Reaching and Revitalizing Rural America by Influence Magazine

ISSUE 16 / MARCH_APRIL 2018

DANNY DE LEÃ&#x201C;N / TENA STONE / JOE DALLAS

REACHING AND REVITALIZING

RURAL AMERICA When Tragedy Strikes a Community Sexuality Today: the Sacred and the Sane Multisite Trends That Will Impact Your Church

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Influence magazine is published by Influence Resources. Publisher: Douglas E. Clay Executive Director, Influence Resources: Chris Railey Executive Editor: George P. Wood Managing Editor: Rick Knoth Assistant Editor: Christina Quick Senior Editor: John Davidson Contributing Editor: Chris Colvin Designer: Steve Lopez Advertising Coordinator: Ron Kopczick

CONTRIBUTORS Todd Adkins, Melissa J. Alfaro, Warren Bird, Stephen Blandino, Chris Colvin, Joe Dallas, Daniel de León, Dave Ferguson, Marie Khaleel, Rod Loy, Sandra Morgan, Joy Qualls, Chris Railey, Ed Stetzer, Tena Stone, Geoff Surratt, Andy Whaley, George P. Wood

SPECIAL THANKS Douglas E. Clay, Alton Garrison, James T. Bradford, Rick DuBose, Greg Mundis, Malcolm Burleigh

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atthew Collver had no idea what he was getting into. When he arrived in the Denver neighborhood of Park Hill to plant a church, Collver quickly realized that he was planting in a divided community. Park Hill was one of the first integrated neighborhoods in the United States. Unfortunately, that legacy didn’t continue through the decades. “We go to a park north of MLK [Boulevard] and we’re the only white people there. Typically, we go to a park south of MLK and it’s all white people,” said Pastor Collver of The Hills Church. Before even holding a service, he began to look for tangible ways to bless the neighborhood. The church partnered with local schools doing projects like Teacher Appreciation lunches and buying a bounce house that they brought to school events. Building bridges with the local schools paid off when Collver decided to host an event of his own. The church wanted to provide something to the community that helped build unity. “Things that break down barriers are sports and kids.”

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Collver added. His team decided to host a MEGA Sports Camp VBS for area students. Leveraging the relationships that he had built with local schools, Collver asked if his team could distribute flyers to the students. Every school said yes. As a new church plant without a permanent location they needed to secure a spot to host the camp. An elementary school in their neighborhood quickly agreed to let the church use their facilities. The school wanted to partner with Collver to provide kids a safe and neutral territory to learn and play. “We had 85 kids come and only, maybe, 10 were our own,” said Collver. With that many community kids in attendance, the church had a unique opportunity to host and care for people that may never step foot in a church service. For four days, the kids spent time with volunteer coaches gaining sports skills, in team huddles working on character development, and in group rallies being exposed to the Word of God.

The camp culminated on Friday when the church hosted a celebratory barbeque. Collver recalls parents coming up on the second or third day of the camp saying, “My kids love this camp, thank you for doing this for the neighborhood!” As a church plant, volunteers are at a premium. To make sure they had all the volunteers they needed, Collver partnered with other churches and ministries. Some churches sent students from their youth ministry to act as coaches and a few Chi Alpha groups came to serve at the camp. “The curriculum made it easy so I said, ‘Here’s what I need, here’s how many people.’ I was able to get them the curriculum ahead of time and they all came prepared.” The church even brought in a former pro basketball player from the Denver Nuggets to share his story with the students. “We’re going to do it again this year,” Collver said. “We want it to be something we do every year.”

“We had 85 kids come and only maybe 10 were our own”

PLAYBOOK BUILD

Leading as a Hero Maker DAVE FERGUSON & WARREN BIRD

Here are five heromaking practices to take you from being the hero to making others the hero in God’s unfolding story.

ive . . . four . . . Ferguson picks up his dribble . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . Ferguson shoots and scores! They win! They did it! Ferguson’s last-second shot has won the championship!” With my hands raised in victory, I shouted those words in the driveway of my house as a kid. In fact, I created a heroic drama like this hundreds of times every summer. I bet you did too. If it wasn’t a game-winning shot, how did you imagine yourself as the hero somewhere? I believe God put that dream to be a hero within each of us as our way to make a difference and leave our mark on planet Earth. Jesus’ death was heroic. Jesus told His Father, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42), and then He stretched out His arms and gave His life for us. But Jesus didn’t stop with being a hero. He made heroes out of His closest followers. We

“

know that Jesus was a hero maker by how He allocated His time and energy as a leader. One researcher says the Gospels put threefourths of their emphasis on the training of the Twelve. He calculates that from the time Jesus told the Twelve that He’d teach them to multiply (Mathew 4:19) until His death, Jesus spent 73 percent of His time with the Twelve. The point: Jesus’ ministry emphasis, where He put the biggest amount of time, was with His twelve leadership residents. He was mentoring them so they would do greater things. This included multiplying themselves through others.

Who Are Today’s Hero Makers?

The single biggest obstacle to movementmaking impact like this is a leader who is stuck always needing to be the hero. For most, it’s tough to give up that status. Too often our best difference-making

efforts are oriented around positioning ourselves as the hero. You could easily hear the following from any well-meaning Christian leader or maybe yourself: “When I heard about it, I went to the hospital, and I led Juanita in a prayer to receive Christ.” “So I texted the benevolent ministries team, and I got a check and hand-delivered it myself.” “It seemed ministry was going nowhere, until God gave me an idea that has taken it to a whole new level.” None of these responses are evil or even wrong. In fact, many of them remind me of myself. Way too many times in ministry, I’ve jumped in with “I’ve got it!” and it never occurred to me — until too late — that I was blocking other people from the privilege and joy of serving in their sweet spot. I was the hero, not the hero maker. What if the opposite happened? “When I heard about it, I called Maria, because Juanita lives in her neighborhood. Maria went to the hospital and wound up leading her in a prayer to follow Jesus.” “So I texted the benevolence team and asked if they’d write and deliver a check. You wouldn’t believe the joy that Charlie and Joe reported after they hand-delivered that gift.” “It seemed like that ministry was going nowhere, but I challenged the leadership team to seek God together. They came up with an idea that has taken the ministry to a whole new level.” Hero makers shift from being the hero in their church’s unfolding story to expecting others to be the hero. Hero making is something anyone can do, and when accompanied by a leadership gift, it becomes explosive as it is replicated in the lives of many.

Five Hero-Making Practices

Great idea, but how do you do it? 1. Multiplication thinking. This is a shift in thinking. You move from thinking the best way to maximize ministry is through your own efforts to understanding it is through developing the leadership of others. We see

this in the life of Jesus in Acts 1:8. When Jesus casts a vision for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, He tells His followers, “You will be my witnesses” to explain that He is going to do it through them. 2. Permission giving. This is a shift in seeing. You take the focus off your leadership and see the leadership potential in the people around you. You give them permission to fully engage in the mission. We see this in the life of Jesus when He says to a group of ragtag working-class fellows, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19). Jesus saw in them a group who could change the world. 3. Disciple multiplying. This is a shift in sharing. You share what you know to help others follow Jesus, but you also share your life and invest in the development of leaders who do the same for other leaders. We see this in the life of Jesus as He spent three years primarily with 12 people (John 3:22). 4. Gift activating. This is a shift in blessing. You ask God to bless the gifts He has given you and to bless the leaders you have developed as you send them out. The most obvious example of this is in Matthew 28:16–20; Jesus is turning over the leadership of the Movement to His closest followers, and He tells them, in effect, “I have all authority and will use it through you as you go!” 5. Kingdom building. This is a shift in counting. You are no longer only concerned with who is showing up at your thing; you count who is doing God’s thing. Jesus told His followers, “Seek first his kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). They heeded this admonition, and all that mattered was what God was keeping track of as the Jesus mission was being advanced around the world. With these five practices, God will use you to change the world. Each practice depends on your willingness to continually ask, “Am I trying to be the hero, or am I trying to make heroes of others?” Adapted from Hero Maker by Dave Ferguson and Warren Bird. Copyright © 2018 by Dave Ferguson and Warren Bird. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com.

Dave Ferguson is a spiritual entrepreneur and the lead pastor of Community Christian Church, an innovative multisite missional church with 11 locations in the Chicago area.

Warren Bird, Ph.D., is director of research and intellectual capital support at Leadership Network and author/co-author of 29 books for church leaders.

PLAYBOOK KNOW

Preparing and Modeling Mission in Your Ministry ED STETZER

Here are three ways pastors can prepare and model missions.

e have a gap problem in evangelical churches today. According to a study I led at LifeWay Research, 72 percent of unchurched people believe the church is “full of hypocrites,” but 78 percent said they would be willing to listen to someone who wants to share what they believe about Christianity. Yet, not a lot of people are actually having the conversation with the 78 percent who are willing to listen. When LifeWay Research asked Protestant churchgoers how many times they shared with someone how to become a Christian in the last six months, the most common answer was “zero.”

Source: LifewayResearch

Few are talking — and someone needs to model the way.

You Have the Power

The greatest factor in missional engagement in a church is the local pastor. Pastors have the practical responsibility to prepare and train the church for ministry. They have the God-given organizational authority to lead and oversee a local church. They also have the spiritual responsibility to disciple their congregation toward repentance, faith and mission. Your people are following, but where are you leading? There are often roadblocks and distractions when it comes to reaching the unchurched and the dechurched. Practical needs of running a church — such as budget, counseling appointments, conflicts and other duties — seem to get in the way of ministry. It’s tempting to become distracted by the need for measurable growth, perfecting worship services, and the next event to boost the church’s reputation. Many times, the roadblocks (which you can’t control) and distractions (which you can control) make missional engagement nearly impossible.

You Have a Decision to Make Source: LifewayResearch

And, when asked whether they invited their friends to attend church, the numbers didn’t get much better. 24

I believe the enemy’s primary strategy against the Church is not to turn pastors toward deviant sin or errant theology, but to distract us with (seemingly) good commissions that pull

us away from the Great Commission. Events, sermon series and children’s programs honor God. But in the absence of your congregation reaching friends and neighbors for Jesus, programs are idols that take the place of the Great Commission. It’s easy to say, “I’ll do this when X happens,” or, “I’ll have time once I do X.” If you wait until there are no more fires to put out, you won’t prepare your people for missional engagement. The first step is a spiritual change — a growing conviction that intentionally spending time with the lost is something the church must do. The Great Commission is more vital than the good commissions you turn down. Next, there must be a rational change to embrace the benefit in preparing for mission. Statistically, churches see more people come to Jesus when they reach the unchurched. “The number one predictive factor, according to researchers: Churches with more converts tended to attract and keep more unchurched people,” LifeWay Research reported. “Pastors of churches with the most retained converts were more likely (35 percent) to say half of their congregation used to be unchurched. That dropped to 18 percent for churches with the fewest retained converts.” After spiritual and rational change, there must be a volitional change with how you spend your time. Whatever you value will be what you devote your energy to. This decision will come at a cost, but if it’s the most important thing, your calendar (and the church’s calendar) will reflect it.

How to Prepare and Model Mission

If you’re convinced of the need for a shift, the next question is, “How?” Here are three ways. Reach your neighbors. Change begins with you. The fruit, challenge, and heartache you experience on mission for your neighborhood will overflow into how you lead your staff, disciple your people, and preach in your pulpit. Consistently, host community events at your house, and go to your neighbors, invitation in hand. Use these events to feed into a

In the absence of your congregation reaching friends and neighbors for Jesus, programs are idols that take the place of the Great Commission. Bible study that explores faith in Jesus. This will force you to block time in your family’s schedule to be present as missionaries in your neighborhood. Invite others. As you start to develop this rhythm, invite key church leaders. This will deepen your relationships with them, and give you a chance to model how to lead an evangelistic-focused community. As they show gifting, let them coordinate the event at your home. Give them an opportunity to facilitate spiritual discussions. This puts church members in relational proximity to nonChristians in the community, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in them and you to identify areas of growth and discipleship needed to carry this vision forward. Learn the language. Listen closely to three things with your neighbors: what they celebrate, what they mourn, and what stories they tell. Just like overseas missionaries learn the language of a foreign culture, you should learn the language of the people you are trying to reach. Use this knowledge to model your teachings and disciple-making, and speak directly to the mission field around you. These beginning steps help bridge the gap that people often feel. Many have had negative experiences in church, or tangential experiences via the media or entertainment industry, but have not encountered the true life of Jesus expressed through His followers. Opening your home, modeling the love and simplicity of the gospel, and creating a safe place to ask questions about God and faith can help awaken unbelievers to the love of Christ — and believers to the spiritual needs in the community. It begins with you, pastor. As you speak the gospel to your neighbors, your church will follow.

