Church

Uniquely Situated

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Port Royal Baptist Church is uniquely situated for ministry opportunity. I believe the placement of our church has nothing to do with chance or luck. Instead, I believe that we are where we are for a reason. If you have never been to Port Royal Baptist Church, let me explain a little bit about our location.

If you step out of the front door and look to the left, you will see  major highway connecting the town of Port Royal to the city of Beaufort. If you step out of the front door and look to the right, you will see the Naval Hospital Beaufort. On this military base you have housing for both singles and families. If you step out of the front and look directly in front of you, you will see a park that is maintained by the town of Port Royal. There are two things worth mentioning about this park. First, a skate park was built several years ago and now gives kids who enjoy skateboarding a place to go. There always seems to be kids there, my son included. Second, this park hosts a farmers market from about April until November. Each Staurday morning vendors set-up in the park and sell everything from vegetables to fresh shrimp. The farmers market draws a large crowd, consistently. The exciting part is that all of this takes place at our doorsteps. Directly behind the church is an apartment complex in which we have a witness of the gospel, and praying for an increase. Also, within a half-mile of the church, there are at least hree multi-housing units. Port Royal Baptist Church is just over a mile from the front gate of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island. We are praying for an opportunity to open up to that would enable us to minister to the families on the depot.

I said all of that to say this. It’s all about placement. Opportunity surrounds us. Our mission field is right here. I believe that God has uniquely positioned us here to significantly impact our community. If you have never been to Port Royal Baptist Church, I hope this helps you understand where we are. If you have been to Port Royal Baptist Church, have you noticed what is around you? When you drive to church, do you realize that you pass through a mission field on your way to worship? We have a people to reach. I am excited about the potential. I am excited about the opportunity before us. In jsut a few weeks we are planning a service project in the park, right in front of us. I’ll write more about that later. I love this town. I love these people. May God enable us to reach them.  

Surprising Insights : Part #6

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Chapter 6 is a straight forward and a no-nonsense chapter. A good reminder. This chapter deals with the issue of doctrine and the importance of it in the mind of the unchurched. A false assumption is put to rest by the research conducted in the writing of this book. The false assumption is that you have to water down and compromise on sound biblical truth in order to reach an unchurched person. The point I found most interesting was the unchurched were looking for absolutes. The doctrine of the church provided absolutes in a culture where very few exist. The unchurched also looked to the church to actually believe and live out the doctrine they say is important. As a church, we must keep a focus on the importance of living before the world what we say with our mouths to be important. The unchurched are counting on it.

Surprising Insights : Part #5

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Once the individual comes to the church, what will cause them to stay? Chapter 5 answers this question. Rainer lists six issues that were key for keeping members and increasing the return of guests.

1. Doctrine Clarified

2. High Expectations

3. An “Entry Point” Class

4. Small Groups and Sunday School

5. Clarity of Purpose

6. Ministry Involvement

Surprising Insights : Part #3

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Chapter 3 handles an issue that I have always felt to be the most important to an individual connecting to the church. I am glad to see the research supports it. I read recently where it was stated that a person who is new (or returning) to the church needed to establish at least seven meaningful relationships. These relationships help to connect them to the body of Christ. Rainer gives us five conclusions as  it relates to relationships.

1. Relationships are very important.

2. Rarely do relationships alone explain the best way to reach the unchurched.

3. God sometimes works to reach the unchurched without using any relationships.

4. Family relationships are the msot important.

5. The wife is the most important relationships in reaching the unchuched.

Surprising Insights : Part #2

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Chapter 2 of this book speaks to the impact that the pastor and his preaching had in the formerly unchurched becoming connected to the church. I am not going to spend a great deal of time here for the fear of sounding braggish. That being said, the pastor has a vital role in reaching the unchurched. Through the research of 353 formerly unchurched people, when asked, “Did the pastor and his preaching play a part in your coming to the church?” 97% answered “yes”. This chapter gives 8 factors that relate to the influence the pastor had on the unchurched. I’ll list the top 4.

1. Preaching That Teaches

2. Preaching That Applies To My life

3. Authenticity of the Pastor

4. Pastor’s Convictions

Surprising Insights – Part #1

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Today, I am beginning my review of Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them by Thom Rainer.

This book is a research project. If you enjoy research, you will enjoy this book. Surprising Insights is about the formerly unchurched and their journey to becoming active in the local church. The goal then is to study what moved them to the church and develop strategies to reach the millions who were previously like them. The working definintion of formerly unchurched, according to Rainer is, one who has not been in church except sporadically, for at least ten years, but has recently become active in a church.

America is becoming an increasingly unchurched country as each generation passes. Chapter one gives the telling statistics. Only 41% of Americans attend church services on a typical weekend. In America, at the printing of this book (2001), it takes 85 church members to reach one person for Jesus Christ. I have a feeling that number is higher in 2009.

