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
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.
The Changing Face of Evangelism
The Changing Face of Evangelism and the Well-Being of the City 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
City leadership experience
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.
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
- Leaders awaken to their purpose.
- Doors open for the Gospel through leadership relationships, common pursuits and growing churches.
- Deeds of mercy, love and justice flourish.
- The Gospel spreads as disciples in community are developed and multiply.
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
CLE FOCUSES ON:
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 & 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
What happens if we view evangelism through the lens of someone’s spiritual journeys? 1) It highlights each person’s unique experience. 2) It emphasizes the process rather than an event. 3) It integrates coming to Christ (evangelism) with following Christ (discipleship). 4) It sets up the roles that we can play in another person’s spiritual journey. In this training we equip you in how to play the four roles of a CoJourner.
Cojourners
is an equipping paradigm for conversational evangelism. Everyone is on a spiritual journey. God has created them as spiritual beings. We don’t start their spiritual journeys; God did that. We just enter into it.
Sharing
Best Practices
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.