(C) 2012 Townley Coaching Becoming an Invitational Church All Rights Reserved The Workbook for becoming an invitational church www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865
Contents Meet the presenter, 3 Credits, 4 How to Use This Material, 4 Module One: Creating a Framework for Invitation, 5 Module Two: Networking to Reach Your Mission Field, 12 Module Three: Implementing Invitational Events, 24 Module Four: Establishing Your Timeline, 35 Module Five: Organizing A Praying Community, 43 Module Six: Embedding the Invitation Gene, 51 Coaching Options through Townley Coaching, 59! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 2
About the Originator of Becoming an Invitational Church Cathy Townley is a former worship leader, and author of two books: Designing Worship Teams, Abingdon Press 2001, and Missional Worship, Chalice Press 2011. She is a Deacon in the MInnesota Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Cathy s ministry has spanned 25 plus years. She has started churches and worship services, has served as a supervisor for new church start projects, and now as a coach for start up pastors and for pastors and churches that are working on growing their churches. Worship and evangelism is Cathy s ministry niche. She serves as a coach with Martha Grace Reese on the Unbinding the Gospel Project, and she is an associate with Jim Griffith in his coaching and consulting ministry. Cathy is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston Il. She was born and raised in Chicago, and moved to MInnesota for her husband s job transfer in the late 80 s, and has been there ever since. It was after the move to MInnesota that Cathy had a life-changing, thunder-bolt and lightening conversion experience, which led her into ministry. Cathy and her husband Terry have two grown sons and two daughters-in-law. Cathy and Terry are AVID golfers. In January of 2012, it was unseasonably warm, so Cathy and Terry joined their other golfing friends for a round of golf in 52 degree weather. The flags were frozen in the cups, and you couldn t get the tee in the ground, but everyone got a lot of roll. There s always a trade-off... Cathy s heart in ministry is to be authentic. That means to be unabashed about being a Christ follower and yet remain accepting of those that aren t. She longs to help pastors and churches grow into that same mindset and way of life. That perspective is central to worship and evangelism.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 3
CREDITS and IDEAS for USING THIS MATERIAL Dear Video-Seminar Participants, THANKS Some of this video - seminar has been adapted from How to Get More Members, developed and led by Jim Griffith, Griffith Coaching Network (www.griffithcoaching.com). It is being used here with permission from Jim Griffith. I am grateful to Jim for his coaching and mentoring over the years, and for his great insights into the church and the way the church grows and changes. I am also grateful for his generosity in sharing his material. NEW INSIGHTS The new material grows out of my own experiences first as a worship leader, then as a Church Planting Director at a very large church, then as a worship and evangelism consultant and coach, and finally, as an evangelist. My work with Martha Grace Reese has influenced me a great deal, and taught me to pray. God has grown a heart in me for those that find church irrelevant. They still need Christ and Christian community! HOW TO USE THIS MATERIAL I initially developed this video seminar for my clients, all of whom have been through the training of how to turn a church from decline to growth. But I ve noticed that even after 8 plus hours of immersion into these concepts, many church leaders don t completely grasp what invitation is and how to implement it. With a video seminar, they can repeat the training and keep training new people. My clients have found this useful in conjunction with coaching and on-site teaching. My work with Martha Grace Reese has introduced me to smaller churches, most of which don t feel they can afford coaching. This seminar series is an inexpensive alternative to coaching for them. I am looking at some ways to develop on-line coaching for such churches, that would help them fill in the blanks. People always have lots of questions! There are six modules in this first series, representing an 8-9 hour seminar. You can view them one at a time, over about eight weeks. Or, you can schedule a day and have your team participate in the training all at once. Each approach offers advantages and disadvantages. Be sure to complete all the exercises and activities at the end of each chapter. If you don t, you will not reach your goals to become an invitational church. I pray that God gives you the heart for those that have left the church or have never been involved in one, and that God gives you the tools to reach out to them. I also pray that this material will inspire and encourage both. Blessings, Cathy Townley! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 4
