DEVELOP MISSIONAL LEADERS

We equip for evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development.

"WE NEED TO LEARN TO THRIVE IN THE CHAOS!"

Ministry in most places follows a similar routine — in a relatively balanced, controlled and predictable way. People receive the same social, cultural and spiritual inputs at about the same time. And like plants in a greenhouse, they grow in this controlled environment. And that’s a good thing. But today’s cities are not greenhouses. In cities the environment is way beyond our control. Chaos rules. People are exposed to influences from every angle, with no support network to guide them. We can’t combat the wind, rain or wildlife in these wild and open fields.

The city is an open field and the church must learn to thrive in chaos.

Our discipleship processes help prepare the church for the open field.

JOURNEYING TOGETHER

Studies suggest that the general state of evangelism today is weak among followers of Jesus. Barna recently published that nearly 20% of Christians don’t know what the Great Commission is. An increasing number of pastors, leaders and church-planters have seen the need to bring good and effective evangelism thought, tools and motivation more broadly to the Church. Picture gospel communities multiplying in our cities. For that vision to become reality, we must mobilize a growing number of believers who are equipped and empowered to have significant gospel conversations as a way of life.

BECOMING A COJOURNER

Becoming a CoJourner focuses on motivation, theology, tools and training for conversational and comprehensive evangelism. This half-day leadership development training is comprised of interactive sessions, experiential learning, self-discovery, and both mentoring and on-line community opportunities.

TOPICS COVERED

1. Identify and address barriers to modern day evangelism—theological, social, cultural and practical

2. CoJourners—a spiritual journey based equipping paradigm for conversational evangelism with practical explorer tools—to help believers engage effectively with others. These tools have been tested and proven around the globe through our international partners: “Sometime”, “Your story”, “Soularium”, “How Love Responds”, “Life in the City”, digital tools (like everyperson.com with many others), short film and artistic resources, “Story of the Soul”

3. The Three Modes of Evangelism (community, natural, ministry)—which make up the framework for comprehensive evangelism movement planning

4. A special session for pastors and missional leaders to help them think and lead comprehensively regarding evangelism’s role in the Church—inspiring their hearts and deepening their theological and practical embrace of evangelism

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

A pastor from NYC

“Especially in a city like NY, the word “Evangelism” will often conjure up an image of a 50+ year old women entering a subway car and passionately (and sometimes harshly) speaking scripture and beckoning passengers to “Consider Their Ways”. This image has often pushed the contemporary believer to excuse themselves away from the table called “harvest”. The tools and training in The Changing Face of Evangelism and the Well-Being of the City are invaluable as they intertwine: mission, need, strategy and simplicity.”

Heston Williams / Lead Pastor
Purpose Life Church, Brooklyn

A Millennial Mission Intern

“Before this presentation, I thought I had a good grasp on evangelism, but this training provided real-life techniques that I never heard of previously. Through the trainer’s techniques, examples and stories I not only expanded my toolbox but also gained confidence and passion for evangelism. It helped to take the scariness out of evangelism and replace it with practical ways to start share my faiththat I can apply daily.”
– Kendall Janke (Millenial, Missions Intern)

A training participants

“Learning new evangelism techniques, particularly the “Sometime” method, made evangelism a whole lot less intimidating. Evangelism always felt so forced, but I learned tools that help it feel natural. I used the “Sometime” method the day after I learned it, and it led to an awesome conversation with a girl who was originally resistant to talking with me about the gospel! “
– McClaine Baue

HOW LOVE RESPONDS

How do we share the gospel today?

We who follow Christ have a problem to solve:

“The teachings of the bible are generally morally advantageous, but if taken literally can be dangerous.”

“If Christianity is so appealing…there would be no need to market things to me so heavily.”

Christianity is neither AUTHENTIC nor RELEVANT to those who don’t follow Jesus. Christians are often perceived as those who talk at people about their own beliefs without understanding or caring what another believes. Sure – our truths need to be embraced and believed! Absolutely! But our truth will land BETTER if we understand those around us.

