Howdy all?!? I'm in the thick of my own personal case study on bluetooth broadcasting and I should have something concrete to report in the next few days. In the the meantime, I bring you news of a coordinated worldwide church focus on internet evangelism...
Churches to Hold Web Focus Day April 27
"How can we use this new-fangled Internet thing to share the gospel?" Christians are asking. A worldwide "web evangelism focus day" is helping to provide answers. Sunday, April 27, has been designated as Internet Evangelism Day. Churches can download free materials from the Internet Evangelism Day website. These materials make it easy for churches to create a short presentation about online outreach on or near that Sunday. A PowerPoint, video clip testimonies, drama scripts, music and handouts can be used to create their own customized program lasting from one minute to 50.
Church leaders who have already used these materials are excited. "This is a huge help for small churches such as ours," writes a church leader from California.
The Internet Evangelism Day team emphasizes that web evangelism is for anyone, not just the technically gifted. "There are many ways to share your faith online, without any technical background at all," says IE Day Coordinator Tony Whittaker.
Christian leaders are also enthusiastic: "I am glad to commend Internet Evangelism Day," says Dr. John Stott.
Churches can start planning their focus day now. More information is available at:
www.InternetEvangelismDay.com
Free Church Website Tool Released
The people behind Internet Evangelism Day also provide year-round resources about online outreach. The ministry explains many ways that Christians can share the good news, including through church websites. Churches often find it difficult to create a site that will engage with outsiders in their area, and find themselves asking, ""How can our church website help us reach out into our community?"
A new online tool released by IE Day provides churches with a free 15-page evaluation report. Users assess their own website by answering 55 simple questions. Their customized report is immediately displayed online, ready to print or save. The report's recommendations are tailored with specific practical suggestions, based on the questions that were ticked. View the evaluation tool here:
www.InternetEvangelismDay.com/design
A church site which has been prioritized for non-Christian visitors can be remarkably effective in reaching the community. "Week in, week out, more visitors turn up at our church on a Sunday because of the website, than anything else," writes one growing church in London.
The tool also provides the parable 'A Tale of Two Golf Clubs' (which is available to republish) to illustrate the principles of effective church websites: www.InternetEvangelismday.com/golf
Church leaders have welcomed this new resource. "This competent evaluation tool provides a valuable service to churches that will help them strengthen their effectiveness in outreach through the Internet," says Dr. Sterling Huston, director of North American Ministries for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Gary McClure of LifeWay Ministries agrees, saying, "This checklist is an invaluable tool to identify critical areas for improvement. Every church should study this regularly and act on it!"
For more information on IE Day, visit
www.InternetEvangelismDay.com
Contact: Tony Whittaker, Coordinator, Internet Evangelism Day
Tel: +44-1283-702334 (GMT office hours)
email: InternetEvangelismDay.com/feedback
IE Day is an initiative of the Internet Evangelism Coalition, a group of online ministries, at Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, US, and is coordinated from WEC International's Derby UK office. It is completely free with NO fund-raising component.
Leaders available for interview: InternetEvangelismDay.com/publicity
Photos: InternetEvangelismDay.com/photos
Leaders supporting: InternetEvangelismDay.com/supporting
More article ideas: InternetEvangelismDay.com/free-articles
Friday, March 7, 2008
Proximity Marketing Ministry Case Study Update and Internet Evangelism Day - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Proxiblaster BlueTooth Ministry Update - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
One of my maxims in delivering my oh-so-brilliant thoughts to the world is that I will be equal parts practitioner and theorist. Hence, I ordered the Proxiblaster BlueTooth hardware and software that I recently blogged about.
I've also started building ads using the free, online Sprout Builder. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my personal case study with Blue Tooth ministry and evangelism.
If you have any questions as you dive into BlueTooth, send 'em my way. If you're wondering what in the blue blazes I'm talking about, check out this quick primer.
