OPC Pastors Talk Outreach: Do Something

One thing we’ve noticed in the pastors’ responses to our questions is that a couple of times there was a resounding chorus hitting the same note. Rather than treat that as something repetitive that could be compressed, we think that’s an area to pause and listen to the chorus hitting the same note.

This week, we share one of those notes. When asked about how the OPC as a denomination and as individual churches could continue to grow and improve in evangelism, at least 4 pastors (more than 1/3 interviewed) had the same inclination. Their suggestion was simply to do something. Let’s hear it from them:

Andrew Canavan in Corona, CA:

“The main thing is to get out there and do it! As our recently retired RHM, Dave Crum, has said (and this is a very loose paraphrase): we in the OPC can spend most of our time in the harbor perfecting a theologically-precise evangelistic boat while other churches are out in their perhaps leaky or garishly painted (but still seaworthy!) vessels bringing the lost aboard.”

Matthew Patton in Vandalia, OH:

“First, I think that we simply need to do something (anything!) in obedience to the savior, even if it feels awkward or we don’t immediately see fruit. Of course, many churches are striving to be faithful and are presently engaged in evangelism. But my sense is that a lot of OPC churches have functionally ceased to be engaged in it. It doesn’t need to be complicated: set up a table and pass out tracts at a county fair or a college campus. Go around the neighborhood with lawnmowers offering to mow for free, and seek opportunities to share Christ and invite people to church. Pass out water bottles at a local parade and ask people what they believe will happen when they die. Setup a table at a local arts festival and ask people how you can pray for them. (All of these I have done with considerable blessing.) But do something!”

These words may sound direct, but we assure you they are in the context of their whole interview that are balanced and show great love for the OPC. But this question and topic obviously hit a chord for several men.

We don’t want to raise a “problem” without providing “answers.” So, below are also numerous examples of things this collection of 12 men shared of ideas for evangelism. We will share several more next week.

Examples of “Doing Something”

Shane Lems in Hammond, WI

“Our best event is an annual neighborhood party that we host each August during our town’s “Heartland Days.” We host this event right on the church lawn. The first few years we did this only a handful of people showed up each year. However, on a few occasions, people from the neighborhood – even unbelievers – did show up for a worship service after the event. They were able to hear the gospel because of the picnic/party. In 2019 our neighborhood party was so well attended that we had to go to the store to get more food in the middle of it all!

This outreach event works pretty well in our context. A week before the event we print out several hundred flyers and go door to door with a no-strings-attached invite to a free neighborhood picnic. Almost everyone is happy to get a personal invite like this. And when people do come to the picnic, they are able to interact with much of our church family and see that we are not some kind of strange cult, but regular people with regular lives who follow Christ. This event has even led to some opportunities to share the gospel. It has also been a blessing to the church family who has come to interact with others in a personal way.”

Jeff De Boer in Ada, MI

“The most effective thing for me has been serving as a police and prison chaplain. In each of the three places I’ve most recently served I’ve become a police chaplain, and in the first couple instances started the chaplaincy program. Neither of the police chiefs in those departments were Christians, but they still valued (as many people still do in our culture) the helpfulness of religion. My agreement with the chiefs was not to instigate proselytizing conversations, but if the officers asked about my convictions I had absolute freedom to respond. Because of my involvement in the departments, I officiated at weddings (with a gospel message), had debriefing and counseling sessions with officers who were experiencing trauma, spent many hours in deep conversation on ride-alongs, and developed good friends. In each of those two departments, there were officers who became believers in Christ and began attending worship.

Corporately, the most important thing I’ve done as a pastor is to encourage the development of a small group ministry with the expectation that these groups are the natural onramps for people who are new to Jesus and our church. As the gap widens between church and culture, it seems critical to me to create a place where people can hear the gospel and watch its validating impact in the lives of other people. I would much rather focus our attention on efforts that are part of the normal rhythm of our church and lead to natural discipling relationships, and then supplement those efforts with intentional outreaches into our community that signal to the unchurched that we are a place they can come.”

Phil Proctor in Sterling, VA offers 2 examples–1 more “formal” and 1 “every day” example:

“Twice a year we host a “cul de sac” cookout where I drag our grill to the end of my driveway, we have a folding table, and people bring food. It takes all the planning of putting up a yard sign a few weeks prior and pulling out the equipment. Our Memorial Day cookout was our first since the Labor Day weekend of 2019, and the neighbors were all eager for the time together. A family recently moved into our cul de sac and are already talking about looking forward to the upcoming one. This crazy busy, self-important, “politics is life” culture loves to relax and hang out around food and the idea of neighborhood community.”

“One of the ways we’ve tried to build community is by going to the same restaurants and grocery stores, and this has led to at least relationships being built. A Panera that I frequently go to had a very nice lady who knew I was a pastor because she would see me with my Bible studying. One day another customer who knew the barista as well as articulating a personal crisis, and the barista pointed for her to go to the pastor. That led to a relationship with 2 families who attended Sterling for a time.”

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