National Engage Evangelism Conference 2018
The opening presentation from Jay Ruka, who recently spoke at the excellent Te Raranga Huia Come Home hui in Christchurch, confirmed that national revival is linked to the healing of the relationship between Māori and Pākehā. Healing for Māori will be healing for our nation. Honouring the Treaty will bring dignity to the Māori and our nation.
Later, Jade Hohaia gave a powerful, heart wrenching presentation on Connecting Christ with Māori on the Marae. “The more I connect with my marae, the more I get to know Jesus,” she said, challenging the belief of many Christians that the marae is not a place to find God. She gave the example of a Christian school where the marae trip day is the least attended school day. Her plea is for churches to no longer keep the marae at arm’s length, to see God’s fingerprints in the marae and Māori traditions, and to recognise that God is moving on the marae and to participate. Jade challenged us to truly sing “Break my heart for what breaks yours” and to care about Māori starving, failing in the education system, filling up NZ’s prisons, overdosing and committing suicide. Māori feel like they have been told about Jesus for 180 years but Pākehā actions haven’t matched. “Don’t tell me, show me!” Māori need to see Jesus in action. There are 750 Marae throughout NZ. Jade encourages churches to connect and learn the aspirations of local iwi, value Maori events and support local marae. “Find a t-towel, find a potato peeler, find a broom” and serve.
Jay Ruka explained that NZ was already considered a nation prior to the treaty and that there was a necessity. 1000 trading ships per year had turned Russell into “party central” (brothel) and the behaviour of non-Māori needed to be sorted out. Further south, the self-appointed NZ Company led by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, a man with a criminal record who had been declined permission from the English Government to colonise NZ, had bought Wellington and Nelson, each for less than one man’s wage. I was inspired and challenged by Jay’s statements: we’re living in a generation when the honouring of the Treaty is coming to fruition; 2040 is the 200 year celebration of the Treaty. We’ve got 22 years to change the country's opinion and honour the Treaty and marry the best of Māori and Pākehā as God has intended from the foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The recurring theme in the conference was John 4:35, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
University professors noted that the recent census showed 61% of New Zealanders believe in spirituality, 20 – 25% of believe in a God despite not being affiliated with a church. Only 5% of New Zealanders said they were of religions other than Christianity (Buddhist/Muslim/Hindu/Sikh).
Dave Mann from the Hope Project reminded us:
Put the big ROCKS (priorities) in first, then the smaller rocks, then the sand, then the water: The Great Commission is the BIGGEST rock that should go in first for every church.
The pizza base (missional culture of the church) needs to be in place for the toppings (programmes) to go on. You can’t fix a paradigm problem with a programme; build a missional culture first.
Lead from the front: The main person through the main platform needs to make the main thing (the Great Commission), the main thing! Equip all members to engage with their community.
Every Christian needs to be equipped to be confident to have conversations; ask questions, listen, applaud what is good and ask questions about what you don’t agree with. Converse, not confront. Tell stories. Resources: www.godtalk.nz , God Space by Doug Pollock, Conversational Evangelism by Norman Geisler and David Geisler, Tactics by Gregory Koukl.
Small groups are vital. The mission of the Church is the mission of the small group. The church is the people, not the Sunday service. Encouragement can be given: “Has anyone had the chance to engage with a non-Christian friend about a spiritual topic lately?” (check out https://alltogether.co.nz/atconsulting/ video #3)
Working locally with other churches is vital. Estimates are that 80% of the NZ public are not hearing the gospel in a year. Local churches should be working together setting a Great Commission vision for their community. Prayer is vital.
Farming 101: you don’t get a crop if you don’t sow seed. God expects ripe fields to be harvested. Matt 9:37-8: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Invest in the harvest – what percentage of your budget is spent for harvesting? Current stats show 34% of children receive Christ when given the opportunity, 4% of 14 – 19 year olds, 6% of over 19 year olds.
The Manukau Baptist pastor shared how God has started sending unchurched people to their church once they started focusing on prayer and evangelism. A few years ago, he realised that even some of his leadership team were not confident to explain the gospel. So he determined to teach everyone in his congregation 8 years and up to do so. He did this by telling the gospel story with a diagram in a Sunday service. He then got an 8 year old to go up and draw it which she confidently did, and then the congregation practised in pairs. He also encouraged his congregation to attend at least one of the Sunday morning prayer sessions each month that focuses on people being reached for Jesus.
The parable of the talents isn’t just about gifts in general, but about the greatest gift we have been given, salvation. We need to be willing to take a risk and share it, not dig a hole and bury it just ensuring we keep ourselves and our families in right relationship with God.
We need to invite people to LIFE. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full.” The Garden of Eden had the tree of life. Zacchaeus and the woman at the well are examples.
The significance of the Jonah story isn’t just about obedience in general, it’s about telling people about Jesus. Our question is ‘How?’, not ‘Should I?’
Living on earth we experience both living partially with God and partially separate from God. We can help people understand that if they believe in God their future will be fully with God with peace and joy while for now God promises to be with us. If they do not choose to be friends with God, their future will be full separation from God.
Karen Warner, national Baptist children’s worker said: We are losing our children! How can we turn it around? Are we students of our culture? What do 21st century families want and need? Do we need to rethink how we do church? Is God calling us to become missional churches with children at the centre?
One practitioner has suggested this generation of children is missing connection and meaning so we can reach them by addressing that. It’s time to RETHINK, REIMAGINE and RECREATE. Examples: A Presbyterian Church in Dunedin is running breakfast time gatherings so families can attend before heading off to sports. Messy Church tells Jesus’ story in accessible ways.
Aimee Mai from Christians Against Poverty said they have just celebrated their 1000th conversion in NZ! She said 3 or 4 clients become Christians every week as the gospel is shared in word, sign and deed. She encourages churches to keep the gospel as top priority: keep emphasizing it, teach it, resource it, ensure accountability and celebrate by telling the stories. Stop listening to the voice of fear.
Pastor Luke Brough from the Auckland Elim Church which has 5 campuses suggests how to have great Sunday Services that cater for the community:
65 minutes max caters for families who aren’t all Christian. 20 mins worship, 25 min speaker. Still plenty of time for family. Make every minute count. Keep it moving without being rushed. Video notices and testimonies. Only advertise pre-organised notices relevant to most. Ensure special events are spread out so there is a maximum of one addition per service (E.g. baptism, baby dedication).
Plan with your target in mind. Expect and prioritise visitors. Let them hide in the crowd.
Reward attendees with excellence. Only gifted people should be on the stage. Don’t experiment on a Sunday morning.
Provide a sermon outline at the door so all have verses in same translation and notes to refer to and so you don’t waste time waiting for people to find verses.
Try and avoid Christian jargon. Communicate in a language and style non-Christians understand.
Explain why you do things that may otherwise leave them wondering.
Quality item each week – drama or song. The most awkward part for a visitor is communal singing so starting with an item can make it easier.
Speaker or MC briefly present the gospel each week and include an opportunity to make a commitment to Jesus, but get 'spotters' to meet with those who put their hands up rather than holding up everyone else.
Never have a bad week so members can be confident to invite others.
Continually evaluate and improve.