A Dozen

Dysfunctions

& Myths About

Outreach and

What To Do

About ThemAlan Nelson,

Ed.D.

Executive Editor Rev! Magazine

12 Myths &False Assumptions of

Pastors & Church-goers

1. It’s the “organized” church’s job to evangelize a

community.

2. When people say, “outreach,” they’re talking about the

same thing.

3. Canned approaches still

work.

4. Armed with ample apologetics, we can convince people to believe in Christ.

5. Church mission statements including

“evangelism/outreach” components

are effective.

6. Revival services are productive means

of outreach.

7. Church marketing with slick ads and

postcards are sufficient to gain new

members.

8. A growing church is a sign of effective

evangelism.

9. Attraction events are sufficient to

introduce people to Christ.

10. Confrontational evangelism is effective

if more Christians would just implement

it.

11. Altar calls (invitations) at the end of church services are the primary way that people make decisions

for Christ.

12. It’s fair to assume that people attending church have a personal

relationship with Christ.

What’s Cold

Turn or burn

preaching and

street corner

evangelism

Confrontational

approaches

(Evangelism

Explosion, surveys)

Canned plans

(4 Spiritual Laws,

tracts, EE)

What’s Cool

Stadium events /

Crusades (Graham,

Harvest, PK)

Apologetics

(convincing facts

and arguments,

McDowell, Bible

Answer Man)

Altar calls /

invitations for

decisions at the

end of sermons

What’s Warm

Attraction events

(family fun days,

comedy night, Big

Days)

Quality seeker

services

(i.e. North Point,

Willow, Saddleback,

Fellowship)

Friendship evangelism

(Outflow, Contagious

Christian, Just Walk

Across the Room)

Experiential

worship

(i.e. worship

evangelism)

What’s Hot

Service evangelism

(let me serve you-

no strings, Outflow,

Sjogren)

Incarnational

evangelism / green

house effect

(let’s serve others

together; I.e. Bono,

Habitat, Africa, HIV)

Co-journey /

agenda-less

friendships / “us”

(Beliefnet.com)

Nelson’s Picks:

Listening shouts, “I

care about you more

than an answer.”

Teach people to ask

better questions;

Jesus did.

Facilitate random

acts of kindness…

just cuz.

Liberate people

from the church

calendar crunch.

Equip people to use their

gifts, inside & outside the

church doors.