Before I go, let me offer one more Blue Tooth marketing idea for Christian businesses. Realty! With BlueTooth proximity marketing, your flier box will never again be empty! Blue Tooth prospective buyers simple property info including square footage, price, and more. FYI, I found a company offering to set up this service for realtors. But it's so easy, I recommend you just buy the hardware/software and Blue Tooth without outside help.
Happy BlueToothing...
Monday, March 3, 2008
Big Picture Time - The Church and Culture - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
Today I ask you to step back and consider the big picture and the context within which you minister. Check out the excerpt below from today's blog post by Dr. Albert Mohler--host of a radio show heard in about 100 U.S. markets. Though his column deals specifically with American culture, Dr. Mohler's biblical insights should also help those of you ministering in other Western countries...
"The Church has constantly been perplexed concerning its proper relation to culture. H. Richard Niebuhr traced five different patterns of cultural response in his famous work, Christ and Culture. The book over-simplified the issues and now looks awkwardly optimistic, but some of the patterns Niebuhr described are still evident. The Church has at times withdrawn from culture and sought refuge in attempted cultural isolation. At other times and in other contexts the Church has simply abdicated to the culture, thus reflecting the culture rather than proclaiming the cross. A myriad of patterns and be traced between these two extremes. The fact is that the Church has often exhibited several patterns at once, capitulating to culture on the one hand and seeking isolation on the other.
In candor, we must admit that the Church has been displaced. Once an authoritative voice in the culture, the Church is often dismissed, and even more often ignored. At one time, the influence of the Church was sufficient to restrain cultural rebellion against God's moral commandments, but no longer. The dynamic of the culture-shift marches onward. On the Protestant left, leaders have simply capitulated to the revisionist ideologies and surrendered revealed morality. On the evangelical wing, however, the greater temptation is to affirm biblical morality in principle, and wink at infractions as matters of merely individual interest.
The displacement of the Church is characteristic of the process of secularization, which has now so thoroughly altered the landscape of American culture. Though sociologists point to continuing high levels of religious activity and statements of belief--both of these in sharp contrast to other western nations--the truth is that very little of this activity translates into authentic discipleship, active church membership, and bold Christian witness."
Read the rest of Dr. Mohler's excellent post here. It's well worth your time. As you read, pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to understand your culture and preach the good news of Jesus Christ "with great patience and careful understanding."
Saturday, March 1, 2008
I Almost Forgot...Sprout Also Comes with Stat Tracking! - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
One more thing about Sprout--the incredible new web-based program for easily creating cool content for your website, email newsletters and more.
Sprout also features click-tracking for every project. Thus, a media player featuring your own custom graphics, such as the one found at the top-left on the new Crown True Financial Freedom Stories blog, takes just a few minutes to build with Sprout and allows you to accurately gauge visitor interest and tweak your offerings accordingly.
What are you waiting for? Sign up for a free account today and Sprout some cool new content, to the glory of God!
Has Your Ministry Sprouted Lately? - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
I know, strange headline. But the question pertains to a new technology that you don't have to possess an advanced computer sciences degree or be the church "techie-in-residence" to use to greatly impact your ministry.
Sprout is a new web-based program from the makers of ChipIn. ChipIn produces cool widgets to enable folks to give to ministries and other non-profits online. See the eye-popping Chip-In widget to the left of this post, through which you can give to Lucky Rock Ministries and keep this blog rolling. Check out a short video of the Sprout Builder demo launch here.
Sprout is nothing short of awesome! If you're like me, you want to create cool, interactive stuff for your website, emails and more that the Spirit might use to push believers and non-believers alike toward Christ. Unfortunately, even the best software, such as Flash CS3 doesn't make it easy to create "rich content." Thus, most ministry folks are left out in the cold.
Enter Sprout.
Sprout allows you to build jukeboxes, slideshows and other cool stuff through a simple drag-and-drop interface. Sprout even allows you to upload "assets" such as pictures, music files and sermon audio/video. For an example of what you, yes you, can do in just a few minutes with Sprout, check out the audio player found at the top-left of the recently-created Crown True Financial Freedom Stories blog.
