Sowing, cultivating, and harvesting. Over and over, Jesus used this imagery to illustrate the Kingdom of God. Just as the sower tends his fields in anticipation of reaping a bountiful harvest, Christians are to share the Good News of Jesus, in hopes that many more will enter His kingdom.
The FAITH Evangelism Strategy is an strategic tool that provides comprehensive training for the church family, to equip members of all ages to share the Gospel and to minister to others in our community. Our desire is to equip individuals and families fully, so they may feel comfortable to share and to reach out to their neighbors, co-workers, and newcomers to our area.
Westside has been doing FAITH or similar outreach programs for many years, with solid results. During the fall term, Westside staffers and lay leaders led more than 40 regular participants in an exciting and rewarding 10-week FAITH semester, during which nearly 190 new individuals or families were reached, with about 50 new enrollments in small-group Bible Study times. Our teams ranged from several dyamic college trios to enthusiastic parent-child teams, resulting in a diverse and energizing ‘mix’ within our evangelistic efforts.
Every division of our small-group Bible study structure is represented in FAITH. Some general information about the FAITH Evangelism Strategy program in use at Westside includes:
*FAITH is an ongoing comprehensive evangelism, ministry, and assimilation strategy that functions in coordination with our Small Group Bible Study organization.
*FAITH develops confidence in sharing the Gospel.
*The FAITH Gospel presentation is simple and easy to learn. The Evangecube is also an optional tool for using with younger or translingual audiences.
*FAITH is conducted on Monday nights - a time set aside at Westside solely for FAITH instruction and visitation.
*A FAITH semester lasts about 12 weeks, with 2-3 weeks off during that time frame, for major community or school holidays. Each weekly session includes an optional home-cooked meal time, training, community visits and a celebration/reporting time.
To receive more information about FAITH or to sign up to participate in the next session, please email Mary Griffis at mgriffis@westsidebaptist.org, or call Mary or Evangelism Minister Sheryl Bennett at 352-333-7000, x 140.
Weekly Schedule:
5:30-6:00pmSupper Supper/Childcare available with reservations.
6–6:25pmTraining Meal cost is Adults $3.50, Children $2.50
6:30–7:45pmVisitation
7:45–8pm Report Back
8:00pm Dismiss
Summer Connection 2010
*6pm – 8pm Monday Nights
SPECIAL EVENT SCHEDULE
August 16GATOR DAY OUTREACH *6-8:00 p.m.
August 23GATOR DAY FOLLOW UP*6-8:00 p.m.
August 30GATOR DAY FOLLOW UP*6-8:00 p.m.
Fall FAITH Schedule 2010
Mondays from 6pm to 8:45 pm
DATE
At Home Work Completed
TEACHING LEVEL ONE
Aug 29
Aug 30
Good News Banquet
Start of Training
Start Memorizing the Outline
Enlist 2 Prayer Partners
Session 1: The Great Adventure
Sept 6
Labor Day—no FAITH
No FAITH
Sept 13
Pg 23 & 39
Prayer Partners Due
Evangelism testimony
Start Memorization FAITH
Session 2:Moving Toward Spiritual Dialogue
Sept 20
Pg 55
Evangelism Testimony Due
Sunday School Testimony
Contact Prayer Partners
Session 3: Finding Connection Points
Sept 27
Pg 61
Sunday School Testimony Due
Memorized through “F is for Forgiveness”
Session 4: F is for Forgiveness
Oct 4
Pg 69
Memorized through “A is for Available”
Session 5:A is for Available
Oct 11
COLDSTONE CHALLENGE
Session 6: I is for Impossible
Pg 81
Contact Prayer Partners
Memorized through “I is for Impossible”
Oct 18
Study for Baptism Quiz
Baptism – Leaders and Learners together
Oct 25
BAPTISM QUIZ
Pg 95
Complete Evangelism Testimony
Contact Prayer Partners
Memorized through “T is for Turn”
Session 7: T is for Turn
Nov 1
Continue Memorization
Contact Prayer Partners
Follow up – Leaders and Learners together
Nov 8
Pg 109
Contact Prayer Partners
Memorized through “H is for Heaven”
Pray about participation in next FAITH Semester
Session 8: H is for Heaven
Nov 15
Pg 121
Memorized through “Invitation Section”
Pray about who you want to ask to participate with you next FAITH semester
Session 9: The Invitation
Nov 22
Study for Verbal Exam
Verbal FAITH Quiz
Opinion Polls – Leaders and Learners together
Invite to GCF
Nov 29
Pg 137, pg 151
Make up Verbal FAITH Quiz or Baptism Quiz
Session 10: They accepted Jesus, Now What?
Teach Baptism
Celebration Party
Sessions 11: Your Role in Kingdom Work
Session 12: Your Next Step
FAITH FORMULA
F IS FOR FORGIVENESS
Everyone has sinned and needs God’s forgiveness.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
God’s forgiveness is in Jesus only.
“In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Ephesians 1:7
A IS FOR AVAILABLE
God’s forgiveness is available for all.
“God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
God’s forgiveness is available but not automatic.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 7:21
I IS FOR IMPOSSIBLE
According to the Bible, it is impossible to get to heaven on our own.
“By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
So how can a sinful person have eternal life and enter heaven?
T IS FOR TURN
If you were going down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would they be asking you to do? (Change Direction)
Turn means repent.
Turn away from sin and self.
“Unless you repent, you will all perish!”
Luke 13:3
Turn to Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord.
“I am the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6
Here is the greatest news of all.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Romans 10:9-10
What happens if a person is willing to repent of their sins and confess Christ?
H IS FOR HEAVEN
Heaven is a place where we will live with God forever.
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:3
Eternal life begins now with Jesus.
“I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.
John 10:10
H can also stand for how.
How can a person have God’s forgiveness, eternal life, and heaven?
By trusting Jesus as your Savior and Lord.
INVITATION
Inquire
Understanding what we have shared, would you like to receive this forgiveness by trusting in Christ as your personal Savior and Lord?
