Natural Church Development is a process of discernment that involves the whole church. We are at the near-end of the first round. A survey was given to some core members (30 People) of the church to determine what our minimum factor. Natural Church Development says that there are eight characteristics of a “healthy” church: Empowering Leadership, Gift-based ministry, Passionate Spirituality, Effective Structures, Inspiring Worship, Holistic Small Groups, Need-Oriented Evangelism, and Loving Relationships.

Some will remember that of the eight quality characteristics we measured the lowest on Need-Oriented Evangelism. Next, we set about to determine the reason for our low score. We asked the Church Council, and we visited Sunday School Classes to get their responses. Answers ranged from “we don’t know what evangelism is” to “it’s just not a priority”.

A Prayer Team was organized to pray for the church and its ministry. I preached some sermons specifically on Evangelism. We offered a Spiritual Gifts Inventory to determine who in our church God has gifted with the gift of Evangelism.

Evangelism is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all. We do this personally and as a church. We reach out to those who do not know Christ or the church. We do so by reaching out to their needs, whatever they are.

After much study, prayer, and planning by our NCD Team we invited a number of persons whom we discerned to be gifted in Evangelism to a meeting. A great number of people gathered. Most of them agreed to be a part of the Evangelism team. If you’re reading this, and you feel led to join us in this effort, please let me know. Bob Handell is the new Chair of the Evangelism Team. They will begin their work on Thursday night of this week at 7pm in the Conference Room.

The NCD Team has completed its work and some of those people are now a part of the Evangelism Team. From the NCD Team now Evangelism will plan an Evangelism event of some sort for the church and then attend to making Evangelism a greater priority for us.

Sometimes I think that Evangelism gives us the “willies” (is that a word?) because of some of the abuses of well-meaning Christians. Evangelism is often thought to mean using manipulation and arm-twisting to get someone to sign on the dotted line of faith. Nothing could be further from what we mean.

We mean something as simple as inviting your friends and neighbors to church, to Christ. Everyone needs the salvation that Christ gives and the fellowship of the community of faith. So, we share what we know and what we have. It may be that all I know is that all who meet Jesus Christ are made new, made whole.

We hope to begin a second round of work on Natural Church Development sometime this school year.

If you want further information on Natural Church Development go to their website: http://www.ncd-international.org.

Please keep NCD and our work with it in your prayers.