![](\"\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/magnet.jpg\" "\\"What")
Nice Facilities?<\/p>\nWhat brings people to Jesus Christ and then to become a part of the local church? What will draw them in and keep them there?<\/p>\n
Nice Facilities?<\/p>\n
First impressions do matter.\u00a0 But, what if you can’t afford to renovate or build?\u00a0 Certainly you can keep your rooms attractively decorated and clutter free. Is that enough?<\/p>\n
Innovation?<\/p>\n
If you want to reach people where they are, you need to be willing to change.\u00a0 Adapting to people without losing the content<\/a> of the truth we proclaim requires lots of insight.\u00a0 But, is being on the cutting edge enough?<\/p>\n How will people know what you have to offer if you don’t communicate?\u00a0 Both verbal and written communication are at the core of salvation as “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:14-17).\u00a0 Communication is at the core of our educational or discipleship efforts in the church as it is knowing the truth that will set people free (Jn. 8:32).\u00a0 Is simply letting people know what you have to offer enough?<\/span><\/p>\n While a leader with a charismatic personality does seem to draw people in, it take various types of leaders<\/a> to bring balance, health, and growth to the church.\u00a0 If this kind of leadership team is in place, will that be enough?<\/p>\n While all of the above factors, plus others, will contribute to the big picture, none of them can be singled out as the greatest draw in outreach. None of these means alone, or combined, are enough because the greatest and absolutely essential drawing factor is God Himself. Jesus said,<\/p>\n \u201cNo one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.\u201d (Jn. 6:44)<\/em><\/p>\n God doesn\u2019t need our strategic efforts. He can draw people to Himself with or without us. He may choose to use us in the process but a person\u2019s salvation is not dependent on what we do or don’t do. If God did not draw people to Himself, all our efforts would be in vain.<\/p>\n 1) Intercessory prayer needs to be made an absolutely vital part of outreach.<\/p>\n Without God in and behind all of this, we will simply have a nice building, great ideas, motivational tools, and skilled people running the church. Be encouraged to stop right now and examine what you are relying on to lead others to the Lord and bring them in to your local church.<\/p>\n Strategies and programs may have a place but Acts 2:42-47<\/span> reminds us that our devotion should not be to our methodology but to God Himself and to those things that put us in touch with Him and demonstrate a dependence on Him \u2014 like prayer. Of the early church we are told, “They devoted themselves to . . . prayer. . . . And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Intercessory prayer<\/a> is vital.<\/p>\n 2) Make outreach about Him, not us.<\/p>\n What brings people to Jesus Christ and then to become a part of the local church? What will draw them in and keep them there?<\/p>\n What Might We Depend on to Attract People? . . . Continue reading The Greatest Draw in Outreach<\/span>Good publicity?<\/p>\nDynamic Leadership?<\/p>\nWhat Truly is the Greatest Draw in Outreach?<\/h2>\n
Implications for Our Outreach Efforts<\/h2>\n
![\"Outreach](\"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/outreach-dwnld.jpg\")
<\/a>The Outreach Ministry Manual<\/a>, based on the outreach section<\/a> of this site, has a sub-title that says what outreach needs to be about \u2014 \u201cTurning the Spotlight on Jesus.\u201d We must look hard at our outreach practices. Are we showcasing Him or ourselves?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"