works! All I do is read the Bible and talk about it, but it changes people.
A friend was saying to me the other day that she feels glad that my husband has a theological degree behind him before he starts church planting. Not because it's always necessary (though I think those who can do it well without it are the exception rather than the rule), but because the Bible is so important, and it's so easy in church planting, when you do have such freedom, to send the baby out with the bath-water.
And today in a Bible study on Genesis 3 I was reflecting again that the original sin was not taking God at his word.
Pray for us, and for all planters and pastors out there, that we will never put down our sword of the Spirit.
Belinda
But it's also one of the dangers.
Because there are things that make a church a church which you simply can't get rid of, even if they seem a little foreign to those who aren't Christians.
But the biggest danger I think is that the Word of God can take a back seat. And this isn't just a danger because it's wrong! It's dangerous because it's the equivalent of pausing in the middle of a sword fight, throwing down your sword and saying- "I think from now on I'll try fighting with my fists".
The word of God is described as a sword in two places in the Bible. In Ephesians 6, when talking about preparing yourself for the heavenly battle, it is described as "The Sword of the Spirit". And in Hebrews 4 it is described as being "sharper than a double edged sword". They are powerful images, and they suggest a powerful, life changing weapon. Yet how hard we find that to believe! My experience of my Christian ministry life is that so often I use the Bible, in my evangelism, in my Bible studies, in my teaching, because I know I should. But over and over again God convicts me that his Word is powerful, and that I should use it not just because God tells me to but because that is how God works! All I do is read the Bible and talk about it, but it changes people.
A friend was saying to me the other day that she feels glad that my husband has a theological degree behind him before he starts church planting. Not because it's always necessary (though I think those who can do it well without it are the exception rather than the rule), but because the Bible is so important, and it's so easy in church planting, when you do have such freedom, to send the baby out with the bath-water.
And today in a Bible study on Genesis 3 I was reflecting again that the original sin was not taking God at his word.
Pray for us, and for all planters and pastors out there, that we will never put down our sword of the Spirit.
Belinda
Monday, May 30, 2011
The God of the Harvest- Some prayer points
Jesus in his earthly ministry looked out on a world and acknowledge "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few". He was looking out on a people who were like sheep without a shepherd, and he had compassion on them.
His disciples perhaps didn't understand the full nature of what Jesus meant. Jesus was to die and rise again, and by this act he was opening a new way to God, so that the message was to be spread well beyond that little patch of the Middle East known as Judea, up and off to the ends of the Earth. The harvest of those who needed Jesus as their shepherd was indeed a great harvest!
But Jesus knew who to turn to in this issue. "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field".
One of the biggest jobs ahead of Tim and I is the recruiting of people to assist us and be a "launch team" for our church plant. These are people who agree to join the church and participate with it's mission.
We would love you to join us in praying to the Lord of the Harvest for workers to assist us in this mission.
In particular we are praying for people who have certain gifts necessary for the running of the church. We need people who are gifted in the areas of finance, administration, and music. We need people with a heart for evangelism, discipleship and training.
We need people who are willing to serve, because church planting involves everyone pitching in with all kinds of jobs.
If you could join with us in praying for these, we would greatly appreciate it. Our experience is that the God of the Harvest is indeed generous, and we look forward to seeing how he answers our prayers.
Thanks!
Belinda
His disciples perhaps didn't understand the full nature of what Jesus meant. Jesus was to die and rise again, and by this act he was opening a new way to God, so that the message was to be spread well beyond that little patch of the Middle East known as Judea, up and off to the ends of the Earth. The harvest of those who needed Jesus as their shepherd was indeed a great harvest!
But Jesus knew who to turn to in this issue. "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field".
One of the biggest jobs ahead of Tim and I is the recruiting of people to assist us and be a "launch team" for our church plant. These are people who agree to join the church and participate with it's mission.
We would love you to join us in praying to the Lord of the Harvest for workers to assist us in this mission.
In particular we are praying for people who have certain gifts necessary for the running of the church. We need people who are gifted in the areas of finance, administration, and music. We need people with a heart for evangelism, discipleship and training.
We need people who are willing to serve, because church planting involves everyone pitching in with all kinds of jobs.
If you could join with us in praying for these, we would greatly appreciate it. Our experience is that the God of the Harvest is indeed generous, and we look forward to seeing how he answers our prayers.
Thanks!
Belinda
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Andrew Evans, Church planting and the Assemblies of God
This week I spoke to Andrew Evans, founder of Paradise Community Church in South Australia, one of the largest churches in Australia. Andrew was also the general superintendent of the ‘Assemblies of God’ movement from 1977-1999. He also founded the Family First political party.
Andrew was elected in 1977 at the biennial national conference; previously the denomination had seen no growth for the past 2 years. In the 20 years which followed the Assemblies of God denomination grew 2,500% and planted one new church every 11 days. I am doing an Australian church history project on this period and I asked Andrew about the growth of the movement during this time and I have summarized just some of his reflections on church planting.
Andrew said that he identified two things which were needed for the kingdom of God to expand in this nation
(a) church planting and;
(b) friendship evangelism
To this end the executive of the Assemblies of God made a number of strategic changes to facilitate and encourage growth.
This included setting growth goals; changing the biennial conference from business to inspiration and vision casting; strengthening the position of pastors; moving the power base from the executive back into the local church; and setting up strategies for church planting.
Although each one of these things is significant in itself, it is church planting that particularly interests me.
At the 1981 biennial conference a goal was made to put a new AOG church into every town in Australia over 1000 people. A four part strategy was created to facilitate this:
(1) Identify new place where a church was needed
(2) Existing church adopted area in prayer
(3) Put a home group in the town
(4) Put a pastor in the home group
The philosophy which was adopted was anyone can plant a church, anytime, anywhere they want to so long as they inform (a) the local AOG pastor in the area and (b) the executive
In addition the key focus for the movement became, not the more extreme Pentecostal experiences of the Holy Spirit (though they were certainly still present), but winning souls.
The big mega-churches became the evangelistic arm of the movement, while the smaller churches were the ones which allowed people to grow.
Andrew’s advice for young church planters was to have a mindset to grow and to prayfully have a go.
He had 4 basic growth principles which he believes work anywhere:
(1) Prayer
(2) Positive preaching
(3) Good organisation
(4) Discipleship
(1) Prayer
(2) Positive preaching
(3) Good organisation
(4) Discipleship
It was actually a tremendously encouraging conversation from someone who is traditionally “not in my camp”. What struck me was his zeal to see people “saved”, he really is driven by this longing to ‘take the nation for Jesus’, in his words. A real emphasis in the movement during those years was not signs and wonders or slaying in the Spirit but it was on prayer, growth and evangelism. Though growth has slowed down somewhat in the past few years I wonder if it is possible for other mainline denomination to recapture that vision for growth and the lost. I think that the recent interest in Church planting is particularly encouraging, only the Pentecostals figured it out 30 years ago.
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