Comments on: The marginalized church http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/ What if evangelism meant just being yourself? Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:44:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jeff http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6995 jeff Wed, 02 Aug 2006 18:17:22 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6995 I recently helped build a playground at a shelter that was not owned or run by "bretheren". It felt different. I felt free.For once I was just honoring God by sharing in this good thing. I wasn't making a statement. I wasn't "pushing" Jesus.I would rather walk with him than "push" him any day. I recently helped build a playground at a shelter that was not owned or run by “bretheren”. It felt different. I felt free.For once I was just honoring God by sharing in this good thing. I wasn’t making a statement. I wasn’t “pushing” Jesus.I would rather walk with him than “push” him any day.

]]> By: Bruce http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6994 Bruce Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:22:13 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6994 Right you are Shaun. I've spent a year doing nothng but connecting to the new community I'm part of. It has been incredibly rewarding. Even though I'm not currently preaching and doing all the other pastoral "stuff" I feel more fulfilled than I ever have. I've come to think of it as ministry outside the walls. Right you are Shaun. I’ve spent a year doing nothng but connecting to the new community I’m part of. It has been incredibly rewarding. Even though I’m not currently preaching and doing all the other pastoral “stuff” I feel more fulfilled than I ever have.

I’ve come to think of it as ministry outside the walls.

]]> By: Shaun Kinley http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6993 Shaun Kinley Thu, 27 Jul 2006 06:07:17 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6993 Bruce, I greatly appreciate you stoking these conversations! I was sharing in another blog page how I felt lead to leave full time ministry from disillusionment with the way we were pushing out ministry in program form without much concern for the individual's spiritual maturity. Well, I was hired as an art teacher at an all boys Catholic high school. It has been so sweet. I used to work for weeks as a pastor to get a group of 40 young adults to talk to for maybe 30 minutes. Now I am required to pray with and teach about 100 young adults each day. I also am a wrestling coach at the high school. We travel pretty far each weekend and usually stay overnight. These are where the guys really see what you are made of and it has presented so many opportunities to talk to guys and be a light to them. I would just like to pull the trigger a little bit more as far as sharing the gospel. Many people, myself included, kind of saw my leaving full time ministry as a demotion in the Kingdom of God. I am starting to see the way God really wants to use us to reach the niches of society as well. Bruce,

I greatly appreciate you stoking these conversations!

I was sharing in another blog page how I felt lead to leave full time ministry from disillusionment with the way we were pushing out ministry in program form without much concern for the individual’s spiritual maturity.

Well, I was hired as an art teacher at an all boys Catholic high school. It has been so sweet. I used to work for weeks as a pastor to get a group of 40 young adults to talk to for maybe 30 minutes. Now I am required to pray with and teach about 100 young adults each day. I also am a wrestling coach at the high school. We travel pretty far each weekend and usually stay overnight. These are where the guys really see what you are made of and it has presented so many opportunities to talk to guys and be a light to them. I would just like to pull the trigger a little bit more as far as sharing the gospel.

Many people, myself included, kind of saw my leaving full time ministry as a demotion in the Kingdom of God. I am starting to see the way God really wants to use us to reach the niches of society as well.

]]> By: pwatch http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6992 pwatch Tue, 18 Jul 2006 03:52:02 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6992 Interesting.... The balance between com-promise and community involvement may, in many cases, be paper thin. Seems wis-dom would dictate "Ask the Holy Spirit" how to approach questionable circum- stanes. Who, if we trust in being led by the Spirit, is better qualified to guide us? Ministry in Salem, MA particularly is a challenge requiring His Guidance and His Anointing. Interesting…. The balance between com-promise and community involvement may, in many cases, be paper thin. Seems wis-dom would dictate “Ask the Holy Spirit” how to approach questionable circum- stanes. Who, if we trust in being led by the Spirit, is better qualified to guide us? Ministry in Salem, MA particularly is a challenge requiring His Guidance and His Anointing.

]]> By: Bruce Logue http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6991 Bruce Logue Mon, 17 Jul 2006 21:12:16 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6991 Steve, I understand and appreciate your caution. Helping a person or persons we disagree with is not the largest threat, however. It is building walls and not helping at all. That is certainly where most western churches are today--behind walls. So I'd say, "run the risk," and you might be surprised at what doors begin to open up. Jesus ran in the company of people he didn't agree with, and he got the hot criticism of the religious establishment. Hardly a picture of caution. Steve, I understand and appreciate your caution. Helping a person or persons we disagree with is not the largest threat, however. It is building walls and not helping at all. That is certainly where most western churches are today–behind walls.

So I’d say, “run the risk,” and you might be surprised at what doors begin to open up. Jesus ran in the company of people he didn’t agree with, and he got the hot criticism of the religious establishment. Hardly a picture of caution.

