February 3, 2003
Serve up joy of Jesus to go rather than in church only
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___ARLINGTON--Christians ought to take Jesus to people rather than simply tell them where to find him, Julie O'Teter stressed during a seminar titled "Venturing Outside the Church Walls" at the Texas Evangelism Conference.
___To illustrate, O'Teter cited a new brand of popcorn and asked participants if they would be likely to buy the popcorn if someone mentioned it to them or told them where they could buy it. "Or would you be most likely to try the popcorn if they actually brought it to you?" she asked, pulling out a freshly popped bag of popcorn and passing it around the room.
___"It's like that with Jesus," said O'Teter, a consultant in the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Mission Service Corps Center. "People are most likely to want to know him if we go to where they are and help them where they need help."
___Those needs may exist halfway around the world, but they also exist in Texans' own communities, she added.
___"Missions consists of reaching out beyond those who are already Christians to those who do not know Christ at all," she said. "There are needs all over the world. There are needs in Texas. But there are blaring needs in your own community."
___Citing statistics gathered by religion researcher George Barna, she reported that one-third of all U.S. adults are unchurched or have not attended church in six months. Half can't name a church within 15 miles of their homes, and a third say they don't know anyone who attends church.
___"They usually come (to church) only when they are personally invited, and only one-fourth of the unchurched have been invited by someone they know and trust," O'Teter said. "This is horrible. We ought to go home and cry."
___Christians can reach non-Christians through relationship-building activities, she said, noting, "Most people will be touched by a consistent display of love, even if they are suspicious of your motives at first. ... Your outreach must be motivated by genuine love and patience, without an expectation of a return on your investment."
___The possibilities for outreach are endless, she insisted, describing 30 beyond-the-walls-of-the-church ministries undertaken by Texas Baptists.
___For information on outreach ministries, contact O'Teter at joteter@bgct.org, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246-1798; (214) 887-5470.
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