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"It is no longer necessary today to cross the seas to do global evangelism, but only to cross the street."  Jack Dennison, City Reaching

Until the Pastor arrives to begin recruiting the Launch Team (see Leadership: First And Second Years), most of your work will be preparatory.  However, in the time leading up to the arrival of the Pastor, a number of activities can constructively pave the way for the Pastor and Launch Team.

• Attraction model vs Incarnational model.  Through its Barnabas Ministry team, the Sponsoring Church will need to make decisions about the shape of the new church.  Will it begin with a building?  What will be its budget in the first year?  What geographic and demographic groups will it seek to reach?

In large part these decisions will influence the evangelism model for the new church.  An Attraction Model assumes a central focus of some kind, e.g. a building, a strong worship service, music program, etc. that attracts people to the new church.  If chosen, this model will impact the budget for the new church in terms of building costs, program costs and especially the costs associated with attracting people, including communications, advertising, etc.  It will also impact the type of Pastor to be called to the church.

On the other hand, an Incarnational Model does not require a significant central focus and relies instead on the penetration of the community on a personal level, one person at a time.  This is a more relational approach and will not necessarily require a central facility, sophisticated worship or music program.

• A significant amount of research was done prior to the Sponsoring Church's decision on the target community for the new church.  This research should continue during this time and extend into the first and second years.  While the previous research might have been more statistical, now is the time to shift into a more personal style of research, including one-on-one meetings, focus groups, etc.  Just as John the Baptist prepared the way in the wilderness, the Sponsoring Church's Barnabas Ministry team should prepare the way in the wilderness of the target community.   

• Continue [Servant Evangelism].  Servant Evangelism accomplishes several purposes.  First, there is value in the service alone, as it is doing God's work in the community.  Moreover, Servant Evangelism is vital in the inception of networks of people who will ultimately be invited into the fellowship of the new church.  These people include both those who are served as well as those who are servants.  Servant Evangelism also raises the visibility of the new church in the community, and it provides a very personal opportunity to learn more about community needs.
• Set up a network and a "radar screen" for the Pastor and Launch Team.  The network will become the Pastor's (and the Launch Team's) most valuable asset.  What is a network?  It is the compilation of contact information for the many people with whom you come into contact in the target community.  The network should take the form of a database that will enable the style of communications most appropriate for the community.  Sources of names include personal contacts of members of the Sponsoring Church, other individuals who you meet in Servant Evangelism projects, as well as those who are referred to you by others.

The "radar screen" is the collection of opportunities that you'd like the Pastor and Launch Team to consider for Mercy Ministries and Outreach activities.  Your "preparing the way" can include research on options and possibilities that can save considerable time for a Pastor who initially doesn't know the area, and for a Launch Team who may not have any experience in designing ministry.

• Leave room for the Spirit.  You cannot pre-plan everything.  God will lead the church where He wills.  Your job is more one of positioning your thinking and preparing the Pastor and Launch Team as His will becomes more apparent.  So set up a prayer organization that will lift the new church, its Pastor and Launch Team in prayer to discern where He is leading.

Go back to Evangelism: Overview

Go on to Evangelism: First And Second Years