Some have said, “Pastors will be held responsible for the failure to train lay persons to share their faith,” and Ephesians 4:11-12 does say “we are to equip His people for works of service.”

Baptism numbers continue to decline nationally. Further, evangelism seems to have fallen off the radar, and we are told it does not work anymore.

So what can we do? Wow, I am glad you asked!

The largest training in 20 years will be undertaken by the Evangelism Office in 2015 with a great implementation — called “Sharing Across Alabama” — planned for 2016.

There will be nine identical events at locations across Alabama, making it possible for each director of missions and pastor to attend fairly close to home. Three strategic tools will be taught in each location:

• CAST: a great, easy way to share a three-minute testimony and tell one’s story.
• Life Conversation model: how to share one’s faith using three circles that can be drawn on a napkin or read from a tract.
• Media Evangelism model: an idea for hosting people in a home setting where a Billy Graham DVD will be shared or an iPhone app will be used to communicate the Gospel.

Each training session for Sharing Across Alabama will begin at 1 p.m. and adjourn by 7 p.m. Each event will include training materials, dinner, a concert and a challenging message — all free of charge, thanks to the gifts of Alabama Baptists through the Cooperative Program.

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to lose Alabama for the cause of Christ on any of our watches. I pray each Alabama Baptist pastor will consider attending one of these nine training sessions to learn more about equipping lay persons to share their faith in Christ:

~ July 9: Marriott Capitol Hill, Prattville

~ July 16: Hotel Capstone, Tuscaloosa

~ July 30: Siloam Baptist Church, Marion

~ August 20: First Baptist Church, Satsuma

~ August 27: The Shoals RTJ Golf Course, Muscle Shoals

~ September 10: Highland Oaks RTJ Golf Course, Dothan

~ September 24: Silver Lakes RTJ Golf Course, Gadsden

~ October 22: Guntersville State Park Lodge, Guntersville

~ January 7, 2016: Samford University, Birmingham

Online registration is required at alsbom.org/sharingacrossalabama. Deadline to register is 30 days before each event. 

For more information, please contact Ministry Assistant Lori McGough at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 245,  or (334) 613-2245, [email protected]

Source: GreatCommissionGPS.org
Sharing Across Alabama