PROCLAIMINGPROCLAIMINGPOINTSPOINTS

What in the world are they, What in the world are they, and How do I get one!and How do I get one!

By Steve NergerBy Steve Nerger

DEFINITIONDEFINITION• AA Proclaiming Point is:Proclaiming Point is:• an ongoing event or ministryan ongoing event or ministry• where the gospel is presentedwhere the gospel is presented• that meets a need in a particular that meets a need in a particular

place or people group.place or people group.

We Will DiscussWe Will Discuss• Why do we need proclaiming points?Why do we need proclaiming points?• How to discover places for proclaiming How to discover places for proclaiming

pointspoints• How to organize proclaiming pointsHow to organize proclaiming points• How to fund proclaiming pointsHow to fund proclaiming points• How to staff proclaiming pointsHow to staff proclaiming points

REAL GOAL REAL GOAL • To get you so excited about proclaiming To get you so excited about proclaiming

points that you will go home and start points that you will go home and start the process without fear. the process without fear.

• That you will have great confidence in That you will have great confidence in your people to go beyond the walls. your people to go beyond the walls.

• That we will get out of our walls… and That we will get out of our walls… and really expand the Kingdom of God. really expand the Kingdom of God.

• Bring the fun back into ministry.Bring the fun back into ministry.• Reach our church planting capacity Reach our church planting capacity

which is directly correlated to the which is directly correlated to the number of proclaiming points. number of proclaiming points.

Do We Really Need These Do We Really Need These Things? Things? • 80% of our churches are plateaued or 80% of our churches are plateaued or

dying. Quite possibly more in N.E.dying. Quite possibly more in N.E.• Less than 3% of New Englanders attend Less than 3% of New Englanders attend

an evangelical church on any given an evangelical church on any given weekend (which means that we have a weekend (which means that we have a wide open mission field, but going to wide open mission field, but going to church is not common practice)church is not common practice)

• Much of what is considered “going to Much of what is considered “going to church” in New England is social. church” in New England is social. Compared to the local bar of choice.Compared to the local bar of choice.

Do We Really Need These Do We Really Need These Things Cont’d…Things Cont’d…• People do not think of church as “ going to People do not think of church as “ going to

them,” but rather them “going to church.” them,” but rather them “going to church.” Proclaiming points take away any stigma Proclaiming points take away any stigma and brings the gospel to them. and brings the gospel to them.

• There is an openness to talk about There is an openness to talk about Spiritual things that the walls of the church Spiritual things that the walls of the church block in many people (think of Elks clubs, block in many people (think of Elks clubs, veterans halls, pancake breakfast, Masonic veterans halls, pancake breakfast, Masonic lodge)lodge)

• Many people have tried church and found Many people have tried church and found closed groups. Not welcoming. One closed groups. Not welcoming. One experience like that can stop someone experience like that can stop someone from ever trying again. from ever trying again.

It Is BiblicalIt Is Biblical

• Matthew 28 “Great Commission”Matthew 28 “Great Commission”• Mark 1 “There are currently hundreds Mark 1 “There are currently hundreds

and hundreds of places without a and hundreds of places without a congregationalized evangelical congregationalized evangelical presence in New England”presence in New England”

• Acts 1:8Acts 1:8

They are NecessaryThey are Necessary• The Majority of churches cannot reach The Majority of churches cannot reach

enough people to sustain their attendance.enough people to sustain their attendance.– Each church loses a certain amount of people Each church loses a certain amount of people

each year. (S. Fla 1/3 each year)each year. (S. Fla 1/3 each year)• People who movePeople who move• People who get mad and change churchesPeople who get mad and change churches• People who just drop out. People who just drop out. • People who diePeople who die

• Our churches gathering methods are not Our churches gathering methods are not working.working.– They are based on the last 40 yearsThey are based on the last 40 years– They are boringThey are boring– They are lazyThey are lazy– They are selfishThey are selfish– They are not CreativeThey are not Creative

They Are Necessary They Are Necessary Cont’d…Cont’d…• Our People have become “watchers.”Our People have become “watchers.”• Our People have become complacent.Our People have become complacent.• Our People have unused talents.Our People have unused talents.• Our People desire to be used in significant Our People desire to be used in significant

ways. ways. • Our People are tired of the walls of the Our People are tired of the walls of the

church. church. • Our People want to be set free in Our People want to be set free in

meaningful ministry. meaningful ministry.

They Are Necessary They Are Necessary Cont’d…Cont’d…• Pastors do not know their mission field.Pastors do not know their mission field.

