Having worked across Australia, in a variety of (Anglican) contexts, I have come to the conclusion that an evangelistic resource list - regularly updated - is well overdue.
Indeed, the most common questions are not so much about strategies, but starting points:
“We have a small group and would like to do some outreach, what do you recommend?”;
“Is there a programme that I can use for people who’ve never hear the Jesus stories?”;
“Can you suggest a course for helping Christians make friends with outsiders?”
And so it goes.
Here is my preliminary list. Some sites/products will be well known, others less so. Do please send me other URL’s if you have them (spr@em.anglican.asn.au).
Disclaimer: I am not necessarily endorsing any of the below mentioned - they are simply for your perusal and consideration.
1. Introduction to Christianity course/material
a. Journeys A video/DVD programme from New Zealand. Designed for people who have had little (or zero) exposure to Christianity.
[url=http://www.greatjourneys.co.nz/journeys/index.html]http://www.greatjourneys.co.nz/journeys/index.html[/url]
b. Christianity Explored Beautifully produced/shot programme from UK. Anglican Minister, Reverend Rico Tice is the presenter. Gospel of Mark is the focus.
[url=http://www.christianityexplored.com/]http://www.christianityexplored.com/[/url]
c. Introducing God Brilliantly written and edited. Informed by the Two Ways To Live format. Anglican, Reverend Dominic Steele is the presenter. An Australian effort. [url=http://www.introducinggod.org/]http://www.introducinggod.org/[/url]
d. Lifeworks An Australian Christian Basics programme featuring John North - recently revised and updated. [url=http://www.lifeworks-australia.com]http://www.lifeworks-australia.com[/url]
e. Christianity Explained Rev. Michael Bennett is an Anglican Minister living in Brisbane - this is a very simple and effective series of studies based on the gospel of Mark. Note: [url=http://www.christianityexplained.com/]http://www.christianityexplained.com/[/url]
f. Emmaus A British (Anglican) course used extensively by anglo-catholic churches for outreach and discipling (Bishop Stephen Cottrell - author)http://www.e-mmaus.org.uk
g. Simply Christianity A wonderful resource written by Anglican minister, Rev. Dr. John Dickson. Based on gospel of Luke. [url=http://johndickson.org/books]http://johndickson.org/books[/url]
h. Credo An introduction to Christianity. Course written/hosted by (Australian ex-pat) Bishop Lindsay Urwin (Diocese Chichester).http://www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk/bookdetails.asp?ISBN=0851913113
i. Facing Forever A 13 week US programme. [url=http://www.facingforever.org]http://www.facingforever.org[/url]
j. Alpha Express Not much info on this one - an edited shortened DVD version released in August ‘05.http://www.wesleyowen.com/Merchandiser/catalog/Product.jhtml?PRODID=290830&CATID=275
k. Living Faith - Exploring Christianity in ten sessions. Presented by English Anglican bishop, Dr Tom Wright. [url=http://www.spckonline.com/spck/living_faith.asp]http://www.spckonline.com/spck/living_faith.asp[/url]
2. Soft entry community interest programmes
a. Grief/share is wonderful programme which assists people in coming to terms with grief and loss [url=http://www.griefshare.org]http://www.griefshare.org[/url]
b. The Divorce Care series of programmes are well worth running. [url=http://www.divorcecare.org/startagroup/materials/]http://www.divorcecare.org/startagroup/materials/[/url]
c. The Marriage Course (from Holy Trinity Brompton) [url=http://themarriagecourse.org/]http://themarriagecourse.org/[/url]
3. Training in outreach/evangelism.
a. Facing the Challenge A brilliant DVD style programme from the UK helping people understand the culture with a view to sharing our own faith journey [url=http://www.facingthechallenge.org]http://www.facingthechallenge.org[/url]
b. Friends For Life From ‘Journeys’ team. How to make friends and engage with the culture.http://www.greatjourneys.co.nz/resources/resources.html
4. ‘Missional’ Sites
a. Emerging Church Network [url=http://www.emergingchurch.info/links/index.htm]http://www.emergingchurch.info/links/index.htm[/url]
b Forge Network Australia [url=http://www.forge.org.au/]http://www.forge.org.au/[/url]
d. Planting Resources [url=http://bradboydston.com/html/church_planting.html]http://bradboydston.com/html/church_planting.html[/url]
e. C of E Fresh Expressions [url=http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/index.asp?id=1]http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/index.asp?id=1[/url]
f. Anglican Church Planting Initiatives [url=http://www.acpi.org.uk/index2.htm]http://www.acpi.org.uk/index2.htm[/url]
g. Church Army UK [url=http://www.encountersontheedge.org.uk/]http://www.encountersontheedge.org.uk/[/url]
h. New Churches Resource [url=http://www.newchurches.com/]http://www.newchurches.com/[/url]
Happy surfing,
Stuart
Stuart Robinson is the National Mission Facilitator for the Anglican Church of Australia and former head of the Sydney Diocese’ Evangelism Ministries