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Billy Graham chair of church, mission and evangelism at Wheaton (Illinois) College and executive director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism. 25

PLAYBOOK INVEST

Cultivating Generous Givers ANDY WHALEY

Here are three important steps to create a generosity movement in your church. 26

enerosity is a key that can unlock doors for the spiritual growth of givers, as well as improve the economic health of a church. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a powerful onetwo punch that releases freedom and growth. Cultivating generous givers in the church is important, but it can seem daunting. Whether you prefer to do it yourself or hire a consultant, consider these three important

steps in your generosity strategy: model, teach and challenge. The strongest way to lead a generosity movement is to model it yourself. Authentic leaders help create a culture of generosity by demonstrating obedient, joyful giving. People in the church want to learn the way of following Jesus, and they need to see their leaders transparently demonstrating it. Modeling generosity can be as simple as sharing what God has done in your life as an obedient giver. Teaching principles of generosity in the church is the next step. Though teaching this is important, many pastors donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to touch the subject. I commissioned Barna Group to find out how many pastors preached

Andy Whaley is senior vice president of marketing at AG Financial Solutions in Springfield, Missouri.

on giving/generosity over the course of a year, and why they did, or didn’t, preach on it. Of the 600 senior pastors in the research study, 77 percent had preached on stewardship and giving, with nearly a quarter of the group avoiding the subject. I was pleased to see so many preaching on it, but there are still many missing out on this key ingredient for church growth. The pastors who did not preach on giving shared their reasons. Some felt it was not a necessary topic. Others said giving is only for mature believers. Still others were simply uncomfortable talking about it. Of those who spoke on giving and generosity, almost half of the pastors reported an increase in giving in their church. Just over half either said giving stayed the same or they were not sure of the outcome. Regardless of whether you have preached on generosity, there’s always a time to start, and there’s always room for improvement. One area that many pastors skip over in their teaching is the basics of giving and the differences between tithes and offerings. Many people in our churches are just starting their giving journey, and they need to know how tithing is different than the offering they occasionally give. If you want to go to the next-level, incorporate the concept of above and beyond giving in your teaching. This area of giving is typically for mature tithers wanting to partner with the church in a greater way. An example of this is Kingdom Builders, the giving platform Rob Ketterling started at River Valley Church in Minnesota. Maybe you’ve spoken about tithing or generosity but haven’t seen the results you were hoping for. Try a different approach. Mark Batterson once challenged nontithers in his church to start tithing and watch how God blessed their lives. Three hundred people accepted the challenge. Over the course of the following year, giving was up 40 percent, and there were countless stories of spiritual growth and miracles with the new tithers. Another creative option is implementing a Dollar Club. I recently visited Cross

When encouraging people to grow in generosity, make sure you weave the vision of the ministry into your language. Money follows vision! Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and was impressed when I saw the impact of its program. Here’s how it works: The members are encouraged to give one $1 above their monthly tithe, and the funds are used to bless someone in need every month. (Check out the Dollar Club videos at crosspoint.tv/dollar.) Lindsey Molander, the Dollar Club coordinator, said, “The Dollar Club has been successful because it is a tangible way for people to make an immediate difference. They see that a contribution, no matter how small, can make an impact in the world.” As an optional twist, encourage your church members to give the equivalent of $1 a day throughout the year. Just think of what your ministry could accomplish in your community if each family gave $365 above the tithe for outreach efforts! Don’t hesitate to challenge your congregation to step up in faith and do something bold for the Kingdom. There’s an excitement and joy that comes with giving to something that aligns with your values, and everyone is able to take even a baby step in the right direction. When encouraging people to grow in generosity, make sure you weave the vision of the ministry into your language. Money follows vision! Cultivating generous givers in the church is a crucial ingredient in the growth and health of a church. Don’t worry if you haven’t preached on generosity yet. It doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to feel awkward. Have fun with it! Try something different. Start with a smaller group, such as your staff, and see what God can accomplish in people who grow in obedience and generosity. Expand the generosity movement from there, and celebrate the God-stories along the way.

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PERSPECTIVES

One issue, two perspectives on matters affecting today’s church

Should Small Group Curriculum Be Self-Directed or Church-Directed?

mall groups meet at least one of the fivefold functions of the church: fellowship. However, the best small groups fulfill multiple functions. Small groups can gather to worship and pray together. Small groups can be places where people receive Christ as Savior. Small groups can spearhead missions work, both in your community and around the world. And they should certainly provide discipleship for members.

hen I think of small groups, I immediately think of the leaders who dedicate their time to gather with their people each week. Without competent, committed leadership small group ministry will fail. In fact, the most successful small group pastors don’t spend most of their time studying and writing curriculum or even advertising their groups. They’re the ones who invest energy in recruiting, training and mentoring small group leaders. So, if the focus of successful small groups is on leadership, that’s where the emphasis should stay. In the recruitment and training of these leaders, their leadership skills are vital. That requires you as a pastor to empower and entrust them. Providing a one-size-fits all curriculum each week could send the opposite message. But when you entrust them to lead in all areas, including curriculum, they will not only embrace that responsibility, but they will also own the vision of the whole church within their group. Empowerment goes beyond just saying, “You can do this.” There is a theological component involved. Each believer is a holy priest (1 Peter 2:9). That means God empowers them to lead — in their homes, workplaces and the church. That doesn’t mean they work independently of the authority of

the local body. But it does mean you can trust them to make good decisions about topics of study each week as long as you are actively discipling them as leaders. The key reason to empower your small group leaders to decide for themselves on a course of study for their group is, quite frankly, because leaders know their group best. As they walk through life together, praying for the needs in the group, and helping during difficult seasons, leaders come to know what type of study will resonate best. Also, their group dynamics are likely unique to a specific age group or social setting. For instance, they may lead a college-age group or a senior adult group. In a sermon-based setting, if the lead pastor is preaching on parenting for six weeks, that topic might not be the most relevant one to either of those groups. And relevance is important in small groups. The point of meeting is more than just the study; it’s also about fellowship, praying for one another and bearing one another’s burdens. The topic of study should support those goals without getting in the way. Trust your leaders to know how best to accomplish that, and you’ll find groups who are healthy and growing.

SELFDIRECTED

ONE ISSUE. TWO PERSPECTIVES. As part of the discipleship pathway, small groups should attempt to achieve excellence in the curriculum they follow. Plenty of books and resources are available. But there are two ways to proceed when it comes to choosing small group materials. The first is a church-led approach; the second is a self-directed one. Some churches allow their groups complete liberty in choosing their course of study. It’s up to the individual leaders, with minimal input from the small groups pastor. Church-led curriculum, on the other hand, comes directly from the church to the leaders each week. It is often based on the pastor’s sermons, but it doesn’t have to be. In this Perspectives, we look at two options for selecting small group material. But regardless of which option you choose, it’s important to provide good training and correction when needed to make sure each group is following theologically accurate and practically beneficial studies each week.

mall groups in your church are a powerful way to disciple believers and encourage one another. They are also a great way to continue strengthening the mission and vision of your congregation in the community. But that means leading them from the top down, especially when it comes to choosing curriculum and study topics. One major flaw in an unsuccessful small group ministry is a lack of structure. If the members are unclear about meeting times and locations, if the meetings are sporadic, or if the group setting is disorganized, the group is unlikely to stay together. In the best scenario, the small groups pastor will step in and provide enough stability and structure to facilitate the needed growth and cohesion. One way to accomplish that is for the staff to carefully structure and prepare curriculum. The most popular church-directed structure is to provide sermon-based curriculum. Each week, the pastor prepares additional material, questions or discussion topics based on his or her preaching notes. Then, the

church sends that material to the small group leaders. This accomplishes two things. First, it allows the small group leaders to feel fully prepared, even with minimal study or preparation. Additionally, it ensures that each small group will have quality discussions. Sermon-based curriculum also gives you the power to focus on one single message each week. That message is first presented in your weekend sermon, and is then reinforced throughout the week in small group settings. When leaders have multiple options for study, you may have multiple messages presented. Sometimes, those messages could contradict or run counter to one another. Aligning small groups with the one message from the church each week keeps everyone on track. Finally, your church is one church, not myriad groups tied together. The church should focus on the one thing that God wants it to hear each week. When you use sermon-based curriculum, you are telling your people that their attendance at the weekend service is a vital part of being one church together. And unity of message lessens the danger of division and dissension among your people. The mission of your church is to grow the Kingdom together, not to create several individual kingdoms. What better way to remain unified than by keeping everyone on the same page?

CHURCHDIRECTED

FEATURE COVER STORY

R EAC H I N G A N D R EV I TA L I Z I N G

RURAL AMERICA Are we taking the gospel mission seriously in seemingly underserved places? TENA STONE & ED STETZER 32

understanding. We must see the myriad people in rural America as more than just a distant demographic. They are individuals and communities with real opportunities and challenges. Particularly as the Church, we must look with clear eyes and with the mind of Christ. When we hear the term “rural,” we should think of a unique group of diverse individuals made in God’s image, broken as we all are by the Fall, and in need of the redemption that only Jesus offers. It’s easy to look where we don’t live and make assumptions that are both inaccurate and dehumanizing. It’s worse when assumptions become judgments. And it’s most concerning when we develop our mission from them. Here are three problematic misconceptions.

Cultural Homogeneity

The first misconception is that rural America is basically all the same. In truth, the rural landscape represents millions of people with as many individual stories. They live in diverse communities, each with their own cultures formed by geographic boundaries, local industries, regional history and more. Each of these communities makes a unique contribution to the national tapestry. Each also has unique struggles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies rural as the 15 percent of our population (over 46 million people) who live on 72 percent of the land. The vastness of the geography alone creates massive diversity!

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU’S URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, 2012

URBANIZED AREAS URBAN CLUSTERS RURAL

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from the U.S. Census Bureau

e live in a world of paradoxes. As in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, it is the best of times and somehow also the worst of times. It appears to be the age of information and knowledge, yet proves to be an age of foolishness. It is an era of belief and a time of faithlessness, a season of light in a world of complete darkness, a spring of hope amidst the winter of despair. This seems to be the narrative of many churches in America, but especially in rural America. The story of rural America is one of grit, resourcefulness, independence, craftsmanship and sheer determination. It is the story of community, lifelong relationships and family bonds. This image holds a nostalgic place in many hearts. Those who live in, or have spent significant time in, rural areas may have witnessed its endurance — the warm-heartedness of neighbors, the firmness of family values, the closeness of relationships and community. There are still examples of this today throughout rural America. It is a wonderful narrative to embrace and catalyze in ministry and mission, an ideal worthy of aspiration. But it is not the full picture. There is another story of rural America, and it is much more troubling. J.D. Vance called our attention to this last year in Hillbilly Elegy. It is a story of a struggling, aging, diminishing and sometimes decaying culture. It is a story of limited resources in communities abandoned by a population that has clambered to its cities. It is a story of losses in industry, government, philanthropy and even the church. It is a story of growing poverty and challenges with healthcare and addiction. It is a story of dramatically disintegrating family structures. This story is also part of the picture. Facts are our friends. And sometimes facts are hard to hear. Statistics validate the more negative perspective, even more so in recent years. Rural churches are at a crossroads. They are facing paradigmatic shifts, which, without the Spirit’s guidance, will lead to the dying of many more churches. After decades of near invisibility in the shadow of the urban mission enterprise, the term “rural” is rising again into the public consciousness. This was especially apparent in the last presidential election, which seemingly gave voice to many who were largely absent from the public discourse in the media. Generalizations and caricatures must give way to true

The Census Bureau provides a statistical definition of rural, based strictly on measures of population size and density. According to the current delineation, released in 2012 and based on the 2010 decennial census, “rural areas comprise open country and settlements with fewer than 2,500 residents. Urban areas comprise larger places and densely settled areas around them. Urban areas do not necessarily follow municipal boundaries. They are essentially densely settled territory as it might appear from the air.”

