Relevant, Radical Mission in the Hood!

O.K. Let's try this again. The below taken from the Lescano's Divisional Newsletter, "Communicare." This is good stuff, relevant, radical mission - making my favorite Scripture portion come alive in the 21st Century. I'm hoping and praying that this becomes a template for others to apply, with the name of the street or section changing, of course - Let's take it viral! Catherine Booth would be proud.

ALTA STREET INVASION

Another innovative evangelistic outreach is being conducted by the Redlands (California) Corps. Named the “Alta Street Invasion” for the particular street near the corps that they are first concentrating on, this outreach is a four-phase program involving soldiers and officers in an intentional and systematic evangelistic effort.

Here are the steps as outlined by C.O. Captain Patrick Lyons:

Four Steps to Evangelical Relevancy

I.                  Invade (Community Presence in Uniform)

a.       Monthly Visitation

                                                              i.      Get Names, Addresses, Birthdays, and Anniversaries. 

                                                            ii.      Develop relationships and friendships. 

                                                          iii.      Have monthly men’s and women’s breakfasts, Children’s Clubs. Etc.

b.      Street Evangelism and Prayer Walks

c.       Perceive Needs

II.                Invest (Serve Helpfully/Meet human needs in His Name)

a.       Birthday Cards/Anniversary Cards

b.      Monthly Children’s Birthday Parties

c.     Be answers to prayer.  If someone needs help with housework, household help, accountability, yard work, getting to the doctor, clothes, food, we do everything we can.

d.      Street Evangelism/Prayer Walks

III.             Instruct

a.       Sunday Afternoon Sunday School

b.      Weekly Neighborhood Bible Study

c.       Street Evangelism/Prayer Walks

d.      Neighborhood Worship Simultaneous with Corps Holiness Meeting

e.       Neighborhood VBS

IV.             Integrate/Infuse

a.       Identify those ready for spiritual commitment

b.      Invite to Discipling Programs (HL, MC, Tutoring, Scouting, YPL, etc.)

c.       Bus/Van Ministries

d.      Integrate Community Believers in prayer Walks/Street Evangelism

                                i.      Train them to assist in the next invasion.

Pray for the efforts of the Redlands Corps as well as that of all our corps as they reach out with the love of God and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Scripture of the Week

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 TM)

God Bless!

Lee & Michelle Lescano