1. Journey to Faith
Evangelism as heartbeat not hiccough in the local rural church
Session 1: We’re All Part of the Story

2. The Aim
To help people gain confidence in their faith as individuals and as a local church community; and to discover ways in which they can articulate their faith and invite others onto the Christian pilgrim path.

3. Outline for the Session
Accepting Evangelism?
Story Time
Process, Crisis or …?
Five Bs
Conclusion, Questions & Feedback

4. Everyone a Witness?
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope you have, but do this with gentleness and respect”
(1 Peter 3:15)
“The bonds of affection in friendship will shape one’s way of witnessing – make it respectful, considerate, and loving. The value of friendship militates against any sort of witnessing that will be deeply disrespectful and harmful of the other … Christians ought to take how they would witness to a friend to be paradigmatic of how they should witness in general.” (Miroslav Volf)

5. Mapping Your Community
One of the most important first things to do when thinking about local church evangelism is to make sure you know your community
In groups of 4-5 (all from the same church or community) draw a rough map of the community
Identify the places and events that take place which are important for the local community
Who are the significant people in the community?

6. Defining evangelism?
In groups of 4–5 look over the various definitions and quotes with regard to evangelism
Try to agree an order with the ones you are happiest with at the top running down to those you think are least helpful
You might like to write your own definition – place this one where you like

7. What?
Why?
How?
When?
Where?
Who?
The Six Serving Men…

8. My Story – Part 1
1. How did you get here today? What was the journey like?
2. How did you come to be involved with your church?
3. How did you come to be involved in this course today?

9. The Jesus Story

10. Our Church Story

11. Your Individual Significance
“You are a unique and irreplaceable actor in the drama of human history, and Jesus Christ has need of you to make his salvific work known in this particular place and at this particular moment in history”
(Michel Quoist)

12. “…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

13. Holding Onto Past Experiences
What is your past and current experience of faith?

14. 1. ANN Always ‘known’ God Needed to develop an ‘owned’ faith
Rehearsing a personal faith story
1. ANN
Always ‘known’ God
Needed to develop an ‘owned’ faith
Now & next

15. Rehearsing a personal faith story
2. BEN
Before
Encounter
Now & next

16. My Story – Part 2 Outline? Refresh? Rehearse?
The story of YOUR own faith journey:
Outline?
Refresh?
Rehearse?

17. What is the hope to which we are to bear witness…
a) As individuals?
b) As a faith community?
And how do we do this ‘with gentleness and respect’?

18. The Five B’s
Befriending
Belonging
Believing
Behaving
Blessing

19. Christian Story
His Story
Our Personal Story
Local Church Story