Dear Church Planters,     

Ø      MINISTRY IDEAS – TO REACH UNCHURCHED FRIENDS…

Ø      JOIN ‘CORNELIUS’ – 40 DAYS OF FASTING & PRAYER

Ø      FaceOut KidsKlub – THIS FRIDAY!

Ø      DARFUR, SUDAN – NO WATER FOR BAPTISM

Ø      FURTHER REFLECTION ON THE FRIENDENSAU CHURCH PLANTERS X-CHANGE

Ø      WE ARE PRAYING FOR LAVERNE!

Ø      A TRULY INSPIRING & IMPRESSIVE ‘CHURCH’ – by Atle Haugen 

Ø      Mobile phone conference call facility used for SMALL GROUP MEETINGS:  A group of 5 women (including unchurched friends) spend one hour each week in a holistic small group experience.  By using the same provider and calling in the evenings – there is no charge.  The read their Bibles, share, support each other – and pray together.

Ø      Cable TV opportunities:  In some countries (especially in central Europe) cable television companies are desperate for good programmes to put to air.  Local church planters are teaming up with cable TV networks to produce and provide message and inspiring presentations.  The locally produced talk programmes seem to have even greater impact that mass produced foreign programming.

Ø      Weekly Kids Clubs:  A number of church plants are conducting regular drop in centres for kids – and kids clubs.  Parents are also being involved in leadership responsibilities.

Ø      Kids Summer Camps:  Some planters now have 90+ children attending day camps.  Others conduct annual ‘live-in’ camps – with the support of local government and corporate funding.  These are having a big impact – however, there is agreement that these must be seen as part of a total ‘discipleship strategy.’

Ø      Cooking Classes for Kids:  A number of church planters are finding that children really love to attend ‘fun cooking classes.’  This is proving a popular way to meet parents.

Ø      Presence at Music Festival:  Once again the team from the Budapest Tee Church were at Pepsi Island for the major Budapest Music Festival – and developed contact and dialogue with 500 new friends.

Ø      Recreational Weekends:  The Kobanya church plant has a regular recreational day for friends.  They have a range of activities – including table tennis, games, team games, etc.  They cook and barbeque food together.  Many friends enjoy spending time with them.

Ø      Free University:  A young lady explained how she came to accept Jesus and experience baptism through the Free University.  The idea started in 2002 – with some church planters and seminary teachers in Hungary offering serious biblical studies.  Participants register, receive study notes and outlines.  “I was baptised after the first course,” explained the kindergarten teacher.  “God led me to this initiative.”

Ø      Care for Families of Prisoners:  As well as visiting prisons – some planters are focusing greater attention upon supporting and meeting the needs of the families and relatives of prisoners.

Ø      Market Place Book Sales:  With street markets proving to be a popular attraction across Europe – some church planting teams are taking the Apostle Paul’s example seriously.  He went into the market place as a tentmaker to meet people.  Church planters are setting up book stalls and food stalls – to meet people.

Ø      Stop Smoking Talks in Schools:  With the dangers of smoking (and binge drinking) some planting teams are getting the necessary qualifications – and providing schools with educational support programmes for children.

Ø      Prayer Support:  In some communities unchurched people have responded positively to offers for prayer support.

Ø      CRAZY reasons to visit:  It has been found that it is easier to visit people in the community – and develop conversations – if the reason for calling in not threatening.  Whereas fewer people are prepared to talk to a door-to-door salesperson, most are intrigued and ready to talk when church planters come with the gift of a light-bulb or a roll of toilet tissue.  Local companies are prepared to donate supplies as a form of free advertising.  The church planters deliver these – make contact, converse and in some cases provide literature on community opportunities.  (Mile End Community Church in Sydney, Australia – has been giving away ornamental trees with the slogan “Plant the Future.”  Homes have been opened to receive the JESUS video.)

Ø      THE PASSION OF CHRIST:  Olga and Martin Vesely are on the Adriatic coast this week – on holiday with friends (including 11 unchurched friends).  Olga says, “It is natural that unchurched friends want to be with us – and we with them.  They are our friends.”  Recently, they spent a week with unchurched friends.  “There was no spiritual talk during the whole week,” Olga explained.  “However, the next week someone suggested we go to see the movie, The Passion of Christ. Afterwards, when we were sitting sharing a drink – our friends starting talking about who Jesus is and what he means to people today!”

