STETZER OF TRANSITIONING TO AN OUTWARD FOCUS

 Ed Stetzer recently shared these ideas with the Missional Outreach Network

 Many churches are built around themselves. One simple way to find out--draw a line down the middle of a board or piece of paper and have people within the church honestly assess what functions and ministries of the church are being done for the church versus reaching out to the community. Most likely, the need to lead the church to engage outside of her four walls will be obvious. Then, seek to mobilize the congregation to move outwardly any way that all of you can think of to do it.

Since it is easy to lose momentum and drift back into old patterns, here are a few ideas to help keep the outward focus fresh: 

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2. Plan some simple events to minister to people that involves a group of people from the church. Then have someone share brief testimonies of the outreach experience.
   
   
   
3. Develop a simple outreach plan for the church and then highlight one different part each week in the worship services.
   
   
   
4. Pray for God to change your heart and the heart of the church during public prayer times and pray Luke 10:2.
   
   
5.  Provide training for people to better share their faith, like "Share Jesus Without Fear" or "More to Life Training."
   
    
6. Make a big deal about baptisms by explaining what they represent and invite baptismal candidates to share their testimonies before the whole congregation.
   
7. Meet monthly with key leaders to update, recast a vision for outreach, and pray for God to move in the lives of the church family to act on the vision.
   
   
8. Develop a list of people who do not know Jesus and pray for them regularly with key leaders and before the congregation.