– MappingMapping– People groups.infoPeople groups.info– Namb.net Namb.net

• Pastors stay with what they know and Pastors stay with what they know and feel comfortable doing only that feel comfortable doing only that (unfortunately, this often does not take (unfortunately, this often does not take into consideration the talents of our into consideration the talents of our members outside the church)members outside the church)

• Pastors are under pressure to have Pastors are under pressure to have great attendance inside of the church. great attendance inside of the church.

• Pastors have become non- creative and Pastors have become non- creative and often not risk takers. often not risk takers.

• Pastors have become possessive with Pastors have become possessive with their people. their people.

What Do I Do Now?What Do I Do Now?• Most churches know how do Most churches know how do

evangelistic events. However, they evangelistic events. However, they very seldom know what to do once very seldom know what to do once they are over. they are over.

• Almost every evangelistic event should Almost every evangelistic event should lead to some other form of contact lead to some other form of contact with those involved. I.e. another with those involved. I.e. another movement toward deeper relationshipmovement toward deeper relationship

What You Need to KnowWhat You Need to Know• If you plan on attempting proclaiming points If you plan on attempting proclaiming points

you must begin to develop a DNA of outreach you must begin to develop a DNA of outreach and evangelism in your church. and evangelism in your church.

• It is important to always have ministries that It is important to always have ministries that people can just join in and always be open to people can just join in and always be open to opportunities for them to “take the ball and opportunities for them to “take the ball and run with it.”run with it.”

• Always have opportunities to learn and then Always have opportunities to learn and then allow them to lead.allow them to lead.

Proclaiming Points Proclaiming Points Accomplish 3 Things:Accomplish 3 Things:

1. Develop an evangelistic outreach 1. Develop an evangelistic outreach DNA in your church. DNA in your church.

2. Opens other doors for people to 2. Opens other doors for people to enter your church life if they want to. enter your church life if they want to. 3. Has the potential of becoming a 3. Has the potential of becoming a lasting congregation that we call lasting congregation that we call church. church.

Let’s Begin To Discover Let’s Begin To Discover • How do you discover places or people for How do you discover places or people for

proclaiming points?proclaiming points?– Scout the areaScout the area

• SEND Joshua and CalebSEND Joshua and Caleb• SEND someone on Sunday MorningSEND someone on Sunday Morning• SEND Yourself: reclaim your call as missionary, not SEND Yourself: reclaim your call as missionary, not

just Pastor. just Pastor. • SEND mission groups into the harvest.SEND mission groups into the harvest.• Begin Praying for God to show you and your people Begin Praying for God to show you and your people

where a “door is open”where a “door is open”– Corporate PrayerCorporate Prayer– Individual PrayerIndividual Prayer– PrayerwalkingPrayerwalking

What Do You Look For?What Do You Look For?• Ministries that already exist.Ministries that already exist.

– Homeless sheltersHomeless shelters– Feeding the homelessFeeding the homeless– Crisis PregnancyCrisis Pregnancy– Make a list of all that exist in the areas of Make a list of all that exist in the areas of

where your people livewhere your people live

– Note. These activities are great for training Note. These activities are great for training your people your people

Look for Places Where Look for Places Where People Meet RegularlyPeople Meet Regularly• LaundromatLaundromat

– Roll of QuartersRoll of Quarters– 8-10 Chairs and Bibles8-10 Chairs and Bibles– A Dozen DonutsA Dozen Donuts– A Couple to lead it.A Couple to lead it.

• Park - “Moms and Children.”Park - “Moms and Children.”– Ladies with young children meet at park at the same time Ladies with young children meet at park at the same time

each weekeach week– Leads to activities with children teaching them about Leads to activities with children teaching them about

Christ. Christ. • Dog Park - take pictures on special daysDog Park - take pictures on special days• Ronald McDonald house at the HospitalRonald McDonald house at the Hospital

Places People Meet Once or Places People Meet Once or Twice a YearTwice a Year• CircusCircus• Annual County FairAnnual County Fair

– Service for workersService for workers– Booth and BiblesBooth and Bibles

• Sporting EventSporting Event– NASCAR AND N.H. NASCAR AND N.H.

