When the biblical mandate is studied and learnt, the action of discipleship should take place. It must be more than just studying facts of the lost condition of the world but, that information must be undergirded with prayer. Prayer that grips the heart of God and in turn grips our heart that moves us with compassion for a lost world!
14“Go Mobilize,” Center for Mission Mobilization (2016), accessed January 30, 2018, www.mobilization.org/docs/gomobilize/GoMobilize-English-v1.7.pdf, 3.
15A. Bruce Riley Ashford, Theology and Practice of Mission: God, The Church, and the Nations (Nashville: B & H Pub., 2011), 15.
God is looking for an obedient church that will fulfill his command. God has entrusted the church with the ministry and message of reconciliation. God has made a great investment in reconciling the world back to himself, he gave his only begotten Son – Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:18-19). The church must understand the great lengths that God and his Son, Jesus Christ went through to provide salvation for all humanity, if they accept the gospel on God’s terms (John 1:12). As a response, the least the body of Christ can do is be thankful, grateful, appreciative and obedient to the biblical mandate given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20.
Conclusion
The purpose of this project was to develop a thirteen-week curriculum plan for increasing evangelism and mission mobilization. NBCP needed the teaching of
evangelism and the understanding of the urgent engagement in it. Now as the church develops this mindset and the execution of evangelism, this will broaden their vision of the lostness of humanity and be mobilized towards mission involvement. The church understands the call to evangelism, many different approaches, and their responsibility for doing evangelism and mission work. NBCP also understands what the Bible teaches about missions and their responsibility for being engaged in missions. They also know they have a role to play as a church in God’s mission. The church was taught the role that prayer plays in missions. And they know what mission mobilization is and their
importance to be a part of the Great Commission making disciples of all nations.
CHAPTER 5
EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT Introduction
The purpose of this project was to develop a plan for increasing evangelism and mission mobilization at New Birth Cathedral of Praise in Sherman, Texas. The church had the mindset that it was the pastor’s responsibility to do evangelism. The goal was to teach the church that it is the responsibility of the entire church to be engaged in evangelism and missions. This chapter evaluates the effectiveness of this project.
Evaluation of the Project’s Purpose
This project was to propose a plan for increasing evangelism and mission mobilization at NBCP in Sherman, Texas. NBCP needed the teaching of evangelism and missions, along with the understanding of the urgent engagement of these critical
ministries. The previous chapters aimed to implement such teaching by creating a thirteen-week curriculum equipping the church in evangelism and mission mobilization.
As the church applies those lessons, she will develop this needed mindset and the
execution of evangelism. This has also broadened their vision of the lostness of humanity and be mobilized towards mission involvement.
This project has moved the church in a new direction towards becoming aware of the urgent need of evangelism and mission mobilization. The development of this project has caused the church leadership, as well as its members, to see the need for seriously preparing the church at an in-depth level of teaching and training. Believers desired to know what the Scriptures say about evangelism and mission mobilization. The
congregation responded with eagerness week after week as learning took place on new subjects related to evangelism and mission mobilization from God’s word.
Evaluation of the Project’s Goals
Three goals guided this project towards the fulfillment of its purpose. The first goal was to assess the congregation’s knowledge of evangelism and missions. The second goal was to develop a thirteen-week evangelism and mission’s curriculum. The third goal was to equip the congregation by teaching the newly developed curriculum on
evangelism and missions. Each goal led to the next goal, so that the teaching of evangelism and mission mobilization would broaden NBCP’s vision of the lostness of humanity and be mobilized towards evangelism and mission involvement. The first time I did the teaching, the post-survey revealed an inconsistency in the scoring. Therefore, I had to reteach the curriculum to a new group. The second group provided the statistical variance needed.
The three goals were presented as an overview of the entire project. Each goal was then addressed individually. The first goal was to assess knowledge of evangelism and missions in the 6 new adults who participated. They were presented with a 22-
question survey related to evangelism and mission, along with some needed demographic information. These adults were to give their opinion using the following scale: SD=
strongly disagree, D= disagree, DS= disagree somewhat, AS= agree somewhat, A= agree, SA= strongly agree.
After 6 adult members were given the survey and the results were analyzed, it gave an understanding of their knowledge of evangelism and mission mobilization.1 The first goal had been successfully met. But the knowledge these individuals had about evangelism and missions was unanticipated, scoring a 107.5 out of 135 possible points.
With such knowledge I wonder why there was not more activity and motivation towards evangelism and missions. The second goal was to develop a thirteen-week evangelism and missions curriculum. The planned curriculum to be taught was presented to the pastor and the expert panel of three ministers of the church, who are the field ministry
directors.2 They reviewed the curriculum and measured this goal by utilizing the curriculum evaluation rubric.3 Their evaluation of the curriculum of evangelism and missions was exemplary.
