NOC Day 3

Who's Kevin Harney? A few weeks ago, his book Organic Evangelism for Ordinary People arrived at my office because I'd pre-registered for the National Outreach Convention so far in advance. Frankly, I shelved it (being mondo-busy helped).

This morning, I went to his workshop, kind of by default, and was blown away. Here's somebody who's really figured out how to weave evangelism into (a) everyday lives and (b) the way the church runs.

I want to save up this up for a bunch of future blogs, but basically he's figured out how to make evangelism a natural ("organic", an over-used word in my estimation) expression of our walk with God and how to bring it front and center to the life of the church, again, naturally.

Again, I always find workshops the best part of NOC, but Greg Surratt (Seacoast Church, South Carolina) and Dave Ferguson (Community Christian Church, Chicago) inspirational as well as late afternoon speakers Stacey Spencer (New Directions, Memphis) and Steve Furtick (Elevation Church, North Carolina).

A pleasant surprise was Kent Tucker of Hillside Community Church in Rancho Cuacamonga. Hillside is newly affilaited with Transformation Minstries and will be the site of the 2010 TransMin conference. Kent has updated the famous "bridge" in a nifty resource that teaches people how to share the gospel.

I'll unpack more on NOC over the next few weeks...

NOC Day 2

Nelson Searcy, Bill Easum and Rick Richardson: systems guy, explosive church growth guy and a Wheaton College scholar. That plus a movie tonight ("To Save a Life") and a great message by Miles McPherson--that's been my day.

Nelson: on the mechanics of the Big Day, a strategy of breaking through growth barriers by "extra Easters". Got me thinking about the big series I'll be starting February 14, "From Stress to Rest." Hmm, let's set that as the first Big Day of 2010.

Bill: this guy is hardcore. At age 70, he's tough as nails when it comes to the theme of "explosive church growth." Head spinning, no-nonsense talk.

Rick: neat thoughts on conversion: closed set, open set, journey set? (It'd take too long to explain.)

Hey, more tomorrow...

NOC 2009: Day 1

I'm in San Diego for the National Outreach Convention which you can watch live (at least the general sessions) here.

After attending a discussion on assimilation with my friend Nelson Searcy, the opening session was outstanding--great worship led by Lincoln Brewster and a fantastic message from Ed Stetzer (see photo, left) of LifeWay.

Here's my notes from Ed's message:

The Mandate of Evangelism

2 Timothy 4:1-5

"Do the work of an evangelist" (v. 5)

LABOR: "Do"

Outreach simply provides the opportunity to do evangelism; don't confuse the two.

There are three factors holding us back from real evangelism:

1. Universalism: nearly half of all people in evangelical churches don't believe that Jesus is the only way

2. Wholism: preach the whole gospel, but include the bloody cross and the empty tomb!

3. Invitationalism: we have trained people into believing that inviting people to church--a good thing--is the same as telling the good news of Jesus

We must BE, DO and TELL the good news!

LABOR: work! Paul is telling Timothy that this is his occupation. Pastors and church leaders must set the pace by action. "You cannot lead what you do not live."

FOCUS: on being an "evangelist." Even when settled, Timothy the pastor cannot cease being Timothy the missionary.

"Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter." Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

GREAT message, great start! I'll be updating at least once tomorrow; lucky if I get off one Friday, but I'll try to do a wrap-up no later than Saturday morning.