How God opened up the Kingdom at a Local Church Part 2 – Ross Ramsey
Nov 6, 2024
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Ross Ramsey, the Director of Church Relations for E3 Partners and former minister at FBC in Allen, shares his impactful journey of faith and community outreach. He discusses transformative experiences that illustrate how local efforts can spark global growth in discipleship. Ross highlights the spiritual evolution of individuals who shifted from resistance to active participation, emphasizing innovative strategies for engaging communities. His insights on empowering believers to share the gospel provide practical tools for church growth and deeper connections with the community.
Ross Ramsey illustrates how the church's outreach to a local apartment complex was driven by a mission to understand and fulfill God's purpose rather than solely increasing attendance.
The church's commitment to practical discipleship empowered members to engage in meaningful gospel conversations, resulting in spiritual growth and community transformation despite facing significant challenges.
Deep dives
The Journey of Faith and Community Impact
Ross Ramsey highlights the transformative journey of his church as they engaged with a local apartment complex to serve the community. This initiative was not just about increasing church attendance but rather understanding a deeper mission that aligned with God's purpose. Ross reflects on how initially he had a limited view of what God was capable of achieving through their efforts, but was soon faced with opportunities that led to the establishment of connections across the United States and beyond. The apartment complex served as a pivotal entry point for outreach, ultimately resulting in the spread of the gospel and the growth of faith among many individuals.
Emphasizing Discipleship and Training
A significant aspect of the church's mission involved training individuals to share the gospel effectively within their own networks. Ross discusses how they developed strategies to empower church members through practical discipleship, which included engaging them in meaningful conversations about their faith. This approach not only fostered a sense of ownership among the members but also led to numerous baptisms and interactions that illustrated the impact of their training on community engagement. The emphasis on discipleship and practical output transformed how individuals viewed their roles within the church and their communities.
Harnessing Local Resources and Relationships
The church's outreach efforts took advantage of local resources and aimed for gospel saturation rather than mere institutional growth. Ross describes how they divided the community into sections for prayer walks and outreach, ensuring that everyone could participate, regardless of their comfort level with direct evangelism. This included involving individuals who preferred writing cards or prayer walking, thereby creating diverse entry points for gospel conversations. The focus on local involvement not only addressed spiritual needs but also led to recognition and support from community resources, including local law enforcement, which noted the church’s positive influence.
Overcoming Challenges and Spiritual Warfare
Throughout this journey, Ross acknowledges the turbulence that came with substantial changes in church culture, including spiritual warfare and opposition from within. As the church's mission expanded, some members experienced challenges that called into question their personal commitments, leading to revelations of hidden struggles. Ross emphasizes that while the path was fraught with obstacles and required perseverance, it ultimately led to spiritual growth within the church community. By understanding that consistent outreach leads to challenges but also serves as a refining process, the church learned to embrace these experiences as integral to their mission.