EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
Motivating, spirit-filled sessions on church growth and evangelism

(The following is a report on the A.M.E. Church 14th Annual Seminar On Church Growth and Evangelism held January 3-5, 2001 in New Orleans, LA. The seminar theme was "Making Church Growth 1st in the 21st Century.  Bishop Z.L. Grady, Chairman; Bishop C.G. Henning, Host Bishop; Dr. G.L. Champion, Sr., Director). 

By Rev. Gerald D. Cardwell
Oak Grove Minister of Evangelism

At the opening worship service, Rev. W. Raymond Bryant, Pastor, St. Paul, Dallas, TX., preached from Habakkuk 3:17 on the title, "It's Harvest Time."

 He let us know, there is still time for us to bring lost souls into His kingdom. We must look at our agenda and not just the buckets and buildings, but also the souls. We must be more than being innovative but obedient to God's plan, purpose and design. 

He said obedience leads to guidance. If we are to become gatherers of the harvest, sometimes the fig tree won't blossom, or the grape vine won't have grapes, or the crops fail. What do you do when it happens? 

A farmer doesn't stop planting because they might have a bad year, God still provides. 

Don't take the strings off of your harp, or hang it on a willow tree. Get ready because it's harvest time. 

Bishop R.V. Webster, prelate of the 3rd Episcopal District, preached on Acts 9:4-6 entitled, "Do You Get the Message?" Jesus did a new work in Saul, and changed his name to Paul. He told him to get up; arise. He tells us to get up; arise, if the church is going to grow. Arise and follow me was Jesus' message while he walked.

 Rise and go to the city. While we win souls in the sanctuary, we're losing them in the streets of the city. God's good news is in us; get up; arise and go into the city. And you will be told what to do in your Damascus when you get there. 

The first plenary session was keynoted by Rev. Dr. David Mains, of Mainstay Church Resources. Our charge in worship services is to strive to present the ideal of creating unforgettable Sundays that prompt change in the man (woman) in the mirror. 

A change is needed from what presently is being done. 

We're getting what we're getting because we're doing what we're doing. The pulpit must answer four questions. What is the subject to be preached? What the listeners are to do? How they are to do it on their own? And how long it should take for change to take place? 

Dialog must be provided to see if they are getting the message. Avoid the sermon sucking black holes that occur that suck sermons from memory from the time it leaves the pew and gets to the parking lot. 

The ministers' breakout session was keynoted by Bishop McKinley Young, prelate of the 10th Episcopal District. The session began with an open question and comment period on retention and evangelism strategies, processes and assessments. 

We must begin to experience a paradigm shift in our approach to evangelism. We must know and begin to instruct on the principles behind the Apostles' Creed. 

Our foundational beliefs rest on and reproduce themselves through evangelism. Staffing and budgeting evangelism efforts are needed. Sociological, psychological and demographical problems are rooted in the lack of communication. Sender/receiver interpretation and tradition stand as obstacles to that communication. 

We must focus on what we do and what we need to do with more clarity. We must know Christian apologetics (defending the faith). We must go from house to house in our efforts. 

We must identify ways to provide adequate ministry. Each unit of the church must do the work of evangelism. 

Everyone is to be enlisted, equipped, and empowered. 

Ephesians 4:10-16 emphasizes putting together our team. We need to think as a team. We must work to bring the community into fellowship. 

As a team, faith is to be lived out in the Christian life in both the vertical and the horizontal sides of the cross. 

How do we make it happen? 

Be corporate and not competitive; the real enemy is the evil one. 

Be all-generational and bring everyone into faith and fellowship. 

Learn from one another. 

Faith cannot live comfortably with injustice. 

Make room for growth and ideas that meet people's needs. 

The Bible and helps are our source. 

Lovingly submit to spiritual authority. 

The Thursday noonday worship service was keynoted by Rev. Kenneth Marcus, Pastor, Turner Chapel, Marietta, GA. He preached from Amos 7:10-17 on "The Authority to Preach." 

"Are you authorized" was the question. 

Amos was not confined to Judah and could preach fiery words, whether those that heard him wanted to hear them or not. He preached about injustice, unfairness, and sin; nobody scared Amos. 

He preached a clean up campaign in the community and was on a mission as a spokesperson with power, content, conviction, and authority. 

Can we rely on traditional approaches to evangelism with harvesters coming back empty handed? 

Why are we entering into wheat fields with corn pickers? 

A "dot.com" generation that knows shooting and killing, drugs and quick money won't sit and listen to corn pickers.

 Amos preached what needed to be preached and said what needed to be said. Bring a message of light in darkness. Bring a message of peace in a storm. Bring a message of power in pain. Bring strength in weakness; joy in sorrow; direction to the stray; and salvation to the lost. 

The afternoon ministers' breakout session was keynoted by Rev. Dr. Albert Tyson III, Pastor, in Chicago, IL. 

His scripture reference was Matthew 28:19-20 on evangelism and demographics. 

The Lord's command to the disciples was to go out. It was not a command to hang around Jerusalem. 

The message must not be contained. Particular training was given to those that walk with Jesus providing them with direction. 

The church and neighborhoods are our focus. What are we are going to do with our middle class churches in our poor neighborhoods? 

Study the folk in the neighborhood; see the what, when, why, who, and how. Ask what can we do? Let them know you're on their side. Be inclusive and not exclusive to all of God's people regardless of race, origin, class, gender, or age. Involve all people in the body of Christ. 

The Friday plenary session was facilitated by Rev. Jimmie MacDonald, 8th District Conference Evangelist, on the subject of spiritual healing. 

Healing still takes place in our churches. 

We must remember to sit and receive the Holy Spirit. 

Even during the prelude, the processional and the opening hymn, folk can be healed. God uses the senses to heal and to enter in. 

The ministers' morning session was conducted by Rev. Dr. Alvin Johnson, Pastor, Bloomfield, CT.

 He offered a definition on evangelism. "Eu" means good; "angelion" means messenger. 

In the book of Revelation the angel provided a message to the churches. Further, he offered a definition to the word redeem. 

"Re" means again; "deem" means value. 

We, the church, are in the restoration business. A coke can can be emptied, crushed, rusted, but then recycled and made a classic. 

Proof-texting is what has gone on too long in the church; a method of getting their message across to shape people the way they want them to be shaped. Moreover, being compassionate and conservative, as fundamentalists claim to be, is an oxymoron for the church. We must be true and help serve one another, which is liberal and liberating.