How to Become the Spiritual Person of Influence in Your Group
In March, 2000 I went to a Civil War re-enactment. After the battle I visited the Confederate camp and asked their battlefield chaplain about his ministry. He said he was influencing people for Christ because he was going to people who often didn't go to church. Then he said to me, "Christians need to be willing to get out of their churches at least once a month and go where the world is."
That advice changed my life forever.
I became a Civil War chaplain as well...a Union chaplain. Several times a year Roger and I stare at each other across the battlefield, encouraging our respective soldiers to fight for home and country. Off the field we're the best of friends as we encourage our respective soldiers to turn to Christ.
People of influence serve entire groups of people in secular settings. They are members of or directly associated with groups that are united by a common activity, employment, experience or emphasis. They serve as chaplains. They volunteer to give a prayer at the Christmas banquet or volunteer to visit and encourage a member who is sick or grieving. They are people who deliberately but respectfully live a Christian in the workplace, on the team, or in the club or association. They quitely monitor the physical, emotional and spiritual health of every member of the group with the care and compassion shown by Jesus Christ.
The goal of the Christian person of influence is to become the spiritual 'go-to person' and spiritual leader and caregiver of the group. Not only do they want to bring people to Christ, they want to turn the culture of the group toward Godly living.
This 15-hour seminar will help you become an effective person of influence by understanding the principles of providing spiritual care and leadership to a secular group. It has a strong emphasis on practical steps and strategies for relating to people as a friend who is a Christian, how to avoid getting trapped in questionable situations, how to present the Gospel in today's non-Christian environment and how to help people through crisis and abusive situations. This is information that can be used immediately after each session.
Seminar outline
Session 1: The Role of People of Influence (1 hour)
Why it is important to build relationships with all the members of the group, not just friends.
The differences of ministry strategy with pastors, evangelists and missionaries.
Why people stay away from pastors, evangelists and missionaries but turn to people of
influence.
Why a person of influence relates to relates to the group.
What is the scope of our spiritual care?
Why people who have 'faith' are better people.
Why we encourage human spirituality (the spirituality that causes us to be optimistic
about each new day) as well as God-ward spirituality that leads to salvation.
Session 2: Essentials of a Ministry Of Influence (1 hour)
Why it is important to work with permission from an authority to serve the physical,
emotional and spiritual needs of the group.
What are our limits of evangelism.
Why we trade limits to our evangelism for ongoing access to the group.
What is 'basic salvation'?
What is a brother or sister in Christ?
What are the six key aspects of ministry?
Session 3: Discovering Ministry Opportunities Around You (1 hour)
How to find the opportunities for ministry in your community.
What and where are the opportunities that surround you?
How to evaluate the demographics of the group.
How to determine the best ministry strategy for each group.
Determining the preparations and resources necessary for starting a ministry to each group.
Session 4: People of Influence and Their Relationships With People (2 hours)
How to overcome obstacles to gaining acceptance by the group.
How to respond to people who oppose to the Gospel.
How to respond to those who see your 'religion' as a cult.
How to deal with nominal Christians and 'super-Christians.'
Why it is important to set ministry boundaries.
Why and how to keep from getting personally involved in other's problems.
Session 5: People of Influence and Their Relationship With God (2 hours)
Why it is important to live a life of moral integrity, to live above reproach and be accountable.
How to avoid compromising situations and accusations of various forms of harassment.
How to overcome the affects a negative background, or past or present reputation.
What to do if you fall into sin or a verifiable questionable situation.
What to do if you are compromised by people wanting to destroy your ministry.
Session 6: Presenting the Gospel In a Secular and Pluralistic Society (2 hours)
Why it is important to emphasize and encourage the two levels of spirituality.
How to present the Gospel in a respectful manner.
Handling questions or rejection of a spiritual relationship with God.
How to respond to the comment, "My beliefs are as valid as yours."
Why it is essential that sin is presented as the common denominator of man and his problems.
Why building "Men of Peace" is so effective in evangelizing people of other faiths.
Session 7: Developing Ministry Opportunities Around You (1 hour)
How to approach managers and directors for permission to have a ministry to their group.
Pitfalls to avoid when presenting your ministry idea.
How to respond to their Number 1 objection: "We don't want you coming in here and pushing
your religion."
Why you must have a relationship with your local church.
How to determine and raise ministry finances.
What is the role of volunteers?
Session 8: Crisis Intervention (2 hours)
Why the true test of a relationship takes place at 3:00AM.
What are the ethical and legal limits of your ministry.
How to resolve a crisis.
How to evaluate and handle confessions.
What to say to give genuine hope to non-Christians.
How to pray for people in crisis.
How to give a death notification.
Session 9: The Intolerable A's (1 hour)
Why you do not allow people to live with addictions (alcoholism and drugs), abuse or adultery.
Why people stay in unhealthy relationships
How to help victims accept protection and help.
Why victims return to abusive situations.
How to deal with the addict, abuser or adulterer or adulteress who confesses to their problem.
Session 10: Peacemaking (1 hour)
Why people fight with each other.
Why situations and problems people can go unresolved for years.
What steps to take to initiate the process of resolution.
Working your way through personal reconciliation, property negotiation, mediation and
arbitration.
Session 11: Your Ministry Checklist. (1 hour)
What you need to do to get the ministry under way.
What to do your first day.
How to measure ministry success.
