Outreach

Philosophy of Outreach

We believe that all people matter to God, and therefore to us.  We believe all are lost and separated from God without Christ and destined to eternal judgment.   Therefore, every believer should be motivated at all times to reach out to the lost in our community and around the world through intentional contact, building relationships and personal witness. We believe most people require time to process the Gospel and respond to it. The church will provide events and activities to facilitate this process but these events and activities are not designed to be a substitute for the personal responsibility of each believer to be an intentional witness. We believe that outreach is not separate from the discipleship process but rather the initial phase of the discipleship process. 

"...all are lost and separated from God without Christ."  All people are born sinners and deserving of judgment. All are separated from the God who loves them and desires a relationship with them.  Trusting Jesus Christ alone for salvation is the only means by which a person can be saved from eternal judgment and be reconciled to God.  

"...every believer should be motivated at all times."  Outreach is the responsibility of every believer.  Evangelism is not a program but rather a way of life.  For us to be Christ-like, we must seek the lost as He did.

"...in our community and around the world."  Outreach must always include a balance between reaching our neighbors and reaching the world.  To fail in either area is to fail as a church.                    

"...through intentional contact, building relationships, and personal witness."  Outreach doesn't just happen.  We must be proactive in making contact with unbelievers and influencing them to trust Jesus for salvation.  Personal witness includes both a life reflecting the presence of God and a verbal witness clearly articulating the essential truths of the Gospel.

"...most people require time to process the Gospel and respond to it."  In most cases, people go through a process of events, circumstances and exposures to the truth of the Gospel  before they reach a point of decision.  Our responsibility is not to "close the deal" but to lovingly be a part of the process by planting and watering and letting God bring the increase.

"...events and activities."  Lincoln Berean offers various events and activities to assist in the outreach process.  These events are not designed to be an end in themselves but rather one part of the process of reaching those with whom we have built relationships. 

"...outreach is not separate from the discipleship process but rather the initial phase in the discipleship process."  Evangelism and discipleship are not two separate responsibilities of the church but rather two parts of the same process.  Jesus clearly stated we are to "go and make disciples," implying that evangelism is a part of the discipleship process.  The People Loop is a corporate discipleship process which includes outreach.