Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - A Simple Strategy for Planning Effective Outreach Events

So, how can we plan effective outreach events for today's modern lost person? Consider these simple principles from Ron Hutchcraft.

Reach the really lost with people they know. Today, our culture is divided into countless "tribes." There's the business tribe, the parent tribe, the hunter tribe, the student tribe, the countless "tribes" within the student tribe, and more. For an effective outreach event, identify one specific group you want to reach, and create an event that strategically targets that group.

Reach the really lost in a place where they feel comfortable. Quite simply, lost people are not comfortable in church. Identify a neutral location that is a natural gathering point for people in the tribe you are trying to reach. This could be at the local school, country club, hotel ballroom, civic center, home, or park. Make sure the location is friendly to the "tribe" you are seeking to reach.

Reach them through a subject they care about. Ask this strategic question: What need do people in this group of people feel?

Here are some examples: stress, loneliness, parenting, health, personal finances, relationships, etc. Don't assume they care about "sin" as a top 10 issue. Ultimately, all of us need an answer to the problem of running our own lives - sin - but we can't start there. We must start with an authentic need as felt by the lost group of people we are seeking to reach.
Reach them through words they understand. It is vital that we don't share Jesus in "Christianese." Words like, "sin", "savior," and "believe" must be explained in a simple, relevant way that a lost person can really grasp the truth of what Jesus has to offer.
While using words they understand, it is vital to bridge from the need they feel, to the Gospel. Answer these three questions:

• What difference does Jesus make with that need?
• How can I introduce the Jesus-difference as a bottom-line solution?
• What hope story do I have that shows what Jesus can do with this need?

In John 4 , we read the story of Jesus with the woman at the well. You'll notice many of the concepts and ideas included here were first introduced by Jesus in this powerful example of "non-religious evangelism."

Please prayerfully consider how you and like-minded believers can intentionally develop a strategy for reaching some lost people in your world. This is a matter of life-and-death; eternities are at stake.

Give them an opportunity to respond. Ask them if they want to begin a personal relationship with Jesus. You can have Ron's booklet, "Yours for Life" to give to them or visit a visual online Gospel presentation at yoursforlife.net.