Operation Reconnect

Unfulfilling Church Services!

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:49:51 +0000

A few years ago, among the No. 3 reason inactive and former members gave to the Center for Creative Ministry for their dropping out of church was unfulfilling church services. That was followed by No. 4, A lack of love, a lack of fellowship.

In his book, WHY TEENAGERS LEAVE THE CHURCH, Roger Dudley writes: “They would consider returning if their congregation was more like a loving family, its members warm and caring and accepting of all, appreciating diversity, and was deeply spiritual with relevant worship services.”

Just a few years ago, I conducted two focus groups consisting of 15 non-members age 20-40, 10 of whom were not active in a church. When I asked them what factors would be most important if they were to consider visiting or joining a church, the top three vote getters were (1) the friendliness of the members, (2) the style of the service with a clear majority indicating a preference for an upbeat worship style versus a traditional worship style, and (3) the doctrines of the church came in at the No. 3 position.

Which leads me to ask you, How friendly is your church? And how fulfilling would you say your worship service is, all things considered?

I’d be delighted if your church is doing well in the fulfilling worship service department and you might drop me a note describing what your worship service looks like. I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon. I’m anxious to get some new ideas to share in a future blog.

Mike

P.S. My new book, HELP, LORD, I BLEW IT AGAIN, was the topic of a recent 3ABN interview. Since one of the reasons I wrote HELP, LORD… was to reach inactive and former members, I was grateful for this invitation. If you’d like to see the interview, here’s the link: http://vimeo.com/14719364. Or you can access it under my name on Facebook

Mike Jones 3ABN Interview from Tim Adams on Vimeo.

FREE OFFER! Final Events DVD!

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:15:41 +0000

Final Events of Bible Prophecy DVD! FREE OFFER!

Jesus said “great earthquakes” would happen just before His second coming (See Luke 21:11).

Have you noticed the earth’s been doing a whole lot of shaking this year? A quarter of a million people have died in earthquakes since January alone! Nearly 850 quakes ranging between 5.9 to 8.9 on the Richter scale have shaken the earth since the first of the year.

The Haiti earthquake was the sixth deadliest of all time; the 8.8 quake in Chile, the seventh strongest in more than 100 years. Is God trying to get mankind’s attention?

I mention earthquakes here because inactive and former members tend to sit up and take notice when they see Bible prophecies being fulfilled. Also I wanted to let you know that because of a generous contribution, Operation Reconnect is pleased to offer a FREE resource that could have high impact on someone you know who drifted away from the Lord and perhaps from the church.

The offer consists of a free 43-minute dramatic DVD from Amazing Facts entitled “The Final Events of Bible Prophecy!” You can obtain it when you order a copy of my new book, Help, Lord, I Blew It Again. The DVD is narrated by Doug Batchelor. It is extremely well done. The reason I’m suggesting you may want to obtain this brand new iteration of Help, Lord, I Blew It Again is because the first chapter contains the story of how I learned the life-giving secret (for me, at least) of how to obtain ongoing victory over what had been a 40-year sin problem in my life. I suspect that many inactive members have similar struggles.

Also at the end of that chapter is a point-by-point daily protocol for anyone wanting to obtain victory over an addiction or sin problem. Many have already written to tell me how helpful this has been to them in their walk with Jesus.

Then in the last chapter entitled “Enduring to the End,” I use the story of a U.S. Navy Seal in Afghanistan to get across the kind of spiritual mindset it will take to survive the final events coming on our planet.

Until our supply of DVDs is exhausted, this offer stands. And if you’d also like to order a copy of my other recent book, Sometimes I Don’t Feel Like Praying, I’ll add a second free copy of this outstanding DVD with your order. Sometimes… contains its own distinctive chapter on how to live a victorious Christian life. It teaches in Chapter 5 how to exchange your old life for a new one and obtain a divine DNA.

To place your order, simply go to the Books section on this website between now and May 31. In closing, I just want to tell you that two long-time Adventist pastors have told me the exchanged-life principles contained in both books is something they never understood until recently. Perhaps it will be new for you, also, and for someone you care about.

Blessings on you as you seek to prepare and to help loved ones get prepared for Jesus’ soon coming.

Mike

P.S. With any order of the “These Came Back” DVD ($9.95) this month, we will send a FREE second copy. Go to our Home Page to preview it.

Let’s Do Lunch!

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:52:04 +0000

Here’s an idea for you for connecting with someone who’s been out of the church for a very long time: Invite them to lunch!