MODULE ONE:! THIS MODULE IS MORE THEORETICAL... creating a framework for invitation, WHAT CHANGES FIRST, OUR thinking about invitation, or our behavior? introduction...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 5
DISCUSSION 1: the importance of WE RE LIVING IN AN UNCHURCHED ERA FEWER THAN 17% OF AMERICANS ATTEND CHURCH, AND DROPPING... Invitation is RELATIONAL... we invite: invitation Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief: Denial: Worship attendance has Anger: It s fault we re in this predicament Bargaining: If we could only get a pastor, or if we could only get the Depression: We tried that and it didn t work Does any of this sound familiar? Yes No ISOLATION IS NOT GOD S INTENT FOR THE CHURCH...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 6
DISCUSSION 2: WHEN YOUR CHURCH IS ISOLATED, IT DOESN T CAST A SHADOW... extending your church s shadow Jesus told us to GO and BAPTIZE WHO LIVES IN YOUR CHURCH S NEIGHBORHOOD? Who are your: F N CO- Who s on your M?! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 7
DISCUSSION 3: INVITATION IS DEEPLY SPIRITUAL... living into your calling Use your eyes and EXPERIENCES to discern where God is leading you HOW BIG IS OUR MISSION FIELD? IF YOUR MISSION FIELD HAS A RELIGIOUS HERITAGE, IT S A POINT OF CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM AND THE CHURCH... KNOWING WHO IS OUT THERE GUIDES YOUR PATHS INTO THE MISSION FIELD! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 8
DISCUSSION 4: how invitation impacts your church INVITATION IS DEEPLY SPIRITUAL... Invitation is going to impact: In all your take-aways from this module, which are the most important for you? FROM THE HOST: The importance of invitation in our CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE? The vast opportunity that awaits us to introduce others into CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY? Invitation is about PEOPLE and RELATIONSHIPS...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 9
Module One Discussion Questions Creating a Framework for Invitation 1. In each topic we covered, summarize your aha and uhoh moments. The importance of invitation Extending Your Church s Shadow Living into Your Calling How Invitation Impacts Your Church 2. How did you relate to grieving for the decline of your church or the church? 3. How long is your church s shadow? Draw your image below, and discuss your church s relationship with the neighborhood.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 10
4. MISSION FIELD EXERCISE, PART 1. Who s in your church s neighborhood? Be as specific as you can be about the mission field factors. 5. MISSION FIELD EXERCISE: Part 2, Mission Fields have needs. What are the needs of yours? 6. MISSION FIELD EXERCISE, Part 3: Summarize 4 and 5, eg., Unconnected Harry and Mary are families in their 30 s and 40 s with some single parents, some mixed racial, high school education or above, some employment issues, need for good child care and financial support in a 3 mile radius around our church. 8. MISSION FIELD EXERCISE, Part 4. Test out your summary with a prayer walk. Find the process in Missional Worship, Townley, Chalice Press 2011. 9. Read Part One of MIssional Worship by your next meeting. 10. NEXT MEETING FOR VIEWING MODULE 2: Networking to Invite Your Mission Field! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 11
MODULE TWO: networking to invite your mission field THIS MODULE IS ABOUT HOW THE CHURCH GROWS AND ADDS PEOPLE TO YOUR NUMBERS DAILY... Pastors must lead the way on invitation in your church or it Won t Happen! introduction...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 12
DISCUSSION 1: the 5 P s The 5P s is a model of networking from MIssional Worship: Increasing Attendance and Expanding the Boundaries of Your Church. It s like an equation: (P + P ) plus (P + P )! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 13
DISCUSSION 2: the role of the pastor in invitation PASTORS MUST LEAD THE WAY IN INVITATION OR IT WON T HAPPEN IN YOUR CHURCH In every denomination, pastors are called or appointed to the NEIGHBORHOOD in which the church is located, not just the church building... Places in the neighborhood for the pastor to interact, where mission fields gather:! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 14
DISCUSSION 2, WHAT DOES THE PASTOR DO AND SAY? continued: the role of the pastor in invitation WHAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR CARD! N! C!! E!! W! F Ask if they d like information about your church, get NAME and EMAIL, (cell number optional) maybe put it on an OFFICIAL document Go back repeatedly, as that engenders their TRUST! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 15
DISCUSSION 2, YOU CAN SEE THAT MISSION FIELD ACTIVITY INCLUDES YOUR PERSONAL INTERESTS continued: the role of the pastor in invitation LAYPERSONS! Joining fees are evangelism L I ACTIVITIES AND PLACES FOR THE PASTOR FOR NETWORKING:! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 16
DISCUSSION 3: PASTORS, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? making time in your schedule PASTORS WILL BE ON AN EXTENDED LEARNING CURVE AS THEY DISCERN HOW TO MAKE TIME IN THEIR SCHEDULES FOR INVITATION IN THE MISSION FIELD (PEOPLE + PURPOSE) PLUS (PRAYER + PLAN) X P! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 17
DISCUSSION 3, continued: BRING LAYPERSONS WITH YOU TO SEE YOU EXTENDING THE CHURCH S SHADOW PRACTICE THE HOLY ART OF EAVESDROPPING making time in your schedule GO ON PRAYER WALKS... START THE PROCESS, THEN HAND IT OFF TO A COMPETENT LAYPERSON Create an infrastructure strong enough to ENDORSE and INSPIRE invitation... START THE PROCESS, THEN HAND IT OFF TO A COMPETENT LAYPERSON HOLD OFFICE HOURS IN A COFFEE SHOP... Your followers will see you extending your church s shadow... CALENDAR your networking days. IT LEGITIMIZES YOUR WORK IN THE MISSION FIELD! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 18
DISCUSSION 3, continued: making time in your schedule TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE MISSION FIELD PUBLICLY, FROM: During sermons Over coffee and at one to one meetings During church meetings TALK ABOUT: ALL THE EFFORTS TO BRING OTHERS ALONG CAN STILL LEAD TO JEALOUSY. DON T GO OUT INTO THE MISSION FIELD COLD. PRAY YOUR WAY:! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 19
DISCUSSION 3, continued: making time in your schedule ONE AREA TO ADDRESS IS OFFICE VISITS... Set up regular gatherings in parishioner s homes or in coffee shops HAND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS AREA OFF TO A COMPETENT LAYPERSON! WHAT MINISTRIES ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT, AND HOW CAN YOU TELL?! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 20
DISCUSSION 4: PASTORS WILL FEEL THE PULL OF GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WHEN FIRST STARTING TO INVITE. STICK WITH IT! teaching laypersons to invite their friends THE 5 P S ARE PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE TEACHING LAYPERSONS TO INVITE THEIR OWN FRIENDS IS A BIG PART OF THE PASTOR S ROLE IN SETTING THE COURSE FOR INVITATION! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 21
Module Two Discussion Questions Networking to Invite Your Mission Field 1. The 5 P s of Networking is the basic concept upon which the process of networking is built. What is your main takeaway about it? 2. How do you feel about the pastor s role in leading outreach? _ 3. Go back to pages 13 and 14 in the workbook to review the places the pastor can go to network. Circle those that make sense for your area, for your mission field. List them here. 4. In the video, there was a story about a pastor who took a layperson to visit a school principal to find out more about the area. Besides schools, what other organizations in your area know things about your mission field that you might not know? Brainstorm a list of places to visit. 5. What are some things your pastor can eliminate from his or her schedule to spend more time networking? Discern if the ministry should end or if it s something someone else can run. 6. How can you organize a monthly community gathering for those in your church to get together to catch up on life? When you do, keep these things in mind. Make sure it s no more than 12 in one gathering. Have different people at different gatherings. Create an agenda for relationship building. Don t go over 90 minutes.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 22
7. As a team, covenant for a few things between now and the next video. Pastor schedules at least one activity in the mission field. This will be ongoing. Activity: Schedule these activities for laypersons, led by the pastor (at least for the first one of each) Another time to discuss pastor s schedule. Which ministries are no longer relevant? Make a list. A prayer walk. Follow the suggested process in the addendum of my book, Missional Worship. Keep notes of the results. How did God stir your heart? A listening triad (the Holy Art of Eavesdropping!). Pray before you go and after you return. Make notes of what you learned after you re done. A meeting with the school principal or another group to learn more about your community. Remind them that you want to do a better job of being the church. Ask to be partners in the work of the community. What did you learn? 8. NEXT MEETING FOR VIEWING VIDEO NUMBER 3: Implementing Invitational Events! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 23
In the previous module, we focused on the role of pastors in invitation MODULE In this module, we ll focus on the role of laypersons in invitation THREE: implementing invitational events Church persons don t think they know any unchurched people. Fewer than attend church That s that don t! introduction... Prayer is at the center of our efforts for invitation! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 24
DISCUSSION 1: INVITATIONAL CHURCHES ARE PRAYING CHURCHES the role of prayer in invitation THE KIND OF PRAYER THAT LEADS TO INVITATION: It s both a D and a P YOU HAVE TO CALENDAR YOUR PRAYER. IF YOU DON T, YOU WON T MAKE TIME FOR IT! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 25
DISCUSSION 2: SEEING OLD RELATIONSHIPS IN NEW WAYS IS WHAT MAKES INVITATION DOABLE FOR MOST OF US seeing old relationships in new ways Unchurched persons are FRIENDS of ours! MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE CHURCH IN ALL DENOMINATIONS GOD STILL REDEEMS OUR PAIN It s our PRESENCE and repeated contact with others that brings their trust Some will REJECT you for it.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 26
DISCUSSION 3: two by two into the mission field GOING TWO BY TWO INTO THE MISSION FIELD INCREASES THE COMFORT FACTOR WITH PRAYER AND INVITATION When it comes to invitation, there is safety in NUMBERS INVITATIONAL EVENTS ARE: SMALL DOABLE REPEATABLE RELATIONAL NORMAL FUN MEMBERS MEMBER GUEST A involved O to O members to guests! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 27
DISCUSSION 3, INVITE A FRIEND SUNDAY IS NOT A MEMBER GUEST EVENT... continued: two by two into the mission field MEMBER-GUEST EVENTS ARE STEPPING STONES... You can do larger ones if you follow the criteria of SMALLER member-guest events To make larger events: DOABLE, REPEATABLE, Dinner Dance Idea: Off-site Child Care Cash Wine Bar Catered Promote it Charge Accordingly NORMAL, RELATIONAL, FUN, SMALLER MEMBER-GUEST EVENTS ARE LESS COMPLEX! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 28
DISCUSSION 4: COMPLETING THE PICTURE OF THE DINNER DANCE: what s the hand-off? Have a save the date card to give to friends at smaller events that lead up to the larger one:! SAVE THE DATE! TITLE OF THE EVENT! EVENT WEBSITE Invitation never ends for a Christ follower. Who are you praying for?! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 29
Module Three Discussion Questions Implementing Invitational Events 1. Are you comfortable praying out loud? What about offering to pray for others when they re struggling? 2. Do you get antsy when you sit alone and seek God, and pray? How does one, or how did you, get past that? 3. How does your church use prayer? What kind of discernment processes does your church utilize for making decisions that affect the body? _ 4. Do you see room for improvement in your prayer schedule? _ 5. Do your church meetings include at least 10 minutes of prayer at the beginning? 6. What do you think of the prayer, God, bring people into my life and into our church that need to talk about faith. 7. Have you ever been hurt by the church?! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 30
8. In what way has God changed your life? 9. How does it feel to think that others might reject you for talking about God with them? 10. Toward the end of the video, it was mentioned that guests need space to make up their minds. What do you think about that? 11. Compare and contrast between small and large invitational events.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 31
PLANNING A MEMBER-GUEST EVENT, Part One: Groundwork STEP ONE: INTERESTS In each circle, write the name of a place you go or activity you like, including: the gym, the dog park, soccer games, the library, work, etc. STEP TWO: PEOPLE In each circle, write down the name of one person in each activity for whom you can start praying STEP THREE: CHURCH FRIENDS Write down the name of one or two church friends that also might like doing these things. Circles of Influence! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 32
PLANNING A MEMBER GUEST EVENT, Part Two: Doing One Event As a group, prayerfully select one activity from among your group and plan a member-guest event around it. Have the pastor lead and guide the first one. Be sure to keep it: small, doable, repeatable, relational, normal and FUN! Don t forget to answer the question What s the Handoff BEFORE you have your event. When you finally get together, tell everyone you ll do it again, and set a date. If it seems appropriate because of conversation you had while you re together, ask if they d like to find out more about your church and get their contact info. If they don t want to do that, say that s fine, and still get together the next time, as planned. On the other hand, if church and talking about faith didn t come up, then it may not be quite right to ask them to come to your church. Keep praying about that, and let God guide the timing. Design your event below. PLANNING A MEMBER GUEST EVENT, Part Three: More Events After you ve planned and executed one event, plan several more using the information in your circles of influence from the previous page. Complete the planning prior to your next gathering to view Module 4: Establishing Your Time Line. We will plug in your ideas and tweak them in the context of your church s program year. You will implement them after that.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 33
ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS 1. Implement a prayer time of at least 10 minutes at the start of your next church meeting. For a great resource, look at the prayer triad exercise in Unbinding the Gospel. Here is an adaptation of it: Spend three minutes in silence each asking God what you need prayer for right now. Listen for a response. Not everyone will get one. Most probably will. Break into triads and share what you need prayer for, for just one minute each. The meeting leader keeps the time for the entire group. The only rule is that you have to get prayer for YOU, not someone else. After the entire triad has shared their prayer needs, then pray for each other, one at a time, a minute each. The entire exercise takes about 10 minutes. 2. Put some prayer times on your calendar for the coming month, at least a couple times a week. Spend 10 minutes talking with God, even if you do all the talking. Every once in a while, ask God for input. Then stop talking and listen! See what God says. Keep notes. 3. Look to Unbinding the Gospel for various prayer journals that you can do by yourself or with a prayer partner. 4. How is the pastor s networking / invitation schedule going? How is it going reducing some of pastor s schedule inside the church building? What adjustments to you need to make for this process to bear more fruit? 5. BRANCHING OUT. Pastor can invite guests to his or her home, or on an affinity based event too, either alone, or with his or her spouse. How might that look? 6. Schedule your next time to get together to view Module 4: 7. BEFORE YOUR NEXT GATHERING, look ahead to the supplies you need, listed on the next page. You will not be able to complete module 4 without them!! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 34
MODULE FOUR: establishing your timeline THIS MODULE IS ABOUT HOW TO CALENDAR INVITATION, INCLUDING PASTOR S INVITATION SCHEDULE, INVITATIONAL EVENTS, AND THE HAND-OFFS FOR INVITATIONAL EVENTS YOU WILL NEED: News Print Sticky Notes Markers Your Notes from the Previous Modules Your Church s Program Calendar A Table (big enough) for the News Print introduction... PARTICIPATE in the video DEMO by following along in your workbook, then do the exercise live with your group after the video DEMO is over.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 35
STEP ONE You ll need: Sticky Notes, and the information from the previous module! After you designed and implemented one invitational event, you generated several more ideas for more invitational events. Take your ideas from page 33 and TRANSFER them to the STICKY NOTE. Identify each in ONE to TWO words, and write down ONE idea per sticky note. EXAMPLES: A STACK OF STICKY NOTES!! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 36
STEP ONE, continued YOUR NEXT STACK OF STICKY NOTES INCLUDES ACTIVITIES THAT: GROW YOUR HEART for the mission field Activities the pastor does ONCE or TWICE in a year,like:! COMMUNITY RESEARCH! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 37
STEP TWO you ll need: News print, markers, your long table, your church s calendar, plus the second stack of sticky notes you just completed (REFERENCE PAGE 37) 11 vertical lines to yield 12 columns, AND insert months of the year into each column Line Line! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 38
STEP TWO, continued Placing sticky notes from stack two onto the newsprint: Three prayer walks, three listening triads in a row, then a couple more later in the year. Which months will work best for connecting with community workers? Pastor s once or twice activities THINGS TO INSERT IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE NEWSPRINT (reference p. 38) National H Related events, like additional worship services Halloween Mother s Day Valentine s Day Super Bowl 4th of July St. Patrick s Day S Ops Homeless shelter Adopt a Hiway A events All church picnics Seasonal Bible Studies ON- groups Celebrate Recovery Money Management C events Fishing opener Taste of (our town) When calendaring, avoid competing with other deadlines, ONE- events Refinancing deadline Pastor s sabbatical Like Advent, Refinancing of mortgage, Pastor s sabbatical, other?! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 39
STEP THREE You ll need: The first stack of sticky notes PLACE the stickies from the first stack below the bottom line, then draw arrows connecting them to natural handoffs listed in the middle section! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 40
timeline recap YOUR TIMELINE CALENDAR IS A WORKING DOCUMENT Understanding your mission field is the key to your success with this exercise The pastor s role The laypersons s role Appropriate handoffs Calendaring is part of the process of extending your church s shadow.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 41