Within this diversity are complex economic issues that are important to understand when looking strategically at mission and ministry. Some rural counties are scenic retirement and vacation destinations. These areas are often a blend of abundant wealth and abject poverty, where industrialism has given way to the service or tourism industry. Rural counties in America’s “breadbasket” tend to be static communities that maintain agriculture as an economic engine. These counties may be remote and isolated. Areas within the Rust Belt between the mountainous Northeast and Appalachian South have suffered massive job losses with a declining industrial base. These counties have seen a dramatic shift within a single generation as coal specifically, and industrial opportunities in general, declined in America. Additionally, rural areas are home to multiple ethnicities and increasing cultural diversity. Hispanics comprise approximately 9.3 percent of the rural population, and African-Americans account for just over 8 percent. Ethnic diversity in rural areas tends to cluster geographically, depending on language resources (such as ESL training), housing developments in proximity to schools, and familial ties. Rural areas in the Southwest have higher numbers of Hispanics and African-Americans. In some rural counties, these ethnic populations are considerably higher than their overall national average, bearing witness to the increasing need for a different view of rural communities than our past or fleeting perspectives have painted. In recent years, we’ve accepted the concept that every city has its own unique personality and socioeconomic areas within its geography. When we move from city to city, we can tell we are in a different place. The people, food, local industries and interests tell different stories — and point to the need for different outreach approaches. From New York to Nashville, to Denver to Los Angeles, local stories, pains, struggles and history inform mission. The truth is, every place is like that, no matter how big or small. To paint any people with a broad brush is not to see them for who they truly are. Knowing that a place is rural does not mean you know its heart or its needs; it simply means you know its broadest classification. Stopping there would be like hearing someone’s name, then assuming you know them intimately without asking any further questions. Rural communities have distinct cultures we must get to know, one community at a time. We cannot go on mission in a community if we don’t learn its complex history, understand its present reality, and desperately long and labor for its future to thrive with the hope of the gospel. 35

Idyllic Life The second misconception is that rural America is doing fine, while the inner cities alone are in decline. Though the general population of rural communities is diverse, there are challenges that are increasingly pervasive and common among many of these people groups. This is due in part to national trends in population migration. Over the past century, the U.S. has seen ongoing urbanization. In 1900, roughly 35 percent of the population lived in metropolitan areas. Today, that number is 86 percent. Urban sprawl has overtaken many formerly rural counties, transforming and reclassifying them. Fewer than 50 million people currently live in the 1,976 counties that remain classified as non-metro today, and the collective population within those counties is shrinking. The result is a smaller American countryside comprised of slower-growing counties with a reduced and stagnant economic potential. Despite a resurgence of jobs and rising wages since the economic downturn of 2008,

recovery in rural America is slower. In fact, rural employment rates remain below pre-recession levels. A 25 percent decline in rural manufacturing caused 700,000 jobs to disappear between 2001 and 2015, with many of these jobs moving overseas. The jobs that do exist offer significantly lower salary rates than those in urban places. Rural areas are also lagging in education and healthcare. Even as national education levels increase, there is a widening gap between the number of urban and rural dwellers with college degrees. The Demographics Research Group at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia reports that since 1990, college graduates living at the center of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50 largest metro areas soared by 23 percentage points, while in communities 30 miles away, the rise was merely 10 points. The gap grows as one continues to move further out from the city. This is due in part to the relocation of those who obtain degrees to find more economic opportunity. Rural residents also tend to be older and sicker than

The rural church is not the cul-de-sac of a marginalized mission, but an important pipeline for the strengthening of the church in all of America. their urban counterparts. When wealth and college graduation rates are lower in a community, it limits overall financial access to preventative healthcare. People with lower incomes simply donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see a doctor when they are not (yet) sick. This is not the only cause of overall health decline, however. After adjustment for age, we still see that the level of accidental deaths in rural areas is 50 percent higher than in cities. High-speed traffic-related accidents explain some of this, but so does opioid abuse and overdose deaths, which are highest among poor and rural populations.

A 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the suicide rate is higher for farmers than veterans. There are many possible reasons for this, but it seems the mental health of our rural brothers and sisters is in as much peril as their economic, educational and physical health. All is most certainly not right. Altogether, this does not bode well for the future. If the trend continues, it will not only lower the rural population but increase its dependence on urban growth and economic well-being for supplementing the needs in the country. There will be fewer rural wage earners to support those who depend on them, including children and retired family members. And a communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shrinking population is not just a demographic and economic challenge. It also means the culture is in danger of dying. The ethos of a community is dependent on its collective memory. Places become what they are because of the people in them. Families pass down traditions from one generation to

the next, and a town’s character forms. What happens when the people are gone? Their memories and shared experiences go with them. Some areas may experience a revitalization of sorts, with a new character and culture forming in place of the old one. But for many, the town’s soul quietly disappears, leaving a shell of former vitality. This can be disconcerting for the remaining people who live and work there. They aren’t just selfishly pining away for the good old days. They are grappling for their center of gravity. This is the antithesis of the notion that rural America is doing fine. Our rural friends are not experiencing an idyllic lifestyle in contrast to urban struggles. In reality, rural America is in a perilous position — perhaps in greater danger of decay and decline than many cities. This requires the urgent attention and prayers of Christians. If we want to be on mission, we must take these challenges into account and approach them with understanding and empathy.

Gospel Saturation

The third misconception is that rural America doesn’t need another church. The migration trend toward urbanization has defined church planting for the last century. As people continue to move into the cities, urban church planting remains important. However, that does not negate the desperate need for churches in rural areas. In his book, Small Town Jesus: Taking the Gospel Mission Seriously in Seemingly Unimportant Places, Donnie Griggs writes, “Small-town America has fallen apart. Maybe it is not directly because of our focus that has primarily been on urban centers. That is certainly debatable, but what is not debatable is that small towns are just as in need of great leaders and great churches as any big city is. Is this a surprise to us who believe Jesus is the only hope for all people everywhere?” Many small communities have multiple church steeples rising high into the sky, but what about the average attendance in their pews? One excellent tool that answers this question is The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), which maintains the U.S. Congregational Membership Report by county and compares it with U.S. Census data. A quick look at rural zip codes through this tool reveals that the number of people not attending any church in rural counties is much more significant than many of us would guess. Research shows that, regardless of geographic location, life-giving congregations and mission-minded, energetic churches that are active and engaged in their community are still needed in every rural county. A 38

“Christian presence,” particularly one that is about nominal identity rather than engaged participation, is simply not enough in rural America. There is a need for church vitality with a missional focus. The so-called Bible Belt and other rural areas are not even close to reaching a gospel saturation point. But let us not despair. There is a great opportunity for us in rural America, as there is an evident need for preaching and discipleship. The rural church is not the cul-de-sac of a marginalized mission, but an important pipeline for the strengthening of the church in all of America. These statistics may seem discouraging, but they represent an opportunity for the Church. We should interpret them as a call for another Great Awakening — one that embraces the potential and steps out in obedience, faith and expectation. We must also remember that just because the facts seem grim does not mean there is an absence of good. People living in rural communities are image-bearers of God. In many places, you will find the remaining individuals locking arms and caring for one another with genuine depth, sincerity and love. This is

an expression of the gospel, and when these attitudes are redeemed under the Person, work and lordship of Christ, there is no telling how mighty and impactful these communities can be. But it will require a countercultural movement that intentionally invests in rural communities. Going on mission doesn’t mean arrogantly barging in with expert advice from the outside as if we have all the answers. It means learning the questions and problems, becoming a part of the community, and seeing the beauty that comes from relationships in such a setting. As the challenges mount and people start going into these areas, we cannot just stand back and encourage the work with distant shouts. We must strategically create systems of support. Just as we looked to the big cities and began to think together about how we could reach them 100 years ago, we must do this now for small towns. The expertise to reach these areas often comes from within them. It takes a unified effort of the Church — both inside and outside rural America — to bring together the knowledge and resources to advance God’s mission.

The voices of those who have a passion for reaching rural communities are beginning to coalesce, and this is a good thing. We are forming a missiology that has a heart for the vast territory we refer to as rural in our country.

Models of Hope

Multiple voices have articulated a burden for this area, and they are no longer distant and inaudible. Many of these leaders grew up in rural areas and have answered God’s call to return and minister there. In his book, Transforming Church in Rural America: Breaking All the Rurals, Shannon O’Dell writes, “For centuries, the rural church has been isolated and insulated from the greater Body of Christ by the sheer realities of geography. Those days are gone. There’s absolutely no reason that we cannot be networking together as leaders — those who are resisting the urge to settle — by sharing resources, encouragement, wisdom, and vision. We do not have to do it alone anymore; together we can do so much more and do it so much better.” O’Dell pastors a church in Bergman, Arkansas, 39

population 407. His church is now the hub of a rural church network spanning 13 facilities throughout Arkansas and Texas, with another campus in Russia. Pastor Jon Sanders is another church planter and pastor who’s waving the flag for rural ministry and church planting. In April 2009, he and his family left Peoria, Illinois, to launch a ministry in Flandreau, South Dakota. That year, Jon received a call from God to reproduce

life-giving churches in rural communities across South Dakota, the Midwest and the world. Utilizing Facebook Live, The Rescue Church now meets in five communities and has started an online training course, Small Town, Big Church, to help support and equip other rural pastors. Bryan Jarrett, lead pastor at Northplace Church (AG) near Dallas, is a voice of influence and encouragement for the rural church. At the first annual Rural Matters

Rural America Resources Rural Matters Institute. Rural Matters Institute is a community for pastors and Christian leaders that provides support, learning, and community for those working in non-urban contexts in North America. It is an institute of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton (Illinois) College. For more information, visit: bgcruralmatters.com.

Water Tower Leadership Network. God has given Bryan Jarrett and the people of Northplace Church (AG) in Sachse, Texas, a big heart for underresourced and overlooked pastors of small towns in rural America. The Water Tower Network mentors and trains rural pastors by investing in their families, coming alongside their churches, and training them for the challenges of rural ministry. For more information visit: lonesomedovetexas.com/pastors /.

Rural Compassion. Convey of Hope in Springfield, Missouri, has expanded its compassion and training outreach to include rural communities through the initiation of a unique ministry called Rural Compassion. The mission of Rural Compassion is to equip rural churches and pastors to reach their communities. For more information, visit: ruralcompassion.org.

Rural America Ministries Network. Rural America Ministries Network (RAM) provides ministry, resources, and support to pastors, churches and communities in rural America by working with a cooperative network of ministry affiliates currently involved in rural ministry and outreach. For more information, visit: ramnetwork.org.