The bulk of this chapter covers nine myths the formerly unchurched destroyed about reaching the unchurched population. I have to admit, I have been guilty of believing at least one of these myths. I list them here for you to consider.

1. Most unchurched think and act like Anglo, middle-class suburbanites with no church background.

2. The unchurched are turned off by by denominational names in the church name.

3. The unchurched never attend church.

4. The unchurched cannot be reached by direct personal evangelism.

5. The Pastor must be a dynamic and charismatic leader for the church to reach the unchurched.

6. We must be careful in our teaching and preaching so that we do not communicate deep and complex biblical truths that will confuse the unchurched.

7. The Sunday School and other small groups are ineffective in attracting the unchurched.

8. The most important evangelistic relationships take place in the marketplace.

9. The unchurched are only concerned about their own needs.

Wow.

Changing Faces at the IMB

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The International Mission Board has reported that Dr. Jerry Rankin, president of the IMB has announced his retirement that will take place on July 31, 2010. Dr. Rankin made this announcement while in Jacksonville, FL at the IMB Missionary Appointment Service that was held at FBC Jacksonville where 60 new missionaries were appointed. You can read about that service here.

Let me say that I have never met Dr. Rankin personally. I have heard him share mission messages and his heart for the lost at various convention settings. This man has a true heart for mission work and the lost. I am thankful that such a passionate and humble man had led our IMB fo the past 17 years. During his leadership, the missionary force has grown to what it is today. Here is how the IMB looks today. There are over 5500 missionaries, nearly 27000 churches have been planted in total, 101 new people groups have been engaged for a total 1190 different people groups being reached.

I have served on six short-term mission trips through the IMB to Honduras and Nicaragua. I have been impacted and challenged by Dr. Rankin’s vision for the IMB. As I have watched and participated in IMB ministry over the years, the IMB has had some real challenges. One challenge has always been present and will always be there. I am speaking of the challenge to take a message of love and hope to an unloving world. It is a call to take the message of Jesus to the unsafe and dangerous parts of the world. Dr. Rankin has consistently encouraged and challenged the Southern Baptist Convention to trust God above all else and go. We are seeing time and time again individuals and couples willing to put their lives on the line tht othes might hear. Amazing.

Another challenge that has surfaced recently is the decrease in giving to the Cooperative Program. As you may or not know, our missionaries are solely funded by the CP gifts from every SBC church and from the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. As a result of these tough economic times, mission funding has decreased. I have written about that here. Today, the IMB has candidates who willing, capapble, qualified, and approved to go the field, however, the money is not there to send them. Tragic.

I will be praying earnestly for our IMB. I cahllenge you and encourage you to pray as well. How can you pray? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Pray the IMB will seek a president that has a passion for the lost and that will listen to God as how to reach them.

2. Pray for the safety, security, and success of our missionaries already on the field worldwide.

3. Pray the funds will come available through increased CP giving to be able to send those missionaries who are waiting to go.

4. Pray that God will open a door for you to go.

Service With a Smile

/ Steven Ruff / 2 Comments

Today, our church hosted the Beaufort Housing Authority in the their annual Senior Luncheon. We had upwards of 120 senior citizens from Beaufort and the surrounding areas of Sumter, Charleston, Columbia, and others. I had the opportunity and priviledge to work along side 6 of our church members who volunteered their time to serve today. Our goal was to make ourselves available to their needs in order that they might have a enjoyable experience. Whether preparing plates, waiting tables, or just sharing a conversation with someone was, for me personally, exciting. My excitement was tempered with the challenge that every individual faces at one time or another: The challenge to put someone else first. The reason this is challenging is that it goes against everything we are naturally and it contradicts what the world teaches today. The world’s lesson: look out for number one.

As I watched our people give of their time and of themselves, I was encouraged, at the same time reminded that Jesus told HIs disciples in Mark 10:45-

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

If you have never intentionally put yourself in the position to serve others, I challenge you to find a way to do so. Look around you, wherever you are, for ways to serve someone else. Do this for no other reason than it is what has been modeled for us by Jesus himself. You will not be sorry.

What if Everything Looked Like a Church Service?

/ Steven Ruff / 2 Comments

Those of who are connected to, and part of the local church know there is a pattern to how we conduct our worship services. This entire experience  begins the moment an individual gets out of their car and continues until they drive out of the parking lot.  This “order” is something we have become familiar and comfortable with. I wonder what it looks like to someone who comes into the church for the very first time? Further, what if everyone else conducted business like we “conduct” our services at church? The video below is a light-hearted parable that I believe, at least in part, answers that question. While this video is funny, it is at the same time painfully true. It made me think about what we do. Enjoy.