The third goal was to equip 6 adult members of NBCP by teaching the newly developed curriculum related to evangelism and mission. After the thirteen-week curriculum was taught, there was also a post-survey given to the 6 adult members who attended the classes to measure their level of knowledge.4 There were 6 pre-and post- surveys given. The teaching of doctrine to the select group of adults made a statistically significant difference resulting in the increase of their doctrinal knowledge (t (5) = 3.749, p< .013). The results displayed below.
1See the “Evangelism and Missions Knowledge Survey” in appendix 1.
2These field ministry directors are members of the NBCP. They are responsible for coordinating all the evangelism outreach training.
3See the “Curriculum Evaluation Rubric” in appendix 2.
4See the “Evangelism and Missions Knowledge Survey” in appendix 1.
Table. Comparison of the cumulative responses t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means
Variable 1 Variable 2 Mean
107.5 119.3333333 Variance
209.9 87.06666667 Observations
6 6
Pearson Correlation
0.877308851 Hypothesized Mean Difference
0 Df
5
t Stat -
3.749326022 P(T<=t) one-tail
0.00665148 t Critical one-tail
2.015048373 P(T<=t) two-tail
0.013302961 t Critical two-tail
2.570581836
This above T-test was designated to analyze and compare the means from the pre-test and the post-test scores. A noteworthy measure in knowledge of evangelism and missions was apparent. The pre-test disclosed 107.5 out of 135 possible points. While the post-test revealed an increase of knowledge, which showed a cumulative score of 119.3 out of 135 possible points. This third goal was successfully met.
Strength of the Project
When this project began, it took on a shape all its own. As it was developed, it became more than ideas about evangelism and mission mobilization. After developing the
goals, it gave a clearer picture of the direction the project was headed. This would become a challenge and a blessing to the author and NBCP—assessing what the church knew about evangelism and missions. Next was developing a thirteen-week curriculum, which now remains a permanent curriculum to train future church members in
evangelism and mission mobilization.
Another strength of this project was developing the biblical and theological basis for evangelism and mission mobilization that NBCP can call its own. There were three biblical text that support the foundation of this project. First, Matthew 9:36-38 provides a model for gospel motivation. Second, Matthew 10:1-23 provides a model for laborers in evangelism. Third, Matthew 28:19-20 provides a model for the laborers to be mobilized. These three texts are the biblical and theological foundation for evangelism and mission mobilization for this project.
While developing the theoretical and practical issues, another strength was discovered—that the church must be equipped to communicate the gospel in an anti- Christian culture. If discipled, believers are to be committed to the cause of Christ and live godly lives in this culture, then they will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12). The present culture is anti-Christian, so believers must learn how to share their faith in this hostile environment. This post-modern culture has no absolutes, no moral compass, and they govern their lives based on what is popular and not what is ethical. Therefore, the church must be equipped to communicate the gospel within an anti-Christian culture. The church needs to have a great understanding of the culture’s resistance towards the authority of the Scriptures and defend their beliefs using apologetics.
This project has provided a stronger conviction about the authority of Scripture and the answers to life that are found in them for all. Man’s advanced technologies are not adequate to sustain a healthy moral life. Believers today must be equipped in biblical doctrines, apologetics and worldviews, so that they can offer hope while being humble and not harsh nor hateful, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord
as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet 3:15). This will be the new platform for training believers in evangelism in the 21st century.
Weakness of the Project
Numerous positive results have come out of this project. However, some weakness arose. A weakness that was discovered was in motivation. While the adult members who attended the class were excited about evangelism training, getting people to come out frequently to do evangelism is still a challenge. While there may be an
increase of knowledge, the actual execution of doing evangelism is still a struggle. What I have learned is that there must be a consistency of going out to share the gospel. A
constant role of modeling and mentoring members is needed. Also needed is a monthly report from the pastor on mission and missionary’s activity around the world to keep people informed of what God is doing. Stressing the fact that God’s work is important and NBCP is needed and necessary to do their part of sharing the gospel locally and globally. Teaching content is not enough; the leadership will continue to find ways to get more of the entire church involved in evangelism and missions.
Role play was an effective tool as far as getting people involved in church.
After two weeks of doing role play on witnessing, members acted as though it would be no problem going out to actually do evangelism in the field. However, when these same members were asked to come out to share their faith, some failed to show up. But those who did step out in faith to share the gospel saw results of God working through them and in people. The church leadership will continue to motivate and teach the members to pray for the lost; the church leadership will stress that God has need of the entire church to get involved in evangelism, “for the harvest is plenteous but the labors are few” (Matt 9:37).