Reaching Gen Z

Get ready to learn how to engage Generation Z for the sake of the Gospel! At Marion Baptist Association's November 2023 Lunch and Learn,  Asher Segelken provided insights and practical strategies for how to connect with the next generation based on his research & and experience as a Gen Z CEO. 

Free evangelism Resources

In 2018, Phil Cohn started Saturate USA - an initiative to take the Gospel of Jesus to every home in America.  Phil's organization provides free evangelistic materials to churches to take to their neighbor homes.

Now, Phil is partnering with Jesse Conners, founder of TrueLife.org to provide pastors free access to easy to use evangelism materials and listing their churches in an online church directory on the TrueLife.org website.  Click below for more information. 

Training for Reaching People who Live in Apartment Communities

As Marion County continues to grow in population, the demand for housing is increasing as well. We are seeing historic increases in both single-family and multi-family development. However, the Florida Apartment Association estimates that there is currently a shortage of 3,391 apartments in the Ocala-Marion Metro and that by 2030 the housing unit gap will increase to 12,815. That is why there has been a significant increase in apartment building construction in recent months. 

When it comes to church attendance there appears to be a gap between single-family residents and multi-family residents who attend church worship services on a regular basis. According to a 2010 article in Baptist Press, while 57% of the people in North America live in multi-housing communities, an estimated 95% of them are considered to be "lost without Christ." 

There are numerous reasons for these differences and there are multiple ways churches can bridge the gap. At MBA, we are offering training that will help churches to build outreach, evangelism and discipleship strategies for people who live in apartments and other types of multi-housing communities. For more information about this training and helpful resources available to churches, visit www.reach.mba/apartments. 

What is the Golden Rule of Evangelism?

The "Golden Rule of Evangelism" is the "Golden Rule," Jesus said, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them" (Matthew 7:12). The Golden Rule always works. If you were lost in your sin, how would you want someone who loves and cares about you to share the Gospel of Jesus with you?

Several years ago, while speaking at a Christian college, I shared with the students a process that I called “reverse engineered evangelism.” I developed this system after realizing that most evangelism training begins with the assumption that the person sharing the gospel and the person hearing the gospel are complete strangers and have not had any previous interaction. For most believers, the prospect of sharing something as profound and deeply personal as the gospel with a complete stranger is terrifying. I developed this process after hearing Bill Faulkner ask the question, “How are we teaching people to evangelize the people that they love?” This caused me to think and ask myself, “Why don’t we love everyone that we are evangelizing? Wouldn’t that make evangelism much easier.” So, here is what I shared with the students:

• Evangelize those that you love.

• Love those that you serve.

• Serve those that you know. 

• Get to know those that you don’t (love, serve or know). 

The students responded with enthusiasm and relief. This process incorporates establishing and building relationships, meeting people’s needs, demonstrating the love of Christ and verbally sharing the message of the gospel. On that day, those students conveyed to me that following this pattern of evangelism seemed more natural, less contrived and less stressful. It seemed to be more authentic and less awkward than trying to talk to complete strangers about spiritual life change. In Disciples Making Disciples, we talk more about The Golden Rule of Evangelism and evangelizing the people that we love.  Sign up for this free online course at www.reach.mba/dmd.

Being the Church in the Digital Age

The COVID-19 pandemic expedited digital transitions around the world by about 10 years.  Churches and organizations of all sizes have learned new ways to connect and communicate with people remotely. At our April, 2022 lunch and learn, we discussed best practices for churches for growing disciples of Jesus in this new digital environment.

Lunch and Learn at the MBA Missionary Resource Center is an opportunity for pastors and church leaders to enjoy some food and fellowship while learning about resources available to assist local churches. 

Bless Every Home with Chris Cooper

We had such a great time fellowshipping with each other and learning together at our November, 2021 Lunch and Learn at the MBA Missionary Resource Center. We've had several requests for the video of Chris Cooper's, (founder of BlessEveryHome.com) training that we are sharing it here. If you would like to sign up your church to be a Bless Partner, you can do that through the MBA portal at www.bless.mba.