Conference last September, he challenged leaders and pastors representing more than 16 denominations and networks to change how they think and talk about rural churches. Jarrett has seen firsthand the impact life-giving churches can have in rural areas. That is why Northplace Church launched the Water Tower Network in 2012. This ministry helps support and train rural leaders and pastors. Jarrett sees clearly the challenges, but also the astronomical potential, in rural communities and is determined to reach the forgotten fields of North America. Organizations like OneHope and the Assemblies of God, and the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, have begun to call together rural church planters and leaders. One major struggle of the rural church-planting movement is that most of the known and celebrated resources and authors are coming out of cities and urban contexts from the past 100 years of urban focus. Mainstream church-planting resources are often unhelpful, and rural church-planting strategies are markedly different from strategies for any other context. However, with more than 48 million people in rural America, there is an emerging and encouraging movement to plant churches in rural areas. Specialized resources for rural church planters are being developed. In April 2017, the Billy Graham Center launched the Rural Matters Institute. This organization is providing the support, training and community for those working in nonurban contexts, in partnership with other faith-based organizations. Since 2003, Convoy of Hope’s Rural Compassion has been partnering with community leaders, organizations and churches to provide training and resources to help meet needs in rural places. “I’m consistently awestruck by the depth of poverty we see in rural American towns,” says Steve Donaldson, senior director of Rural Compassion. “I’m equally inspired by the determination and grassroots solutions in those same towns.” In smaller communities that lack essential resources, the local church has the opportunity to be the Church in a way that is highly relevant and deeply needed. Christians belong in the space of need and desperation because we carry a message of hope that is vitally needed in those contexts. The rural environment provides a space to add an increasing impact with a much smaller footprint. In the city, even churches that are growing can struggle to feel relevant amidst a crowded field. In rural areas, when a life-giving church is planted, everyone knows, and many are impacted by even small opportunities for service and

With more than 48 million people in rural America, there is an emerging and encouraging movement to plant churches in rural areas. assistance. A growing church in a shrinking town will not stay a secret for long. And its work may even help a community find life again. It’s time to set aside misconceptions and embrace the facts — no matter how hard they may be to hear. The Holy Spirit is directing our hearts to the divine purpose of engaging in this opportunity for rural ministry. We must trust God for His harvest, believing He will turn the tide on darkness. Statistics point to pain and struggle, but we know of a story that will wipe away all tears. We can’t just cognitively know these communities. We must love them as Jesus does. We must see the challenges and seek to meet them, as Jesus saw our desperate need and met us where we were. We must acknowledge the pain and walk with people through it, as Jesus identified with our pain. We must be willing to put down roots and make ourselves part of the community, just as Jesus became one of us. To deliver the message of Jesus, we must go. We must be and live as sent ones. It won’t be easy. But now is the time. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Tena Stone, Ph.D., is the director of research and training at OneHope, serves as a primary researcher for the Rural Matters Task Force in North America, and is part of a church plant in rural Georgia.

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Billy Graham chair of church, mission and evangelism at Wheaton (Illinois) College and serves as executive director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism.

FEATURE

S E X U A L I T Y T O D A Y: T H E S A C R E D A N D T H E S A N E JOE DALLAS

Our ability to offer and explain what our Creator intended regarding sexuality makes us more relevant than we may realize.

here’s immorality, and then there’s madness. During times of immorality, people deviate from standards of behavior, standards most are aware of, but some choose to ignore. We might call that rebellion, maybe even licentiousness. But we’d also understand that while some have drifted from their moorings, the moorings themselves exist, recognizable and still accessible, even to those who’ve spurned them. Then there’s a season of madness, a state of anarchy that is not so much a rejection of moorings as it is an absence of them altogether. In such times, people aren’t necessarily in rebellion against an established standard, since the lines defining such standards have become so blurred many no longer see them. Rather, they’re now concocting subjective — sometimes whimsical — standards of their own, defining, as they go along, not only what is right, but what is. Today’s culture does not say, “I shake my fist at the rules.” It says, “I make the rules.” This difference between immorality and madness cries out for attention in 2018 — particularly from the Church, which in its true countercultural tradition, has a God-given commission to hold to, live out and express biblical norms. That commission couldn’t be more urgent. Consider, for example, the blurring of once-universal definitions of male and female. While nearly everyone formerly respected these terms as signifying biological (and irrevocable) status, an increasing number now view them as changeable, or subjectively determined, or coexisting with other equally valid classifications of sexual identity. Anatomical characteristics are now only part of the picture; the rest comes from ever-changing or broadening classifications of gender identity — that is, how you view and identify yourself, despite what you may be physically. Thus, many not only do what is right in their own eyes, but they also claim they can become what is right in their own eyes. Facebook now gives users the option of choosing a preferred pronoun (“him,” “her,” or “them”) and customizing gender identity for their profiles. The social media giant — which previously offered some 60 gender identities, including “neither” (neither male nor female), “gender fluid” (moving randomly or situationally from one gender identity to another), “two-spirit person” (both male and female), and “other” (for those who haven’t found a definition that captures their feelings) — now has

a fill-in-the-blank feature for users who want to name or invent a new gender identity. Other developments are like a frightening variation of “name it and claim it,” with people abandoning their obvious state (and attendant responsibilities) after selecting, then pursuing, a self-determined identity. They claim to be something, regardless of reality. For them, the final validation arises from the claim alone. Society doesn’t always celebrate such claims, as former professor Rachel Dolezal discovered. While teaching Africana studies at Eastern Washington University and leading the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, Dolezal — a Caucasian woman by birth — presented herself publicly as African-American. People readily accepted her false representation for years until local reporters outed her as |having two white parents. She defended her decision to pass as black based on her identification with

Today’s culture does not say, “I shake my fist at the rules.” It says, “I make the rules.”

African-Americans, an identification she has continued to maintain. But social approval of arbitrary reidentifications of self or marriage is growing, as examples of the practice spread and, in many instances, push the boundaries further than anyone could have imagined. A 52-year old husband and father in Canada abandoned his family and was “adopted” by another who accepts his self-identification as a 6-year-old girl. After 12 years of marriage, a Texas couple announced their plans to divorce so they could form a three-way relationship by including a second woman into their union. A married gay male couple in New York invited a woman into their relationship, declaring themselves bisexual and “homoflexible.” In 2010, The New York Times published an article about the common practice of open marriage among male married couples, with one source suggesting the rejection of monogamy would eventually influence heterosexual couples to adopt such “innovation in marriage.” And just when it seems things can’t get any more outlandish, the boundaries blur again. In an astonishing example of self-identification run amok, one

transgendered individual surgically altered himself through ear removals, tooth extraction, horn implants and the forking of his tongue in his quest not only to become female, but to become a female dragon. Such cases are perhaps extreme examples rather than common trends. Yet they reflect the madness of the times, as noted by PJ Media’s Tyler O’Neil: “This is what happens when a culture rejects the Christian (and generally rational, even scientific) understanding of sexuality and biology in favor of the mantra ‘if it feels good, do it.’” While the transformation from man to “dragon” is bizarre, can a culture reject such fantasies for long while simultaneously claiming that some people are transgendered and must live as a member of the opposite sex to find happiness? We can laugh, ignore or turn away from all this in disgust. Or we can assume responsibility as God’s expression on earth (Ephesians 2:10) to speak to the madness and invite people to emerge from it. Doing this means rising to three simple challenges: the challenge to know truth, the challenge to live truth, and the challenge to express and defend truth.

The Challenge to Know Truth

We’re gravely mistaken if we assume that because someone attends an Assemblies of God church, he or she must know what the Bible says about something as basic as human sexuality. There is, in fact, confusion within our own ranks as to what constitutes a sexual sin, how serious such a sin may be, and what (if anything) we should do about it. Our congregations must therefore reiterate the authority of Scripture over all parts of our lives, the physical and the sexual included, and know what God has said. Lest there be any doubt, God has said a great deal about sex, both in extolling it and in condemning its misuse. Indeed, 22 of the 27 books in the New Testament contain prohibitions against sexual sins, including, but not limited to, lust, fornication, adultery, homosexuality and prostitution. The apostle Paul notably expected the Ephesians not to allow even a hint of sexual immorality among them (Ephesians 5:3), and he warned the Corinthians that sexual sin is unique in its violation of the very body committing it (1 Corinthians 6:18). The first recorded account of church discipline occurred due to an overt sexual sin within the congregation. When addressing this sin, Paul expressed more indignation toward the church permitting it than toward the man committing it (1 Corinthians 5:1–13). 45

This puts our position regarding sex in the category of an essential rather than a secondary doctrinal issue. We must discuss essential issues in all aspects of church life, from our Sunday Schools to our discipleship groups to our pulpits. This is true first because Scripture extols sexuality in marriage as good, and as a type of God’s relationship with His people. That alone warrants us giving it due attention in our teaching and preaching and in our curriculum. But there’s also the issue of relevance, and while it’s safe to say sex has always been a relevant topic to believers in particular and to people in general, this is especially true today. As a culture, we’re wrestling with the need for emotional safety balanced with a desire to express ourselves sexually in virtually any way we see fit. Thus, we seek emotional safety without covenant, security without monogamy, the right to lust freely without the prerogative to express any sexually inappropriate thoughts to a person who may be uninterested or unwilling. In short, we’re becoming, or have become, quite schizophrenic. (One wonders, for example, when the Hollywood elite will recognize the absurdity of rightfully objecting to unwanted sexual advances toward women, while simultaneously pumping out film after film sexualizing women of all ages in every conceivable way.) It’s hard to imagine a time crying out more loudly for voices of clarity. But the ill-informed can hardly voice biblical clarity, and if the problem of biblical ignorance is rampant (would anyone argue that it isn’t?), then it logically follows that ignorance of biblical sexual truths is rampant as well. Therein lies the challenge to know, by learning early in life, what God meant when He looked on Adam and Eve in their raw, innocent sexuality and pronounced His creation “good.” He is a God of covenant, craving relationship with His own, a desire wonderfully expressed in the passion a man and woman experience and celebrate within the safety of a monogamous, permanent union. Tragically, in humanity’s fallen state, much of what God intended has been perverted or obscured. That’s why we must teach, at all age levels, how to exercise self-control when our desires try to take us outside God’s parameters. We can teach compassion for those who struggle to live in obedience, while equipping all our people with tools to manage their own temptations and conflicts when they arise. We can teach grace and respect for those who hold to different world views and standards, while educating our own on how to defend our standards in a time when those standards are treated with unprecedented contempt. 46

That is the challenge to know, one we can waste no more time in rising to.

The Challenge to Live Truth

The Gospels reveal that few things seemed viler to Jesus than hypocrisy. His blistering words to the teachers of the law and Pharisees showed a divine, acidic revulsion toward people promoting one thing while doing another (Matthew 23:13–39). Elsewhere in Scripture, Nathan articulated such revulsion when he pointed out the damage David’s sin did to Israel’s credibility (2 Samuel 12:14), as did Paul, who noted that those who privately commit the wrong they publicly decry discredit truth in the minds of the very people who sorely need it (Romans 2:22–24). That being the case, we can hardly be content holding the right positions on pornography, homosexuality, fornication and adultery if we ourselves are not adhering to the positions we hold. This has been one of modern Christianity’s greatest weaknesses: a high zeal for promoting morality, without an accompanying level of zeal for moral consistency. In conversations with gay activists over the years, many have pointed to the numerous leadership scandals the church has weathered during the past few decades, the high numbers of Christian men regularly using pornography, and the disregard untold numbers of young Christian couples have for biblical injunctions against sex before marriage. “How,” they often ask, “can you with any integrity object to homosexuality because it’s sin, while you people are so cavalier about other sexual sins condemned just as plainly in that Bible you say you obey?” Boom. Just as the philosopher and psychiatrist Alfred Adler said, “It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than it is to live up to them.” Of course, not all or even most Christians are guilty of moral duplicity, but the number who are is wildly, clearly unacceptable. Certainly, it should come as no surprise that Christians face temptation. We expect that. What perhaps holds us back from the holiness we all should experience is our reluctance to admit the existence of sexual temptations, a reluctance setting up many of us for continued, tragic failures. For that reason, we would do well, within our own ranks, to assure that people not only receive instruction in how to overcome temptations, but that they also have access to safe places in our churches to confess temptations when they occur, before they evolve into tragedies. A church clearly articulating its positions — exhorting

A church clearly articulating its positions — exhorting its people to live out those positions, while offering practical ministry to people struggling to do so — fulfills the challenge to steward our sexuality and, indeed, our humanity, with integrity and power. its people to live out those positions, while offering practical ministry to people struggling to do so — fulfills the challenge to steward our sexuality and, indeed, our humanity, with integrity and power.

