The Local Church in Evangelism!
Berean Bible School via Global University. In May 2019, I enrolled to work towards completing 10 courses, which is level one, certified level of ministry. This is my writing assignment for The Local Church in Evangelism course, from my experience on my first domestic missions trip to Charleston, South Carolina.
1b. Description of ministry activity and its content: Briefly describe your ministry activity in the space provided. (You are encouraged to engage in ministry such as sharing your faith with unbelievers, or other activities that may be outside your comfort zone.)
While studying this course, God supernaturally opened the door for me to attend my first missions trip; domestic or missions. He opened the spot, allowed me to room with a sister in Christ I've known for 8 years, and provided the finances. We departed to Charleston, SC on June 18th and returned on June 23, 2019. 24 of us that were an Alabama team traveled with the district Assemblies of God superintendent and women's director. The first night was a welcome dinner with ministry assignments passed out. Wednesday and Thursday and Saturday were our actual ministry missions day: including food bank, clothes closet, community canvassing, house repairs for elderly or low income, church repairs, that all led up to the Charleston First Assembly of God church care day on Saturday. There were zones provided that were all free for those in need that also included free lunch, free haircuts and manicures, free worship and prayer, free health screenings, free legal and education advice, and free toys and bicycle giveaways. Read more information in the questions below about this ministry activity.
1c. Identify related course content by chapter, lesson, or page number.
The Redemptive Mission of the Church, Chapter 15.1 - B. The church's fourfold mission - The purpose of a mission is to extend something beyond where it is, to send its message and activity somewhere else, to new territory.
Consider the following dictionary definitions:
“a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith”
“assignment to or work in a field of missionary enterprise”
“a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity”
“a group sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political negotiations”
In popular use, the term mission also implies an organization’s reason for being or, simply put, its purpose.
We took the where we attend church, outside its four walls, so we could serve and meet the needs of others in a domestic missions field.
2. Results: What resulted from your own participation in this activity? Include descriptions of people's reactions, decisions to accept Christ, confirmed miracles, Spirit and water baptisms, life changes, etc. Describe the individuals or group who benefited from or participated in your ministry activity. Use numbers to describe results when appropriate (approximate when unsure).
When I got on that bus to travel the whole day to Charleston, SC from Montgomery, AL, my prayer to God was put me where I can be of the best service to others. Place me in sync with the lives of others where our personalities are similar and I can encourage him/her, bring a smile and joy to them and connect with them on spiritual level. God did just that. I instantly bonded and connected with the people I knew God divinely connected with. We formed a group that week to work together in one mind and one accord to reach that community and meet needs of others. By have the leading, guiding, and directing of the Holy Spirit and with a strong connection with others, I felt better prepared to engage in this activity. There is strength in numbers, and we needed that when going out into a community. I needed encouragement and prayers to keep going when I wanted to crash. Also, they were able to see that I needed sit down jobs to do and they made sure I wasn't pushing myself. Now outreach I love, now everyone is not going to be accepting, but you smile and direct them to what they are needing and wanting. Some people just wanted clothes and food. Some were hesitant of the other zones, until we struck up a conversation with them and assured them it was free and connected with them. It reminds of the gospels of how Jesus was known as a "Master Teacher", because He desired the one on one connections and getting to know people on a personal and intimate level. Because of the number of volunteers, I was able to make those one on one connections with others. We were able to pray one on one with others.
5. In what ways were you aware of the Holy Spirit's help during your ministry activity?
6. What strengths or weaknesses within yourself did this assignment reveal to you?
Strengths that I know were revealed to me during this missions trip, were my boldness and confidence to talk about the Gospel of Jesus with others I do not know, I have never met. Personal evangelism is having that confidence, that faith, that boldness through the directing of the Holy Spirit to be able to talk and connect with people on a personal level without prying, judging, or pushing your beliefs down their throat. When greeting the people during care day, some of them were just needing to see Jesus through your smile, through your encouraging words, through how you presented yourself. They want to be asked if they need prayer, they want to be shown the different avenues they need to experience the love and compassion of Christ Jesus. I was really strong, only through the Holy Spirit, in engage with individuals one on one to make them feel comfortable in that they aren't afraid to approach you with questions.
7. Did you receive feedback about this activity? If so, describe.
1b. Description of ministry activity and its content: Briefly describe your ministry activity in the space provided. (You are encouraged to engage in ministry such as sharing your faith with unbelievers, or other activities that may be outside your comfort zone.)
While studying this course, God supernaturally opened the door for me to attend my first missions trip; domestic or missions. He opened the spot, allowed me to room with a sister in Christ I've known for 8 years, and provided the finances. We departed to Charleston, SC on June 18th and returned on June 23, 2019. 24 of us that were an Alabama team traveled with the district Assemblies of God superintendent and women's director. The first night was a welcome dinner with ministry assignments passed out. Wednesday and Thursday and Saturday were our actual ministry missions day: including food bank, clothes closet, community canvassing, house repairs for elderly or low income, church repairs, that all led up to the Charleston First Assembly of God church care day on Saturday. There were zones provided that were all free for those in need that also included free lunch, free haircuts and manicures, free worship and prayer, free health screenings, free legal and education advice, and free toys and bicycle giveaways. Read more information in the questions below about this ministry activity.
1c. Identify related course content by chapter, lesson, or page number.
The Redemptive Mission of the Church, Chapter 15.1 - B. The church's fourfold mission - The purpose of a mission is to extend something beyond where it is, to send its message and activity somewhere else, to new territory.
Consider the following dictionary definitions:
“a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith”
“assignment to or work in a field of missionary enterprise”
“a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity”
“a group sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political negotiations”
In popular use, the term mission also implies an organization’s reason for being or, simply put, its purpose.
