Last week I was at a conference with Jim Henderson. Jim is the co-founder of the Off the Map (Check out the website here).

Off the Map’s mission is to “Make evangelism doable for ordinary Christians.”

This is a GREAT mission… one I believe is not only doable but necessary, and biblical!

A few highlights from the conference:

• Jim said, “We are trying to help Christians be nicer to people who aren’t Christians.”

• He gave statistics (from Rechurching the Unchurched by George Barna) “If we look at the aggregate body of unchurched adults…
  • 4% were invited to attend church with a friend and did
  • 23% were invited to attend but declined
  • 73% were never invited
  • “Perhaps the most obvious observation is that most unchurched people are not being pursued by anyone.“

• The average Christian (according to Henderson):
  • Has very little time available
  • Doesn’t have much extra money
  • Dislikes programs
  • Doesn’t like to take big risks
  • Doesn’t like memorizing (e.g. The 4 Spiritual Laws; or some other evangelistic “Tool”)
  • Doesn’t want to give a speech
  • Doesn’t want to lose friends

  AND yet the average “evangelism program” asks for most if not all of these! No wonder “Evangelism” is seen as difficult and therefore often untried!

He proposed a “new” paradigm for evangelism…

• (Old paradigm) We have a “Finish-line” fixation. In other words we only count it as “evangelism” when someone says “The prayer.”

• Henderson argues that we should quit counting conversions and start counting “conversations.” How many people are we building relationships with? While we were at the conference we heard a great story from a lady who works at a factory… an exceptionally shy lady! She decided that it would be impossible for her to ever tell anyone about Jesus if she “Never looked anyone in the eye!” So you know what she did? She positioned herself by the time-card station with a coffee pot and began looking everyone in the eye and saying “Hello” to each person! Do you imagine that God can use something “little” like that? I DO!

• Some tips for “Doable Evangelism”
  • Pay attention to people – what do they need/want? Don’t miss the signs that people are giving off (sitting alone at lunch; angry response to simple questions; etc.).
  • Listen to them when they talk! Christians have a reputation for not being good listeners! What would happen if we would start listening more and talking less? What would happen if we would start asking, “How are you?” and then listening because we really care!
  • Be ready to share the reason for your hope (1 Peter 3:15)! Live in such a way that people will ask “What’s up with you?” Start by paying attention to their needs/wants and listening to them! Imagine this, you see someone alone at lunch, you approach them, “Can I eat with you?” and then you ask, “How’s it going?” and then you listen. A few days later that person comes up to you and says, “Why did you do that?” Imagine the possibilities!

This was a good conference! I picked up a couple of books that Henderson has written:

• Jim and Casper Go To Church, (I’ve finished this one and am going to be posting some “Take-aways”)

• The second book was also by Henderson, Evangelism Without Additives

This was a good time away with great friends, a good time of refreshing, and a good time for learning.