from November 21, 2010 prayer update

“Come and see” (attractional model) and “go and tell” (missional model) methodologies for evangelism represent a growing tension in the evangelical church in the U.S. A study of the New Testament will provide ample evidence for both models in the first century Church. However, the priority of the 5 great commission passages and the book of Acts is clear. It is “go and tell”.

Sadly the majority of churches in the U.S. are inwardly focused and are not meaningfully engaged in either attractional or missional evangelism. And the majority of larger churches are involved almost exclusively in well honed “come and see” evangelism events and programs (the most prominent being Sunday morning worship).

Research indicates that about 35% of the lost in the U.S. are reachable through attractional methodologies. Although that percentage is dropping, and it is weighted heavily toward a suburban demographic. That means that 65% of the lost in the U.S. can be reached only through a “go and tell” methodology.

What are the implications of all this? Let me suggest five among many.

1) There is a huge need to awaken the sleeping giant (inwardly focused churches) to their responsibility to focus both inwardly and outwardly. There are a many excellent books, DVDs, conferences, consultants, networks, and para-churches organizations that could positively impact these churches. Educate and exhort these churches to take advantage of the available resources.

2) The suburban mega-church needs to ask itself some hard questions, if it is vested primarily in a “come and see” approach to evangelism.
• Are they content to see the audience they are targeting continue to shrink year after year?
• Can they, with a clear conscience, continue down this road knowing that they are automatically excluding 65% of the lost in their community by doing so?
• Are they subtly communicating to their congregation that their only personal responsibility with evangelism is to invite friends to Sunday morning worship or to an outreach oriented event?

3) Churches that are inwardly focused and churches that are vested primarily in attractional evangelism need to take several important steps:
• regularly teach and cast vision for what the New Testament says about missional evangelism
• provide practical training for individuals in “go and tell” evangelism (entry level and more advanced)
• primarily hire staff with a “go and tell” heart and gifting, not “come and see” heart and gifting
• regular hold up as positive examples lay members of your congregation who are living missionally
• affirm and release, rather than seeking to control and manage, those with apostolic and evangelism gifting in your congregation

4) The creation and multiplication of missional communities may be the most effective long-term strategy to see a church morph into a missionally focused church. These are highly intentional small groups who are living life and growing in Christ together, as they engage a shared evangelism target, and integrate the fruit of their efforts into their community.

5) Start planting new churches that are missionally focused from day one (especially among underreached demographics of a community).

from November 7, 2010 prayer update

How much do you know about the world we live in? You won’t learn much from a Christian perspective from your favorite news website, newspaper, magazine, or TV newscast. But there are excellent resources available.

The seventh edition of Operation World is now available. The last edition was published in 2001. The world has changed significantly in the past nine years. This is a book that every serious Christ follower should own.


Used by thousands as a daily prayer guide for the nations, and Operation World provides current background and statistical information on every country on the planet. I use this book as a resource for reliable missions facts more than any other missions resource available. Great stuff!

From “Ask a Missionary”: “This book is the definitive global prayer handbook. With over a million copies of past versions being sold, this all new 7th edition has been completely updated and revised by Jason Mandryk and covers every country in the world, from the largest to the smallest. Whether you are an intercessor praying behind the scenes for world change, a sender, or an aspiring missionary, Operation World will give you the information necessary to be a vital part in fulfilling God’s passion for the nations.”

Paperback and hardback versions are available as are excellent supplemental CDs and DVDs.

Interested in other great missions related books and resources? Check out the resources available through William Carey Library and Pioneers.