UnChurched Friend #1

Interview with Noah

Q. What is the greatest need in your area?

A. Honestly, I live in decent area. I don’t know. I have no need. 

Q. Are you actively attending any church?

A. No sir

Q. What are a few issues or topics that impact/interest you?

A. Economy, music and sociology 

Q. Why do you think most people don’t attend church?

A. Well, being lazy, and everyone has this idea of church being very long and dragged out and being boring.

Q. If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?

A. Location, classes offered and charisma (I know its sad, but true)

Q. What advice can you give to pastors who really want to be helpful to people?

A. Just listen to the people, and don’t guess what they need.

 During our conversation Noah related the church to a Simpson’s episode. In the episode the American church is portrayed as a stiff necked, holier than though, sanctuary for the saints and not a hospital for the sinner as it should be. I was very respectful of his honesty in telling me how it was. Noah was very open and almost proud of the fact that he is not attending church regularly. It seems to me that in America today it should almost be every churches goal to reach people who have been burned by churches. I mean that in the sense that we should all be trying to break that idea of church being the boring home of the religious and constantly trying to meat the need and become all things to all people to be some means save them. I do think that in making a real disciple though at some point they need to pick up their cross and find their place in the church as well. The body is not made up of just one part but of many.I

Guest: Jan Workman (Children’s Pastor of CLA)

 I have been thinking a lot about the struggle for teenagers and children in our society today. We are punishing our young adults today but allowing them to become teenagers.  The power in transforming children to adults is in helping them use their gifts at a young age. When a child enters into the “teen” years without a purpose or any confidence in their gifts and abilities they will do the normal “teen” thing. Which is most often to try anything and everything to find their place and purpose. Jan Workman has given me a new insight into the importance of training the children when they are young. It is so important that we teach them to make the transition from a child to an adult. We have a huge responsibility to help them find their gifts at a young age, get them involved, empower them to lead others, encourage them to take ownership and to become an adult. 

 

Another thing I learned…

 

The heart of being a leader is to raise leaders around you to continue the work. A leader should always be replacing him/herself by building the platform (rising leaders) that he/she stands on. I need to learn this principal! I want to raise up people who have a passion/desire to see this building in better order by taking over my maintenance position.

 

Adams County Prison Ministry

Guest: Chaplain Will Olsen  (wolsen@adamscounty.us)

Adams County Adult Correctional Complex

 

Chaplain Will serves as a missionary for the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry.      He has lead 404 inmates to the Lord in the short 5 years that he has been serving as a chaplain at Adams County Correctional Complex.

 

I was encouraged and reminded of the importance to always follow the Holy Spirits leading. God is the only one who knows a mans heart, if we can keep in tune with the Holy Spirit we may be able to touch on some real heart issues when evangelizing. We must walk with the Holy Spirit power and strength and be with the Holy Spirit as the disciples were with Jesus. When we do so, we no longer need to look only to ourselves for the right words, wisdom and strength.  We have access to a higher counselor! In Chaplain Will’s ministry he has no choice but to rely on the Holy Spirit, if he wants to see any real change in peoples lives. The majority of the inmates are living in spiritual darkness, as Chaplain Will says: “With the spiritual blinds over their eyes”.  We should all learn to rely on the Holy Spirit daily! 

Reaching the Civil War tourists 01/15/09

Guest: John Wega (usccgettysburg.org)

Interview by: Gerry Stoltzfoos

 

John Wega and his family have an unusual  museum on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg, PA.  They teach the history of the Christian Commission to the tourists that visit Gettysburg, as a means of outreach. The Wegas share the gospel every Sunday morning in a civil war style (under a canvas) at a location on Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg. John uses salvation stories from the civil war to reach people for Christ. "We are working to invade a town that is in spiritual darkness, " he says about the ministry, which attempts to usher in a portion of the 3.5 million tourists that visit Gettysburg each year.

 

John has spent a lot of time researching the history of the battle of Gettysburg and particularly the history of the US Christian Commission. He strives to take the focus away from the gloom of the battle, and replace it with the same hope of Jesus Christ that was offered to the soldiers of the war.

 

A lot can be learned from John Wega. There is much value to knowing your surroundings and the history of the people you are trying to reach. It is to your benefit to gain the respect of the local government and authorities. God honors and gives opportunities to people who work for the harvest. The relationship is the key to ever leading anybody anywhere. You will not save anyone if they won’t trust you.