Directions in Outreach

15JF-Cover-3D

Inside the Jan/Feb 2015 Issue

Directions in Outreach

Powerful forces are reshaping culture … and the church responds.

In the church, the Spirit birthed a living organism. Growing, adapting, without changing its essence. Throughout the book of Acts Christ-followers quickly learned that this new thing—the church—through the Spirit within them, conveyed its timeless message appropriate to the times in which they moved and the cultures they encountered.

The Scripture had foreshadowed a global faith for all nations, an ageless faith for all generations. The Great Commission reflects both (“to all nations” and “till the end of the age”). So in our time, as the pace of change accelerates and convulses culture, the church meets it, in each context, adaptable, ever new.

And so, in this issue, we explore how outreach-oriented churches and leaders are re-envisioning and restructuring in response to changing needs. And they illustrate the Spirit-infused flexibility of this living, breathing organism, the church.

Let’s dig in.

Don’t Miss

15JF-Directions-130

Directions in Outreach

Powerful forces are reshaping culture … and the church responds. A dozen Christian leaders highlight trends in collaboration, church planting, church mergers, multisite ministry, diversity in the church and connection with the “nones.”

15JF-JimTomberin-130

Jim Tomberlin: What’s Trending in Multisite?

From new directions in church building to the rise of the giachurch, missional movements to church staffing trends, Jim Tomberlin, MultiSite Solutions, highlights nine ongoing changes in multisite.

15JF-Igniting-Multiplication-130

Igniting Church Multiplication

Something is not quite right. If the church is made to multiply, why don’t we see it? In this resource from Exponential, we explore the question, What growth culture are you pursuing?.

15-JonWeece-130

Jon Weece: The Interview

Weece, whose ministry has taken him from destitute Haiti to suburban America, is preoccupied with keeping faith simple. And he talks of nouns and verbs, description and action. Christians need to act on their faith; the church needs to take action on the beliefs we hold together. Love is a verb, and the fun starts when we live a faith that is expressed in action..

ALSO: Planning for Easter impact, seven ways to think about social media, new directions in building design; learning from the Korean church and much more.

Plus, in Each Issue of Outreach

PULSE: We take the pulse of outreach today as we report on what churches are doing to connect with their communities.

IDEAS: Church-tested ideas for seasonal and targeted ministries for any church, any size … plus insight from Warren Bird, Mel McGowan, Charles Lee, Brad Lomenick and Brad Powell.

COLUMNS: Perspective on outreach from Ed Stetzer, Dan Kimball, Bobby Gruenewald.

Outreach magazine is now available for iPad

Already a subscriber and want to access your free digital edition? Or want to purchase individual issues for iPad? Click here »

James P. Long
James P. Longhttp://JamesPLong.com

James P. Long was formerly the editor of Outreach magazine and the author of a number of books, including Why Is God Silent When We Need Him the Most?

Ohio Church Makeover

This move would not only give them room to grow, but also would enable them to do a lot more to fulfill their mission of being a church focused on “building the kingdom, one life at a time.”

How Much Tech Do You Actually Need?

Because you cannot do this alone, you are going to have to trust the right individuals who know more about tech than you do. Your calling is to shepherd. Do that.

Gene Appel: Do Less Ministry; Reach More People

None of the programs at our church were bad in and of themselves. The volume of it just prevented us from being focused on building relationships with those who are far from God. So, we had to do less ministry to reach more people. It sounds funny, but people had to be trained in how to do life with nonbelievers or people spiritually disinterested.