Most of us (which included me) think assimilation begins once a person visits our church. We think of assimilation as newcomer follow-up. I am coming to understand that this is a limited definition of assimilation. In actuality assimilation starts before a person attends church for the first time. Assimilation needs to be intricately linked to evangelism.
If churches are to do effective assimilation it is imperative that there be ministry activity happening in the community. Examples of this would be if someone moves into your neighborhood. You reach out a helping hand to complete the move. Or it may be a community need like handyman work that is done by a group of servants that view this as a ministry to the community. Rather than concentrating too much on follow-up, we need to initiate contact. By initiating we intentionally develop ministries in the community that begin the process of connecting people to the church and to Christ.
The longer one is a Christian the fewer yet-to-be Christian friends on tends to have. This is sad but generally very true. Christians like to hang out with Christians. When this happens the necessary relationships with yet-to-be Christians that need to be in place in order to do effective assimilation is not nurtured. We must intentionally develop ministries that are focused out into the community to build relationship with yet-to-be Christians.
In intentionally developing ministries, we are being programmatic and organizational. What we desire to happen is that individuals begin to develop a mentality to cultivate relationships with yet-to-be Christians. This will move the process from being a program to being personal and a natural process for us. It becomes a learned way of living.
When assimilation is organic, people will naturally share Christ at a personal level. They will not have to wait on the church to mobilize them to practice evangelism or be told to make sure they invite their friends to the latest "seeker sensitive" worship service.
This should be our goal is to develop a consciousness within Christians to minister naturally instead of programmatically.
What ministries do we at FCC have that are based in the community? What are some possible ministries that could be developed?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment