Doing a 180
By John Hall | 11.05.09
MESQUITE – Jesus moved through crowds of people, building relationships and changing lives.
Two millennia later, Grand View Baptist Church continues following His model.
Pastor Mike Middlebrooks said he felt God urging the congregation to become more intentional about its evangelism efforts. The church was doing a variety of ministries well, but there was no purposeful evangelism activity taking place. As a result of the lack of evangelistic zeal, visitors were few. The congregation baptized two people in 2008.
Middlebrooks brought a concept to turn the congregation toward its community to the church body in an effort to expand God’s kingdom, and the membership wholeheartedly endorsed it.
The church cancelled its Sunday evening service for six months, and five deacons volunteered to lead cell groups throughout the area, including in homes, an assisted-living facility and an apartment complex.
Through natural gatherings such as dinners, watching football and other efforts, church members are engaging non-Christians and looking for ways to share the gospel.
“I think we’re doing what God has mandated the church to do,” Middlebrooks said. “That is be the church to the people. People are not knocking down the doors to get in here. We need to go where they are. I think that’s the success. God says go.”
The effort – called E180, for the 180 initial days of the effort – also is changing completely what some church members envision when they think about evangelism.
“People get a little anxious when we mention evangelism,” said Middlebrooks, a member of Texas Baptists’ Executive Board. “People think that I want them to stand on a street corner and beat people over the head with a Bible. No, that’s not it. I want people to go out and be real.”
Deacon Clint Gallagher said evangelism happens naturally and easily through relationships. He is excited by opportunities to share how Christ has worked and is working in his life.
“You say evangelism, and a lot of people automatically jump to standing on the street corner or knocking on doors or handing out fliers at Wal-Mart,” he said. “I’ve been telling people evangelism is talking to people. You simply share your story.”
The congregation has become excited about sharing the gospel, Gallagher and Middlebrooks said. In the first four months of E180, the congregation has baptized eight people, and four more are in line to be baptized. New families have become part of the church. Members want to extend the evangelism emphasis.
The church’s outreach effort embodies the evangelistic spirit of Texas Hope 2010, an initiative of Texas Baptists to share the hope of Christ with every Texan by Easter 2010.
“We are going out and meeting the needs of not only the people around our church but in the surrounding communities – be it social needs, be it physical needs, be it spiritual needs,” Gallagher said. “We’re going where they are, and I think that’s what Christ would have us do is go to the masses, if you will. We’re just trying to be obedient.”