Dean Frazeur, pastor of Goochland Baptist Church in Manakin-Sabot, is urging his congregation to “just walk across the room.” Taking his cues from a book of the same name by Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, Frazeur is attempting to help members of Goochland share their faith in a natural, non-threatening way.
“What happens in a church where evangelism is happening only at the staff level or among a fraction of the people?” Frazeur asks. He then goes on to answer his own question: “Not a pretty picture of what the future holds for that church.” If this question applied to only one church it would be sobering enough, but, tragically, it applies generally to “the” church in America.
Frazeur knows what is apparent to most pastors and church members alike in our culture. The church talks about fishing for men a lot more than it fishes. Although he acknowledges that for most Christians, evangelism is the scariest of the church's purposes, he is not willing to concede that Christians are too timid to find ways to lovingly share their faith.
Using Hybels' book Just Walk Across the Room as a model, he has developed a strategic five-week plan to teach relational evangelism to Goochland. Components of the plan involve a weekly reading of a portion of Hybels' book, attending weekly worship services where JWAR is the theme, and small groups focusing on JWAR videos and lessons.
Frazeur asked the Goochland congregation, “What does God want from our church this year?” Whatever else he may want, Frazeur concluded, God certainly expects the church to be fruitful (John 15:1-8). In the sermon, he hoped to create the expectation of the harvest. He points to the explosive growth in the region of Goochland and challenges his congregation to reach out by forming friendships with the newcomers.
During the weeks of the emphasis, Frazeur encouraged Christians to reaffirm that giving others the gift of Christ's love is the greatest indication of our love for them. By being clear about our own story of what Christ has done in our lives and by listening carefully to their stories we will find ways to share what is most significant in our lives—out of friendship.
Not just a “how to witness” campaign, Frazeur stressed the importance of the Holy Spirit's leading in the process. Pointing out that we can never quite predict the opportunities the Spirit will give us, but we need to be tuned to his leading so we see it when it arises. As an illustration he points to Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy who recognized the opportunity to speak a word of witness to the entire nation as video cameras focused on him following the team's Super Bowl win.
Part of Goochland's strategy also involves “Matthew Parties” in which a church family invites few unchurched friends over for a meal. They also invite a couple of church families with whom they have things in common. “Don't over salt the mix,” cautions Frazeur. “We don't want them to feel overwhelmed. A rule of thumb is about one-third of the couples should be Christians.”
Frazeur invites anyone interested to visit the church's website at goochlandchurch.org, the justwalkacrosstheroom.com website, or call the church at (804) 749-3522.