NOMAPs

What if a church opened up branch offices all over her local mission field. The branch offices would offer programs and services that would normally only be offered at the main campus. Branch Teams could be formed to do ministry/mission projects based in neighborhoods around the church utilizing member's homes as a base of operations. You might call them NOMAPs (Neighborhood Ourteach Mission Action Points). The church could then do intentional ministry outside the walls of the church facility. It would be ministry in addition to what the church is doing, not in place of what it is doing. We are not talking about starting house churches, but rather missional teams doing periodic mission action projects on location in neighborhoods.

Missional teams could be formed primarily geographically. Teams decide the scope and frequency of what they do in the neighborhood. Other resources of the church could be enlisted for projects requiring more bodies or special skills. (Music, construction, etc.)

Here are some project ideas:

Pretty much anything the church does could be downsized and exported to a NOMAP location. For example: If the church does a musical production, smaller groups from that production could be enlisted to do a version as a neighborhood event. If the church does a children's summer event, a version of that could be done in a NOMAP site, or at a nearby park. Instead of a churchwide picnic with games, hold smaller neighborhood picnics with games. If you have a live nativity, have a mini-nativity at NOMAP sites. If you have a pumpkin party or Fall festival at the church, have neighborhood Halloween alternative events. The list goes on. Parenting classes - fianancial manangement classes, Beth Moore studies, . . .

Here are some other ideas:

Meet and Treat boxes (halloween). Church provides small boxes that fold up with HBC info all over them. Teams take them, put candy in, and drop them in treat bags on Halloween
Grill hotdogs on driveway and pass out as neighbors come along with children on Halloween.
National Night out hosting in August.
Neighborhood food drive.
Neighborhood bbq's
Fire pit gatherings
Neighborhood directory creation and distribution
Children’s parties
Neighborhood car wash
Minister to a neighbor in need. (Fix-up house, yardwork, food)
Extreme Bakeover. Team makes stuff and gives to neighbors with a message about the church.
Backyard Bible Clubs
Music groups from from the church brought in for a yard, street, or park concert.

I have been doing quite a bit of "entertaining" lately. You can watch here, here, here, here, or here.

Check Your "THEM" Que

It is one of those quick statements that carry a great burden of meaning. When you first hear it, you might say, “Huh, that makes sense,” and then go on about your business. But the word that describes the statement best is “profound.” If you stop to think about it, it will convict you. It will make you uncomfortable. It may even cause you to be dissatisfied with the way you are living your life. It can motivate you to change some things. What is the statement?

“I can’t reach THEM until I first reach a THEM.”

Now I know this is insider speak. I use the word THEM in a non-gramatic way to help focus my mind on the Great Commission. My THEMs are my mission field - the people in my circles of relationship God is leading me to connect with and invest in. I work to make disciples of THEM, baptize THEM, and teach THEM to observe all the things Christ taught. If I focus on reaching the world for Christ, there is a very real possibility I may never reach a single person for Christ.

The key is to move from general to specific. We will only reach the world for Christ one person at a time. What about you? Can you name a THEM in your life? “You can’t reach THEM until you first reach a THEM.” Think about it! I do, and it has changed me.

Check out this new approach to the Great Commission!

INVITE Strategy Instructions

To access the INVITE strategy posts properly, click on The INVITE Strategy label on the right, then read the posts beginning with the earliest post first.

"E" - Encourage THEM Across the Line of Faith

When your THEM is ready to cross the line of faith and make Jesus Christ the forgiver and leaders of their life, you may need a simple tool to help you help them take that final step. Here is a simple illustration you can draw and use with absolute confidence.

Ask your THEM if he/she would like to see a simple picture explaining God's relationship with people. Write out Romans 6:23 on a piece of paper or a napkin: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Circle "wages"and ask, "How would you feel if your boss refused to pay you wages that were due?" Deep down, we all know that it is only right that we get what we deserve. Similarly, we earn wages from God for how we have lived our lives.

Draw a circle around "sin," asking THEM what he/she thinks when they hear this word. You might explain sin as either disobedience of God or merely ignoring Him. You can ask, "Does God seem far away?" Explain that that is one of the things sin does-it makes God seem far away. Now draw two opposing cliffs with a gap in between.

Circle the word "death" and ask what thoughts come to mind when we think about death. Explain that death in the Bible always means some kind of separation. While circling the word "but" and mention that it is important because it means that a sharp contrast in thought is coming. What we have just looked at is bad news; what follows is good news.

Draw a circle around the word "gift." Ask, "If wages are what a person earns, then what is a gift?" Remind your THEM that someone must purchase every gift. Circle "of God" and explain that the gift you are talking about is free from God. It's so special that no one else can give it. Ask, "How do you feel when someone gives you a special gift?"

Circle "eternal life" next, and ask, "How would you define these words?" Contrast one side of the cliff, death, with the other side, eternal life. Ask, "What is the opposite of separation from God?"

Draw a cross to create a bridge between the two cliffs. Write "Jesus Christ" on the cross. Help your THEM to consider that every gift has a giver, and only Jesus Christ can give the gift of eternal life.

Write "trust" over the bridge you just drew. Explain that friends trust each other. Tell your THEM that Jesus wants a trusting friendship with him. All they have to do is admit they are responsible for the "sin" of either disobeying or ignoring God in their life. Trust means trusting Jesus to forgive our sin. At this point, ask if the person wants to start a relationship with God that will last forever. If "Yes," invite them to pray a short prayer in their own words, asking Jesus to forgive him/her and to become the lover and forgiver of their life.

"T" - Tell THEM Your Faith Stories

You have some items in your evangelistic tool kit that are more powerful and more effective than any other. You can use these tools with cynics, skeptics, seekers, or believers. They are stories of your personal experiences with Christ. When you tell your faith stories, they are not up for debate or debunking. They carry weight with anyone who knows you well enough to listen to what you have to say. As you identify THEMs, nurture relationships, verify spiritual condition, and introduce THEM to your church family, sprinkle your faith stories all along the process as they seem appropriate. For example, if your THEM is dealing with fear, you can tell them about how God has conquered fear in your life. If they are facing health issues, you can tell them how God helped you through your own health crisis. If they are struggling with parenting issues, you can tell them the valuable lessons God has given you in parenting.

As you live out your faith in this world, God works through all things for your good, but not for your good alone. You can share life lessons with anyone and demonstrate how faith is something alive and active in those who find and follow Christ together. As 2 Chron. 16:9 says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro, throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him." 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that we should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light."

Of all the stories you have, probably the most powerful is the story of your own salvation. A great example is found in Acts chapter 26. Paul had been given the opportunity to defend himself against charges levied against him for sharing his new found faith. In just 22 verses (2-23) Paul shares his story with King Agrippa, Governor Felix and those in the crowd surrounding them. If you read those verses at a normal rate you will find them to be under 3 minutes long.

Can you share your conversion story in under three minutes? Can you talk about your life before Christ, how you came to realize your need for a relationship with Him, and what your life has been like since you trusted Christ and became a born-again believer? If not, take some specific steps right now.

1. Read over Paul's story a few times.

2. Take pen and paper and write your own conversion story, editing out churchy words and religious jargon. Be critical and try to hear it with the ears of an unchurched hearer.

3. Practice your conversion story until you can say it naturally in just a couple of minutes.

4. Practice multiple entry points into your conversion story. Bridge statements like "I used to be afraid, but now. . ." or "I used to worry a lot, but now . . ." can easily move you into sharing your conversion story.

5. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)