February 16, 2000

Need a map to the unchurched?
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___FORT WORTH--Churches better use a MAP if they want to locate non-Christians, Milfred Minatrea insists.
___A MAP--a "ministry action plan"--is vital for reaching unbelievers, said Minatrea, director of church ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He explained the concept during a small-group session at the convention's annual evangelism conference.
___Two questions--Where are we now? Where do we believe God wants us to be?--provide the starting point for creating any church's map, he said.
___"Where is your church right now?" he asked. The answer involves assessing both the church and the community.
___To track its current position, a church must diagnose its own health--members' desire for intimacy with God, authentic relationships with each other and compassionate ministry to the community and the world, he said. A church also must assess its commitment level to reach non-Christians, its reputation and its confidence in God.
___In order to determine where a church believes God wants it to be, it must ask, "What would God have our church to look like?" in a year, three years and five years, Minatrea advised. "Churches that have not set a mark for where God wants them to be seldom reach any mark."
___Prayer is the key to seeing God's vision for the church, he stressed.
___Once a church ascertains where it is and where God wants it to go, it can complete its map by filling in several details, Minatrea said:
___ Identifying the "highways" to non-Christians that already have been "surfaced."
___These are the relationships members have with family, friends and colleagues who need to know Christ, he explained. "The Holy Spirit of God will surface the people we already know," he said. "We will seldom win to Christ those we have not met."
___Consequently, church members need to work on befriending non-Christians with whom they can build relationships that lead to sharing their faith, he urged. "It may be the most holy thing we do is quit spending time together and meet some lost folks."
___ Determine the destinations--the people who need to be reached with the gospel--to whom the church has no "connecting routes."
___Members may not have relations with some people, he said. This might include people of other ethnic groups or economic conditions. The church needs to know who these people are before it can build paths to reach them, he added.
___ Recognize the church's current "construction" methods--the ways it goes about building relationships with non-Christians.
___"The day of assuming people will come to us is past," he said. "We live in a pluralistic society that tends to downplay religion."
___So, the church must evaluate its outreach ministry and calendar, he suggested. In so doing, the church can determine the types of events--such as pageants, fairs and festivals--that would be attractive to non-Christians and provide the church opportunities to meet and befriend them.
___ Figure out "what construction methods new connecting routes will require."
___"How can we be relevant to people?" he asked by way of explanation. "Almost all secular people experience fear, shame, loneliness, suffering, weakness of will, the inability to break destructive habits. All have needs. ... If the church will meet a need, then it will become relevant."
___ Identify the resources needed to "construct these new routes" to people.
___"Decide what you can do," Minatrea said. "The costs include facilities, finances and people."
___But human resources are greatest, he added, advising churches to build upon the convictions and passions of their members. "Ask God to reveal the passion in the hearts of people in the church, and use this for ministry."
___ Decide which resources already are available.
___These include the members, their skills, church and community facilities that can be used for ministry, funds and other groups with whom the church can collaborate, he said.
___ Consider which of the church's resources need to be "retooled." Such resources include a sense of the presence of God and heartbrokenness for unbelievers, prayer, the testimony of authentic Christian living and direct proclamation of the gospel, not only by the pastor but by laypeople who talk about Christ as they live their everyday lives.
___ Determine which "appropriations" should be requested to complete the map.
___"Don't let finances stand in the way; let us join with you," Minatrea said, noting the BGCT church ministries department can help churches with their ministries. In addition, the department coordinates volunteers who will aid churches.

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