Ø      HEALTH X’PO:  A number of church planters in Hungary are using a HEALTH X’PO – and impacting their unchurched communities.  Friendships are being built.  Here are two approaches –

1.      Laszlo Csalami explains that they have worked in a smaller township for a few years.  “We opened our Health X-PO in a cultural hall – but, did no advertising.”  The idea was that the quality of the programme would attract the media – and it did.  Journalists came – and by the end of the week 100 people were attending daily presentations.  “We offered evening intensives – and 100-150 people came each evening for a month,” reports Laszlo.  A life-style club with 39 members was formed.  During the first year there was little spiritual interest.  By the second year – early morning (07.00) talks about Jesus healing ministry attracted a lot of interest.  People were also interested in prayer.  “At the end of the week Health X-PO we hired the local Catholic Chapel and the participants were involved in organising a ‘Sabbath’ worship service,” Laszlo says.  “In the afternoon we had a concert.  The offering was given to the Catholic Church.  When asked about the experience of the Sabbath – people said, ‘If this is what the Sabbath is about, we want to keep it!’”  Now into their third year, the local government is supporting their programmes and the church planters have free use of the cultural hall. 

2.      Janos Szabo is working in Svarvas.  Janos has developed a very systematic approach to the HEALTH X-PO idea.  “It is basically a two-year approach,” explains Janos.  “During the first year we work at three levels – (1) three months of weekly training for core team members – to prepare them for involvement in the Health X-PO, (2) preparation of any other existing church members, and (3) building connections with the city leaders.  After one year we started a Health Fair – with evening seminars, plenary sessions, practical health checks and screening, etc.  “Hundreds of people attended – with an impact upon the whole city,” reports Janos.  “The programme was very professional – and attracted a lot of media attention.”  People were then guided into one of three streams – with 40-50 involved in each.  These included (1) cooking classes, (2) mental health programmes, and (3) spiritual health seminars and workshops.  After some months of involvement – participants were invited to a retreat camp for the sharing of experiences.  Some accepted Jesus and asked for baptism.  Some have now been trained for a new launch of the HEALTH X-PO. 

“In our church we have launched 40 days of fasting and prayer,” writes Harald Giesebrecht – planter of Cornelius in Olso, Norway.  “On every day at least two people will fast and pray for three specific things.  Already things are beginning to happen (and it is only day two…). If you would like to join us on one or two days please do!”  The three things those at Cornelius are praying for are:

The FaceOut team in Denmark will run their KidsKlub this Friday evening – the first since the summer holidays.  “Most of the kids will this time come from the local town,” reports Pia Elkjær.  Remember to pray for them! 

DARFUR, SUDAN – NO WATER FOR BAPTISM    

Several messages this week have highlighted the impact of the Friendensau Church Planters X-Change.  Gabi Waldschmidt tells of her decision to plant a church in her home town.  Aris Vontzalidis tells of the ongoing spiritual impact of the X-Change and Small Group Conference.  Laverne Byng wrote, “My life has changed so much since then. I sought anointing for God’s presence and power to be evident in my ministry and this has been the case since I returned.  I learnt so much there and now each day, I recall things I learnt and wrote down and I’m putting them into practice.” 

1. They have a clearly spelt out discipleship track.
2. They have a very well defined coaching structure throughout the entire church
3. Although their size an influence now are reaching international recognition, they still have very focused and impressive programs running to meet needs in the local community. Especially their work for the disabled citizens are inspiring.
4. This is a truly mixed church when it comes to race, sex, nationality and age groups. Nobody is made to feel unwelcome or excluded. From 1 to 100 years of age – this is a church for you!
5. They have a very clear leadership structure with strong leaders who still are responsible to democratic bodies within the church.
6. They have an elaborate stewardship plan with clear expectations of membership participation and contribution.
7. They have an impressive sense for their history. Every member, whatever level of involvement, knows the main events and leaders who have shaped the church through the years.
8. They honour their elders and veteran members and leaders while at the same time encouraging and highlighting current leaders and pushing them to centre stage. This balance is really impressive.
9. Worship plays a central part in their services. Music is unusually simple and allows all members to join in. The level of participation in the meetings is stunning.
10. Throughout the week, the mega church is divided in smaller groups and units that meet in local areas and at smaller facilities for teaching and fellowship.
11. The sense of community, belonging and identity is very strong among its members.