Discipleship and Evangelism

New Zealand Christian Network (visionnetwork) says new research indicates that times are changing for evangelism.
It used to be that a copy of the Four Spiritual Laws, the Bridge Illustration, and a Bible with passages such as John 3:16 underlined in red were the prime tools of an evangelist. But research undertaken by Campus Crusade for Christ in the United States shows that the old methods are generally not working among today's young people. NZ Christian Network National Director Glyn Carpenter says the report is pinpointing issues especially relevant to New Zealand. It contains such quotes as: ‘Unbelievers are telling us that there is a disconnect between our efforts to convey the good news about Jesus and their willingness to listen to us tell that message. ‘We found in a world where savvy collegians filter most incoming information, our presentational approaches have become the unwanted "pop-up ads" on the computer screen of their lives. ‘Of the believers we interviewed, 95% made a decision for Christ through the direct influence of a trusted friend. Natural mode evangelism was by far the single biggest contributing factor. ‘"I stopped using the Bridge Illustration. I felt it was less effective in communicating the heart of the gospel to the heart of people. Our audience has taken three steps away from my starting point. This is a difficult culture to minister in ... the majority of the culture is turned off." ' Ralph Ennis, Navigators Mr Carpenter...

Under-30s need support to negotiate consumerist attitudes to church and life, the Evangelical Alliance UK says. A survey taken of 800 young people at Soul Survivor's Momentum event for students and 20-somethings showed young adults are most attracted to a church by the resources it provides to support their own personal faith. Relevant preaching was ranked as the characteristic that would most attract them to church, followed by excellent worship and with people they can relate to coming third. The least attractive characteristics were the church being mission-orientated or a safe place to invite friends. Only one-third of the under 30s said they see themselves as leaders in their church.
Soul Survivor leader Mike Pilavachi, addressing the EA council, said a culture of consumerism, individualism and entitlement has "eaten into the psyche of 20-somethings". "What that mitigates against completely is commitment to community," he said, explaining that 20-somethings are always in a futile search for perfection, are afraid of going into the real world and show a great deal of pain in ministry times. "We've got to help them," he said. "We've got to love them, we've got to listen to them, but also we've got to find ways of gently, lovingly but definitely challenging some of the things that come from a culture of consumerism, individualism and entitlement." Gavin Calver of Youth for Christ and Tim Rudge of UCCF, responding to the survey, said the church has a responsibility...

The Anglican Church says Back to Church Sunday - held on September 13 - has bucked the trend of falling attendances.

June 2011 in Auckland is tentatively set for New Zealand's next Greg Laurie event. In the past few years the US evangelist has held major meetings in Wellington and Christchurch, attracting large crowds. A feature of these was the large number of churches that came together to organise the events, and the Auckland committee says this is an opportunity for smaller churches to get involved with something bigger than themselves. The event - to be held in the Victor Arena - has the support of Auckland Mayor John Banks, who has agreed to host a special breakfast for church leaders in October 2010. An official launch is planned at the Auckland Town Hall in June 2010, when Greg Laurie will conduct a "mission-type" meeting as a preliminary. visionnetwork National Director Glyn Carpenter says he hopes the events will stimulate greater interest and activity in evangelism. "In this vein, it was great to see a bus pull out of our office car park in Penrose full of evangelists headed for a recent Otaki conference. We look forward to more great things in the weeks and months to come."

“I believe the main issue facing New Zealand churches today is not evangelizing, the main issue is discipling. Maybe better discipling would mean more evangelizing.” 1 This statement by the late Brian Hathaway, former Principal of Bible College of New Zealand reflects our home scene but Bill Hull in his book The Disciplemaking Church takes it even further: “Unless the church makes making disciples its main agenda, world evangelism is a fantasy.” 2 Too often in our churches we compartmentalize evangelism and discipleship as two separate components. Jesus didn't, the great commission placed them together. When we look at Jesus as the master disciplemaker, one followed the other in a tight knit community. Therefore at any time when we are considering evangelism we need to be thinking of discipleship also. The more I specialize in this area, the less I realize I understand. There is no one set formula for making disciples. No one programme, method or curriculum is right for all people. Any set of pre-prescribed hoops for the growing believer to jump through is an over-simplification. Discipleship is not methods, it is principles, it is not curriculum, it is people. However, Discipleship does not just happen, we are commanded to “make” disciples. Not only that, expanding on 2 Tim 2:2, we are to teach, train and envision others who will be able to teach others also. So where do we begin ? Space does not permit here a...

The Love Your Neighbour Network is proudly sponsoring the ‘Outflow Tour’ by speaker and author Dave Ping in May 2009.Dave Ping has written several books, including Irresistible Evangelism, which he co-authored with Doug Pollock and Steve Sjogren. His latest book and church course Outflow has already started making an impact on NZ churches. His basic premise is that we as individuals and churches should be part of a sustainable, everyday ‘outflow’ to our world, rather than a scary, once-a-year ‘outreach’. He is a highly entertaining speaker and he has many stories and practical suggestions that flesh out the biblical basis for this approach."All of our Life Groups did Outflow, and it has transformed our church’s effectiveness in witness and discipleship," say pastors Rasik & Lalita Ranchord of the Abundant Life Centre, Wellington."Lives have been changed because their relationship with Christ has been taken to a more meaningful level. It has affected our relationships with each other as well. People are talking about their life and witness at a far more honest and transparent level and are bonding more. Our whole focus this year was on making disciples, and this just made it all ‘click’ for us."In terms of everyday evangelism, there is a new excitement. People are feeling more relaxed and are sharing Christ in an easier and more natural way. The thing about Outflow is that evangelism becomes a lifestyle, and that is what we always wanted for ourselves and our...

Love Your Neighbour’ seeks to be a partnership network for church and parachurch groups wishing to promote, record and resource effective church-driven, community based evangelism in New Zealand.

March 2004 Daystar Supplement about Discipling.