We took the where we attend church, outside its four walls, so we could serve and meet the needs of others in a domestic missions field.
2. Results: What resulted from your own participation in this activity? Include descriptions of people's reactions, decisions to accept Christ, confirmed miracles, Spirit and water baptisms, life changes, etc. Describe the individuals or group who benefited from or participated in your ministry activity. Use numbers to describe results when appropriate (approximate when unsure).
I'm not sure of how many unbelievers were witnessed to during the community activity of passing out church care day invitations and also inviting them to church. I do know about 150-200 bags of food were passed out that represented that many families. Therefore, I am appx. providing numbers of unbelieves witnessed to, and I am sure there were decisions for Jesus once we returned home as the Charleston pastor testified about this, but I don't have those numbers. The people received free lunch, food and clothing goods to take home, haircuts, manicures, medical screenings, legal and education advice, and prayer (if desired). What amazed me even more was the love shown to this community and church, as so many local businesses came together to provided free care and items, service and the Charleston Mayor was even at Care Day and declared it CFA Care Week for the city.
Oh yes it did. It met spiritual needs and physical needs; the missions group that teamed up with the church and the operation go truck were truly the hands and feet of Jesus that week. People were provided info about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited to care day and church. They were shown the love and compassion of Jesus, through receiving free care and items. This church also opens the food bank and clothes closet the last Saturday of every month. What blessed me so in knowing the needs of others are met, is being told the Charleston First Assembly was given the opportunity to move to a better or location, but they stayed where they are, where low income, elderly, and unchurched people can be reached. God has blessed them with a great church campus, including a new sanctuary that runs 250-300 people.
4. Were you adequately prepared to engage in this activity? Why or why not?
3. Reflection: Answer the following questions based on your experiences in completing this assignment: Did this activity satisfy an evident need in others? How so?
4. Were you adequately prepared to engage in this activity? Why or why not?
When I got on that bus to travel the whole day to Charleston, SC from Montgomery, AL, my prayer to God was put me where I can be of the best service to others. Place me in sync with the lives of others where our personalities are similar and I can encourage him/her, bring a smile and joy to them and connect with them on spiritual level. God did just that. I instantly bonded and connected with the people I knew God divinely connected with. We formed a group that week to work together in one mind and one accord to reach that community and meet needs of others. By have the leading, guiding, and directing of the Holy Spirit and with a strong connection with others, I felt better prepared to engage in this activity. There is strength in numbers, and we needed that when going out into a community. I needed encouragement and prayers to keep going when I wanted to crash. Also, they were able to see that I needed sit down jobs to do and they made sure I wasn't pushing myself. Now outreach I love, now everyone is not going to be accepting, but you smile and direct them to what they are needing and wanting. Some people just wanted clothes and food. Some were hesitant of the other zones, until we struck up a conversation with them and assured them it was free and connected with them. It reminds of the gospels of how Jesus was known as a "Master Teacher", because He desired the one on one connections and getting to know people on a personal and intimate level. Because of the number of volunteers, I was able to make those one on one connections with others. We were able to pray one on one with others.
5. In what ways were you aware of the Holy Spirit's help during your ministry activity?
The Holy Sprit was our teacher, comfort, guide, speaker, leader and protector throughout this missions trip. He guided our bus driver, He guided our feet and hands and words as we completed activities and spoke life and encouragement into peoples' lives who were in need. The Lord sent the Holy Spirit to surround us with a supernatural hedge of protection. I didn't fear, nor was I doubtful that God would protect us because we weren't on this trip for selfish ambitions, we were on this trip to be and share Jesus. Of the three communities we went into, to pass out invitations, one was known as an unchurched and drug community, it wasn't safe for us to be doing that especially since our group was only women, but before we started walking, I felt a surge of electric energy surround my body, and by faith I wasn't uncomfortable or fearful of this mission. The Holy Spirit would not allow my feet to walk up to house that I didn't need to, we didn't knock on doors, but we safely left the invitations on doors or gates. If people were outside we would engage with them. That night, we learned of a shooting that took place in that very community. The Holy Spirit gave me the comfort I needed. God is faithful and just to protect His chosen in times like this.
6. What strengths or weaknesses within yourself did this assignment reveal to you?
Strengths that I know were revealed to me during this missions trip, were my boldness and confidence to talk about the Gospel of Jesus with others I do not know, I have never met. Personal evangelism is having that confidence, that faith, that boldness through the directing of the Holy Spirit to be able to talk and connect with people on a personal level without prying, judging, or pushing your beliefs down their throat. When greeting the people during care day, some of them were just needing to see Jesus through your smile, through your encouraging words, through how you presented yourself. They want to be asked if they need prayer, they want to be shown the different avenues they need to experience the love and compassion of Christ Jesus. I was really strong, only through the Holy Spirit, in engage with individuals one on one to make them feel comfortable in that they aren't afraid to approach you with questions.
My weaknesses I continue to pray for God and the Holy Spirit to deliver me from and help me is the feeling of getting frustrated to quickly and speaking out, when I don't think a situation is being handled right. I have to be careful about who I vent too and talk too. That happened a few times, but the Holy Spirit is working on me and reeled me back in to keep me on track, and help me remember why I was there. I don't know the reasons or know the behind the season situations, I have to give those questions and frustrations to God. I have to allow God's light and love and compassionate words shine through me when I am feeling frustrated about a situation.
7. Did you receive feedback about this activity? If so, describe.
I'm thankful for the feedback I received from the Charleston pastor and staff and how they were wanting me to move there, you never know, and those precious people who offered me a place to stay in their home if I came back to visit. They do this outreach care week every year, so I would love to go back and help next year should the Lord tarry. In addition, I loved the feedback I received from those coming through the care day lines; those precious people just thankful that people such as us, would allow all of them to this for free.
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