1) Aside from using the Bible, which will be the main tool employed in our meetings, I would like to use two books that I have read this semester. The two books are, The Church on the Other Side by Brian McLaren & Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Chruch by D.A. Carson. These two books focus on the church's function in a Postmodern climate. These books take opposing views, and despite the fact that I take a definitive side on the issue, my goal will be to educate the group about the presence of the issue as well as get them to think about how it will affect their ministry philosophy. Each member will be provided with a copy of the books and encouraged to read the books during the week as to be prepared to discuss the material in the meeting.

2) I have no doubt that our group can find oppurtunities and conger ideas for outreach, but I do fear that we will eventually run out or get caught in a rut, so I have found a resource to help prevent this potential problem from happening. The resource is the non-christian website HELPYOURCOMMUNITY.org which offers 101 ideas for helping the community as well as allows you to search for volunteer oppurtunites in your local area. This tool should come in extremely handy when the our own ideas are exhuasted.

These Resources should provide the two aspects of the ministry with enough material to get them off the ground.

My first step would be to find a church or even just a group of christians who's vision for ministry is similar to mine. Fortunately I have already established a group of friends in the Lancaster area who's vision is similar to mine and to whom I owe much credit for helping me develop this vision.

Secondly, members would be encouraged in their eveyday lives to be community servants that generally give of themeseves by doing tasks of that minister to someone in need. Such tasks might consist of helping an elderly neighbor or giving emotional support to a freind. Being Community Servants would be one of the two main focuses of our ministry! Our focus will be as outwardl as possible with much of our time spent engaging the community.  This method will hopefully help to open doors to personally share the gospel as well as to establish a good reputation for Christians in the lancaster community by putting action behind our claim of faith. If we are faithfull in our service to the community, the good reputation and curiousity will be generated that will natrually draw people to church. This will eliminate the problem of having to lure people to church with questionable methods.

Thirdly, in order to cultivate a faithfull and willing force of community servants and disciples, group support and biblical knowledge/understanding must be fostered. This will be the main focus of our weekly meetings. Our group would meet in a yet undecided location and begin by praying, sharing one anothers experiences, and engage in an open forum bible study. This will help to foster passion for outreach, educate in the bible, develope personal spritual growth, and gain advice and encouragement. This time of fellowship, study of the bible and encouragement is the second main focus! The second part of our meeting would consist of a group outreach, in which everyone in the group together ministers to the community. This outreach might consist of playing basketball at the local park with non-christian freinds, or holding a clothing or food drive. The possiblities are endless. These are rough ideas and as I develop this ministry futher I'll have to modify and polish these ideas before I can put them into action.  

A furthur note about the purpose of the ministry……                                                                                                  *You may have noticed that the ministry does not include development of new converts, that is because this ministry's purpose to develope personal faith and promote outreach, those who are connected in outreach will be directed to local churchs or to the church the group is affliated with. Of course they are also welcome to join our biblestudy/encouragement meetings each week, but it should be noted that the material covered in the bible study meetings will pressupose a general understanding of christian and biblical principles. In other words this ministry is not intended to fully process the non-believer through the engle scale.  

First, I see a great deficiancy in the biblical knowledge and understanding in the American church and wish to see this change. Our nation has the privilage of freedom that allows us great access and resources to grow our knowldege and understanding of God's word, yet many in the church have seemed to neglect this and even de-emphazise this discipline. God's word is the greatest tool for faith instruction and cannot be substituded and de-emphazised for the sake of attracting people. This brings me to the next percived problem I would address in my philosophy, that is trying too hard to make the gospel attractive.

Now there is nothing wrong with making the gospel relevant to people, certianly this is very important and neccesary if we are to connect to people, but it becomes a problem when in the pursuit of making the gospel appealing the gospel itself becomes distorted and missrepresented. Kierkegaard speaks of the need to pass through "the possibility of offense", which is (to grossly simplify the idea), being allowed the possiblity to be offended at the gospel message of Christ. One must see the offensiveness of the Gospel yet choose not to be offended in order to be saved. We must teach the gospel as it is! The gospel has attractivness for the lost, but also offensiveness that will turn some away. Any attemp to present a gospel devoid of offense is a vain one, for any such gospel isn't the true gospel at all. My hope is to change the way people think, from thinking in wordly terms to thinking Christ-like. In doing this they will be more apt to pass by the offense without being offended and turned away.

