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1. What is Radical Pursuits?
Radical Pursuits is the name we have adopted to describe a
form of evangelism more commonly known as 'Servant evangelism'.
As Christians we are called to serve in both big and small
ways. If we go into our community and wash people's cars,
sweep their streets or mow their lawns then we are putting
the Good News of the Kingdom into practice - this is Servant
evangelism!
Radical Pursuits is evangelism for your average Christian
'chicken'. If it is done right then it is effective, inclusive
and even FUN! Radical Pursuit projects can be tailored to
meet the resources and experience of the team and the needs
and culture of the local community. It can help us build a
'team spirit' in our church or small group and begin to break
down the walls of our churches and to reach those outside.
GET
YOUR FREE GUIDE TO DOING RADICAL PURSUITS
4. Radical Pursuits is- Showing the love of God through
small acts of kindness with no strings attached.
'Thus the saying 'One sows and another
reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked
for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the
benefits of their labour'
John 4: 37
'I planted the seed, Apollos watered it,
but God made it grow'
1 Cor 3:6
A typical Radical Pursuit project will encounter many people
even thousands of people at a time, all of who will be at
a different stage along this continuum. Most church evangelism
exercises tend to focus on and attract those who are already
close to making a commitment, the minus 1's and 2's on the
Engel scale. Generally these people have already had a seed
planted at some stage in the past and the fruit is nearly
ripe for harvest. You might see these folk on an Alpha course
or at an evangelistic rally. On the other hand a Radical Pursuit
project drops seed indiscriminately and will therefore reach
everyone on the continuum, many may never have met a Christian
or even know that God is a God of love!
Each encounter with a Christian showing Gods love with no
strings attached will hopefully 'bump' that person on one
or more points along the Engel scale. Radical Pursuits is
long term evangelism - it is planting for the future:
'So that the sower and the reaper may be
glad together.'
John 4: 36
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2. How does it work?
A typical Radical Pursuit project involves a small act of
service or generosity that symbolises Gods free love to the
person being served. This could be anything from a free shoeshine
through to free Christmas gift-wrapping or a coke can give-away.
Every act of kindness is a seed planted for the Kingdom. We
can be confidant that even if we never see that person again
the seed will grow and one-day bear fruit. It is for this
reason that Radical Pursuit projects are always done with
NO STRINGS ATTACHED even though they are always done in Gods
name. If we try to give away tracts or share the Gospel then
we are no longer sowing but trying to reap.
3. The Engel Scale The Engel scale describes the growth
of a person from no effective knowledge of God (-10) through
to growth as a Christian (0-10). Engel suggested that the
average person needs about ten significant encounters with
the Gospel before they are ready to make a commitment.
5. How big does the seed need to be?
'It is like a mustard seed, which is
the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted,
it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with
such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its
shade.'
Mark 4: 31 & 32
One potential criticism of Radical Pursuits is that the gifts
or acts of kindness are trite or do not meet the real needs
of the community. This criticism is valid but only to a point.
It is important to remember that Radical Pursuits is primarily
symbolism. While the gifts are pleasant enough in themselves
(and many people have been deeply touched by them) it is what
they represent that is important - they represent a God of
love who gives free gifts, out of the blue, to a people he
loves. Not one person who receives a Radical Pursuits gift
can fail to leave the encounter without knowing a bit more
of God. Not only does this powerful symbolism speak to the
head but it also speaks volumes to the heart. It is also important
to remember the verses above - God will make a big tree out
of a small seed.
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