27.16 Getting Your Mission Engine Going (Dave Keun)
Sep 25, 2024
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Dave Keun from Kellyville Anglican shares his journey in transforming a struggling church into a vibrant hub of mission work. He emphasizes the vital role of understanding spiritual needs and forgiveness in outreach. The discussion covers building effective mission teams, setting clear evangelistic goals, and igniting a mission-driven vision through community engagement. Keun highlights the importance of personal testimonies and structured visitor integration, showcasing how these elements can fuel a flourishing missional culture.
Assessing mission heat through surveys helps identify enthusiasm levels within the church and indicates areas for improvement.
Genuine personal conviction in evangelism is essential, driving the church's mission to see others saved effectively.
Setting measurable goals and establishing a strong team fosters accountability and collective responsibility for the church's mission efforts.
Deep dives
Assessing Mission Heat
The concept of 'mission heat' refers to the level of enthusiasm and commitment towards evangelism within the church community. In a recent workshop, participants were invited to assess their church's mission heat through a survey, revealing that 1% felt no mission heat, 30% sensed only a glimmer, 60% experienced a soothing warmth, and 9% reported strong commitment. This assessment aimed to encourage discussions on how to enhance mission initiatives and move towards a more vibrant evangelistic culture. By understanding the current state of mission heat in their church, participants could identify areas for improvement and take actionable steps.
Personal Conviction for Evangelism
The importance of personal conviction in evangelism was emphasized, highlighting that genuine desire to see others saved is crucial. Drawing from the Great Commission in Matthew, it was noted that Jesus prioritized forgiveness of sins, which should drive the mission of the church. The workshop encouraged participants to reflect on whether they genuinely want to see people come to faith and how that desire translates into church activities. Without this deep conviction, any plans or systems for outreach may lack the vitality necessary to be effective.
Setting Goals and Accountability
Setting specific, measurable goals was discussed as a vital step in driving evangelistic efforts in the church. Participants learned how to develop outcome-oriented goals, such as aiming for a certain number of conversions or the attendance of non-Christians at evangelistic programs. Goals should not only focus on outcomes but also include input measures, like the number of non-Christians engaged. This structured approach ensures that mission activities remain a priority and provides accountability to assess progress throughout the year.
Building a Supportive Team
Establishing a strong team to take shared responsibility for church mission was highlighted as essential for sustainability. Initially, an attempt to create a team led to confusion and lack of progress, necessitating reevaluation and a focus on recruiting the right people. A successful mission team thrives on shared vision and clarity regarding roles, significant in driving the evangelistic agenda forward. Building this sense of team ownership ensures that the mission becomes a collective effort rather than solely the responsibility of one individual.
Engaging the Community Effectively
Effective community engagement was central to building awareness of the church's existence and mission efforts. Strategies such as food drives and revamped marketing initiatives on social media helped bridge connections with local residents, demonstrating the church's presence. The idea of creating a welcoming atmosphere at events was also emphasized, ensuring that newcomers feel invited and valued. By implementing these initiatives, the church can foster relationships that lead to deeper conversations about faith and an increase in attendance at evangelistic events.
Dave Keun from Kellyville Anglican explains how they managed to turn the church around from little evangelistic fruit to having a humming missional engine.