Another Part of my Philosophy is to encourage personal and communal evangelism that meets people at their need whether it be finacial or emotional support. In proclaiming Christ's message we should exemplify our faith by portray His loving spirit and help those in need. This will relfects Christ's love in us, distinguish us from the world and display an authentic relationship with Christ.

 This overall philosophy of ministry will be further broken down for my area of ministry in Lancater.  

Like Eran I am also a pastors kid, and I was intrested in hearing him share his experience working under his father, as I have considered doing working with my father after I graduate. A couple of things I can learn from his experience as I ponder working with my father are 1) some church members may claim that my father is exercise favortism if I were hired 2) and I would be under more pressure to preform b/c my preformance will reflect upon my father.

Eran also shared his journy to find balance between "head knowledge" and "practical ministry oppurtunity". He then shared several methods he had tried and that had failed, as well as shared the current method he is employing and which has seen success. His current method starts by hand selecting student leaders, which he meets with on a weekly basis for the purpose of "faith forming". Once these student leaders are trained they are put in charge of a particular ministry. 

Eran also spoke about his battle with the traditional overprotective parents of his youth. These parents, he says, "butt up" against his evangelistic style of ministry. He is seeking to orient his youth to evangelism and outreach which requires that these previously sheltered kids be exposed to the community, and the parents worry that they're kids are being put in a postition that is susepatible to worldly influence. I am glad to hear that Eran doesn't run a nursry school for youth and that he encorages and promotes evangelism in their community!   

Eran seems like a solid guy and I was able to take alot out of his presentation. However, there are two things I do take a bit of issue with. 1) Not sure how I feel about selling spiritual mentorship. Eran said that he pays to be mentored by Jenie Mayo via phone conference.hmmm????  2) Eran said that methodology and theology need to be divorced. Not sure exactly what he ment by that, but it seems me that everything we do including methodology should flow from a connection with our theology (knowledge of God).

Facts for area code 19602:

General Characteristics

Total population 46,706

Gender
Male 48.9 %
Female 51.1 %

Age
Median 34
Under 5 7.4%
18 and over 72.9%
65 and over 14,1%

Race
White 68.4%
Black 11.5%
Other 17.2%

Social Characteristics

Population 25 and over 29,572

Education
Highschool graduate or higher 21,218
Bachelor's degree or higher 5,065

Foriegn born 2,851

Married 17,275

Fluent in language other 11,245
than English

Economic Characteristics

Families below poverty level 13.2% (US average is 9.2) *
Individuals below poverty level 15.7% (US average is 12.4) *

Findings to consider:

When people think of Lancaster county the image of a rural predominatly white middle class working area comes to mind. However, this area consists of parts of Lancaster city and this fact is reflected in some of the above statistics. First, Over a 1/4 of the popluation is non-white so the area is fairly racially diverse. Second, the average of both the familes and individuals living under the poverty level is considerably higher than the national average, which reveals that the area is somwhat economically frustrated.

Lancaster City     / Rural Lancaster

 In doing this study I was surpised by several things. First, the area is more racially diverse than I had previously thought it to be. Second, I was particularly surprised to learn of the high rate of individuals and familes living below the poverty level. I have learned this first step is vital to understanding the area your ministry is targeting and these are two facts that I will definatly account for as I procede in the formation of my ministry.

 This question rais  es many philosophical questions about sujectivity, but more importantly it helps us take an inward look at how each of our ministry philosophies are shaped. Many things serve to shape our philosophy of ministry but our view of Christ seems to have the most impact. Personally I have gone through several phases in developing my philosophy and I expect this will continue. As my personal understanding and exerpience with Christ changes so does my view of ministry. I have noticed my passion has increased due to God's provision through I and my parents hardships. My passion has also been increased lately through reading the bible and other Christian books.

 There are attributes and truths about Christ that should be understood universally, and if Christ is understood correctly then we should all have great passion for outreach. However, everyone brings their own unique methods that are shaped by their personal experiences and understanding of Christ.  

My aim was to 1) bring to attention the existance of an emerging church, 2)give my opinions on them and 3) then have and open discussion on the implications this has on the way we disciple. Probably because everyone in the group is in their early twenties, the topic was well accepted and sparked alot of robust conversation. There were many differing views and not everyone could be in agreement on everything, but I counted the meeting a success for two reasons. 1) I feel the group was able to come out with a better understanding of the movement and 2) a hightened awareness of its implications on church and our dicipleship.