The Challenge to Express Truth

Reasoning with a world so bent on rejecting biblical morality often feels like spitting into the wind. We must remember, though, that human need hasn’t changed, nor have the answers Scripture provides to meet it. With that in mind, we’re challenged to communicate truth about human sexuality in the midst of a current and growing madness. We can do so by applying to a number of social concerns Dr. Phil’s well-used question, “How’s that workin’ for you?” If people should accept porn as a harmless outlet, how’s that workin’ for you? Poorly. The pornification of our society has verifiably led to shifting attitudes about relationship commitment, sexuality, and promiscuity, to name a few of its multiple negative effects on users. If casual sex is harmless, how’s that workin’ for you? The nonprofit American Sexual Health Association estimates that half of sexually active young people today will contract a sexually transmitted infection by age 25. Reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. increased every year between 2009 and 2016 (the most recent year for which data is available), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The direct cost of treating STDs in the U.S. is $16 billion annually. The CDC estimates there are 20 million new infections each year, with half of those occurring among young people aged 15 to 24. If the idea of saving sex for marriage is out of date, how’s that workin’ for you? Nearly half of firstborn children are now born to

unmarried moms, and 82 percent of out-of-wedlock births are the result of unplanned pregnancies, U.S. Census data reveal. According to Pew Research Center, 31 percent of children in single-parent households were living below the poverty line in 2014, as were 21 percent of children living with two cohabitating parents. By contrast, just 10 percent of children living with two married parents were in poverty. In fact, nearly 6 in 10 children with married parents lived in households with incomes at least 200 percent above the poverty line. If cohabitation is a suitable alternative to marriage, how’s that workin’ for you? Linda Waite, a sociology professor at the University of Chicago, conducted an extensive study on the effects of cohabitation and found that cohabitating men and women are more likely than married people to experience partner abuse, infidelity and poverty. She further concluded that cohabitation is an “unstable living arrangement” for children. Numerous studies also suggest that living together prior to marriage increases the likelihood of divorce, a phenomenon known as the “cohabitation effect.” If transgendered teens should be encouraged to reconstruct their bodies to match their perception, how’s that workin’ for you? Not well. While parents feel pressure from many sources, including schools, to allow their transgendered adolescents to dress, act and even take drugs to conform their bodies to the sex with which they identify, studies indicate most of these same kids will outgrow their gender identity conflict, usually before they leave their teenage years. So why encourage injections of hormones and bodily mutilation to resolve what’s likely to resolve itself naturally? If society should legitimize same-sex marriage, how’s that workin’for you? It depends on whom you ask. Clearly, many gay and lesbian people value their access to marriage. Yet research indicates children fare better when raised by a biological mother and father. For instance, according to a 2012 study by an associate professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, young adult children of same-sex parents “reported significantly lower levels of income, poorer mental and physical health, and poorer relationship quality with a current partner.” Each sex brings to the parenting table specific strengths unique to their status as males or females. Further, numerous studies — including a 2017 report from researchers at Bowling Green State University — reveal 47

relationships among heterosexuals last markedly longer than those of homosexuals, despite the legal status and societal acceptance of gay marriage. In the face of such evidence, it is neither homophobic nor unfair to ask ourselves whether the social experiment of same-sex marriage is truly working. To raise these questions is to invite people to reason with us, a practice the times also both call for and inhibit. In today’s atmosphere, the shouts of the mob often forbid any attempt at reason. But there are, as always, people with genuine questions about faith and sexuality whom we can reason with, offering some general points that may stimulate both dialogue and curiosity about the

ReStory Ministries hen someone in your church says, “I’m gay,” how will you respond? ReStory Ministries is a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation endorsed by the Assemblies of God to equip AG churches in ministering to people and families affected by LGBT and gender-identity issues. ReStory was founded by a group of individuals, each of whom was impacted in some way by LGBT issues. Some have spent decades ministering to gay, lesbian and transgender people. They know these are issues the Church can’t hide from, and they know churches can do more to help those affected. ReStory offers curriculum, educational materials, seminars and consultations to equip pastors and leaders to respond effectively when a member of their congregation says, “I think I’m gay,” or, “My daughter just announced she’s a lesbian,” or, “My best friend is transgender — how should I respond?” ReStory’s monthly webinar series is available exclusively to AG leaders and members to help believers address the issues of homosexuality and gender identity with compassion, confidence and clarity. The webinars are free, but registration is required. To learn more about ReStory, and access its resources, visit restoryministries.org.

Christian view of sex: Creator, contrast and covenant. It’s reasonable to assume we are created beings, a point many will accept as logical. It is also logical to assume our Creator would have intentions for our existence, since no one creates anything without purpose. And since the Creator chooses not to speak audibly to most of us, it’s likewise reasonable to assume our Creator would inspire certain authors to document His intentions. Part of what the writers of Scripture documented repeatedly is the Creator’s desire for contrast in the sexual union, a contrast recognizing the complementary nature of the male and female, and thereby also prohibiting a limitation of that contrast via homosexual pairing. His creation of us as males and females bespeaks foreknowledge and deliberate choice, making any attempt to distort that divine choice an act of defiance and mistrust. Even more frequently, the Bible documents the Creator’s understanding of, and insistence upon, the safety of covenant. God didn’t intend for women to give themselves sexually to a man and then wonder whether the relationship would go anywhere after that. God never wanted men to view women as objects to conquer. And the emotional vulnerability accompanying sex makes it an experience best kept in the context of the safety of permanence of marriage. These are simple concepts we can offer while reasoning with the world, persuading others that God loves them and wants a relationship with them, and that they can live most effectively by aligning themselves with His purposes and options. Our sexual apologia — a reasoned and clear articulation of what we believe about sex, and why — is sorely needed, however vilified or censored it may be today. While we are still able to present it, striving for the best ways to communicate it while never neglecting our primary obligation to live it ourselves first, let us prayerfully and eagerly step up, and speak out.

Joe Dallas is an author, conference speaker, and pastoral counselor. He’s the program director of Genesis Biblical Solutions in Tustin, California, which is a counseling ministry for men dealing with sexual addiction and other sexual/relational problems. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the author of the daily blog Joe Dallas Online. Joe is the father of two sons, and he and his wife, Renee, reside in Orange County, California.

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FEATURE

FOUR SURPRISING

MULTISITE

TRENDS THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR CHURCH

What does multisite mean for your church? To answer that question, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at four developing trends in multisite churches across the country. GEOFF SURRATT

ne afternoon in 2001, my brother Greg and I were playing our normal poor level of golf while we discussed the weekend crowding problems at Seacoast Church, where he was (and is) the lead pastor, and I was an associate pastor. At that time, Seacoast did five identical weekend services, but we were out of room. Parking was a nightmare, the children were stacked like cordwood, and the main Sunday morning services were standing room only. We’d tried to build a larger building, but the town council had turned us down. We were stuck and out of ideas. Somewhere around the ninth hole, one of us had an

idea. (Greg says it was his idea; I say it was mine. We’ll sort it out in heaven.) What if we turned the retail space down the street we were renting for classrooms into a small auditorium? We could form an additional worship band and hold simultaneous services. We had heard about a few churches using video teaching in multiple locations. What if we tried it in Charleston, South Carolina? We didn’t think it would work, but we were out of other ideas. So, on Easter Sunday 2002, we opened the annex (the name was lowercase because we were just that cool). To our surprise, the place was packed. The people connected with the music and the message, even though it was a

With the advent of PACs, multisite is no longer just a vehicle for a few megachurches. It is an opportunity for almost any church to consider. low-quality video recorded at a service the night before. That fall, we opened a second offsite location 100 miles away. We thought, If this works here, it might work anywhere. We were stunned when that site filled up as well.

We realized that God was up to something big, but we had no idea how big the idea of one church in multiple locations would become. Within a few years, Seacoast had 12 locations spread across three states, and weekend attendance tripled. As we connected with other multisite churches through Leadership Network (leadnet.org), we began to feel we were at the beginning of a groundswell well beyond what we were seeing in South Carolina. By the time Greg Ligon, Warren Bird and I wrote The Multi-Site Church Revolution in 2006, our feelings were confirmed as we heard about churches around the world using our book as a template to open multiple locations. Now, with multisite churches popping up everywhere, the question is no longer, “Is multisite effective?” The question is, “What does multisite mean for my church?” Multiple locations certainly aren’t for every church, but every church needs to consider the implications for their community and congregation. So, what does multisite mean for your church? To answer that question, let’s look at four developing trends in multisite churches across the country.

From Niche to Mainstream

When Seacoast Church opened its first offsite campus in 2002, multisite was almost unheard of. Although the idea of a church meeting in multiple locations goes back hundreds of years, there were very few examples in America. Many leaders told us that it couldn’t work, that it was a bad idea; some even said it was unbiblical. Fifteen years later, multisite has become one of the biggest developments in the Western church. According to Leadership Network, there are more than 8,000 churches in America that consider themselves multisite. Over five million people, 9 percent of all Protestants, attend a multisite church every weekend. It is rare to see a large or fast-growing church in America that isn’t multisite or considering opening additional campuses. The Assemblies of God has also seen an explosion of churches with more than one location. At the 2009 General Council in Orlando, Florida, the Fellowship adopted a resolution to empower churches to expand their ministries by establishing new local churches, known as Parent Affiliated Churches (PACs). Less than 10 years later, 450,000 people — 22.5 percent of all AG church attenders in America — go either to a parent church or a parent affiliated church every weekend. Last year, 60 percent of new Assemblies of God churches were PACs. With the advent of PACs, multisite is no longer just a vehicle for 55

Rather than simply a strategy for growth, multisite has become an opportunity for evangelism. a few megachurches. It is an opportunity for almost any church to consider.

From Necessity to Opportunity

Early in the multisite movement, high-profile churches like North Point Community Church near Atlanta opened additional campuses simply to relieve crowding at their primary sites. It became impractical to build a larger auditorium, so they launched new sites in areas where the church already had large pockets of attenders. Each time North Point launched a new site in the Atlanta area, the original location again filled to capacity. This began a cycle of growth and expansion based on necessity. Soon, however, churches moved from opening sites to relieve crowding to looking for opportunities to fulfill vision. One of the pioneers in pursuing a multisite vision was Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church (NCC), an Assemblies of God church located in and around Washington D.C. Several years ago, Batterson 56

shared a vision of opening a campus near major train stations throughout the D.C. area. Today, NCC has eight locations scattered throughout the region, most of them strategically located near Metro stops. Other churches began to see communities without enough healthy churches as potential locations for additional sites. Church leaders also felt the call to open locations in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, where a decade earlier churches left for the more affluent suburbs. Rather than simply a strategy for growth, multisite has become an opportunity for evangelism.

From City to Rural

In the beginning, multisite seemed limited to fast-growing churches located in the suburbs of large cities, but in the past few years, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen multisite spread out from the suburbs into rural America. According to the 2016 All Church Ministries Report, more than half of the parent and PAC churches in the Assemblies of God are in

medium-size or smaller towns. Church leaders are discovering multisite as an opportunity to reach populations few consider — people living in small towns. One of those leaders is Pastor Cody Cochran. Several years ago, Cochran was surprised to receive a request from the pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Anson, Texas (population 2,329): Would he fill in for a couple of weeks while the pastor went to visit his family in San Antonio? Cochran agreed to lead the church of 13 while the pastor was out of town. During those two weeks, the pastor had a stroke, and the local congregation asked Cochran to take over. Seventeen years later, he’s still there. Little by little, the church began to grow as it focused on authenticity and serving its community. People started driving to Bethel from as far away as 90 miles. Nearly 50 people were making the 45-minute commute from Sweetwater, Texas, every weekend to be a part of the church. In September 2014, Carter Edmondson, an associate pastor who lived halfway between Anson and Sweetwater, launched Bethel’s first offsite campus in Sweetwater. Six months later, another church donated a $750,000 facility for the new campus. In 2015, Bethel launched its third location in Albany, 45 minutes east of the original site in Anson. Today, more than 800 people, spread across three small West Texas towns, attend Bethel. “I believe multisite is the greatest hope for rural America,” Cochran says. “We are not graduating many kids out of our colleges who have a desire to pastor in rural America

Churches with as few as 150 attenders have successfully launched new locations, or merged with existing churches. The key isn’t the size of the church; it’s the health of the congregation. 58

where the economy is horrible, the towns are drying up, the worship team consists of a stand-up piano, and the pay is slim to none. Plus, culture is huge in rural America. If a pastor shows up in Anson, Texas, driving a Prius, drinking a double skinny latte, and wearing a pair of skinny jeans with no socks, he isn’t going to make it long in rural America. Many rural towns with a population under 2,000 already have an AG church, but eventually those churches are going to need a pastor. One of our goals at Bethel is to raise up and disciple young men and women who can go into those churches with a mind to progress, but also with a mind to care for the existing sheep.”

