Congregational Life Ministries - Evangelism Resource List

Becoming a Contagious Christian:
Communicating Your Faith in a Style that Fits You
by Mark Mittelberg, Lee Strobel & Bill Hybels, Zondervan Press, 1995

Becoming a Contagious Christian is a proven course designed to equip believers for effective evangelism in today's world. It avoids stereotyped approaches that feel intimidating to many Christians. Instead, it shows ordinary believers how they can share the Gospel in a natural and powerful way, while being the person God made them to be. Each session's exercises, discussions, self-assessments, and video vignettes give step-by-step guidance to help participants become effective communicators for Christ to those around them. There's even a section on everyday answers that will help believers respond to difficult questions regarding Christianity.

Becoming a Contagious Christian works with any size group, from small groups of 4–9 to Sunday school classes and other large groups of 10 to 150 or more. It can be presented successfully in any of the following formats: four sessions of 2 hours each, eight sessions of 50 minutes each, two sessions of 4 hours each, or one, two, or three day retreats.

Resources

Becoming a Contagious Christian

Teaching Kit (Complete leader's notes, overhead transparency masters, instructional video tape, and participant's workbook)

Participant Book

For more information: Contact Brethren Press at 800-441-3712

Building a Contagious Church
by Mark Mittelberg, Zondervan Press, 2000

In this newly released book, author Mark Mittelberg wants to help your congregation become an irresistible magnet attracting the unchurched, and has developed a 6-step plan to accomplish this. Through this book, the author promises to help you discover the secrets of equipping and liberating every believer to become "contagious"– and build a diversified evangelism team. You'll learn six styles of outreach, how to communicate the gospel without compromise, and more.

Resources

Building a Contagious Church

For more information: Contact Brethren Press at 800-441-3712

CoachNet®: Networking for a Greater Harvest
www.coachnet.org, Robert Logan, 1994 - 2000

CoachNet® is an internet tool for Christian leaders. It is one of the most unique web-based training and communication tools of its kind. It has a built-in reference library with hundreds of valuable resources, discussion forums on a wide variety of ministry topics, on-line study courses, and powerful, interactive on-line coaching tools. You can log in as a "guest" and take a free tour to see what CoachNet® has to offer. A search on the word, evangelism, revealed 3 pages of listings of resources on this topic.

Resources

CoachNet®: Networking for a Greater Harvest Subscription

The Master's Plan for Making Disciples (2nd edition)
by Win Arn and Charles Arn, Baker Books, 1982, 1998

The Master's Plan "is a strategy of disciple making to help lay church members identify and reach people in their web, or oikos, for Christ and the Church. It is a process that works within natural characteristics of human behavior and relationship and relates the unique needs of friends and relatives to Christ's work in their lives. . . The Master's Plan builds on the scriptural insight that the Christian message travels best over natural bridges of friendships and relationships– oikos. It is a disciple–making strategy that seeks to identify receptive people whom God has prepared and reach them while they are reachable. . . The Master's Plan is based on the conviction that God wants his lost children found. . . when incorporated and practiced in the local church, is an intentional and powerful way to see this happen." pp.55-57

The Master's Plan is designed to be presented in one of two formats, depending on which works best for your congregation. It can be taught in one 3 1/2 hour session, or in three 1-hour sessions.

Resources

The Master's Plan for Making Disciples Second Edition

Teaching Kit - (Complete leader's notes, overhead transparency masters, instructional video tape, text book, participant workbook, and application guide)

Participant Pac - (textbook, workbook, Blueprint Guide, and completion certificate)

For more information: www.churchgrowth.net

Meta or Cell Group Model

The Meta or cell group is a model being used for new church development. Each Meta or small group is developed as a primary care group and serves as place for discipleship training of the unchurched. The pastoral role in this model is teacher/trainer/coach of group leaders. By example the pastor trains a group-leader apprentice until he or she is ready to lead another group. This process is replicated as necessary.

In existing congregations where the role of the pastor can be redefined as teacher/coach/trainer of others, the Meta cell group model holds promise for reaching out to people beyond the membership of the existing congregation. Such redefinition of the pastoral role requires a shared understanding and support of the congregation and pastor. Therefore, any consideration of this model in established congregations calls for discussion, planning and preparation within existing membership. Small group skills and leadership are a pre-requisite.

Resources

Prepare Your Church for the Future; Introducing the Meta-Church: Large Enough to Celebrate, Small Enough to Care,
by Carl F. George. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1991.

Spiritual Mentoring: A Guide for Seeking & Giving Direction,
by Keith R. Anderson & Randy D. Reese. InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Cultivating a Life for God: Multiplying Disciples through Life Transformation Groups,
by Neil Cole, Church Smart, 1999

The Disciple Making Pastor
by Bill Hull, Fleming H. Revell Company, 1988

The Small Group Book: The Practical Guide for Nurturing Christians and Building Churches,
by Dale Galloway & Kathi Mills, Fleming H. Revell Company, 1995

Church for the Unchurched,
by George G. Hunter III, Abingdon Press, 1996

Re-Churching the Unchurched,
by George Barna, Issachar Resources: Ventura Calif., 2000

Making Your Church More Inviting,
by Roy A.Oswald, Alban Institute. 1992.

Natural Church Development
by Christian A. Schwarz, Church Smart Resources, 1996

Through studying over 1000 congregations in 32 countries around the world, Christian Schwartz learned that there are Eight Quality Characteristics found in healthy, growing churches. They are: empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, functional structures, inspiring worship services, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism, and loving relationships. A survey has been developed to help congregations objectively measure their strengths/weaknesses in these eight areas. Schwartz also discovered that the higher the scores a congregation received in these eight quality characteristics, the more it was "naturally" growing.

Natural Church Development (NCD) has developed a five step process to improve the health of your congregation. That process is: 1) acquaint yourself with NCD principles, 2) introduce NCD principles to your congregation, 3) take the NCD survey, 4) develop a strategy to raise the quality of your minimum factor(s), and 5) monitor your progress.

Resources

Natural Church Development

The ABC's of Natural Church Development

Natural Church Development Survey (through CLT's)

Implementation Guide to Natural Church Development

For more information: http://www.brethren.org/genbd/clm/clt/Resoucres.html

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