evangelism online- june 2004

By Nelson Searcy, Jason Hatley, and John Troy
Courtesy of The Epic Team

Evangelism Online exists to equip today's church leaders with the knowledge and resources to effectively share the Gospel in a Postmodern world.

**EVANGELISM**

WIFE PRAYS 50 YEARS, HUSBAND ACCEPTS CHRIST
By David Roach

"'The day he went forward, someone said there was hardly a dry eye in the church,' Marie said. "People, not only me but a lot of people, had been praying for him for many years."

- An amazing story about the power of persistent prayer - Pastors.com

WHAT DO YOU MEASURE?
By Eric Swanson

"Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein

- As churches venture outside their four walls and expend their human and financial resources to embrace their communities to expand the Kingdom, measuring will become increasingly important.

- Available at LeadNet.org

IF YOU WERE TO DIE TONIGHT?
By Fred Peatross

"What is the point of the gospel?"

- We need to stop focusing on the questions and start focusing on the relationships.

- Off the Map: Idea Newsletter

- Available at: http://www.off-the-map.org/idealab/04-05/dietonight.html

NEW CONFERENCE: LAUNCHING A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH!!!

OCALA / ORLANDO, FL

July 27 - 29, 2004 http://www.purposedriven.com/EventDetails.aspx?eventID=83465

This Church Planting conference, sponsored by Purpose Driven Ministries, is a must for anyone planting a church! Whether you're praying about whether God has called you to start a church or you've already launched, this conference will guide you through the process of developing a church that will impact this generation. Taught by Ron Sylvia and Nelson Searcy, two experienced church planters from Florida and New York City, you'll hear detailed, first hand accounts that explain each of the 5 stages of planting a church.

For more information, see the CONFERENCES section below.

**CHURCH GROWTH**

WHY GROWING CHURCHES PLATEAU - AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
By Bob Whitesel

"Maintain as many multiple celebrations as feasible in order to offer as many convenient worship times as possible."

- An eye-opening compilation of trends that lead to (and can lead you out of) plateauing.

- Wesleyan.org

- Available at: http://www.wesleyan.org/ecg/fitness/resources/plateau.htm

 MY CHURCH'S INFERIORITY COMPLEX
By Peter Youmans

"In America where 'bigger is better,' I needed to help the church see that regardless of their size, they could be all that Christ commanded them to be. Size does not equal spirituality, nor can you measure a church's worth by it."

- God has a great plan and we all have a part in it. And there's nothing inferior about that.

- Available at ChristianityToday.com

**LEADERSHIP**

KEEPING FOCUSED IN AN IMBALANCED WORLD
By Chris Perciante

"Once in awhile, it would be nice to close my door and simply plow through the day's work. I know, however, that God has called me to be focused in an imbalanced world. My agenda is rarely God's agenda, and ultimately I know God's agenda is the best agenda."

- In a job where it seems like anything can happen, we need to stay focused and follow Jesus' lead.

- Rev Magazine

- Available at: http://www.revmagazine.com/current/focused.htm

HOW TO BE A REAL LEADER
By Kevin Cashman

"If leadership is so important, why are effective business leaders so rare?"

- Before we can effectively lead others, we have to understand ourselves.

- FastCompany

- Available at: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/24/cashman.html

**FEATURED CONFERENCES**

LAUNCHING A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH (Church Planting Conference)

3 Locations:

Church Planting is in Vogue Today.

It seems easy enough, so why do nearly 80% of church plants fail in the first year? These failures are usually because the church planters are not adequately equipped for the task.

But a successful Purpose-Driven church is launched, not planted. Every stage of a new church is essential for a successful launch. Each of the five stages of a new church should be fully understood and developed for a successful first year and beyond.

This conference will take you from the drawing board to the development of an actual weekend service of a fully balanced, healthy church. It will take you from dreaming about launching a church to actually leading one that impacts this generation.

**BOOKS**

Growth By Accident, Death By Planning - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0687083257/epic03
In the plain, direct style that is his hallmark, Whitesel lays out where churches go wrong in their planning for growth and how they can correct themselves. He does so by looking at three related phenomena: first, the factors that cause initial growth; second, the erroneous decisions that lead to getting stuck on the plateau; and finally, corrective steps that churches can take to regain growth and vitality. (From Back Cover)

Simply Strategic Stuff  - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764426257/epic03
Here are 99 topics church leaders need to know! Some say it's the little things that matter the most, but the little details are often what pastors dread the most. Easy-to-understand and humorous, Simply Strategic Stuff equips pastors to perform the administrative details of pastoring with ease, and enthusiasm. Pastors are encouraged to consider basic principles that will help them develop systems and structures for releasing growth, enabling churches to reach their communities and the world for Jesus Christ! (From Book Description)

**CHURCH WEBSITE**

Radiant Church
Radiant Church, located in the Metro-Phoenix area, is the fastest growing Assemblies of God church in the country, with nearly 4,000 in regular weekend service attendance. With a commitment to their city, their target, and their strategy, Radiant Church is satisfying the thirst of Phoenicians with Biblical teaching that is relevant to real life, and ministries and services that meet the needs of not only the members, but the community.

On their website, you will find well thought out content that makes the church nearly impossible to resist. So, go ahead... give in and follow the link to see what God is doing at Radiant Church: http://www.radiantchurch.com/

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