Some of you more tech-savvy readers will find Sprout doesn't let you do all the really cool Flash fly-ins, etc. But Sprout isn't for the ministry tech gurus who know ActionScript, Flex, and Flash. It's for folks who want to create cool content on the fly.
Though Sprout is still in beta-testing, this program delivers. I strongly encourage you to sign up for a free account today and have some fun. And if enough of you ask for it, I'll soon post a mini Sprout tutorial.
Sprout often. . .
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Biblical Ministry Partnerships and Networking: Part Two - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
Last time we discussed biblical ministry partnerships, we focused on the kind of teamwork to avoid--namely those who are not centered on Christ as measured not by their rhetoric but by His Word. Now let's quickly look at a couple basic principles and examples of truly biblical partnerships through which God works to advance His kingdom and bring Himself glory. While the Scriptures abound with examples, for the sake of time we'll take our inspiration from Paul's letter to the Philippians.
Paul loved the Philippians. They shared in his suffering and his ministry. They even supported him financially when nobody else did. He wanted them to continue walking strong in the faith and to follow his example thereof. Paul and the Philippians' teamwork together for God's glory and Paul's comments about it, provide us with a solid model for working with other believers to fulfill Christ's Great Commission.
Again, because of the time limits imposed by a blog post, I'll focus now on Paul's instructions about spiritual purity & unity and following his example. Next time we'll look at Paul's kind words to the Philippians about his fellow laborers Epaphroditus, Tychicus and Timothy and how we should emulate their service and lifestyle.
In 1:9-11, Paul prays that the Philippians that they would have overflowing love based in knowledge from God and rightly discern between good and evil, with the endgame of approving the things that are morally excellent, that they may live truthfully and without blame until the return of Christ, bearing inner fruit coming from right standing with God which comes through Jesus Christ, to God's glory and praise.
That's a mouthful! As you consider this passage, ask yourself if you're personally striving to meet this standard. And consider if your current and prospective ministry partners are likewise endeavoring after Jesus Christ our Lord. If not, as hard as it may be, you shouldn't continue working together until you get it right. On the flip side, you should actively seek out those who meet Paul's Spirit-inspired standard for individual and community vitality.
Later Paul exhorts the Philippians to make his joy complete by, "being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent one purpose," (Phil. 2:2). The Philippians, and believers today, are to be of the same mind, that is, the mind of Christ, (1 Cor. 2:16). We are to actively preserve the same love--love for Christ and love for each other in Christ, (Matt. 22:37-40). We are to be united in spirit--joined in a community ethos bent on the things of God. And we are to be intent on one purpose. What purpose? For that let's look to Paul's words in Philippians 3: 13b-17:
"Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are complete, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us."
The goal is Christ Jesus. Earlier Paul told his readers that his goal was to lay hold of that which for Christ laid hold of him--eternal life in Christ.
Notice also in 3:13-17 that Paul encourages the Philippians to follow his example, as opposed to the wicked teaching and living of those "whose end is destruction." His example was one of unfettered, full-throttle following after Christ and teaming with other like-minded believers.
Do your ministry partners meet this standard? Or do they simply call themselves brothers and bail on biblical purity, goal-setting, and living? You'll know by measuring yourself and your co-laborers by the Spirit's words to the Philippians through Paul. Act accordingly and you will indeed set a great example for other ministry networks and churches to follow.
In the next post in this series, we'll look at the characteristics of Epaphroditus, Tychicus, and Timothy--three of Paul's Spirit-led co-bondservants in Christ Jesus. Until then, let me know about your experiences with ministry partnerships--good, bad, and otherwise.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Theology Bleeds - Getting Serious about the Great Commission - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
Later today I'll deliver the second part of my series on biblical ministry partnerships. In the meantime, check out this incredible communique from Dr. Russell Moore--Dean of the
Dr. Moore wrote this email to students and faculty at Southern Seminary--people who, along with us, are supposed to be busy fulfilling Christ's Great Commission. As you read, pray about how the Spirit might work in you and through you to heed Dr. Moore's battle cry...