]]> By: Steve http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6990 Steve Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:45:06 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6990 I believe in being involved in the community and have planted a church that does just that. However, in reading the above it seems that there is no discrimination used in where to offer to serve. If there is an occult fair in town I do not believe it is appropriate to help run a booth or provide parking for that. Maybe I am to cautious but we can contextualize to the point of compromise. I believe in being involved in the community and have planted a church that does just that. However, in reading the above it seems that there is no discrimination used in where to offer to serve. If there is an occult fair in town I do not believe it is appropriate to help run a booth or provide parking for that. Maybe I am to cautious but we can contextualize to the point of compromise.

]]> By: Phil Wyman http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6989 Phil Wyman Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:03:18 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6989 In our city of Salem, MA we attempt to network with the community by offering our services at city events. We painted children's faces for the 4th iof July fireworks. We will bring extra chairs, perhaps a sound system and music, and tents for the Chowder Fest, and Ice Cream "Scooperbowl." When Hallloween comes we will provide seven days of free live music, and give away 10,000 cups of hot cocoa. By making ourselves available to serve the community, we now sit in on the board which helps organize Haunted Happenings (the Halloween events.) People don't wonder any longer what a church is doing here, because they've seen us around for a number of years. Now they call us if they could use some help with their events. Art Salem will be doing an art exhibit in our facility. We will provide music and hot cocoa when the Christmas trees are piled into a big bonfire on the beach, and we may be helping a wax museum run a street fair by offering free Dream Interpretation. If your city has public events which could use some help to make them run smoother, be more fun, or require volunteer laborers - join in and offer to do anything you can. At first they wonder if you have a hidden agenda, but if you can prove that you do not - that you simply want to serve it will eventually make way for you. In our city of Salem, MA we attempt to network with the community by offering our services at city events. We painted children’s faces for the 4th iof July fireworks. We will bring extra chairs, perhaps a sound system and music, and tents for the Chowder Fest, and Ice Cream “Scooperbowl.” When Hallloween comes we will provide seven days of free live music, and give away 10,000 cups of hot cocoa. By making ourselves available to serve the community, we now sit in on the board which helps organize Haunted Happenings (the Halloween events.) People don’t wonder any longer what a church is doing here, because they’ve seen us around for a number of years. Now they call us if they could use some help with their events.

Art Salem will be doing an art exhibit in our facility. We will provide music and hot cocoa when the Christmas trees are piled into a big bonfire on the beach, and we may be helping a wax museum run a street fair by offering free Dream Interpretation.

If your city has public events which could use some help to make them run smoother, be more fun, or require volunteer laborers – join in and offer to do anything you can. At first they wonder if you have a hidden agenda, but if you can prove that you do not – that you simply want to serve it will eventually make way for you.

]]> By: Carl McLendon http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6988 Carl McLendon Mon, 17 Jul 2006 13:09:06 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6988 Our presence in our communities outside the church walls on a consistent basis is the place to start. Our willingness to listen, to look for those who are lonely is the key. Quiet, thoughtful, presence speaks louder than any bullhorn ever could. Only after listening, should we then ask how we can meet their needs... Our presence in our communities outside the church walls on a consistent basis is the place to start. Our willingness to listen, to look for those who are lonely is the key. Quiet, thoughtful, presence speaks louder than any bullhorn ever could. Only after listening, should we then ask how we can meet their needs…

]]> By: Pam Hogeweide http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6987 Pam Hogeweide Fri, 14 Jul 2006 00:25:26 +0000 http://doableevangelism.com/2006/07/12/the-marginalized-church/#comment-6987 helping out the non-profs through donations and volunteerism. many years ago the church i was associated with frowned upon it's members donating time to non-profs that were not christian. at that time i was invited to speak about easter at a feminist group that worshipped goddesses. i went to my leader for advice about how to communicate christ with these women and i was told, Don't do it. It was not a church sanctioned activity and the warfare, I was told, would be too intense. I guess the devil was just too big for God in that one. To this day I regret not taking the opportunity to share Christ with this feminist organization that I was attempting to serve in. After that I pretty much withdrew, coccooning myself deeper into church culture. helping out the non-profs through donations and volunteerism.

many years ago the church i was associated with frowned upon it’s members donating time to non-profs that were not christian. at that time i was invited to speak about easter at a feminist group that worshipped goddesses. i went to my leader for advice about how to communicate christ with these women and i was told, Don’t do it. It was not a church sanctioned activity and the warfare, I was told, would be too intense. I guess the devil was just too big for God in that one.

To this day I regret not taking the opportunity to share Christ with this feminist organization that I was attempting to serve in. After that I pretty much withdrew, coccooning myself deeper into church culture.

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