Northern Indiana Differs From Southern California

Just before the afternoon sessions began, I snapped this photo at the entrance to Saddleback's auditorium. Looks just like Granger, doesn't it!

Here are a few quotes from speakers on the Evangelism panel.

The responsibility for evangelism is given to everybody; I think some of the teaching on spiritual gifts has undermined our understanding of that. - Bob Roberts

We don't go door-to-door as much as we go ipod-to-ipod. - Mark Batterson

Church is a tag-team sport.  When you walk in you tag me, and you trust I've prayed and prepared and studied.  When you leave, I tag you and trust you're committed to building into the relationship and encouraging the newcomer. - Mark Batterson

Door-to-door can build relationships.  We sent the same person to the house for five months in a row. - James Meeks

Every January we have a season of 21 days of prayer and fasting. Each person prays for three specific people to come to Christ in the upcoming year. Those who do that usually see at least one of those three people come to Christ in the year! - Stoval Weems

There is nothing more you can do - to secure God's love and support - than to share his love and support with people. - MIles McPherson

If we can't change our staff's mindset, we've got to change the people on our staff. We've got to reach out with Jesus' love to the lost! - Miles McPherson

I feel like we can never lose the heart of Jesus - to seek and save the lost. We must not! Each soul matters.  Every story matters.  The one story fires me up!  We've got to keep that value and not let the church become familiar with the beauty and glory of salvation. - Stoval Weems

if we could stop fighting with each other long enough, it'd be amazing how much we could get done. This weekend I confessed the lack of urgency in my life.  If we really believed what we say we believe we'd never lose our sense of urgency. I'm the first person to say, "i need more of that in my own heart."  - Mark Batterson

I say, "Go home and try something. Start something. Be found trying something for the Body of Christ!" - James Meeks

We voted our community dry. But the prostitutes kept hanging around so I had a great idea.  I recruited 300 men to go out and help me witness with the prostitutes.  Nobody told me the police were organizing a sting on the same night!  Luckily we had on red shirts, so we looked different from the other drivers swinging through the neighborhood.  Now...our women have taken over our ministry to the prostitutes in our community. - James Meeks

Just because someone wants to do something, don't lay hands on them too quickly. You need leaders to lead. Make sure you make sure someone is gifted to do the ministry they want to do before you let them. Qualify them before you let them go. - Miles McPherson

We've seen gatekeepers come to Christ.  You need the gatekeepers, as well as the masses, and when you do you'll see movements! - Bob Roberts

What if we treated Imams like Paul treated the rabbis? - Bob Roberts

What are you going to do to engage your community first? - Bob Roberts

One of the mistakes we made was spending a lot of money on marketing. We spent a lot of money to get people to come, to see how poorly we do church. - Mark Batterson

I do believe the greatest message deserves the greatest marketing. - Mark Batterson

I always heard, "You don't attract who you want. You attract who you are." That didn't fit for me. I believe that is true in default mode, but I believe you attract who you love!  I believe God is into diversity.  - Stoval Weems

What is impossible with man is possible with God.  We can reach our neighbors. We can work together. We can stay fired up for God. - Stoval Weems

I'm an Illinois State Senator so I have lots of relationships with unbelievers. - James Meeks

I think God is going to hold us accountable - as Americans - with all we've been given for our witness to the world. - Bob Roberts

One reason I write books is because it is a way I can hang out with someone for five hours and share with them. - Mark Batterson

I coach my son's basketball team and it helps me stay in relationship with lots of people who don't come to National Community Church. - Mark Batterson

I spend time - as a hobby - going to the gym.  I love it there.  I can talk real well to that crowd. We have led three different gym staff members to Christ in the Jacksonville area!  I love it. If I'm in the gym, and you are in there as an unbeliever, you are going to get messed with. - Stoval Weems