Picture gospel communities multiplying in our cities—a growing number of believers who are equipped and empowered to have significant gospel conversations as a way of life and demonstrate the love of Jesus everywhere. For that vision to become a reality we need to engage in gospel conversations in the wide variety of relational contexts that everyday life provides — where we live, work, learn and play — everywhere everyday life takes us.

LEARN, THEN ENGAGE

In our research at Cru, we also discovered a new framework that we call the “Seven Personas”. This collection identifies different types of people that we live among and uses data to help us understand their background, experiences, and general orientation toward Christianity. Our role is to get to know everyone we meet and see the world through their eyes. If we respect that everyone has their own beliefs, then we will always have a place to start with the truth of the gospel.

Practically all people have a positive view of Christian values and are open to engagement around purpose and community. Our deepest values – if perceived and experienced by the non-believer – can create pathways to know them, and have respectful dialogue over the gospel.

As you get to know the “Seven Personas” in your city, we hope that this guide will help you continue engaging with them in meaningful, everyday ways that point them to Jesus

Our goal is to develop servant leaders who embrace their calling to advance the mission of Jesus – leaders who live in glad surrender to Him – leaders who engage the issues that are undermining the good of the city and its people – leaders who point others to Him.

RESULTS WE AIM TO ACHIEVE

1. Identify and address barriers to modern day evangelism—theological, social, cultural and practical

3. The Three Modes of Evangelism (community, natural, ministry)—which make up the framework for comprehensive evangelism movement planning

THE LEARNING PROCESS

Equipping through excellent teachers and theologically rich curriculum in an interactive atmosphere that fosters esprit de corps.
Exposure to exceptional leaders, best practices and exemplary mentors (pastors, marketplace leaders, city community leaders, community leaders and practitioners).
Experiences in the city, including special activities, assignments and projects.
Evaluation involving assessments, accountability, feedback and application.
THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT includes on‐site learning sessions, self‐directed study and a few mentoring appointments

THE LEADER AND HIS/HER COMMUNITY

Covering the following topics:

The Centrality of the Gospel
Following Jesus
Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Experiential Learning Project: “2:10 Personal Discovery Assessment”
A Kingdom Citizen & the importance of a local church community
Experiential Learning Project: “Interviewing a pastor”
The Leader as Steward

THE LEADER AND THE CITY

Covering the following topics:

Why Cities Matter and What Cities Need?
Experiential Learning Project: Take “Life in the City” Survey with someone
The Essentials of Collaboration and the Gospel Ecosystem
Experiential Learning Project:
- Option 1: Interview a collaborative leader in your city’s Gospel Ecosystem.
- Option 2: Sit down with a city movement partner for coffee to learn their world

THE LEADER'S MISSION AND VOCATION

Covering the following topics:

What is Personal Discipleship?
Experiential
Learning Project: “2:10 Personal Discovery Assessment”
The Roles and Motivation of a CoJourner
Faith and Work Integration
Experiential Learning Project: Interview a leader that is living out God’s design in work, church and life holistically

CITY LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

City Leadership Experience is a leadership development tool that will equip leaders to lead missionaly into the complexity of the future in an urban ministry context. The classroom environment is balanced with on-the-field ministry experience and personal mentoring. CLE contains decades of ministry experiences of our staff in 192 countries applied to today’s urban context.

CLE is designed for leaders from all city domains, sectors and neighborhoods – those who want to impact the city by advancing the mission of Jesus in community with others. CLE participants will … be exposed to city theology, city mission, city leaders and city voices … learn of personal discipleship/mentoring and ministry opportunities … connect to city movements, great churches and leadership development communities. CLE is a ten week course — ten 1.5 hour sessions, one evening and personal meetings. CLE is a leadership development course that calls leaders to collaboration, missional living and changing the world while experiencing the best and worst of the city.