Keeping the Momentum Going: 'EtS' Workshops Inspire Members to Greater Outreach
Holding an Equipping to Share (EtS) workshop is a great way to give church members an intelligent boost to more comfortably sharing their faith with others. But the effort can't stop there. As a result of an EtS workshop held during the 2007-2008 season, one church in Littleton, Colorado—Holy Cross Lutheran—has found ways to keep its outreach focus sharp.
Holy Cross has begun a regular feature called "Reaching Out" in its bulletins that includes light thoughts, suggestions, or encouraging verses to hearten people toward more actively sharing the Good News. For example, in the church's May 3rd bulletin, "Reaching Out" featured Romans 10:14-16 as its verses of encouragement: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
Holy Cross's strategies haven't stopped at a bulletin blurb either. Additionally, the Board of Evangelism makes available gifts, or outreach tools, such as rubber faith bracelets, door hangers, worship information cards, church business cards, and lollipops with an Easter story cookie recipe.
To glean more information about members and their abilities regarding evangelism, Holy Cross circulated a questionnaire to discover personal sharing styles. They then discussed them and encouraged one another with a little advice: not everybody does evangelism the same way, but each can share Christ's love in one form or another. In this regard, members at Holy Cross have found that using the Concordia Publishing House booklet How to Share Christ Confidently—A Guide to Comfortable and Effective Personal Witnessing has been helpful. "It has wonderful information, including chapter 1, 'Dealing with Fear,'" wrote one woman.
For information on hosting an Equipping to Share workshop, contact Sarah Guldalian, coordinator, at 800-944-3450, ext. 4144, or send her an e-mail at equipping@lhm.org.
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