"I’m concerned about something, and I’d like to ask you to join me in prayer and action about it.
It seems to me that too many of our churches—and too many of us—think of the Great Commission as little more than Jesus’ way of promoting a Christmas offering or of marketing an evangelistic video series.
Too many theologians—even pastor-theologians—tend sometimes to ignore the Great Commission. After all, isn’t it a “practical” exhortation, better left to denominational bureaucrats and women’s missionary auxiliary leaders? At the same time, too many missionaries and evangelists tend to ignore theology. After all, what does abstract theorizing have to do with Jesus’ ultimate church-wide missions emphasis—the Great Commission?
The problem, whenever the Great Commission is taken for granted, is the eclipse of Jesus.
We in the
The Great Commission points to faith in Christ and the forgiveness of sins as the vehicle for cosmic restoration and the salvation of the world. Those reconciled to God through Christ are receiving more than personal freedom from guilt—they are becoming “sons of God” who share with Jesus in an inheritance that includes the entire created order (Ps 89; Rom 4:13, 8:15-17; Gal 3:27-4:7).
The Great Commission is a theology of cosmic warfare—a theology centering on the unveiling of the long-hidden mystery of Christ and his church. It means the overthrow of the ancient powers that have long held the creation captive through sin and death. It means the triumph of a resurrected Messiah over every principality and power hostile to the reign of the Creator. It means that God is keeping his promises to his anointed King.
It means war.
In the end, demonic powers don’t tremble before denominational programs or bureaucratic public relations campaigns. What they fear is something more ancient, more mysterious, and more personal. What they fear is not a program, but a person—with a name, an authority, and an inheritance. Since the church bears the Spirit of the Anointed One (1 Pet 4:14), the satanic powers lash out violently against it (John 15:25-16:11).
Their question to the missionary advance of the church is the same question they once voiced to the church’s King in his hometown synagogue: “Have you come to destroy us?” When the church is faithful to the commission of its Warrior-King, the answer is heard by an expectant creation even when it is not voiced—“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom 16:20). And that is what Jesus would call “good news.”
In the year 2008, I am challenging all of us in the
Soon you will be receiving in the mail a card to help you join with me in prayer and action. I am asking all of you to commit to pray for the lost—specific lost people that you know. I am asking all of you to share the gospel with at least one lost person at least once a week. And I am asking us to do this not just as individuals but also as a community of scholar-preachers.
Take a look at the card. Pray about it. And enlist in this battle. Let me know of your commitment to renew your efforts at Great Commission warfare. Join with a small group of other students—a Great Commission Group—to hold one another accountable, and to pray with one another about sharing the gospel.
These Great Commission groups will not meet at a formal time assigned by me. You decide with the people you enlist to join with you when and how often to pray together and to talk together.
Go door-to-door witnessing together. Organize an evangelistic block party. The possibilities are endless. Let me know how it is going in your battalion, and let me know of ways we can be even more effective in equipping Great Commission warriors.
Additionally, check the
Above all, let your affections be broken for the lost. And let’s join with our God in pleading with sinners to be reconciled to God’s Kingdom through the shed blood and the empty tomb of Jesus. Let’s join in the unseen battle with our tears, our feet, our voices, and our hearts.
And remember, theology means a word about God. Scripture tells us that the definitive Logos about our Theos is not a systematic theology text or a Hebrew grammar, as important as these are. He is not a “what,” but a “Who.” He is our brother, and our Lord. He cries for sinners, loves them, warns them of the wrath to come, and promises them the ends of the universe if they turn to him.
Theology doesn’t just think. Theology walks. Theology weeps. Theology bleeds.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Biblical Ministry Partnerships and Networking: Part One - Ministry & Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog
Sorry for the delay in posting again. An aging truck and dental repairs kept me away from my keyboard...
As I search high and low across the web for networks of believers seeking to partner together for the glory of God, I'm struck by a hard reality. Many believers want to team with other Christians, but missing from most of these partnerships is a grounding in "the truth [that] is in Jesus," (Eph. 4:21).