That’s what we did a few months back with some folks who’d been inactive for more than 20 years. Invited them to join us for a Sunday morning breakfast, actually.

They weren’t available immediately, but they did agree to join us some time down the road. About six weeks later, we tried again, and they said Yes. I had known this couple somewhat years before. We were about the same age and had grown children about the same age.

The visit was fun and we made it a point not to discuss religion. When we parted company, we did mention our church had a free buffet meal every Wednesday night with an assortment of classes that followed. We asked if they might like to join us sometime. They said maybe.

A number of weeks later, we re-issued that invitation and they came. We had a good visit and some of the longtime members recognized them and came over to do some handshakes and howdees. A few weeks later, they came again on a Wednesday night.

On about their third visit, we told them if they came to church, we’d love to have them sit with us. A few weeks later they did come to church–and did sit with us. I’m sure you guessed by now that they came back a second, and a third, and a fourth time. Now we seem them almost every Sabbath and Wednesday night. They’re also attending one of the Wednesday night classes.

So, you see, reaching out to former members doesn’t have to be all that complicated. Just offer some intentional friendliness that might take place in a neutral location over a cup of hot chocolate or breakfast. Or lunch.

Oh, you just thought of someone with whom you’d like to give this idea a try. Well, don’t just call them right off the bat. Ask God to give you wisdom how to engage and when. Keep praying. Then when you’re convicted how to proceed and when, make that phone call. But if these folks have been away for a very long time, don’t tell them how much the church has been missing them. Just acknowledge it’s been a long time, explore how things are going in their lives, and maybe ask them if they’d like to do lunch (or whatever makes sense), and see how the Spirit leads.

Perhaps not too far down the road you’ll have a story to share with me.

Blessings in Jesus.

Mike Jones

Encouraging Family Members.

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:14:19 +0000

Encouraging Family Members

To Return To Church!

By Mike Jones

A. Don’t nag or criticize. Remember, it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict     people if they should return to church. “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.”—Zechariah 4:6. In some cases, perhaps they shouldn’t return. A cold, legalistic church where Jesus is not the main focus will just send them out the back door. Keep in mind that God can save people outside the church as well as within.

B. Pray daily for your family member who has dropped out of church. The Bible tells us, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.”—James 5:16. Pray and claim the merits of Jesus’ shed blood that their sins might be forgiven and that the Holy Spirit—and other agencies—will be enabled to work powerfully in the life of the person you’re praying for. Remember, “All the resources of Heaven are at the command of those seeking to save the lost.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 197. See also Incredible Answers to Prayer by Roger Morneau, Pp. 11-12).

C. Crying out to God in behalf of someone will move the hand of God. “The Bible talks about God’s “own elect who cry out day and night to Him” and says He will respond “speedily.”—Luke 18:7-8. (Additional reading, see The Power of Crying Out by Bill Gothard).

D. Claim God’s promises for those who have strayed per Mark 11:24. “Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, it will be done for them.” Here are two promises to claim: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6. “I will contend with them that contend with you, and I will save your children.”—Isaiah 49:25. Claim the promises. At least the last one.

E. Be available to family members when they are in crisis or under Satanic attack. Remember Jesus’ promise, “Behold, I give to you…power over all the power of the enemy.”—Luke 10:19. He has also promised, “Nothing shall be impossible to you.”—Matthew 17:20.

F. Apologize and seek forgiveness from any family member who may no longer attend church because of your past behavior. If you’re a parent, perhaps you were overly strict and didn’t reveal the love of Jesus well during his or her childhood. Your most effective tool following an apology will be empathetic listening with no defensive explanations. Sometimes an apology in behalf of the church is in order, too, if the person feels (rightly or wrongly) that they were not treated well by their church. Perhaps they weren’t.

G. Practice being emptied of self during all encounters with inactive or former members. Filled with the Holy Spirit, you will be able to more effectively role model the love of Jesus & respond more graciously to challenging moments. Ask the Holy Spirit to make the words of Galatians 2:20 your reality. “I’ve been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me…”

H. Consider anointing with prayer the area where you’re going to have an encounter with an inactive or former member if you know in advance where it will be. You need God’s Spirit to put a shield in place to keep back the forces of darkness during your encounter. P.S. Conversations over food can be winsome. If you can afford it, do a meal together (even if it is a Taco Bell). And, of course, you’ll buy.

I. Talk about your family member’s interests. Don’t just talk about religious matters. The family member is much more likely to be responsive to you if you take an interest in what’s going on in his/her life. You don’t have to be talking about spiritual matters for the Holy Spirit to be speaking to someone’s soul.