Module Four Discussion Questions Establishing Your Timeline 1. Before getting started on your calendar, revisit your mission field description from Module 1, Creating a Framework for Invitation. Rewrite your Mission Field Description here: 2. What are your responses to the other ending questions from the video seminar: How do smaller events naturally connect to larger ones in our system? What do we have to tweak to be more welcoming to our mission field? Is our way of doing things NORMAL, DOABLE, REPEATABLE AND FUN? NOW IT S TIME TO GET STARTED CALENDARING! PS, don t forget to schedule your next meeting for Module FIVE! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 42
MODULE FIVE: organizing a praying community introduction... WE VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT PRAYER, AND WE RE NOT DONE YET! Research has shown that most churches think they pray, but they don t... After immersion in prayer for about a year, churches STOP praying in ways that lead to invitation because they don t have an infrastructure! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 43
DISCUSSION 1: MANY CHURCHES HAVE A PRAYER CHAIN... it s not a prayer chain A PRAYER CHAIN IS NOT A TEAM BECAUSE THE PURPOSE IS DIFFERENT. YOU DON T WANT A TEAM PER SE In other words, a communi-team combines TASK and RELATIONSHIPS.! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 44
DISCUSSION 2: TO GET STARTED ORGANIZING THIS GROUP, THE PASTOR MUST IDENTIFY: infiltrate TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON, THE PASTOR MUST: TARGET, THEN TELL THEM YOUR EXPECTATIONS...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 45
DISCUSSION 2, continued: THE ROLE OF THE PRAYER COMMUNI-TEAM IS TO INFILTRATE THE CONGREGATION WITH PRAYER BY PRAYING AND BY DEVELOPING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT: infiltrate After a couple months, when the communi-team has had a chance to gel: Benefits of public sharing: The prayer team can: Pray BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER the worship service! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 46
DISCUSSION 3: TO SOME EXTENT, CREATING A COMMUNITY IS ABOUT THE WAY WE SEE THINGS. THE VISION WE CAST: on the fringes DEVELOP TOOLS TO ENCOURAGE REGULAR PRAYER, LIKE WRITING ON THE WALL... Developing tools takes Add workers to the team who serve doing only ONE task. That s the value of community at work... Now the focus is squarely back on the prayer communi-team LEADER...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 47
DISCUSSION 3, continued: THOSE THAT HAVE A PLACE IN YOUR MINISTRY ARE NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY THERE BUT THOSE THAT AREN T THERE YET... on the fringes WRITING ON THE WALL AND PRAYER WALLS ARE SIMILAR WAYS TO ENCOURAGE PRAYER, BUT PERHAPS FOR DIFFERENT MISSION FIELDS PRAYER WALKS CAN HELP YOU GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, THEN TALK ABOUT THEM PUBLICLY... RUN A CLASS ON FORMS OF PRAYER AND HOW TO KNOW IF GOD HAS HEARD YOU...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 48
DISCUSSION 4: IN MODULE 2, WE FOCUSED ON THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR IN INVITATION. FINDING THE RIGHT MINISTRY LEADERS FOR VARIOUS MINISTRIES, LIKE THE PRAYER MINISTRY, IS PART OF THE PASTOR S ROLE multiplication In today s postmodern world, as important as it is for the pastor to be an inviter, it s also important for area ministry leaders to be inviters... DISCUSSION 4: multiplication! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 49
Module Five Discussion Questions Organizing a Praying Community 1. What do you see as the differences between a prayer chain and prayer team? 2. How do teams and communities work together to become communi-teams? 3. Prayerfully discuss and discern who in your church might be a good prayer team leader. Does this person pray, bear fruit through prayer, and network? 4. Pastors, make an appointment with God to begin praying and then networking to find your prayer communi-team leader. 5. When you find the right leader, introduce him or her to this video-seminar series. 6. Prayerfully discern with the leader who might be good candidates to participate in the prayer communi-team. 7. Develop your plan to get the team started, then introduce the prayer communi-team to the congregation. 8. Schedule your date to watch Module 6. 9. ASSIGNMENT: Read Chapter 6 of MISSIONAL WORSHIP! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 50
MODULE SIX: embedding the invitation gene PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON INVITATION TO HELP YOU SUSTAIN INVITATION IN YOUR CHURCH THIS MODULE IS PIVOTAL... Having a strong infrastructure is not just for us, but for those we re inviting to our churches... introduction... Relational pods are the key...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 51
DISCUSSION 1: TASK GROUPS FORM THE BACKBONE OF COMMUNITY LIFE... task groups Our pool of talent doesn t come from those that are already in the church. Our ministry plans must be FLEXIBLE! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 52
DISCUSSION 1, continued: TWO MORE TASK GROUPS... task groups GETS OUT INTO THE C TO TALK TO PEOPLE COMMUNITY RESEARCH GETS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE through L TRIADS REGULAR COMMUNITY RESEARCH HELPS YOU KEEP ABREAST OF THE CHANGES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD STRATEGY WE ALL HAVE NETWORKS... INVITATION IS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 53
