Category — Coaching

The world is in constant motion. It seems the Church isn’t always aware of this basic fact. If we aren’t careful we can flog a dead horse, so to speak, that isn’t going to get us where we hope to arrive. This truth is especially accurate today with the ubiquitous presence of technology. Things change at an amazing speed all over the globe. The contrary point is also true. What worked long ago, then didn’t work for a time, now works once again. Outreach is like that. Things run their course, they pass away, then are resurrected at a later time. Sometimes God reinvigorates approaches to ministry. If we are wise we will pay attention to what he is doing instead of criticizing things out of hand simply because they once were ineffective.

It isn’t so that what you are born with is where you will remain – at least in the area of outreach aptitude. God can take you as you are – either as an introvert or an extrovert – and use you in a profound way to do great works of outreach. How so? There is more to outreach than having intense, one-on-one conversations that will end in someone bowing their knee to accept Christ as a result of your amazing debating skills. Some can do that, perhaps you don’t see yourself pulling that off. Billy Graham has admitted to being shy in one-to-one situations. If he is that way, there is great hope for you! If you are shy consider these thoughts to raise your outreach IQ:

1. You can answer questions. As we serve we stir up curiosity. Naturally people ask questions that aren’t that difficult to answer. “Tell me about your church?” “How did you get involved in this church?” (A place to tell your Jesus story! Clarify the Gospel as the door opens!) “Do you think this church will love even me?”
2. You can serve in spiritually profound ways that will nudge people toward Christ. Pray as you serve – pray that your connecting really will propel people forward to Christ. Don’t just blindly go through the motions of doing an outreach. You are doing spiritual activity. People’s lives are at stake.
3. Look for open doors in the middle of your serving. Even if you are shy, God will empower you and use you to walk through amazing open doors to say the right thing(s) that will touch people in powerful ways. You can read some of the accounts of this happening in many of my books as encouragements (Outflow for one).

Pastor David Cho of the world’s largest church, in Seoul, Korea, has a practice with his new church start ups, of asking his planters to spend two years in their new community just getting to know people before doing any official church work. As he puts it, “Having tea and cookies” with folks. If you don’t first know folks, nothing else matters much.
One of the big problems in much of what we attempt in life amounts to skipping the step of  tea and cookies. Relationship is the very core of everything you do. If you are struggling right now to succeed with someone, perhaps it is time to just sit down, clear the air, seek humility and share some tea and cookies – or a hazelnut latte in my case.

You are doing an outreach. You approach with bottles of water. You walk up to folks and stutteringly mutter, “Um Ma’am, would you like a bottle of water today? We are showing Gods’s love in a practical way…” That approach may sound okay but I can assure you that most people will reject the offer. Why? Because you have made it a choice (not to mention you have taken a lot of their time!)
A better way to connect is to eliminate the yes-no option completely. Say, “Here’s a bottle of water. We are showing a little bit of God’s love!” (Along with the water I hand them an outreach card.) I am rarely turned down when I get rid of the yes-no option.
This holds true with other connecting areas of life. When starting a group don’t say “Would you like to be a part of my group?” Many will turn you down when you give them an option. Instead say, “We’re starting up. Join us!” People are hungry to be led. They need to be needed. Lead them with love and enthusiasm.

If you are Scandinavian (your name has a “dahl” or “gren” or “sen” in it) you may be a little impaired in the fun department. Just saying.
My dad, a full-fledged Swede, once told me, “Those Beatles are a passing fad. Don’t try to imitate them with your music. You want to play the accordion. Now that music will endure through the ages!” He was a smart guy, but he missed it on that one. He might have been a little fun impaired.
Jesus wants us to walk in his enjoyment in life. This is almost a direct quote from Paul, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is… fun!” If we hope to see others come into the Kingdom we must reflect the enjoyment of God that we know. Let the joy flow.