I learned alot from the rest of the group and I hope that as a group everyone is able to practically apply the material and mabey even radically change the way they do dicipleship in a postmodern world. I have a good feeling we will be discussing this topic more in our future small group meetings.

1) Do you believe in God?

I have a hard time believeing things I can’t see or prove.

 2) What do you believe about Jesus Christ?

I don’t know. I believe he existed, but I don’t know that that he died on the cross and all that.

3) How do you feel about the exclusivity of salvation through Christ?

I don’t know. It don’t know everything about salvation, and it seems kind of closed minded to think that you have to believe all of that in order to go to heaven.

4) Do you go to church? Why or Why not?

No, I wasn’t raised in the church and I’m a bad dude who’s going to hell anyway.

5) How likely would you be to go to church if invited by friends or family?

50% likely, but I don’t ever remeber being asked.

6) If a person is generally good and does good things in life; will that earn them a place in heaven?

 I’d like to believe that, but Christians tell you there are other things you have to do. I know I probably don’t stack up to what Christians consider a “good” person.

7) What is your view of Christians?

I think they are good people, but they believe alot of stuff I don’t.

What is the biggest turn off to you from Christians?

I don’t really know many Christian. Your prolly one of the few I know. I don’t really have any beef with them.

9) What is your view of pastors and ministers?

Wait your dads a pastor right, so I better be careful how I answer this ha-ha. I think they’re good people. I couldn’t do what they do.

10) If I were to start a church that you would go to, what would it be like?

Tuff question, haven’t given it much thought. I suppose it would be a place were you could be comfortable and be accepted for who you are.  

Brent Background: Brent and I met in Highschool and became fast freinds. He was my closest friend up until college when we went our decided ways; he to Ursinus College and me to VFCC. As a kid Brent attended a Methodest church with his parents, but his family stopped going in his teen years. Brent has always agknowledged a higher power and considers himself a Christian, but does not attend church and enjoys the pleasure seeking party lifestyle. Brent dropped out of college and enlisted in the Air Force, where he is serving in London and is 2 years into a 4 year term. I interviewed him over the phone.

1) Do you believe in God?

If, by God, you mean a higher power, not necessarily what Christians claim God is, then yes.

2) What do you believe about Jesus Christ?

I believe he was a good man, but I don’t believe everything the Bible says about Him.

3) How do you feel about the exclusivity of salvation through Christ?

Salvation through Christ may work for Christians, but I don’t think its a requirment for everyone to go to heaven.

4) Do you go to church? Why or Why not?

I don’t. I like to sleep-in on Sundays, and I don’t think you have to go to church every Sunday to go to heaven. Plust church is just boring.

5) How likely are you to go to church if invited by a friend/family member?

It depends who invites me, but none of my freinds or family goes to church anyway.

6) If a person is generally good, or does good things during their life; will they earn a place in heaven?

I think this is true. People come from differnent curltures and religions so I think living a good life is a good standard that includes all people.

7) What is your view of Christians?

Good, for the most part, but many Christians are closed minded and think they have everything figured out.

What is the biggest turn off to you from Christians?

Definately the preaching. I hate being told I’m wrong for drinking, cursing and haing sex.

9) What is your view of pastors and ministers?

The ones that don’t just preach and actually help people I respect and admire. 

10) If I would start a church that you would go to, what would it be like?

Well hott chicks would help……just kidding. It would have alot more young people than most churchs and be a place were you could go and just fellowship with out all the stuffy sermons.

Reflection: Like Kevin, Brent also grew up in the church, but unlike Kevin, Brent has been greatly influenced by liberal academia. He claims to be a Christian yet rejects many Christian truths such as the exclusivity of salvation through Christ because of its excluding absolution. While Brent has been my closest freind he has also been the most difficult to share Christ with and because of his opposing view and intellectual hard-headedness we often find ourselves in heated debates. Because much of my relationship with Brent invloved us partying together I failed to be an adequate witness. Much of Brents reluctance to live as a christian is due to his intellectual views and is in need of some good apologectics, but more importantly since he appears to have developed a negative view of Christian authority he needs to find a loving accepting church.