From Mega to Micro

While multisite church often seems synonymous with megachurch, the reality is smaller churches are opening additional campuses as well. Churches with as few as 150 attenders have successfully launched new locations, or merged with existing churches. The key isn’t the size of the church; it’s the health of the congregation. A growing church with an abundance of leaders and a strong budget is a good candidate for multisite, regardless of weekend attendance. Not only are smaller churches going multisite, but the ideal size of a site is shrinking as well. One of the fastest-growing trends in multisite churches is the move to microsites. Rather than a church building, theater or school, microsites gather in smaller locations, like homes, coffee shops or clubhouses. Often, they view content from the parent church that is either live-streamed or prerecorded. The leaders in microsites are almost always volunteers, and they focus on connection and discipleship rather than creating a large weekend experience. Typically, a microsite will gather 10 to 50 people for a weekend service. There is little expectation that these sites will ever have a building, multiple ministries or a paid local pastor. Another development making multisite an option for smaller churches is the inexpensive availability of technology to stream church services live to the internet. If a church has a camera and an internet connection, it can now stream its services online. Many churches have a dedicated host for their internet “campus” to moderate chat during the service and to provide care for those watching online. Some churches focus primarily on bringing the Sunday service to those who can’t attend a physical campus that weekend because of health or travel, while other churches see the online experience as a valid expression of a local congregation.

What About Your Church?

Multisite is no longer just a niche strategy for rapidly growing suburban megachurches. God is using multiple locations to enable churches of every size and demographic to spread the gospel to their communities and beyond. While multisite certainly isn’t a solution for every church, there are several questions that might be applicable in your situation: • Would it be more effective and efficient to open an additional location rather than building a new facility? • Is there a demographic or community without a healthy church where you could start a site? • Is there an AG church in your area that might benefit from a PAC relationship with your church? • Is there a healthy AG church you might approach about becoming a parent church to your congregation? As I stood in that rented storefront on Easter Sunday

2002, I never dreamed that the little experiment we were trying in Charleston, South Carolina, would become part of a template used to reach millions of people around the world. All I knew was that God was using our difficult circumstances, limited resources, and barely qualified leaders to tell His story in a new way. I wonder how He will use those same elements in your church to revolutionize your world?

Geoff Surratt coaches churches and leaders around the country after serving in executive leadership at Seacoast Church, Saddleback Church and Exponential. He and his wife, Sherry, recently released a book, Together: A Guide for Couples Doing Ministry Together. He is also author of The Multi-Site Church Revolution, and other titles. Find him online at MinistryTogether.com or on Twitter: @geoffsurratt.

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MULTIPLIERS Leaders leveraging their gifts for God’s kingdom

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

e all face obstacles in our ministries. In this Multipliers, you will meet four women who have overcome barriers by staying true to the path God has placed them on. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s always been rewarding. Dr. Maria Khaleel was called at a young age to pastor. Leaning on the faithfulness of God, she proved herself faithful during difficult times in her early ministry. She did so by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit within her, something she is teaching her congregation at New Life Assembly of God in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She leads with a confidence and boldness that can only come through the Spirit’s prompting and power. Dr. Melissa J. Alfaro knows the challenges young girls face today. As the Girls Ministries Director for the Texas Louisiana Hispanic District, she encourages them regularly to follow their dreams. Balance is the key to seeing those dreams to fruition. A full-time pastor and now an executive presbyter, she knows

the importance of keeping family, others and God in proper focus. Dr. Joy Qualls saw her dream come true when she landed a job working for a U.S. senator. But God had another path for her. Instead of putting up a roadblock, she followed His lead into education. Now she clearly sees how academics and ministers can work together powerfully. Dr. Sandra Morgan is well acquainted with the influence academics and pastors can have on one another. She previously ministered as a missionary to Germany and Greece, and now serves as an activist against domestic violence and human trafficking. She sees her role not just as an activist, but more as an equipper and educator, helping others proclaim freedom to the captives, just as Jesus modeled. What obstacles do you think are insurmountable in your life? Let these women’s words give you the confidence and boldness you need to follow through on God’s plan for you.

Chris Colvin is a contributing editor to Influence magazine and specializes in sermon research for pastors and churches. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife and two children.

MULTIPLIERS

Confidence and Boldness in the Spirit A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H M A R I A K H A L E E L

“I didn’t specifically set out to plant a multicultural church, just to reach my community.”

Maria Khaleel has been facing obstacles since the beginning of her ministry. But she’s never allowed them to distract her from the work to which God has called her. Khaleel is senior pastor of New Life Assembly of God in Pembroke Pines, Florida, a church she planted 25 years ago. Today, it is the largest church in the Fellowship pastored by a woman. But the church’s effectiveness is even more telling. Each year, an average of 300-plus people are saved at New Life. And more than 80 percent of the congregants are baptized in the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit has given me strength and boldness that no matter what, I can say along with Paul that the point of any suffering I’ve had was to make me a more capable minister,” Khaleel says. When she was saved and called into the ministry at a young age, she wasn’t concerned about her gender standing in the way. “Coming from a Catholic background, I didn’t know any women in ministry except for nuns,” she says. “But my family had heard Kathryn Kuhlman speak many times. So those were the only examples of women in ministry for me, but they were powerful ones.” Real obstacles came, though, when Khaleel stepped out. As a young woman looking for a ministry position, the only offers were for full-time work at part-time pay. And there were some who discouraged her from even seeking credentials. But faithfulness in those places gave Khaleel the confidence and favor she needed later. “If I had not accepted that part-time position, the door wouldn’t have been opened to

Dr.

plant New Life,” she says. The church started with Bible studies in Khaleel’s home, before launching with more than 150 people in the first service. Within one year, the church had grown to two weekly services, and within two years, an average of 400 people were coming through the doors every week. New Life is incredibly diverse, with 30 different nationalities represented in the congregation. “Our church was multicultural from the beginning,” Khaleel says. Born and raised in the Caribbean, diversity seemed natural for Khaleel. “I love diversity,” she says. “I didn’t specifically set out to plant a multicultural church, just to reach my community. And my community is multiethnic.” Khaleel believes the congregation should reflect the community — so that the faces in church each week look as diverse as the ones in the stores, on the streets and around town. Her advice for those facing obstacles in ministry is to rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit at every turn. “The Bible says that faithful is He who has called you,” Khaleel says. “If God has called you, be faithful to Him, and He will bring every obstacle down.” Khaleel’s ministry success is a testament to that faithfulness.

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MULTIPLIERS

Balance and Influence A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H M E L I S S A J . A L F A R O

“It’s not about taking every good door, but learning to discern the God doors in your life.”

Melissa J. Alfaro is excited about the new opportunities that await her as a newly appointed member of the executive presbytery of the Assemblies of God. But she’s also making the most of the opportunities already on her plate. From pastoring alongside her husband at El Tabernaculo Asambleas de Dios in Houston to speaking weekly into the lives of young women as the Girls Ministries director for the Texas Louisiana Hispanic District, how does she keep it all together? “Balance is the key,” Alfaro says. “It’s not about taking every good door, but learning to discern the God doors in your life.” Those God doors opened for her early in life. It was during a retreat for pastors’ kids at the age of 15 that Alfaro sensed God calling her into full-time ministry.

Dr.

“I can still remember the pastor’s face in my mind,” she says. “As he called kids down to the altar that night, I said, ‘God, my life is Yours.’” From that moment on, Alfaro’s life has been one adventure after another. “God told me that night, ‘All you have to do is say yes; I’ll do the rest,’” she recalls. And He has, although the path to where Alfaro is now has not been a straight line. The first curve was when Alfaro entered education before focusing on ministry. She spent nearly 10 years working in the public school system as an ESL teacher and middle school ESL coordinator. It was during that time that God stretched her leadership muscles, preparing Alfaro for larger tasks ahead. “I love to teach, coach other teachers, and anything concerning the aspects of school leadership fascinate me.” That education background now extends into her ministry. Leading leaders is often about educating them, according to Alfaro. But it’s also about journeying with them. One of the biggest obstacles Alfaro sees facing ministers today is burnout. She says there is an inherent danger in trying to take on too much. She experienced this early on as a newlywed, juggling grad school and a full-time job while also staying busy in the church. “In leadership, there’s a temptation to keep going to the point of burnout,” Alfaro says. “We need to lean into God and His strength.” Despite the demands of ministry, it’s crucial for church leaders to model balanced living, she says. “We can’t cultivate a habit in others that isn’t already in us,” Alfaro says. Leaning into God and letting Him set the pace not only helps leaders steer clear of frustration and burnout, it also aligns them with God’s true path for their lives, she says. Wherever God leads Alfaro in her ministry and professional life, she always returns to that moment in her teenage years when He invited Alfaro to say “yes” to Him. “There has to be a ‘yes’ in your voice,” she says. “If not, then you’re limiting what He wants to do.”

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MULTIPLIERS

How Ministers and Academics Can Work Together A Q&A W I TH J OY QUA LLS Joy Qualls, Ph.D., is the chair of the department of communications and associate professor of communications at Biola University in La Mirada, California. At a young age, she felt God calling her to something great. It wasn’t until after achieving her dreams of working in Washington, D.C., that Qualls realized just what that something was.

“We need to focus on reinvigorating the life of the Word so that the life of the Spirit can be in the forefront.”

INFLUENCE: Your journey has taken you from the halls of Congress to the halls of the university. Did you anticipate such a route? JOY QUALLS: Definitely not. It all began with an internship with a North Dakota senator. During my senior year of college, I took a break to join his reelection campaign. That eventually led to a role that was specifically made for me. Working in D.C. was my dream job. I loved it, but my heart was torn. It was what I had always dreamed of, but it wasn’t what I really wanted. One day, I was praying while walking from the House to the Senate in the Capitol, and I heard God say, “I’ve given you everything you’ve wanted. But are you willing to walk away from it all for what I want for you?” I didn’t look back. I left my job, took a position as a church secretary in Virginia, and within a year completed my Ph.D. From there, I’ve been in the classroom, and I’ve never been happier. What did you learn in politics that prepared you for ministry? The real lesson is that politics is everywhere. We would love to escape it, but we really can’t. The word “politics” often gets a bad rep, but it’s really just the way we organize ourselves

and how those systems function. How do we negotiate our relationships with each other, and how do we do that as people who claim to represent God? In the church world, we use those systems for the greatest good of all: the Great Commission. How can the church and academics work together for that greatest good? There has been a tension between academics and scholars, going all the way back to the beginning of our Fellowship. The fear was that if we focus too much on the life of the Word, we’ll abandon the life of the Spirit. So we need to focus on reinvigorating the life of the Word so that the life of the Spirit can be in the forefront. Pastors, ministers and leaders have a great opportunity to partner with academics for the gospel. Just imagine what would happen if we got together in helping disciple new believers. What does that type of gospel work look like to you? Pastors and academics need to build relationships with each other. How do we systemize gifts and leaders and programs to make this happen? Pastors should be building their own base of knowledge, but also inviting scholars and theologians to speak and teach on a multitude of topics. This creates a way for us to do life in such a way that makes others want what we’ve got. That’s the art of the gospel.

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MULTIPLIERS

Activist and Catalyst in the Community A Q&A W I TH SANDRA MORGAN Sandra Morgan, Ph.D., is a former missionary to Europe and the current director of the Global Center for Women and Justice at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. She also oversees the Women’s Studies minor at Vanguard, where she teaches on family violence and human trafficking.

“If you want to be effective in any area, especially human trafficking prevention, you need to educate yourself.”