J.   Really, really listen. If there’s bitterness, let it all come out. Pray silently and suture your mouth, perhaps claiming this promise: “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips.”—Psalm 141:3. Great healing can take place when we have enough control to just listen.

K. Never give up, never give up, never give up. God doesn’t. Neither should we. Keep on praying daily, relentlessly. Storm Heaven in behalf of your family member. And remember your primary objective is to help the person you’re praying for to get hooked up with Jesus. He’ll take care of getting them back to church.

P.S. Pastors who’d like to see some sample letters that can be used to communicate with their inactive/former members are welcome to email Mike a note requesting them. Please include your fax #.

Books On Prayer

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:19:17 +0000

A number of years ago, a friend gave me a book entitled Incredible Answers To Prayer by Roger Morneau. That book lit a spiritual spark that continued to burn in my heart until my return to a genuine relationship with Jesus and also my return to the church a number of years later.

I write about reconnecting with others like me who have left the church because so many have written to me in recent years expressing concern over friends and family members who’ve drifted away from a relationship with Jesus. They are looking for answers, and, yes, they pray. But they wonder if they can do more.

Many of us who are parents have learned that nagging usually doesn’t work. For Roger Morneau, a Canadian yellow pages salesman with a heart condition, intercessory prayer proved to be a powerful tool. His three books on prayer are filled with stories of those from all walks of life who were clearly reached by intercessory prayer.

Morneau’s books on prayer (Incredible Answers to Prayer, More Incredible Answers to Prayer, and When You Need Incredible Answers to Prayer) are filled with thrilling stories of many who were reclaimed through intercessory prayer. Most ABC stores still stock them. I recommend these books highly.

The stories range all the way from teenagers who got involved with alcohol and drugs to a spiritually-disinterested dad whose family prayed for him for 40 years, then had the joy of seeing him become spiritually aroused and get baptized after all that time.

Roger’s prayer methods include (1) praying daily without missing and (2) claiming the merits of Jesus’ shed blood and sacrifice in behalf of the person being prayed about. I particularly appreciated the story in More Incredible Answers to Prayer that described what happened after the family of the dad began to pray for him in a special way and how intercessory prayer led to his getting a victory over a long-time smoking addiction and getting baptized.

For the entire story, get Roger’s book at your nearby ABC store. And if you’d like a distillation of how he recommends praying for an inactive or former member, see my recent book, Sometimes I Don’t Feel Like Praying, p. 129. That book can be ordered at this website.

As our world writhes with earthquakes, terrorism, infidelity among high-ranking officials, and trouble everywhere, blessings on you as you consider how you can pray more effectively for friends or loved ones who are away from Jesus.

Sincerely,

Mike Jones

A Personal Note From Mike Jones

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:17:50 +0000

You’ll find ideas and resources on this website to help you and your church reconnect with inactive and former members. However, your most important resource for reaching those who’ve slipped away from Jesus—or those who are cultural Christians (in church but not in Jesus)—is your own personal relationship with Jesus.    How are you doing there?

In some of the resources you’ll find on this website, you can find help in this area.   In chapter 5 of my book, Sometimes I Don’t Feel Like Praying, I share how I personally renew my relationship with Jesus step by step every day. And in my newest book, Help, Lord, I Blew It Again, I describe in chapter 1 how obtaining a new heart every day enabled me to overcome a devastating 40-year addiction (I call it a mental illness). You’ll also find in this book a chapter entitled “Enduring to the End,” which I wrote hoping to encourage the discouraged and also hoping to reach those wandering in the world.

Like to see your church become a warmer, friendlier place? Check out Diane’s and my DVD entitled “How To Create A Velcro Church!” (where your visitors stick and your members stick around). You can preview this video by following the instructions located in the “Resources & Ideas” section of this website.

I was out of the church for 16 years following a divorce and had really slipped away from Jesus during some of those years.   So know that I’ll be thrilled to receive stories of those who’ve returned to a relationship with Jesus. He continually reminds us, “I stand at the door and knock; if anyone opens the door, I will come in…”—Revelation 3:20.

In the meantime, let’s remember to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness daily as we continue into the new year. If we do this faithfully, Jesus will give us wisdom and power to become one of His change agents in the lives of those around us.

Blessings in Jesus as He uses you to love those around you including your own family members. Shoot me an email if you have suggestions or questions.

Mike Jones

P.S. My special thanks to Jason for his leadership in creating this website. By the way, you can order Help, Lord, I Blew It Again at this website if your ABC is too far away or doesn’t have it yet.