Church Outreach events drive GPS 2012
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – God’s Plan for Sharing, the decade-long national
evangelism emphasis of the North American Mission Board, marked its second
major milestone at Easter as churches throughout the Southern Baptist and
Canadian National Baptist conventions used evangelistic events to reach out to
their communities.
Churches were encouraged to use the events to connect with their neighbors.
By design, GPS is adaptable in nature so it can be easily customized for any
church or community. Even if churches have yet to participate, they can begin
at any point, says GPS team leader Ken Ellis.
“A church can begin using the tools whenever they are ready,” said Ellis,
who was involved in the original planning for GPS as a member of NAMB’s
evangelism team. “And the events are scalable for any church. You may say your
church cannot host a community crusade, but you can host a drive-by pickup of
donuts and coffee for the people who serve your community, your law enforcement
officers and firefighters.”
Now in its third year, each GPS theme builds on the next. This year’s
theme—Reaching Across North America—focuses on evangelistic events. Churches
are encouraged to host a block party, a sports clinic or any type of event that
shows the community they care.
One of those churches is Paragon Church in Rio Rancho, N.M. Pastor Matt
Sellers said the church plant made effective use of GPS at Easter.
“GPS has enhanced what we’re doing already and keeps our evangelistic drive
going,” said Sellers who led Paragon to rent a concert hall for Easter services
and saw 300 in attendance, many who were first-time visitors.
The GPS process includes planning and promotion in odd numbered years,
followed by campaign implementation in even years. The entire span of 2012 is
designed for event evangelism connected with the local church.
“Attractional events are a tremendous evangelism tool,” said Larry Wynn,
evangelism vice president for NAMB. “When a church prays for those who will
attend, uses multiple avenues to invite people who don’t know Christ, gives
priority to the event, is faithful to the gospel and does a good job with
follow-up, it will see great results.”
Ellis agrees. He sees limitless application for GPS strategy.
“GPS is nothing more than a mobilization process,” said Ellis. “And it meets
Send North America when you are going to a city, or planting a church – you are
being mobilized to share your faith. With GPS we say you are mobilized to go across
the nation, or walk across the room. You get up out of your comfort zone and
go. You are bounded only by God’s call and your own imagination.”
Send North America is NAMB’s strategy to help churches and individuals
become active in all regions of North America to lead people to faith in Jesus
Christ and start new churches.
“All of these efforts tie back to the local church,” said Kevin Ezell,
NAMB’s president. “NAMB is not going to sponsor or organize events that don’t
try to connect people to a church where they can grow and be discipled.”
Coordinated media campaigns are another aspect of GPS. NAMB invested $1
million for media buys in dozens of markets across North America. This year 35
state conventions and Canada participated in the Hope, Find It Here media
promotion. A majority of funds this year have been invested in social media
efforts. The ads lead people to the findithere.com website where they can view
a gospel presentation.
In all, NAMB has set aside some $15 million for GPS campaigns every two
years through 2020.
A church customization kit is available from NAMB, but the GPS website,
gps2020.net, has multiple resources for evangelism outreach by
affinity—everything from campaign promotion to church-hosted events. Evangelism
resources, primarily gospel tracts, are also available in 16 languages.
“Another great tool is the Evangelism Response Center,” said Ellis. “We want
churches to know that they have a backup for their evangelistic events. By
promoting the ERC toll-free phone number—1-888- JESUS20 (537-8720)—a church can
increase the opportunity visitors have to hear the gospel. Some people who
attend an event may never return to the church. But they might find an ERC card
in their welcome bag and call.”
Reaching Across North America will conclude at the end of 2012. The
remaining campaign themes include Serving, Sharing, Start Something and
culminate in 2020 with Celebrating.
“I’m excited about where we will go with Serving Across North America in
2014,” said Ellis. “We will begin meeting soon with our state convention
partners, association staffs and pastors to plan.”
In 2013, the North American Mission Board will sponsor a Find It Here Bible
distribution project. Southern Baptist churches will receive a complimentary
box of four dozen Bibles to distribute in their communities. Additional Bibles
will be available for purchase if churches need more.
“As I work with churches I like to ask them a question,” said Ellis. “’If
your church closed its doors tomorrow, who in your community, other than your
members, would know you were gone?’ We need to be visible in the community, but
more than that we need to love our community.”
"Every association in Ohio has been given $1000 to assist churches with
evangelistic events in 2012. Contact Jack Helton at jackhelton@scbo.org or
your associational missionary for further details."
