Interesting Outreach Program in our Area
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EACH (Everyone a Chance To Hear) is a program started in Metro Detroit. Churches and para-church organizations engage in community service programs (helping the poor, re-building after fires, etc.), and they also promote the gospel during these programs.
The gospel presented is similar to the 4 Spiritual Laws tracts from the old Billy Graham days, but with a somewhat heightened call to commitment to Christ alongside the faith.
Perhaps the most powerful impact is being made by bumper stickers, billboard signs, and other promotion spots where a “Two Word Story” is posted. A Two Word story is a testimony told with the same words used as a “before and after” of when a person met Christ. Examples are “Freedom? Freedom!”, and “Purpose? Purpose.” This sounds like a reductionist gospel, but every billboard sign and poster carries with it a link to www.2wordstory.com, where details are given in video and a credible gospel presentation is provided.
Many, many evangelical churches and organizations are on board. The managing board reads like a who’s who of Metro Detroit Evangelical pastors with great credibility and solid enough preaching, some with a history of separating from liberal denominations. Charismatic involvement seems to be limited to those who can restrain their exuberance long enough to give a clear gospel presentation ;) Health and Wealth Gospel churches seem to not be involved. Billy Graham-style random routing to churches does not occur. Catholic and Sacramental churches are not involved. Involvement only means training people to share the gospel and disciple, and involving your church in community service projects – though it includes the act of association itself. The main website is at www.eachtoday.com.
The program is now expanding to the city nearest us (Port Huron, MI).
Personally, my principles of separatism, though not as exhaustive as that of many here, would make my participation in such a program difficult without MUCH more information and a longer period of observation. But my initial impressions of the program were pretty positive. Fortunately, I am not put in the position of refusing to involve our church. Our church’s isolation from the urban and even suburban areas where this is happening also would make our participation rather pointless. We already do everything they are doing in our rural area, and we are relatively effective at it.
But the program appears to be EXTREMELY effective, and is having an impact, including a teary-eyed response from one of the local radio hosts who was impacted by one of the pastors active in the program, and wrote a book about it.
As I read about this, I became curious. How many pastors or leaders here at SI would involve their churches in this program or one like it if it came to your area?
So, let’s hear your responses, folks. What would you do, and why?
1. I would involve our church.
2. I would be happy the gospel is being shared, but would not involve our church.
3. I would be upset that such a coalition of churches exists in my area.
4. I would preach against the program in my church services.
5. Other
The gospel presented is similar to the 4 Spiritual Laws tracts from the old Billy Graham days, but with a somewhat heightened call to commitment to Christ alongside the faith.
Perhaps the most powerful impact is being made by bumper stickers, billboard signs, and other promotion spots where a “Two Word Story” is posted. A Two Word story is a testimony told with the same words used as a “before and after” of when a person met Christ. Examples are “Freedom? Freedom!”, and “Purpose? Purpose.” This sounds like a reductionist gospel, but every billboard sign and poster carries with it a link to www.2wordstory.com, where details are given in video and a credible gospel presentation is provided.
Many, many evangelical churches and organizations are on board. The managing board reads like a who’s who of Metro Detroit Evangelical pastors with great credibility and solid enough preaching, some with a history of separating from liberal denominations. Charismatic involvement seems to be limited to those who can restrain their exuberance long enough to give a clear gospel presentation ;) Health and Wealth Gospel churches seem to not be involved. Billy Graham-style random routing to churches does not occur. Catholic and Sacramental churches are not involved. Involvement only means training people to share the gospel and disciple, and involving your church in community service projects – though it includes the act of association itself. The main website is at www.eachtoday.com.
The program is now expanding to the city nearest us (Port Huron, MI).
Personally, my principles of separatism, though not as exhaustive as that of many here, would make my participation in such a program difficult without MUCH more information and a longer period of observation. But my initial impressions of the program were pretty positive. Fortunately, I am not put in the position of refusing to involve our church. Our church’s isolation from the urban and even suburban areas where this is happening also would make our participation rather pointless. We already do everything they are doing in our rural area, and we are relatively effective at it.
But the program appears to be EXTREMELY effective, and is having an impact, including a teary-eyed response from one of the local radio hosts who was impacted by one of the pastors active in the program, and wrote a book about it.
As I read about this, I became curious. How many pastors or leaders here at SI would involve their churches in this program or one like it if it came to your area?
So, let’s hear your responses, folks. What would you do, and why?
1. I would involve our church.
2. I would be happy the gospel is being shared, but would not involve our church.
3. I would be upset that such a coalition of churches exists in my area.
4. I would preach against the program in my church services.
5. Other
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BTW, I would vote 2. At least for now. I would have to know a lot more, and see only positives, to go with 1.
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
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