Outreach: a wild ride

Go to any theme park or carnival in America and you will see the same scene played out over and over again: A little kid, finally tall enough for something with a little more excitement than the merry-go-round, but terrified at the idea of that bigger, taller, faster ride. It’s not that he doesn’t want to do it, no matter what he says. In fact, he probably really does want to, but fear has taken hold and he can’t quite get his feet to take him where he wants to go.

When that happens, his big brother has a choice to make. He can either give up and let his brother quit without even trying, or he can bribe, coax, and cajole his younger sibling into taking a chance. Most of the time, quitting is the easier option. But it’s also not very satisfying. How much fun is it when that kid gets off the roller coaster he was sure he didn’t want to ride, wide-eyed and breathless, and says, “Let’s do it again!”

To get his little brother on the big ride, the big brother has to overcome his brother’s fear with his own experience (you’re not going to die, I promise…) and the strength of their relationship. A stranger would not have much luck talking that terrified 8-year-old into taking the chance. A brother can offer to hold his hand.

That’s a little bit like outreach. It is having a real relationship, making a genuine connection, and then using that connection to make someone’s life more exciting, more fun, and more satisfying than they ever expected it to be.

What outreach isn’t

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)

For a long time, the church defined outreach as handing out tracts, knocking on doors, or holding special events such as revival meetings. The people doing the outreach (let’s be honest) were sometimes seen by those they were trying to reach as being zealots and/or maybe just a little bit cuckoo. I won’t say it never worked. Lots of people got introduced to Jesus. Seeds were planted. Good people were doing a good thing.

Unfortunately, a lot of the tracts and teachings used in that kind of evangelism are focused on salvation from eternal punishment. But I rather doubt that a lot of lasting change happened in anyone’s life because someone handed them a mini comic book about going to hell. (I saw that one when I was maybe twelve or so. I’ve got to say, it did more to creep me out than to draw me in.)

In fact, Jesus himself didn’t ever try to scare anyone into the Kingdom. He occasionally got angry with those who should have already known better – especially the Pharisees and other religious leaders. But He was always gentle with those who were just trying to get through another day. The woman at the well is a perfect example. He didn’t tell her to “turn or burn.” He spoke life into her before inviting her to sin no more.

Outreach is never about reminding people, once again, of the ways that they fail to measure up.

What outreach is

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8)

So what does real outreach look like? Again, it’s that picture of Jesus showing genuine kindness to a woman that others wouldn’t even associate with. It’s Jesus calling out to some fishermen to come with Him and experience a different kind of life. It’s the disciples stopping to meet the needs of a man that nobody else could help.

Outreach is demonstrating the Kingdom in a way that changes people’s lives.

Every place you go, you carry the Kingdom there with you. You have the authority to act on the King’s behalf. Using the power He has given you is what true outreach is all about. Yes, you tell people about the Kingdom. But it’s absolutely critical that you show them what that means by being the Kingdom. “Here I am. I am an ambassador of the Kingdom. What can the King do for you today? Let me get that for you.”

Multiplication

One definition of the word outreach is the extending of services or assistance beyond current or usual limits. Throughout His ministry, one of the ways the Jesus demonstrated the gospel of the Kingdom was to function outside the usual limits of the culture He lived in. He did that by reaching people that the religious establishment refused to touch. He multiplied the Kingdom by including social pariahs in his ministry – tax collectors, sinners, Roman soldiers. He included women in his ministry. He even included lepers and others who were considered unclean.

But more importantly, He taught and demonstrated Kingdom multiplication in everything He did. He taught that if you drank what He offered, a sip became a river flowing out of you. (John 7:37-38) He took a basket of bread and fish, multiplied it to His disciples, who in turn multiplied it to a crowd of thousands. (Matthew 14) Then He did it again. (Mark 8) He even multiplied his followers, first releasing the 12, then the 70, then 120 at Pentecost becoming more than 3000 in a single day.

Genuine outreach will always mean value added – or multiplied – to the people and community you are reaching.

The wild ride

Go back for a minute to the story I started with – the little boy afraid to ride a roller coaster. As I wrote that, the older brother became the obvious expression of someone doing outreach. But when I started, I was thinking more of the little brother. That may seem odd, but let me explain.

I have been involved in a number of outreach “opportunities” over the years. As a natural introvert, it was always extremely hard for me. I’ve been part of a neighborhood ministry, building relationship with people and doing what we could to meet their needs. I had to force myself to show up every time we were scheduled to go out. I’ve also participated in “treasure hunts” – power evangelism gone rogue, demonstrating the Kingdom in such unlikely places as Starbucks, Target and Walmart. I was nearly paralyzed by fear every time we went out. But in spite of the fear, I kept showing up. Why? Because when I broke through that fear to be the Kingdom for someone, I saw lives changed. Over and over again I saw lives changed. One of them was mine. Despite the fear, I didn’t quit. I didn’t give up. And occasionally I experienced something both thrilling and deeply satisfying.

I have no interest in being just noise in anyone’s life. But I like the idea of being able to release Kingdom resources. I don’t want to impose on anybody, but I like the idea of being there and meeting their needs. I won’t push in where I’m not wanted, but I’m OK with reaching out beyond the usual limits I’ve set for myself. And just maybe, as I take someone’s hand and help them reach new heights in their own life, I’ll be the one who gets wide-eyed and breathless and says, “Let’s do it again!”

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