AMARILLO, Texas (ABP) — Neal Hughes feels certain about two things: Churches need to be started in multihousing environments, and doing so begins with prayer.
Hughes, a missionary for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, should know. As pastor of Hope Community Church in Montgomery, Ala., his church has started 53 churches in apartment complexes, and since beginning work with NAMB, has helped start 88 churches in the trailer park communities that sprang up following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The congregations were starting by using the “Jericho Prayer-Walk” for indigenous church planting. Just as the Old Testament reported the walls of Jericho tumbled following seven circuits of the city, Hughes said seven weeks of prayer breaks down barriers to starting a church.
Hughes spoke during a church planting conference sponsored by the multihousing outreach office of Amarillo Area Baptist Association. The first week of the process, Hughes said, volunteers walk the property, “praying the resurrected Christ through the locked doors,” and ministering to the people who initiate conversations, Hughes said.
“People lock their doors for many different reasons, but with one common denominator –fear,” he said. “People lock the doors of their heart for the same reason. But no locked doors can keep the resurrected Christ from entering.”
Any amount of people can prayer-walk, he said, but they should do it in groups of two. And the prayer should be conducted with an ultimate end in mind — an opportunity to see the Great Commission fulfilled in the lives of the people who live there. Usually, at least a few residents will ask why strangers are walking around the property. Whatever you do, Hughes said, don't mention the church plans.
“Don't share the whole vision with them yet,” he instructed. “They aren't ready for that. Just say: ‘I'm a Christian, and I'm here to pray for you and this community. Is there something I can pray with you about?'”
Prayer-walkers should avoid calling unnecessary attention to themselves, he advised. For example, some people get in the habit of touching object after object as they prayer-walk, and some onlookers might wonder about mental stability.
In the same vein, don't hurry, but to be on God's timetable, Hughes stressed. During the second week, repeat the process. Hughes said most residents don't expect people from the church to return. When they do, respect develops, and opportunities to pray with people will increase.
The third week marks a crucial point in the process, he said.
“Almost always on this third week, [someone] will appear, wanting to join you in your prayer-walk and participate with you in reaching their community for Christ,” Hughes said.
According to Hughes, that person has been placed by God to facilitate the ministry. Hughes said that very thing happened to him during preparations to start a discipling group at an apartment complex in Alabama.
The second week, as his group approached the apartment complex, they heard a commotion. When they arrived, they saw a man and woman arguing loudly and profanely — and both were brandishing guns. Hughes recalled stepping between the pair — almost against his will — and telling them to go into their apartments and calm down. For some reason, they did.
When Hughes' group returned the next week for their third week of prayer-walking, the same man met Hughes as he entered the property. Hughes said he was frightened, but he followed when the man told him to do so. He was petrified, however, when they rounded a corner and saw a group of about 20 rough-looking men.
“We want you to pray,” the men told Hughes.
“I'm way ahead of you,” he replied.
The man was known as “Dirty Dog.” Dirty Dog was not a Christian then, but by giving his approval for the group, he became a man of peace for that apartment complex. Now, years later, Dirty Dog is a Christian and Bible study leader.
“This person of peace, they are people you will be investing your life with,” Hughes said. “These are your Timothys and Lydias.”
For Hughes, after meeting that “person of peace,” the fourth week is a continuation of prayer and a time to welcome feedback from community members.
The fifth week marks another critical point because some in the group will begin to think that there has been enough praying and that it's time to move on to something different. Hughes counsels the opposite.
“As you pray, walk a little slower, and stay a little longer,” he said. “God is seeding into the community not only their need for Christ, but also the church being birthed in their backyard. Become more public with your intentions.”
Week six should consist of prayer-walking and flyers with dates for a kick-off rally, Hughes said. Throughout the seventh week, continue praying and handing out flyers.
According to Hughes, by the seventh week, a cluster of people will be ready for the new church to start.
The last week before the church starts, Hughes told listeners, hold a block party or kickoff rally with face painting, a bounce house, food and fun events. It is best if other volunteers can operate the block party so the people who have been ministering to residents can continue to do so.
The ninth week, begin discipling groups for men, women and children separately.
In the weeks to come, hand over responsibilities to leaders in the group, Hughes said. Start by modeling the way to do things, and gradually transform that to assisting indigenous leadership as necessary. Later, try to observe more than lead, and then leave the church to the people who live in the community.
Target 18 months as the time for the people in the community to have full rein, Hughes said. While the volunteers who started the church are no longer there for services regularly, they should still continue to mentor leaders between times.
With Hughes' work on more than 140 churches, he said he felt pretty confident in his method.
“And to think, it all started with a prayer-walk,” he said.
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