ZIMBABWE CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE PARL Advisory Meeting

1. ZIMBABWE CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE PARL Advisory Meeting Enhancing Church Visibility Dr Njini F

2. Scope of the Presentation God’s Ultimate Purpose for the Church The Essence of Church Visibility Church Visibility Test Strategies to enhance Visibility

3. Enhancing Church Visibility

4. God’s Ultimate Purpose Isa 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days; That the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it …

5. God’s Ultimate Purpose • Heb 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels; To the general assembly and Church of the first born who are registered in heaven …

6. The Church • The word Church comes from the Greek term ekkelsia, which means “the called out ones” • The word ekklesia, “signified the assembling of the citizens for the purpose of conducting the affairs of the polis” (Hassiron, 1996) • All the city fathers including civic leaders assembled to discuss

7. Imageries - Church Visibility • City of Refuge Josh 20:1-9 • The connecting highway of the Lord Isa 19:23-25 • Altar of the Lord in heathen nations Isa 19:19 • The salt of the earth Ma 5:13 • Light of the world Mat 5:14 • A city set on a hill Mat 5:14

8. The Essence of Church Visibility a) Visibility as notable presence The building; the signage; Listings in local directories and use of church highway direction signs.

9. The Essence of Church Visibility b) The issue of church visibility is also a question of its expression or “look.” • The “image” of the church? • How is the church viewed by internal and external publics? • How is the church viewed by thought leaders?

10. Church Visibility Test • You decide to close down your local church; how many will know?; how many will care? • Your local church assembles to work together building a children’s chapel. How many people from the community will come and assist? • Your church building catches fire. How many people from the community will come to assist to put out the fire? How many will care? • When last was your pastor invited to pray/ give a word of counsel/ preach etc at a community gathering ? national gatherings? Civic leaders’ assembly?

11. Church Visibility Test • How often are you invited by civic leaders to participate in community development projects? • How many thought leaders visit your church without invitation? • Identify your contribution as a church to community/ national issues of development • Any public appearance on media platforms?positive? Negative?

12. The Challenge Lk 10: 30-35 • Bad religion builds walls rather than bridges (insulated from the communities) • The church becomes an ivory tower in the community (breaking into church buildings) • Focuses on things, programs, self preservation at the expense of the people • 98% are leaving the church because of relational issues (failure to take care of our own)

13. Adventist Iceberg • Our historical roots as a Church – the time of the Reformation • Doctrinal reformation during the time of the Reformation (apologetics). Now we need relational reformation. • Defending beliefs/ doctrines at the expense of basic Christian values (sectarianism) • People of the book! ( But the Book should make us connect with people) • Atheism is a backlash to bad religion

14. The God who Connects • Gen 3: 8 Adam where are you? • Gen 28:12 the ladder • Ex 25:8 … so that l dwell in your midst • John 1: 14 .... And the word became flesh and dwelt in our midst • John 14:20 ... dwelling in you • Who are we to build walls around ourselves?

15. 1. Connection PlatformsWho are we? • Human beings • Theists • Monotheists • Creationists • Christians • Protestants • Seventh-day Adventists • All these are amazing platforms to connect to people • Do not focus on one platform of identity

16. Our Punch line in PARL BUILDING BRIDGES

17. 2. Embrace an expansive concept of church • Regard your community as an extensionof your congregation • Lets not be steeped into the maintenance mode, embrace the mission mode • Be attuned to where God is already at work in your community. • Get to know the public officials. They are people with tremendous influence. They need to know of your church’s commitment to the community.

18. B Fill your life with Celebrations 18 GC 567 Plan to reach the best classes, and you will not fail to reach the lower classes. Fill your life with Celebrations

19. 3. Build Authentic Relationships with Thought Leaders • Present yourself to civic leaders and community leadership as their pastor • Strive for meaningful relationship, not superficial engagement. • Be a visible advocate for community development and the improvement of people’s standard of life • Maintain appropriate boundaries, and respect all with whom you engage.

20. 3. Build Authentic Relationships with Thought Leaders • Collaborate with others who are also passionate about the community. Don’t reinvent the wheel if you can partner with someone else serving the community. • Attend and participate in community/ national programs of relevance • Attend and participate in funerals, community celebrations, weddings, consultative meetings etc

21. 4. Turn your existing Departmental Ministries Outward • All departments to have an outreach thrust • Plan “bridge events” designed explicitly to draw people from the community by addressing their felt needs — parenting classes, health expos, youth alive programs • Hold these events outside the church walls in venues where people feel comfortable and naturally congregate.

22. 5. Engaging the Community • Pay attention to the heightened receptiveness to spiritual engagement around religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas. • Partner with other institutions (such as nursing homes, hospitals, or prisons) or commercial establishments (restaurants, bars, shopping centers, or sports facilities) to offer worship services to their constituents or clientele on special days.

23. Social Responsibility • “Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace” (Jeremiah 29:7).

24. Fill your life with Celebrations 24 “Christ’s glory was in lifting up fallen humanity.” COL 386 Fill your life with Celebrations

25. 6. Participating in National Programs/ Events • Citizen education. John In the world but not of the world John 7:14-16: In the World But Not Part of the World • National and international events are not partisan programs • Participation in such enhances visibility • Enhances mingling with civic and community leaders

26. Participating in National Programs/ Events 18 April - Independence Day 1 May - Workers day 22 Dec - Unity day 25 Dec - Christmas day First Saturday of Dec - National Tree Planting day 12 May - Mothers’ day 16 June - Fathers’ day Note that these are national and not party programs

27. International Special days Special Days designated by the UN 4 Feb - World Cancer Day 20 Feb - World Day of Social Justice 1 March - Zero Discrimination Day 8 March - Women’s Day 21 March - International Day 22 March - World Water Day 22 April – International Mother Earth Day

28. International Special days Special Days designated by the UN 15 May – International Day of Families 31 May – World No Tobacco Day 1June – Global Day of Parents 5 June – World Environment Day 23 June – International Widows Day 12 Aug – International Youth Day 21 Sep - International Day of Peace 20 Nov – Universal Children’s Day 1 Dec – World AIDS Day

29. Key Issues of PARL • Parl is there to build bridges with the key publics. • Parl operates right at the forefront of the church • Parl heightens awareness and visibility of the Church. • Parl programmes should be put on an eleveted platform • Parl is there to promote the public’s understanding of the church.

30. The Biblical Mandate Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Ps 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it.