Some time back I introduced something on the blog called “Church Steps”. There were several people who were interested in trying this approach to outreach out. I got some feedback from a friend of mine who decided it would be worth trying this out where he ministers in Pennsylvania. My friend’s name is Jimmy Hinton and he said I could share the note he sent me this morning here on the blog. I got so pumped listening to what God is doing there in that congregation and I wanted to pass it along, thinking someone else might read this and decide to try this out in their congregation. Here is what Jimmy wrote,
“Matt,
I just wanted to let you know that we are 3 weeks into our steps class on Wednesdays. So far, we have more than doubled our Wednesday evening attendance (from about 16 to 34), we have 9 new people coming to church who have all told me, “we have found our church home,” (we had 11 new visitors alltogether but 2 can’t be here on Sundays due to their schedules) we have a family of 3 who have not attended in a long time come back to church, and we have 1 member who asked me if he can give a testimony Sunday about how he was in a very bad place spiritually but, because several people (from our Wed. night group) noticed and reached out to him, he is now called to reach out to existing members who are going through faith struggles.I just wanted to share the blessings, brother! Thank you, again, for the blogs you wrote about doing the steps ministry. Oh, and I have a Bible study set up next month with a family of 5 who all want to be baptized together, but want to study with me first!”
Praise God for that! It is amazing what God is able to do in us and through us when we decide it is time to get to work for the Kingdom of God! If any of you want to know more about this approach to get a congregation more involved in outreach, feel free to email and we can talk it over. If you like it, I will get you the information and templates you need to try it out. If you don’t think it fits for your congregation, I totally understand. Email me at – matthewdabbs@hotmail.com or leave a comment here on the blog. Thanks for reading!
5 Responses
Thanks for sharing this, Matt. We’ve studied churches like Thessalonica, but we’ve been guilty of not living like the church in Thessalonica: “And you become imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything” (1 Thess. 1:6-8 ESV). God is good!
Thanks Jimmy for allowing me to post this! I had a great discussion today with another minister who is trying to help his congregation get more involved in outreach! God is up to some really great things!
That’s great. I’d be interested in knowing more. We’re wanting to motivate/activate our bilingual group in this area. I’d like to hear your ideas.
Tim,
Do you have a few minutes to talk tomorrow? It is easier to explain it. If you haven’t read some of these posts, it is a start…but talking in person is what is most helpful https://mattdabbs.wordpress.com/ministry-tools/church-steps-outreach-program/
Also, here is our class template. Have a look at this and we can talk about it all – https://mattdabbs.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/churchstepsclasstemplate.pdf
Let me know if you can talk tomorrow or Thursday and we will get that in either on the phone or via skype.