INFLUENCE: When we see the damage of human trafficking, even in our own backyards, what should our first response as church leaders be? SANDRA MORGAN: Reactionary responses create problems down the road. Many times, a church will become aware of a devastating issue and want to jump in and do something right away. A lot of times that means doing a special service, bringing in a guest speaker, and taking up an offering. And then the church will wash its hands of the issue, thinking it has done its part. A better response is to create systems and programs to tackle all these issues, including family violence and human trafficking. What is the best way to go about that in our churches? When you combine best practices with biblical principles, you have a sustainable model. At the Global Center for Women and Justice, we work to give pastors a path they can follow in their own way that is biblical, ethical and makes a real difference. This is not an issue you can solve with a bestseller on Amazon. You have to build relationships. Where can we build the best relationships to address these issues? They have to be top-down and across the aisle. Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 is not to go, but “as you are going.” In the same way,

if we are to make disciples, we need to be building relationships. As you go in the world and connect with other leaders, find ways to create partnerships that are lasting and influential. I have worked in America, Istanbul and Iraq with leaders from diverse Christian backgrounds, from the Church of England to the Eastern Orthodox Church. We may not agree on everything, but start where we do agree. Like turning a big ship, it takes incremental moves. What role does education play in all of this? The Assemblies of God has long been an advocate of higher education. If you want to be effective in any area, especially human trafficking prevention, you need to educate yourself. We provide training by way of Beth Grant’s Hands that Heal book, as well as courses on how to identify and respond to domestic violence and trafficking. How do you see yourself as a social activist and community leader? I really don’t, actually. I see myself more as a catalyst — charging and equipping others to do the action. Whenever we see an imbalance of power in the world, there’s a risk for exploitation and abuse. It’s not always physical. It’s often financial. But Jesus’ leadership model is proclaiming freedom to captives. We all follow that model in our own way. Just like Elisha in 2 Kings 4 who empowered the widow to find her own resources, and just like the neighbors who offered up their jars to fill with oil, by equipping and empowering, we are helping others find freedom.

So a kid just got saved . . .

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MAKE IT COUNT An eight-week study for leadership teams

WHAT IS MAKE IT COUNT?

Week after week, you invest time and energy into making every Sunday count. But you also have to think about staff meetings, board meetings, and meetings with key volunteers and other church leaders. Juggling so many meetings can seem overwhelming, especially as you think about developing the leaders around you. Effective leaders are continually looking for great leadership content they can use to develop and mentor other leaders. Make It Count is a powerful, little tool to help you accomplish just that. Each Make It Count lesson is easily adaptable for individual or group discussion, allowing for personal application and reflection among your ministry leaders and lead volunteers. The lessons are useful as devotionals in board and staff meetings and in departmental meetings with your lead volunteers. Studying and growing together is key to building strong and healthy relationships with

your team members, and it is a necessary component to building growing, flourishing churches. These lessons can help you make each moment count as you lead and develop the leaders around you. The following eight, easy-touse lessons on keys to building influence are written by Stephen Blandino, lead pastor of 7 City Church in Fort Worth, Texas (7citychurch.com). He planted 7 City Church in 2012 in a thriving cultural arts district near downtown Fort Worth. Blandino blogs Blandino regularly at stephenblandino. com and is the author of several books, including Do Good Works, Creating Your Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Culture, and GO! Starting a Personal Growth Revolution.

e’ve all heard the statement, “Leadership is influence.” Like it or not, it’s true. As one of the spiritual gifts (Romans 12:8), leadership is about influencing people, teams and entire churches toward a God-inspired vision. The good news is, even if you don’t have the spiritual gift of leadership, you can still build influence with others. This is important because regardless of where you land on the organizational chart, your job is to influence people to follow God into the places He is leading. That brings us to this question: How do you build influence? Not for your own gain. Not for your own glory. But how do you build influence in a God-honoring way that will allow you to advance a God-glorifying vision forward? In this “Make It Count,” we’ll look at eight practical ways to build influence. These eight keys are organized into two categories. The first four are connected to who you are. In other words, influence is built by the kind of person you choose to be. To build

Eight Keys to Building Influence STEPHEN BLANDINO

influence, you must be trustworthy, be a listener, be a learner and be a servant-leader. The second four strategies for building influence are connected to what you do. In other words, influence is built by the actions you intentionally take. To build influence, you must develop people, solve problems, over-deliver and act courageously. When leaders take these eight steps, influence naturally grows. In fact, as you will see, the motive behind many of these strategies is not to build influence. Instead, increased influence is the natural byproduct of these strategies. For example, we don’t listen to people, serve people or solve problems so that we can build influence. But when we do those things, people tend to follow us more readily. Influence is the reward they give us for leading well. These eight lessons will help you, and your team, build influence in a biblical and God-honoring manner. As you embrace each key, keep your heart pure and cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in and through you.

HOW TO USE MAKE IT COUNT

We are pleased to make available the Make It Count Discussion Guide in a downloadable PDF, available through the “Downloads” button on Influencemagazine.com. Each lesson in the PDF Make It Count Discussion Guide is divided into a Leader’s page and Team Member’s page. The Leader’s page corresponds exactly to the material in the print issue of this magazine. We encourage you to print multiple copies of the PDF Discussion Guide from Influencemagazine.com for all your ministry leaders and the team members they lead in your church or organization. You will notice that key words and concepts are underlined in each lesson on the Leader’s page. These underlined words and concepts correspond to the blank spaces

found on the team member lesson pages. Team members can fill in the blanks as you progress through each lesson. We trust these lessons will help you make each moment count as you lead and develop the leaders around you.

MAKE IT COUNT Study

Eight Keys to Building Influence

Be Trustworthy Assess: What does trustworthy leadership look like to you? Insights and Ideas

t doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the value of trustworthiness when it comes to building influence. After all, why would a person follow somebody they don’t trust? The apostle Paul said, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). And Proverbs 13:17 says, “A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.” As the old saying goes, “People don’t listen to you speak; they watch your feet.” In his book, The Speed of Trust, Stephen Covey describes the economics of trust when he says, “Trust always affects two outcomes — speed and cost.” When somebody doesn’t trust you, it will reduce your speed. You’ll spend more time trying to get people on board, ultimately delaying — or permanently derailing — an entire project. When you’re untrustworthy, it will also cost you. It will cost you energy, money, credibility and forward movement toward your vision. When you have trust, things are easier and move faster with less resistance. In fact, trust is easy to overlook … until you no longer have it. Then it’s a long, hard, uphill climb to rebuild it. Trust is the hidden multiplier. Stephen Covey notes that most leaders operate by a misguided formula: S x E = R (Strategy times Execution equals Results). But there’s a hidden variable in this formula: trust. Without it, results will be marginal at best. Covey observes that the formula should look like this: (S x E)T = R ([Strategy times Execution] multiplied by Trust equals Results). That’s how you build influence. So, how do you build the hidden variable of trust? Here are four keys to get you started: 1. Character. More than anything, how you behave will tell people whether they can trust you. Does your character reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)? Are you the same person in private as you are in public? 2. Communication. Failure to communicate usually leads people to jump to conclusions, second-guess intentions, and fill in the gaps with misinformed assumptions. Good communication keeps trust gaps from forming. 3. Compassion. When people feel noticed and cared for by their leader, they will always trust him or her more. 4. Consistency. Anybody can do anything right once, but trustworthy people have learned to live with character, communicate, and show compassion consistently. When the desired quality is delivered consistently over time, trust naturally grows. Again, trust is the hidden multiplier. You feel its effects when you need it the most, or when it’s no longer present.

Reflect and Discuss

1. What does it look like to “prove faithful” when you’ve been entrusted with responsibility? 2. How have you found trust to be the hidden multiplier? 3. In what ways could a lack of trust increase your costs and reduce your speed in ministry?

Apply

Reflect on the four keys to building trust, and give yourself a score from 1 to 10 (10 being the best). Where’s your greatest strength? How do you need to improve? Identify one clear next step to increase your trustworthiness, and ask a trustworthy friend to hold you accountable. 72

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Eight Keys to Building Influence

Be a Listener Team Review: What step did you take since our last session to become more trustworthy? Assess: Are you a better listener or talker? Why? Insights and Ideas

ost of us didn’t take a class in school on how to listen. We might have taken a speech class, a debate class, a preaching class or a communications class, but listening didn’t make it into most of our degree plans. When it comes to building influence, listening is indispensable. Think about it. Do the people who have the greatest influence with you talk at you or listen to you? Do they weigh your opinions or cut you off before you can share them? Do they welcome your perspective or act like a bulldozer? As leaders, our mind is often three steps ahead of the conversation we’re having. But our influence will naturally grow if we’ll slow down, listen to others and make them feel heard. Listening is like a metal detector scanning the sands of a beach. It helps you uncover what’s hidden beneath the surface of the heart and mind. As John Maxwell observed, “Before a leader can touch a person’s heart, he has to know what’s in it. He learns that by listening.” Listening builds influence (and prevents its depletion) in three ways. 1. Listening reveals and expands your wisdom. By assuming the posture of a listener, you reveal something about yourself — you’re secure, humble, wise and teachable. Furthermore, listening expands your wisdom by putting you in a position to learn something new. Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. 2. Listening prevents “foot in mouth” scenarios. We’ve all done it, and we’ve all regretted it. Proverbs 18:13 says, “To answer before listening — that is folly and shame.” When you listen, you keep yourself from digging holes that deplete your influence. 3. Listening keeps unhealthy emotions in check. In James 1, we see the risky outcome of too much talking: anger. James said, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19–20). By listening more than talking, we establish a healthy boundary that keeps our emotions in check and prevents us from sabotaging our influence. Listening requires practice and patience, but when we discipline ourselves to listen with our ears, our eyes and our body language, we increase our influence with others.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Can you share a time when your failure to listen hurt your influence? 2. How has listening expanded your wisdom and increased your influence? 3. What does it look like to listen with your ears, eyes and body language?

Apply

Take a few minutes to do a listening audit by asking three questions: • Has anyone ever told you that you don’t listen? • How often are you thinking about what you’re going to say while the other person is talking? • In what scenarios are you least likely to listen? Use your answers to these questions to craft a plan to improve your listening skills. How can you monitor your progress toward becoming a better listener?

MAKE IT COUNT Study

Eight Keys to Building Influence

Be a Learner Team Review: What did your “listening audit” reveal, and what changes are you making to improve your listening? Assess: How does learning grow your level of influence? Insights and Ideas

uthor James Allen once said, “People are anxious to improve their circumstances but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” How often have you found that to be true? People complain about what is but don’t close the growth gap between who they are and who they need to become for things to change. As author Eric Hoffer once observed, “In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” A lack of learning keeps us bound to the past — and diminishes our influence because people no longer find us relevant. When you cap your growth, you simultaneously cap your influence. To add value to others, you must first add value to yourself. Jesus modeled personal growth better than anyone. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” If the Son of God was committed to growth, how much more do we need to intentionally invest in our growth? When Zig Ziglar was alive, he used to talk about “the automobile university.” While serving as a visiting scholar at the University of Southern California for two years, Ziglar learned of a study indicating the growth potential you can realize while driving. USC discovered that people living in a metropolitan area who drive a minimum of 12,000 miles per year could acquire the equivalent of two years of college education in just three years, simply by turning their car into an educational environment. With podcasts, audio books and other resources available in abundance, there’s no reason our drive time can’t be turned into growth time. Other research suggests it takes an average of 2.7 hours of practice per day (over a 10-year period) to develop the highest levels of expertise in a subject. That’s roughly 10,000 hours of practice. But it’s worth it. As your expertise grows, so will your influence. As your growth expands, so will the opportunities to make a greater impact in your church, community and world. Learning deepens the reservoir from which you can add value to others.

Reflect and Discuss

1. How has learning increased your influence with others? 2. What connection do you see between your growth in a particular area and your level of influence in that same area? 3. In what area of life do you need to become a more avid learner?

Apply

Create a personal growth plan for the area of your life where you need to grow your influence. Perhaps you need to sharpen your influence at work, or with a particular team or department. Maybe your influence is hurting at home because you’ve let life become too busy. Pick one area in which you need to grow, and give it concentrated focus for the next 30 days. Monitor your progress, cultivate relationships, and invest in your development. After 30 days, evaluate your progress, welcome input, and determine what your next steps should look like.

