Evangelism

The eMinistry Network

Connecting the Church in Ministry

UPCOMING CLASSES:

How To Start A New Worship Service

Welcoming and Incorporating Newcomers (A Three-Class Series)

Insights On The Newcomer Who Stays

“Take Two”: How To See First-Time Visitors Come Back

Helping New Members Make It Through The First Critical Year

How To Start A New Worship Service Click here to register!

Leader: Dr. Charles Arn

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008

Time: A 90-minute class, beginning at 7:00 pm Eastern (6:00 pm Central, 5:00 pm Mountain, 4:00 pm Pacific)

Cost: $15.00 Please read eMinistry's registration policies before you register

Class size: Limited to 12

Class#: CMC-EV102

One of the “ingredients” that has been shown to be both a reflector of church growth, and a contributor to it, is multiple worship services in the same congregation. It is not just that growing churches add additional services in response to more people…but that churches desiring growth add additional services in order to reach new people.

The strategy of adding a new worship service has traditionally been left to the domain of the larger congregations. But approximately half of all churches -- regardless of size -- can experience new growth by adding a new worship service -- and one in a new style. Is your congregation one of them?

Based on a national study of churches that did it right -- and some that didn’t -- this class will explore the why’s and how’s of successfully adding a new service in a new style. We'll look at:

	Seven reasons to start a new service
	The critical "check points" for success
	Potential obstacles and pitfalls

Dr. Charles Arn is president of Church Growth, Inc, a 23-year old ministry organization dedicated to research on how local churches grow. He is a widely respected authority and author in the field of church health and growth. Dr. Arn’s current work is in leading clusters of churches through a 12-month application of a proven process of community outreach. His recent books include How to Start a New Worship Service, The Master’s Plan for Making Disciples, Catch the Age Wave, White Unto Harvest, and The New Senior.

He has served as President of the American Society for Church Growth, an association of professors, executives, pastors, and consultants dedicated to the study of evangelism and church growth.

INTRODUCING:

Welcoming and Incorporating Newcomers (A Three-Class Series)

No one joins a church without first visiting it. Therefore, the number of visitors a church has —

and the number of those visitors who come back — has a great deal to do with a church’s growth.

Led by Dr. Charles Arn (see his bio above)

CLICK HERE to register for all three (10% discount)

or you can register for each class individually below

Insights On The Newcomer Who Stays Click here to register for this class only!

Leader: Dr. Charles Arn

Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Time: A 90-minute class, beginning at 7:00 pm Eastern (6:00 pm Central, 5:00 pm Mountain, 4:00 pm Pacific)

Cost: $15.00 Please read eMinistry's registration policies before you register

Class size: Limited to 12

Class#: CMC-EV103

There is fascinating research on the difference between new members who become active members, and those who do not. This session provides important insights for developing an effective newcomer strategy in your church. You will learn six key ingredients which can be easily incorporated into your ministry strategy and which will yield dramatic results.

Join us for this exploration of

What the research shows about the amazing differences—prior to membership—between those who come to faith and become active in the church, versus those who come to faith and become inactive.

How to distinguish between “receptive” people and “resistant” people, and focus on those whom God has prepared

Six questions that when asked—and answered—will dramatically improve your parish’s effectiveness at incorporating new members.

How to integrate incorporation strategies into other ministry areas in your parish

“Take Two”: How To See First-Time Visitors Come Back Click here to register for this class only!

Leader: Dr. Charles Arn

Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Time: A 90-minute class, beginning at 7:00 pm Eastern (6:00 pm Central, 5:00 pm Mountain, 4:00 pm Pacific)

Cost: $15.00 Please read eMinistry's registration policies before you register

Class size: Limited to 12

Class#: CMC-EV104

Most people looking for a church home visit the church more than once. Research shows that when people return for a second visit, the chances of seeing them involved in that church a year later nearly double! This class will start you thinking about your visitor follow-up strategies, and help you discover new ways to increase the number of people who return that second time -- and beyond!

In this teleclass, you'll learn:

What current research shows about how many visitors return…in growing and in non-growing churches

The questions that people are subconsciously asking during their first and second visit

How to make it easier for visitors to take many “baby steps” into the church, rather than one “giant step"

A “systems approach” to visitor follow up

Helping New Members Make It Through The First Critical Year Click here to register for this class only!

Leader: Dr. Charles Arn

Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Time: A 90-minute class, beginning at 7:00 pm Eastern (6:00 pm Central, 5:00 pm Mountain, 4:00 pm Pacific)

Cost: $15.00 Please read eMinistry's registration policies before you register

Class size: Limited to 12

Class#: CMC-EV105

Of all the people who drop out of church, over 80% do so in the first year. There are critical questions new members are asking in the first 12 months that you need to know…because your answers will determine their future in your congregation. Learn the questions, the issues, the responses. You never have a second chance at the first year!

In this teleclass you'll learn:

What the research shows about church drop-outs -- why and when they leave

Why many churches see an unusually large number of newcomers leave at the end of 6 months, and what causes it

Why there is another large group of newcomers who leave at the end of 12 months, and the reason why they go

The unique issues critical for your church to address in the first 6 months—and the second 6 months—of a new member’s life

PAST CLASSES:

Reaching Out to the 21st Century Family

Leader: Alan Akridge

Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Time: 8:00 pm Eastern (one hour teleclass) -- 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, 5:00 Pacific

Cost: $10.00

Class#: CMC-EV100

"We need more young families!" If you find your congregation saying this, register for this class to discover who they are and what they want. What does it mean to be a "young family" in the 21st century? What are their values? What do they search for in a church? And how can we reach out to them? The answers to these questions may surprise you. They elicit new ways of thinking about -- and doing -- ministry to and with the families in our congregations and communities.

This introductory conference will demystify the demographic groups known as "Generation X" -- people born from approximately 1962 to 1982 -- and their children (Generation Y, or "echo boomers"). We'll provide insight into how congregations can reach out to them. We'll explore key ways to attract these young families, to minister to them, and to challenge them to be involved, committed people of faith.

Alan Akridge is the youth and family associate at Saint Alban's Episcopal Church in Hickory, NC. Prior to his arrival in Hickory, in 2001, Alan was the youth and family minister at Christ Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan for 3 1/2 years. A graduate of Auburn University with a BA and Virginia Seminary with an MTS (Master of Theological Studies), Alan completed his M.Div. equivalency at Wake Forest Divinity School in Winston Salem, NC. He is a congregational development consultant and the co-founder of the Epiphany Institute. Mostly, Alan is a priest, father, and husband (though not necessarily in that order.)