Using Methods That Produce Results
by Dr. Wesley S. K. Daniel, Director, Evangelism Ministries, General Board of Discipleship

Using the right methods and tools for evangelistic and growth efforts is crucially important in the life of the church today. If current methods in growth are not effective and if they are not producing the results you anticipated, then why continue to use the same methods over and over again?

I have always been moved by the parable told by Jesus about the unproductive fig tree. When the owner of a vineyard had not found any fruit on a particular fig tree, he said to the gardener: "Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?" (Luke 13:7, NRSV). With some persuasion from the gardener, the vineyard owner agreed to let the gardener cultivate it some more — with the hope that within a year's time, the tree would once again bear fruit. Here again, we see that the God who calls us to go and make new disciples and grow God's church also expects us to seek and work toward fruitfulness or the bearing of fruit.

Our churches must discard ineffective methods and tools for saving the lost and growing the body of Christ. Such methods exemplify poor stewardship of time, energy, and resources. Many congregations today continue with the same time-worn methods and strategies that are both ineffective and culturally irrelevant. Traditions and methodologies for evangelism, revitalization, and church growth are good only if they bear fruit and produce results for the kingdom of God. Otherwise, they are of no value.

We need to ask questions such as:

• What is our desired result?
• Can our strategy help us arrive at our desired result?
• Is our strategy culturally sound and relevant so that it can help us move forward and achieve our goal?
• Is our strategy focused?
• Is our strategy realistic?
• Is our strategy workable?

You will have other questions that are important for your context.

In our ministries of outreach and evangelism, it is critical to select and choose methods and tools that will help us to achieve the results that will ultimately bring glory and honor to the expansion of God's kingdom.

Posted 4-8-02