MAKE IT COUNT Study

Eight Keys to Building Influence

Be a Servant-Leader Team Review: What area of growth did you determine to pursue after the last session, and what does your growth plan for improvement look like? Assess: How would you describe a servant-leader? Insights and Ideas

n his book, The Five Levels of Leadership, John Maxwell tells the story of George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War, riding up to a group of soldiers as they tried to raise a beam to a high position. The corporal overseeing the work kept shouting words of “encouragement,” but the soldiers couldn’t manage to accomplish the task. After watching their struggle, Washington asked the corporal why he wasn’t helping. The corporal replied, “Do you realize that I am the corporal?” Washington politely replied, “I beg your pardon, Mr. Corporal, I did.” Then Washington dismounted his horse and worked alongside the soldiers until the beam was securely in place. Then he turned to the corporal, wiped the perspiration from his face, and said, “If you should need help again, call on Washington, your commander in chief, and I will come.” Servant leadership is more than a catchy phrase or a spiritual-sounding approach to leadership. It’s how Jesus called us to lead. In Matthew 20:25–28, Jesus said to His disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” We don’t lead like servants so that we can build our influence. Increasing the level of our influence is not the motive behind servant-leadership … it just tends to be the natural byproduct. When we lead by serving and serve by leading, people usually respond with gratitude, loyalty and a desire to do their best. Being a servant is who you are, not what you do. People don’t say, “That person does servant-like acts.” They say, “That person is a servant.” It describes the attitude you’ve taken toward life. The next time you’re tempted to stay in your ivory tower and shout your encouragement from the comfort of your office chair, remember Washington — dismount and serve. Above all, embrace Jesus’ words: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

Reflect and Discuss

1. Who is the greatest servant-leader you know? What makes him or her such a good leader? 2. What sets servant-leadership apart from many of the leadership models espoused in our world today? 3. What would it look to like to apply servant-leadership in each ministry of our church?

Apply

Take a few minutes to read about Jesus’ example of, and teaching on, servant-leadership in Matthew 20:20–28; Matthew 23:1–12; and John 13:1–17. From these passages, create a list of the qualities that mark servant-leaders. Which of these qualities do you need to cultivate more intentionally in your life? Spend some time praying over your list and asking God to form these qualities in your life and leadership. Then, look for practical ways to apply them as you lead in the areas God has called you to serve. 75

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Eight Keys to Building Influence

Develop People Team Review: What was your greatest takeaway from your study on servant-leadership? Assess: How does developing people increase your influence as a leader? Insights and Ideas

n his letter to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul gave leaders a mandate that defines the priority of our leadership. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–13). Paul’s words capture the essence of developing people. We are called to equip. We are called to invest in others, helping them grow and mature into the people God has called them to be. So, what does it look like to “develop people”? Author and leadership coach Shawn Lovejoy challenges leaders to use two strategies. 1. Proximity. Developing leaders requires proximity. Yes, you can give them books, send them to conferences and teach them lessons, but the deepest leadership growth will happen when you’re sitting across the table one-on-one. Proximity allows you to personally speak into the lives of others. Proximity helps you confront, coach and encourage with greater impact. Proximity increases your influence because it’s personal, private and human. In a world where it’s easy to hide behind our technology, embrace proximity again. Get around your leaders, one-on-one. Read a book together, and debrief what you are learning. Encourage, pray with and challenge your team members face-to-face. 2. Consistency. What makes proximity most powerful is when it’s done consistently. What would happen if you met with your top three to five leaders, one-on-one, every 30 days? How would this change the impact you’re having in and through their lives? How would this take your ministry to a new level of impact? A one-time leadership dump is not enough. Your closest leaders need consistent deposits of coaching and encouragement. Author Tim Elmore said, “More time with fewer people equals greater Kingdom impact.” This is not how we like to think about leadership. We want to mass-produce leaders. We want to manufacture leaders like books, iPhones and automobiles. But leaders aren’t made that way. They require proximity and consistency. As you develop people through proximity and consistency, your influence and impact will continue to grow. People are most grateful for those who invest in them the most. Your investment will make an eternal impact.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Who invested in you to help you become the leader you are today? What did that person do to help you grow? 2. What would proximity and consistency look like for you in your ministry? 3. How does the statement, “More time with fewer people equals greater Kingdom impact” challenge you?

Apply

Make a list of each member of your leadership team. Create a “proximity and consistency” plan to begin intentionally developing these leaders. Include in your plan any resources, coaching questions or tools that would prove beneficial based on the leaders’ needs and responsibilities.

MAKE IT COUNT Study

Eight Keys to Building Influence

Solve Problems Team Review: How have you started practicing the “proximity and consistency” principle to develop people? Assess: What problems are currently going unsolved in your ministry or church? Insights and Ideas

obody likes to live with a problem, and yet problems present opportunities to make the world better. That’s exactly what happened to Nehemiah. When he discovered the dilapidated conditions of Jerusalem, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. After a careful assessment of the city’s condition, he assembled a team to solve the problem once and for all. Nehemiah said, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Nehemiah 2:17). Then verse 18 says, “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.” Nehemiah’s bold move was quickly followed by ridicule when Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem heard about his efforts. But Nehemiah’s response was clear: “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (Nehemiah 2:20). Nothing would deter or distract Nehemiah, and in only 52 days the wall was complete (Nehemiah 6:15). Problem solved. Nehemiah’s influence was up and to the right. The same happens for us when we solve problems, especially problems nobody else is willing to touch. The motive of problem-solving isn’t to grow the level of our influence. Instead, increased influence is the reward followers give to leaders who make their lives better. At first, people may call you crazy, but when things change for the better, the leader is suddenly seen in a new light. Nehemiah’s story gives us three keys to successful problem-solving. 1. Be clear about the real problem. Nehemiah gained clarity from his brother Hanani, as well as from his own personal inspection of the wall. You can’t solve a problem that’s not clear in your own mind. 2. Have the right permission and resources to solve the problem. Nehemiah had the king’s favor and resources to begin this endeavor. Sometimes you only need one key influencer on your side to take a major step forward. 3. Appeal to the heart, and mobilize a team with a vision. Nehemiah appealed to the people on an emotional level, inspiring them to envision a future where they no longer lived in disgrace.

Reflect and Discuss

1. When has your influence grown because you solved a difficult problem? 2. How can a leader keep his or her motives pure when solving a problem? 3. Which of the three strategies that Nehemiah used to solve a problem challenges you the most? Why?

Apply

What can you do to make life better for the people God has called you to lead? Develop a plan to solve that problem, and be sure your motive for solving it is honoring to the Lord. Focus on doing your best, and leave the “influence” results to the Lord. Let Nehemiah’s problemsolving framework guide you in the process. 77

MAKE IT COUNT Study

Eight Keys to Building Influence

Over-Deliver Team Review: How have you started making life better for others by solving problems for the people you lead? Assess: What would it look like for you to do ministry in your current setting at a higher level of excellence? Insights and Ideas

verybody loves superior customer service. There’s nothing like being pleasantly surprised by over-the-top service when you least expect it. Whether it’s at your favorite store, restaurant or vacation spot, there’s something special about receiving a first-class customer experience. What happens when you get remarkable service? You tell your friends. You share the story and recommend the product or service. Most importantly, you return again, and again, and again. You’re a loyal customer, and for good reason. What would happen if we approached our ministries with the same attitude? What would happen if we over-delivered on the quality of service we provide to the people God has called us to lead? Lives would be changed. Communities would be impacted. Families would be ministered to. And again, the byproduct would be an increase in influence. Your church’s influence in the community would grow, and its impact would multiply. Believe it or not, God has called us to over-deliver … to go above and beyond the mediocre expectations that so often exist in our world. Colossians 3:23–24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” To over-deliver, Disney espouses the idea of establishing service standards for the customer service experience. Here are four service standards that could make a powerful difference if every volunteer in your church embraced them: 1. Friendly. Train your volunteers to be friendly and hospitable. People don’t want to feel like distractions to your volunteers. They want to feel acknowledged, cared for and welcomed. 2. Knowledgeable. It’s frustrating to have a question that nobody can answer. Give your volunteers the tools and responses to answer your guests’ most common questions. 3. Problem-solving. If a guest has a problem, volunteers should be proactive about finding a solution. “I don’t know,” or, “I wish I could help,” or a blank, paralyzed stare is not an appropriate response to a guest in need of help. Train your volunteers to respond to the needs of the people visiting your church. 4. Efficient. Finally, help your team understand how to be friendly, knowledgeable and problem-solving in an efficient manner. This will become especially important as the church grows larger. Again, what happens when you over-deliver with this kind of service? The church’s influence in your community grows. More lives are impacted by the hope of the gospel.

Reflect and Discuss

1. What’s the best customer service experience you’ve ever had? 2. What are some practical ways your church, leaders and team can over-deliver? 3. Which of the four service standards is your church’s biggest strength? Weakness?

Apply

Develop an “over-deliver” plan by defining your own service standards, and then train your volunteers to deliver them with excellence. Provide practical examples of what your service standards look like, and help people live them out each week as they serve in ministry. 78

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Eight Keys to Building Influence

Act Courageously Team Review: What service standards did you establish for your volunteers? When will you train your team in these standards? Assess: Why is courage so essential in leadership? Insights and Ideas

leanor Roosevelt once said, “You gain courage, strength and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” Anytime you do something new, waves of fear will assault your mind. That’s why, and when, you need courage. In fact, unless fear is present, there’s no need for courage. That’s what David learned when he encountered the giant Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17:45–47, David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” That’s a brave declaration, but David wasn’t all talk. Verse 48 says, “David ran quickly toward the battle line.” That’s what leaders do. They run toward the challenge, not away from it. David triumphed that day, and his influence began to grow. Why? Courage! One act of courage can change your circumstance. One act of courage can shift the momentum. The word encourage means to “put courage into.” God encourages us by putting courage into our hearts. If you find yourself growing fearful, remember these three things: 1. Fear is normal in leadership. Again, the leadership landscape is covered with fear. Don’t retreat. God has called you for such a time as this. 2. God is with us in our fears. God was with David when he faced Goliath, with Moses when he faced Pharaoh, and with Joshua when He called him to cross the Jordan River. And God is with you. Don’t be afraid. 3. Take a step. You will never overcome your fears standing still. To overcome fear, take one step. The first step will lead you to each step thereafter. Basketball legend Michael Jordan once said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Jordan didn’t let the missed shots define his destiny. He faced the fear, and took another shot. Don’t let fear paralyze you. Act courageously!

Reflect and Discuss

1. What challenges you about David’s story of defeating Goliath? 2. What is the biggest fear you’ve ever faced in leadership? 3. Which of the three steps most encourages you to act courageously?

Apply

Every leader faces countless decisions that require courage. What fear do you need to face today? Identify your plan of action to move forward, and then take a courageous first step today.

THE FINAL NOTE

The Diversity of Generation Z

Non-Caucasian

G E O R G E P. W O O D

Given its diversity, Generation Z places a high value on tolerance.

George P. Wood is executive editor of Influence magazine.

his past January, Barna Group published a blockbuster report about America’s newest demographic cohort — Generation Z.* Born from 1999 to 2015, Generation Z is larger than previous generations and more diverse in terms of ethnicity and race, religion, and sexuality and gender: • 48 percent is non-Caucasian. • 34 percent is agnostic, atheist, or “None” in terms of religious affiliation. • 33 percent claim that gender is primarily based on what a person feels like. That last statistic correlates with three others: 69 percent of Generation Z believes it is either “definitely” or “probably” acceptable for someone “to be born one gender and feel like another.” Forty-two percent believes it is acceptable for someone “to change their body to become another gender.” And 12 percent identify their sexual orientation in non-heterosexual terms. Given this diversity, Generation Z places a high value on tolerance. “Gen Z teens do not like to make people feel bad,” according to Barna. “Their collective aversion to causing offense is the natural product of a pluralistic, inclusive culture that frowns on passing judgment that might provoke negative feelings in the [person being] judged.” Each of these forms of diversity presents unique challenges to ministry. Does your church know how to communicate cross-culturally? Does it know how to evangelize people without Christian backgrounds? Do your leaders know how to disciple people whose understanding of sexuality and gender is at odds with biblical teaching? In the years to come, the effectiveness of your ministry to Generation Z will depend on how you answer these questions.

Agnostic, athiest, or “None”

Gender is primarily based on what a person feels like

Acceptable to be born one gender and feel like another

Acceptable to change one’s body to become another gender

*Barna Group, Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the Next Generation (Ventura, CA: Barna Group, 2018).