1. Journey to Faith
Evangelism as heartbeat not hiccough in the local rural church
Session 2: Heartbeat not Hiccough

2. The Aim
To help individual Christians and local churches recognise how they can make intentional evangelism an ongoing element of the life of their church
To reflect on ways of including evangelism and witness as the heartbeat of the church’s life – not a bolt-on extra for extra-special people or occasions

3. Outline for the Session
Steps in the Right Direction
Seasons & Cycles
Third Agents
Putting it all Together
Questions & Feedback
Concluding Liturgy

4. Blessing
Behaving
Believing
Belonging
Befriending

5. Ann – from vicarious faith to owned faith
Ben – from little or no faith/knowledge of God to becoming a disciple of Jesus
Ann – from vicarious faith to owned faith

6. Two significant rural generalities
A familiarity with the church and the Christian faith
A lack of anonymity – hindering the embrace or exploration of faith

7. Evangelization with Harmony & Rhythm
While evangelism focused at a specific time may bring a sharper clarity, it is more in keeping with the nature of rural communities that faith sharing (evangelization) is ongoing in harmony with the rhythms of people’s lives, the seasons and the turning of the year, and the features and nature of the local community. (Laurence Singlehurst)

8. Five I’s
A way of intentional evangelism that offers people an opportunity to engage with the faith at various stages on that journey

9. Five steps to faith offered by the church…
Instruction
Induction
Invitation
Introduction
Involvement

10. “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. If you have the gift of speaking, preach God’s message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies.
Everything should be done in a way that will bring honour to God because of Jesus Christ … Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)

11. strategy serendipity AND
Making plans, setting goals, reviewing progress
AND
serendipity
Allowing room for the unexpected (the Holy Spirit?)

12. Involvement Getting alongside people Working with all faiths and none
Not hiding the faith but relaxed enough to allow it to shine out naturally
Not getting stressed because you did not share Jesus
Practical, hands on, caring

13. Introduction Jesus or the Christian faith is purposefully introduced
Parents and Toddlers begins with prayer and the clergy make a regular visit
Coffee morning with leaflets/speaker
Any questions event

14. Invitation
At an appropriate moment and in a sensitive manner people are given an invitation to respond to the call of God upon their lives.
At the end of a series of sermons…
At the end of a Christian nurture course…
When the moment feels right by any individual

15. Induction
Finding an appropriate way of marking the step that has been taken in acceptance of Christ. This may be small or large
Baptism or confirmation
Rededication
Prayer
Laying on of hands
Receiving a book
Invitation to join a group

16. Instruction Lifelong learning… Mentoring Confessor Spiritual director
Discipleship course
Cell group
Home group
Prayer group

17. Yearly cycle of community engagement
KEY: GREEN – the world’s view of the year Purple - Church seasons Red Blobs – opportunities for engagement
CHRISTMAS
Dec
Jan
 New school year – begin Alpha or other initiation courses
 Back to Church Sunday & Harvest – STEWARDSHIP
 All Saints / Remembrance – LEGACIES
 Christmas – hospitality and welcome
 “Welcome to St Wilberts” course – meet the local teams
 Candlemas – just completed tax returns – another STEWARDSHIP opportunity
 Lent courses – deepening discipleship AND/OR Alpha (if not done in Sept)
 Easter – baptisms and confirmations
 Church check-up time – are we effective?
 Summer term – serving the community
 Go to summer festivals – New Wine, Soul Survivor, Greenbelt
SPRING TERM
Epiphany
Nov
Advent
Feb  
AUTUMN TERM 
Lent  
Oct
Mar
Yearly cycle of community engagement 
EASTER  
Apr
Sep   
Pentecost
May
Aug
SUMMER HOLS
Jul
Jun
SUMMER TERM

18. Third agents
Particularizing the Gospel when local sensibilities make it difficult to do so – a very rural specific!
But only when evidence of the evangelistic heartbeat of the local church

19. Putting it all Together 1
Look at your copy of the Rural Church Cycle
In your groups of 4-5, discuss what things specific to your own church or community you might include in the yearly cycle
Could some of these things be done in partnership with others? (Another local church or group? A ‘third agent’?)

20. The Arthur Rank Centre (ARC)
All sorts of material, resources & stories to help the rural church:
Journey To Faith. All the course materials are freely available at:

21. Putting it all Together 2
1-year cycle: localised
5 steps:
Involvement
Introduction
Invitation
Induction
Instruction
CYCLES
Befriending
Belonging
Believing
Behaving
Blessing
EXPERIENCE
5 aspects:
My personal story (Ben or Ann?)
Our local or regional church story
The Jesus’ story
God’s ‘Big Story’
STORIES