Once a Year OpportunitiesOnce a Year Opportunities• Christmas Eve prostitution ministryChristmas Eve prostitution ministry• Caroling in same place year after yearCaroling in same place year after year

– Shopping centerShopping center– NeighborhoodNeighborhood

• If you meet in a schoolIf you meet in a school– Provide Christmas lunch for teachersProvide Christmas lunch for teachers– Hold October “Funfest” for community Hold October “Funfest” for community

annuallyannually– Hold work day at schoolHold work day at school

Special Dates or Occasions Special Dates or Occasions During the YearDuring the Year• Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving:

– Cook for those working in the Cook for those working in the communitycommunity

– Cook for the police officers on dutyCook for the police officers on duty– Cook for a group homeCook for a group home– Family invites group home over every Family invites group home over every

year I.e. Set Freeyear I.e. Set Free

Look for Places Where Look for Places Where People Live in Seclusion. People Live in Seclusion. • HUD Housing ( Paul Hale)HUD Housing ( Paul Hale)

– SeniorsSeniors– Low-incomeLow-income

• Mobile Home ParksMobile Home Parks• Senior centersSenior centers• Camp groundsCamp grounds• Apartment BuildingsApartment Buildings

– CondosCondos– LoftsLofts– High risesHigh rises

Places People Live Cont’d…Places People Live Cont’d…• Homeless shelterHomeless shelter• Half-way houseHalf-way house• Group homesGroup homes• Places People Congregated in the past. Places People Congregated in the past.

– Closed down churchesClosed down churches• Restart the churchRestart the church• Make it into a youth centerMake it into a youth center• Make it into a concert hall for community. Make it into a concert hall for community. • Just bring Christ into it in some mannerJust bring Christ into it in some manner

– Closed down clubsClosed down clubs– Closed down buildings of any sort. Closed down buildings of any sort.

StrategiesStrategies

• Evangelistic events lead to proclaiming Evangelistic events lead to proclaiming points.points.

• Relationships lead to proclaiming pointsRelationships lead to proclaiming points• Meeting the community needsMeeting the community needs• ScoutingScouting• Finding persons of peaceFinding persons of peace• Train and turn lay people loose to establish Train and turn lay people loose to establish

pointspoints– Work bible studiesWork bible studies– Kids clubs on Saturday morningsKids clubs on Saturday mornings– Any talent or opportunity that they haveAny talent or opportunity that they have

How to Organize How to Organize Proclaiming PointsProclaiming Points• Mission team in church organizationMission team in church organization• Scouts/ ExplorationScouts/ Exploration• BudgetBudget• Plan for them to happen. Never let Plan for them to happen. Never let

an event into the community just an event into the community just stand by itself. It needs to lead the stand by itself. It needs to lead the people somewhere else that is more people somewhere else that is more permanent in relationship. permanent in relationship.

FundingFunding• Put money in BudgetPut money in Budget• Each Sunday take an outreach Each Sunday take an outreach

offeringoffering• Make it a designated accountMake it a designated account• PartnersPartners• Usually does not take a lot of money. Usually does not take a lot of money.

StaffingStaffing• Do not start a ministry inside or outside the Do not start a ministry inside or outside the

church without emerged, trained leadership church without emerged, trained leadership and a great desire among the people.and a great desire among the people.

• Turn folks loose, they will respond. Turn folks loose, they will respond. • Resource the needsResource the needs• Make it a part of your DNA. Proclaiming Make it a part of your DNA. Proclaiming

points are not what you do, but an points are not what you do, but an expression of who you are. expression of who you are.

• Plan and promote. Pastors: get involved Plan and promote. Pastors: get involved and share your excitement. and share your excitement.

• Have various expressions for people to get Have various expressions for people to get involved in, given their time and talent and involved in, given their time and talent and passion. passion.

Tools AvailableTools Available• EpochEpoch• Bivocational Church PlantingBivocational Church Planting

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION• Proclaiming points are small lights Proclaiming points are small lights

that shine in a very dark world. that shine in a very dark world. • They are generated by pastors and They are generated by pastors and

lay folks who want to meet the needs lay folks who want to meet the needs of the people of the community of the people of the community whether or not they ever attend their whether or not they ever attend their church. church.

• Proclaiming points are usually led by Proclaiming points are usually led by the people of the church who have a the people of the church who have a missional heart and are extremely missional heart and are extremely capable.capable.

• Proclaiming points are necessary to Proclaiming points are necessary to fulfill “Reaching out in our Jerusalem”fulfill “Reaching out in our Jerusalem”

Conclusion Cont’d…Conclusion Cont’d…

FINALLYFINALLY• Proclaiming points are fantastic in Proclaiming points are fantastic in

reaching people for Christ that will reaching people for Christ that will never, And I mean NEVER, come into never, And I mean NEVER, come into the church without the church first the church without the church first coming into their world with love andcoming into their world with love and

JUST DO IT!JUST DO IT!