Marketing v. Real Outreach/Evangelism, pt. 5

So where does the balance lie between marketing and evangelism?   

1. Let’s equip our people in lots of forms and approaches to evangelism. I like the metaphor of golfing – let’s learn to be pro golfers who use all of the 13 clubs in our bag, not just one club wonders. 
2. Let’s pray like “cats and dogs” that we as leaders will have a contagious, viral love for not-yet believers that will be caught by those we influence. This sort of heart cannot be taught only – it must be continually imparted through a life that is strongly outward toward others – often causing us to feel uncomfortable. 
3. Let’s be strategic.  Marketing can be and often is used by the Holy Spirit to catch the attention of outsiders in our cities.  But we must listen to the voice of the Spirit to catch the right approach to match the specific people he has called us to at this time in the city he has given us favor in.  In other words, let’s be specific versus taking someone else’s shotgun approach that worked as a program far far away in another universe and simply slap it together in our situation with no concern for what God is doing with us and our people at this time. To be strategic like this work is involved – listening to God, listening to one another, getting on the same page, learning to see what God is speaking to us now. 

Until next week, keep on focusing beyond yourself.