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  Discipleship/evangelism and culture

  Where I come from originally(in Africa), we are able to hold evangelistic meetings as frequently as possible and go out in the community singing and giving out flyers and inviting peple over to the ground where the series will be taking place; We are able to preach short sermonettes on the commute bus during a ride; And, I remember as youths from ages 10-15, we used to have campouts and go out for outreach on saturday afternoons giving bible studies from door to door...
  The culture here in America forbids a lot of these things and makes it so cumbersome...and seems like the only way to get to people is to very strategically(sometimes pretending to be doing a survey at first) ask for their interest for a bible study and you have to keep going several times to complete it - meet them where they are without bringing the law down on you...
  Thoughts???

  Omotola started this discussion 1 year ago. ( reply )

• Jesus Freak 

  I totally understand what you mean. I have seen the HUGE evangelistic outreach events take place in Africa where literally hundreds of thousands of Africans show up and praise God. It's a GREAT movement sweeping across parts of Africa and I only hope it continues.
  
  In America we are seeing the exact opposite. We are seeing a movement in which Christianity is rapidly being pushed out of our society and frowned upon. Although we still have the freedom to worship and there are numerous churches everywhere, many people in America are turning their heads away from Christ and looking to other forms of religion or the absence of it. Atheism seems to be on the rise along with eastern religions.
  
  I pray that God continues to look favorably upon America!

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

  show 2 replies

  • dtbrents 

    I would love to go to Africa and see the worship. I love to listen to the children's choir from Africa. They are so beautiful and talented. I have notice some of the eastern religion practices creeping into our churches. Even Beth Moore put out a vidio on contemplative prayer. So even the smartest Christens can be taken unaware of these things. We probably ought to talk more about some of things of satan being brought into our churches today. I don't think we can take something unholy and turn it into holy.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    Annette/MissDaisyAnne 

    I am reading along with others in a group named spritual fomation the book by Richard Foster "Celebration of Discipline", contemplative prayer is filling your mind with God, it is not emptying it like in eastern meditation. Beth Moore took part in a video named "Be Still".

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

• dtbrents 

  I think a lot of people in this country want to just have church once a week and be done with it.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Adam Kruszewski 

  I recommend "Conspiracy of Kindness" by Steve Sjogren for those who would like to see how churches can show God's love to others even if "preaching from door to door" is forbidden in his/her country. I think it is quite good read for every Christian.

  posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    Omotola 

    Hey Adam, thanks for this post. I have been trying to remember the name of this author and his books I have come across! Yes Steve Sjogren does have a lot of these evangelism based books that are just awesome and practical.
    In fact, right now, my church is honing on evangelism and realizing that the work has to be done by the church. We are just not to be enriching ourselves at church but our work should be for all the souls out there. This is one of the books we have read that has helped us identify what the church can do to be more of God's presence for the community ( I am part of the Evangelism team at my church and I know it is not easy especially in this culture but everybody responds to 'free' kindness as Jesus also lived)...

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

  • dtbrents 

    MissDaisyAnne, I know the name of the video by Beth Moore. The reason she ended up sending people free copies is because of all the controversy over contemplative prayer. She put out an apology on the Christianity Today website to anyone she had offended by her role in the DVD. You can't take something unholy and turn it into something holy to use it in Christian worship. So I will respectfully disagree with you on that one. The Bible is very clear about how we should pray. I have visited the group you are speaking of. I'm sure they are all fine Christians.

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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    Annette/MissDaisyAnne 

    Why, thank you!

    posted 1 year ago. ( reply )

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  Timothy K 

  I have been doing evangelism for a few years and most people want a sugar coated message, but I believe that the gospel is offensive to those who don't want to listen. Sugar coating the message does nothing good. As Paul says "Boldly proclaim the gospel" Its not something we need to be afraid of or to hide from other people. I think that in America we think we need to dress it up so that it looks appealing and we need to do all sorts of things to give them the gospel without them knowing that they are getting it through Surveys and such. But you know God will prepare the hearts of those who we talk to. I think that we need to boldly proclaim the gospel without trying to hide any of it. There are great ways to start conversations like tracts or there is something called the evangecube and many other things. The problem with America is that people don't want to listen or so it seems that they don't want to, but all we have to do is plant the seed. God will cause it to grow. God is the one in control of everything, as long as we are obeying Him, He show us where to go and what to do.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Verna Lee 

  Things have changed a lot since I was converted 60 years ago. But Jesus never changes. He is still the solid rock on which we stand. Pure truth about Christ will always draw in the right ones. I just share. If there is no response, I move on.

  posted 6 days ago. ( reply )

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