Taking Church to the Community

Presenters

Dr. Ann A. Michel, associate director of the Lewis Center
Kim Mitchel, church revitalization consultant
Dr. F. Douglas Powe, Jr., James C. Logan Professor of Evangelism and Urban Ministry and associate director of the Center for the Missional Church at Wesley Theological Seminary
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., distinguished professor of church leadership and director of the Lewis Center

Video Presentations

Seven Practices of an Outside-in Church (27:30 min)
Dr. F. Douglas Powe, Jr.
Dr. Powe explores the reasons why focusing exclusively on the attractional approach to evangelism is no longer adequate; instead, it’s important for congregations to reintroduce themselves to their community by taking church to people where they are.

Go Where the People Are (16:52 min)
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
Dr. Weems lifts up the need to take church to the community in light of the biblical model for reaching new disciples by engaging people where they are.

Becoming an Interactive Congregation (6:34 min)
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
Learn how church leaders can engage two key components of vitality — engaging their distinctive identities as faith communities and engaging the context in which they seek to serve faithfully and fruitfully.

Narrated Presentations

Blessing Your Community (28:45 min)
Dr. Ann A. Michel
How can everyday places in your neighborhood become sanctuaries where people receive spiritual blessing? Learn about unique and creative ways that churches are extending their spiritual presence beyond their own walls.

Discipleship 101: Getting Ready (17:48 min)
Kim Mitchel
Are the disciples of your church ready to engage the community? Do they have the necessary skills needed to listen, serve, and lead community engagement? This presentation provides the tools for discipleship building and specific ways they intersect with how the church sends out its people.

Ministries and Community Engagement: Heading Out! (13:30 min)
Kim Mitchel
What if all our ministries “within the church walls” viewed their programming with an “outside the church walls” lens? What would that look like? How would that change the ministry itself and the people engaged in it? Learn how turning your internal ministries outward can provide life-changing, unexpected experiences.

Reaching Out through Community Events (23:02 min)
Dr. Ann A. Michel
Learn how your church can connect with people in your community through relationship-building “bridge events” that meet people where they are and offer them something they need or want.

Instructional Segments

Seven Practices of an Outside-in Church

• Video Presentation (27:30 min), Dr. F. Douglas Powe, Jr., James C. Logan Professor of Evangelism and Urban Ministry and associate director of the Center for the Missional Church at Wesley Theological Seminary

 

Go Where the People Are

• Video Presentation (16:52 min), Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Director, Lewis Center for Church Leadership

 

Becoming an Interactive Congregation

• Video Presentation (6:34 min), Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Director, Lewis Center for Church Leadership
• Congregational Engagement Matrix

 

Blessing Your Community

• Narrated Presentation (28:45 min), Dr. Ann A. Michel, Associate Director, Lewis Center for Church Leadership
• Outline of Key Points
• Leading Ideas Article: “Add Off-Site Christmas Eve Services This Year”
• Leading Ideas Article: “Lattes, Ashes, Prayer, and Conversation”
• Leading Ideas Article: “Palms in the Park on Palm Sunday”

 

Discipleship 101: Getting Ready

• Narrated Presentation (17:48 min), Kim Mitchel, Church Revitalization Consultant
• Outline of Key Points
• Authentic Discipleship Ministry Introduction and Philosophy
• Grow a Disciple — Making Culture in Your Church
• Practical Ways to Equip Disciples
• Example of What a Local Church is Doing: Adult Christian Education at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church
• Resource List

 

Ministries and Community Engagement: Heading Out!

• Narrated Presentation (13:30 min), Kim Mitchel, Church Revitalization Consultant
  Outline of Key Points
• Ideas for Moving Your Ministries into Your Community
• Worksheet for Mission Engaging Ministries
• Worksheet for Support Function Ministries
• Leading Ideas Article: “Take Your Ministries Outside the Walls”
• Resource List

 

Reaching Out through Community Events

• Narrated Presentation (23:02 min), Dr. Ann A. Michel, Associate Director, Lewis Center for Church Leadership
• Outline of Key Points
• Leading Ideas Article: “Host Bridge Events to Reach New People”
• Leading Ideas Article: “Connect Community Events to Worship”
• Resource List

 

Additional Resources

• 50 Ways to Take Church to the Community
• Leading Ideas Article: “The Go-To Church”
• Leading Ideas Article: “Your Community is Your Congregation”