Mission Accomplished in Reno
It’s Sunday morning and I’m feeling hungover again…in a good way. After completing a day-long Doable Evangelism Seminar at the University of Nevada in Reno (which was the first beta test for the new delivery model our team has been working on for months), and then having to set my clocks AHEAD an hour, well, I’m feeling pretty spent. In a good way. An afterglow daze of sorts.
As usual, we had no idea if anyone would even show up. The new model we were testing meant that WE (meaning Doable Evangelism) were the primary “host” for the event (usually we have a single church host the event and pay for it). We went after six large churches in town to “partner” with us for $500 each (they would get 30 tickets, face priced at $25 each, which they could sell or give away). That didn’t go so well. Only had two paying partners. Turns out this new model was far more attractive to the small church than the big ones…the first of MANY valuable lessons we learned from this experiment. Our team will meet next week to process all we’ve learned and we’ll be using this experience to shape the new ’small church’ model for the future. Very exciting.
We had a little over 80 people actually show up, from an incredibly wide array of churches and traditions and geographic locations. Pentecostals, Episcopalians, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Anglicans, and a large assortment of non-denominational churches were all present. We had one church from Fresno, CA (a five hour drive) and one guy who flew in from Philadelphia, PA. The diversity was really amazing and rich. People of color, people IN colors (The Soldiers for Jesus Motorcycle Club showed up), the young, the not so young, cowboys and rappers. It was really quite beautiful to see from where I stood.
Our “lost” panel (a 30 minute interview we do at each Seminar) ended up being just two people, but they were priceless. Brian and Kellie did a fantastic job of letting us see how it feels to be the object of our (Christian) affection.
Brian is a 25 year old Burning Man devotee (he even got married there) who wears Utili-kilts regularly (I gotta get me one of those). He’s been “saved” several times, he says, but is drawn to the community, acceptance and freedom he finds at Burning Man (which he hasn’t really experienced in churches he’s been to). My favorite quote from Brian: “Every Christian is a non-Christian to some other Christian.” That got our attention.
Kellie is a 42 year old single mom who talked about how the birth of her children and the horrors of her divorce were both very spiritual experiences for her. She said she was forced by the pain of the divorce to lean into forgiveness, which she found to be a very healing, spiritual experience. She also said that Jesus was her favorite spiritual leader, and that she believes in Jesus, but is not a Christian (and would not want to be). She defined what believing in Jesus meant to her as believing that Jesus’ teaching and moral code was worth following. This was a great insight into how our insider language has many different meanings in the outside culture.
There were a lot of powerful moments during the day. At the end of the day I had person after person come up to me and say virtually the same thing, with tears in their eyes. “I have felt like a total failure in my relationship with Christ when it came to evangelism until today. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have been here to hear that I have been doing evangelism all along. I just didn’t know it counted to God.”
This is why we’re doing all this, folks.
If you were at the Seminar, please tell YOUR story here under the comments. ALL of us who were there would LOVE to hear from SAM (our new Philly friend)! And send us your OA stories so we can post them here and cyber-applaud you! One or two paragraphs. I’ll edit it…just send them to me!
Thanks, Reno. I’m proud to be one of you.
To see pictures click HERE
March 8th, 2009 · 10 Comments
Categories: OA Stories
Jonna Read said
am March 8 2009 @ 7:47 pm
WOW! Amazing. I’m on the right track,but now without guilt. My audience are elementary students. I’m a school counselor, but mostly get counseled by the kids. I don’t have a whole lot of hope to give them, otherthan, they will be figuring this out the rest of their lives, I still am in my 50’s. Their eyes get BIG. Basically, I encourage them to keep being their best selves by being kind, forgiving, and helpful especially to those who don’t want to be that way. I will add to these words of ‘wisdom’, to be aware of others, think/say (pray) positive words about them and ask them, “how are you” so they can learn to care about others who are hurting.
Christie Mumm said
am March 9 2009 @ 2:59 am
The Seminar was fantastic, I got so much out of it and I am feeling so freed up from guilt and fear over evangelism! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this fantastic seminar, I have a bunch of great photos of the day to share with you! God Bless!
Randy said
am March 9 2009 @ 10:02 pm
Thanks so much for taking pictures, Christie! If anyone wants to look at them, they are posted on my facebook page (and Christies, of course). Good work. I’m so glad you were able to get something good out of the day despite having to work it!
Elaine said
am March 9 2009 @ 11:27 pm
Randy and team – great job! The photos show an engaged group of people.
I love when God shows up
It looks like the right people showed up for your gathering. It is so exciting to know 80 people accepted the invitation to join you for this party. I am so excited for all the lives touched by your teaching this past weekend.
People are so hungry to do the thing God wired them to do, not what some pastor says they should do.
well done.
Jim Henderson said
am March 12 2009 @ 2:31 pm
Great work. Makes me miss doing these gigs with you.
Tim said
am March 12 2009 @ 6:01 pm
Thanks for sharing this report!
Peace from Tim,
A stuck up, nose in the air, my theology can beat up your theology Lutheran
kathyescobar said
am March 13 2009 @ 12:58 pm
hey randy, always love to hear about the fun ways God moves…this is so you! kathy
Randy said
am March 13 2009 @ 2:09 pm
Thanks, Kathy…and so good to see you here again in DE Land! We’re having a blast.
Rick said
am March 23 2009 @ 9:39 pm
Hey Randy,
Great Job on the Doable Evangelism seminar. All the Soldiers really enjoyed the day, even tho we are in the “ Evangelism Business “, we all learned a lot. Those that are not as bold learned they too can make a difference in someone’s life with out having to strike up a conversation and “ save them “. This seminar is something EVERY Christian needs ! Yes Randy is my friend and NO he did not pay me to say this ! This is the kind of concept that has to be experience, to really understand fully and to impact someone for the rest of their life.
I would also like to thank our guests Brian & Kellie for letting us know how it feels to have someone try to save you and disregard you as a person or friend. 90% of the work I do in ministry, is damage control. What’s that you ask ! It’s telling them that Sparks Christian Fellowship will accept them with their long hair, beard and loud motorcycle they pull up on. EVER Biker I talk to has a story about be shunned for their looks or what they were wearing when they tried going to church. So, on behalf of all Christians, I apologize to Brian & Kellie. And, I too liked Brains kilt too, but on a motorcycle, I think that might be too much information for on lookers.
This seminar should pack Lawlor Events Center, not a over sized class room in the Student Union building. Thank you Randy for being faithful to what God has called you to do, this simple concept could revolutionize the simplicity of the Gospel and allow everyone who professes Christ as Savior to make a difference for the Kingdom of God , without being a jerk.
Lots of Love & Respect
Rick – Soldiers For Jesus M C
Randy said
am March 23 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Thanks, Rick. You are very kind.