DISCUSSION 2: IN AN INVITATIONAL CULTURE, EVERYONE INVITES. INVITATION IS EVERYONE S JOB IN THE CHURCH, affinity groups When it comes to invitation, we all have networks. We are building an environment that FOSTERS invitation within those networks, so as to bring hope into a hurting world. AFFINITY GROUPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT... who has an interest? That can be an affinity group. We must keep starting groups to welcome the mission field. DISCUSSION 3: THE PASTOR IS THE NUMBER ONE STARTER OF AFFINITY GROUPS... rabbits and shepherds! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 54
DISCUSSIONS 2 and 3, continued: THE KEY IS TO HAND OFF THE RUNNING OF THIS GROUP TO A SHEPHERD SO THAT THE PASTOR CAN START MORE GROUPS.. What s the HANDOFF? affinity groups and rabbits and shepherds THE PASTOR HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING AS THE RABBIT. THE PERSON TO WHOM HE OR SHE HANDS THE GROUP IS CALLED THE SHEPHERD. Shepherds are excellent at INTERPERSONAL relationships. They see to the needs of the group... We run into trouble in our churches when we tell shepherds to be rabbits... SOME PASTORS ARE MORE SHEPHERD THAN RABBIT! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 55
DISCUSSIONS 2 HERE S HOW A PASTOR WHOSE A SHEPHERD CAN BECOME A RABBIT and 3, continued: affinity groups and rabbits and shepherds Even shepherding pastors must be rabbits and group persons based on affinity. But other starters can help carry the load. TWO THINGS HELP: The pastor must continue to spend _25-30% of his or her workweek in the mission field. Starting affinity groups is tied to the pastors INVITATIONAL activity. The church must keep starting new groups and let existing groups determine their own fate. Small groups tend to bond... APPOINT A COMMUNITEAM LEADER FOR AFFINITY GROUPS...! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 56
DISCUSSION 4: GETTING GROUPS TO REACH OUT IS AN IMPORTANT BENCHMARK IN AFFINITY GROUP DEVELOPMENT, AS IS THE STARTING OF GROUPS. benchmarks You should see MULTIPLE groups start each year, even if they don t all continue past a year, or even past a few weeks or months. You will have hard numbers to report at the end of the year: BENCHMARKING is how we keep track of our progress... A discipleship system is s benchmark. Does your church have one? How does your mission field grow in faith?! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 57
Module Six Discussion Questions Embedding the Invitation Gene 1. What is the difference between task and affinity groups? 2. What task groups in your church can most easily become invitational? What changes will you need to make to encourage that? 3. What did you learn about starting affinity groups? 4. Pastors, are you more shepherd or rabbit? If the latter, what changes will you need to make to embrace the role of rabbit? _ 5. Who are the rabbits in your church? who are the shepherds? 6. What kinds of benchmarks does your church need? 7. What is the next thing your church is going to do?! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 58
Coaching Options through Townley Coaching Many churches don t feel they can afford a coach, or they don t want to spend the money for one. But coaching is the one thing that can help you keep your process on track. Most churches don t succeed at invitation without it. There are a few options: TOPICAL COACHING AT AN HOURLY RATE: Cathy will host a digital coaching meeting with 10 or more participants on specific issues that arise from your participation in the video seminar. Contact Cathy with your questions and she will set it up. Pastors must have at least one layperson with them. $35.00 / church CLUSTER COACHING: Some denominations have several churches that are simultaneously learning to become invitational. Cluster coaching is cost effective, and participants benefit from peer interaction. Pastors and laypersons must commit to the coaching process from each church for two years. Denominational supervisors are encouraged to participate in the process for accountability. Contact Cathy to discuss your situation. $1500 per church per year, for 6 to 8 churches. INDIVIDUAL COACHING: The benefit to individual coaching is the ability to customize the coaching approach for your specific church. Contact Cathy for a free, no obligation 30 minute conversation to discuss your personal needs and discern if there is a good fit with Cathy as your coach. If you and Cathy agree to move forward, Cathy will send you a written proposal for you to present to your board. Check in at townleycoaching.com for updates to this material and coaching options. OTHER DIGITAL SEMINARS: How to Start a Worship Service in an Existing Church The Music of Your MIssion Field! www.townleycoaching.com cathy@townleycoaching.com 952-270-3865! 59