The Holy Spirit clearly commands us to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." This exhortation naturally extends to our ministry partnerships. At the same time, the end goal of the Spirit's giving apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers is "unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God" which leads to a "mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." In other words, unity in the Spirit is rooted in the knowledge of the Son of God and living according to the truth of the Spirit as measured by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, we are not to pursue unity for unity's sake. We are to continually maintain the unity of the Spirit based in the truth of Jesus Christ our Lord.
So how should this play out in our ministry partnerships? Should we team with those whose theology is relatively weak or who make room for sin? What about those we simply disagree with on certain non-essential truths?
Thankfully, our Lord has provided us with clear examples of biblical cooperation, both in the sense of what sort of partnerships to avoid and in regard to legitimate working relationships for God's glory. For more insight, let's quickly look at the lives/teachings of the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter.
Paul, called out of an uber self-righteous Pharisaical life, carried a Spirit-given hatred for false teaching and sheer disdain for false teachers. When God removed the scales from Paul's eyes (literally and figuratively), He berthed in Paul an extreme passion for the Spirit-revealed truth of God and seeing the church grow in that truth. Anyone or anything that "exalted itself against the knowledge of God" was completely unacceptable.
As is still true today, false teachers and deceptive teaching in the first century presented a very real threat to the Body of Christ. Thus the Holy Spirit led Paul to crusade against them. In fact, based on Paul's teachings in Ephesians 4-5 and the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus), we realize that perhaps the primary role of overseers is that of encouraging sound doctrine and defending biblical truth.
Paul's Spirit-led stand for the truth of Christ took some interesting turns. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul declares that if anyone--apostle, angel, or otherwise--comes declaring a good news of Jesus Christ other than what the Galatians initially received, let that person or angel be damned to hell forever! Pretty strong words, indeed. But they were a natural outgrowth of shepherding the Body of Christ according to the truth of Christ. Elsewhere, Paul opposed even the Apostle Peter, when Peter hypocritically picked sides between the Jews and Gentiles in Antioch, (Galatians 2:11-21).
But contrary to his mis-steps in Antioch, Peter habitually stood for truth and opposed false teachers. Especially notice the significant time Peter spends in his second epistle warning his readers against coming false teachers and notice his blunt description of such wicked wolves: "who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves," (2 Peter 2:1).
Also in Ephesians, the Spirit declares that the church has been built upon the apostles and prophets (in context the New Testament prophets such as Agabus), with Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone." The foundation of the apostles and prophets includes their example, as Paul said, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ."
Not only did Paul and Peter refuse to team with people simply claiming to be Christians or even those who named Christ but failed to do so according to Scriptural truth that is in Christ Jesus. No, Paul and Peter (and the other apostles with them) opposed unbiblical teaching and deceptive schemers publicly, with great regularity, and filled with Spirit-led indignation for "arrogant obstacles to the obedience of Christ" and those who dare build such barriers.
As we consider whom to partner with, we should avoid relationships with those who have strayed from the truth in Christ Jesus and "even expose" the unfruitful deeds of darkness, (Eph. 5:11). We should also avoid partnerships with non-believers which would in any way reduce their perception of their guilt before God. The sons of disobedience should never get the impression that we (much less God) are okay with their sin or that they're not that bad off spiritually. In fact, the Holy Spirit commands us through Paul to "not be partakers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light," (Eph 5:7-8).
The impulse to partner with other believers is a godly one. But we must "be careful how (we) walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of (our) time, because the days are evil," (Eph. 4:15). We must not team with those who are not living and preaching according to the truth that is in Jesus.
The standard for our lives and our locking arms with other believers is the eternal word of the living God. Paul and Peter and John and others took on false teaching and false teachers; they did not let core doctrines and dedication to wholeheartedly seeking Christ Jesus according to His revealed truth slide.
Then who should we partner with and what Scriptural examples of godly partnerships should we emulate? That's the subject of my next post...
