Q: How do you conduct an Altar Call and still utilize the tools of Fusion?

Guest Blogger:
Coaching Alumni, Travis Johnson
Pastor of Life Pointe Church
Homestead, Florida

A: I want to help people take practical next steps in their walk with Christ.  Nelson calls it “preaching for Next Steps.” This ministry practice has become an integral part of who we are as well.  The growth and the life change I’ve seen in people as a result of this practice are significant.  I could not imagine leading my church without practical devices (like the Connection Card) that assist in moving people forward in their walk with Christ.

So, I do both. I ”preach for the suddenly, organic, experiential moments” where we give place to the Holy Spirit to collide with the seeker. And, we “preach for Next Steps.”

Here’s how we do it:

1. We participate in worshiping God by observing Communion every week. By lifting up Jesus every week, we bring people face-to-face with what He has done for us.  And, we bring people face to face with who they are.  We communicate that we practice a Believer’s Communion. Then, we give people the opportunity to repent, confess, and invite Christ to be their Savior.
2. We have special prayer for Salvation during Communion (Altar Call). We have people at our Communion tables who are available to pray with people choosing to follow Christ.  Twelve people made this decision for the first time this past week.
3. We pray for the sick and special requests during this time. At each of our Communion Tables, we have leaders in our church prepared to pray for people based on James 5:13-16:

13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.  16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

We typically observe Communion and prayer (altar call) prior to the message and during the music portion of worship. It speaks to people who are desperate for a personal interaction with God’s presence.  And, according to Scripture, it “has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Also, since we are in heavily Catholic communities in Miami-Dade County and in the Florida Keys, it speaks profoundly to the richness of the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf through the act of Communion.  The symbolism is vivid.  The moment is powerful.  The work of the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.

From there, we close our service with the Connection Card and Next Steps just like Nelson describes.  And, when I feel like there is an unscripted moment in the making, I am at liberty to call an audible and change things up.

But, we always, always, always collect Connection Cards and help people take practical Next Steps in their pursuit of Jesus.  After all, it would be a tragic thing to bring people into a place of wonder without giving them the tools to move forward in their pursuit of the revolutionary Jesus.

P.S. Still haven’t grabbed a copy of Fusion to accelerate your church’s assimilation system?  Click here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830745319/nyjourney-20/