tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post1453482883341336090..comments2023-10-03T10:53:51.102-04:00Comments on Next Generation Evangelistic Network: Reaching Postmodern Rural Communities - Part 7 – Seven Ways Rural Churches Can Reach Postmodern People PhilosophicallyDr. Terry Dorsetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05964444127928103488noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-60253740569801992702010-02-10T10:44:25.817-05:002010-02-10T10:44:25.817-05:00Lots of great insight.Lots of great insight.Mike Cunninghamhttp://www.oldfivepointer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-55952290089990654932010-02-09T20:12:15.229-05:002010-02-09T20:12:15.229-05:00Dear Terry,
It's Greg Titus. I gue...Dear Terry,<br /> It's Greg Titus. I guess I need to work on my technological skills, so I can figure out how to comment under my own name. Anyway, I really appreciated your writing these seven articles and inviting me to read them. I found some good and practical advice that could be put to use in many rural churches throughout New England. Farmington Baptist Church in Farmington, Maine employs many of these principles and as a result it draws people from over 18 different surrounding rural communities. Increasingly, the Lord has been showing me that the church needs to be the church beyond the four walls of a building, even if it is in a prime location. A genuine love and emphasis on people over programs will truly grow the Kingdom of God. Thanks for all that you do. May the Lord richly bless you and your family and continue to mightily use you for His glory.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-50904782785917388142010-02-09T14:18:11.433-05:002010-02-09T14:18:11.433-05:00Jimmie,
Thanks for your comments. I think the prim...Jimmie,<br />Thanks for your comments. I think the primary difference between ministering to this generation and to previous generations is the individuality they display.<br /><br />In the past, most generations decided things in “groups.” Sometimes the group made a good decision. Sometimes the group made a bad decision. But most people in the group looked to what the group was doing before making a choice for themselves.<br /><br />While there is some of that happening in postmoderns, more and more the next generation tends to make choices based on their own personal preferences and desires. So even if everyone else is going bowling, they may still decide to stay home and watch a video. If everyone else accepts a certain value or belief to be true, a postmodern individual feels empowered to accept a different value completely and expects the group to support them in their individual choice.Dr. Terry W. Dorsetthttp://www.vermontbaptist.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-2694570057367226612010-02-09T14:11:03.002-05:002010-02-09T14:11:03.002-05:00Thank you for writing these.
How do you think this...Thank you for writing these.<br />How do you think this generation differs from previous generations?<br />I've read all seven of your articles and see some likeness and some differences to the past; many similarities in the almost six decades that I have been ministering.Jimmie Woodsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-91041340464078018312010-02-09T10:43:19.760-05:002010-02-09T10:43:19.760-05:00I like the comment frank rothe made. "What wo...I like the comment frank rothe made. "What would my town say if my church were to close."<br />Interesting post terry. I like how you approached the issue without resorting to some of that "church growth" garbage. Too many churches reach out to their communities by make subtle changes to revamp the church. I once attended a church that took crosses down because studies showed they could be offensive to visitors,Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16523310763945821733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-44556267563618595962010-02-08T21:39:51.295-05:002010-02-08T21:39:51.295-05:00Read the 7 articles and many of the points you cit...Read the 7 articles and many of the points you cite are applicable here as well, but the reality is many of God's people have lost God's burden for the lost if they ever had it to begin with and until that is sought and gained we'll never effectively reach our communities for Christ!Bob Finchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-13903245599525662562010-02-08T18:25:51.225-05:002010-02-08T18:25:51.225-05:00I read through all 7 blogs this morning about rura...I read through all 7 blogs this morning about rural churches reaching postmoderns. For the most part you are on track. The material needs some more thought and research and I would encourage you to develop it beyond a blog.<br /><br />For example, if the smaller membership rural church is to thrive:<br /><br />1) We need to develop pastors who understand where they are in terms of pastoring rural churches. The CEO pastor will either die or kill the church in most rural settings. Yet, that is what we are producing for the most part in our schools today. <br /><br />2) You develop in a small way what needs to be developed in a big way - how the church can work with the community without sacrificing its beliefs or principles.<br /><br />3) Help the rural church to once again discover life style evangelism and how it works in the single cell church.<br /><br />You are on track. Thanks for your thoughts.Bill Barker, Appalachian Regional Ministriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-30643189694198322342010-02-05T09:57:24.156-05:002010-02-05T09:57:24.156-05:00Yes, I was the one who led the breakout session in...Yes, I was the one who led the breakout session in Indiana last year on how to reach rural postmoderns. Much of the seven part blog series was developed out of the materials that was shared in that session. I am happy to go to other churches, associations or conventions to share this material.Dr. Terry W. Dorsetthttp://www.vermontbaptist.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-54009556804120805282010-02-05T09:48:42.896-05:002010-02-05T09:48:42.896-05:00Weren't you at the North States Central Rally ...Weren't you at the North States Central Rally last year in Indianapolis, Indiana? This sounds a lot like the ideas that were presented in a break out session there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-10893765105826491382010-02-05T07:40:51.050-05:002010-02-05T07:40:51.050-05:00In other words our orthodoxy should be the same as...In other words our orthodoxy should be the same as our orthpraxy? I think there could be more from the Christian community which conveys the message than what we have been able to muster. <br /><br />Could it be our structure has constrained the free flow of thought and reason in the marketplace of ideas? Where is the genius of the wisdom of God being displayed? <br /><br />Philosophically speaking, I heard it said once that the church should be the guardians of the questions. We should be the first to engage the culture with the hard questions instead of the last. But questions get us into trouble because we are not ready to deal with the answers. Or we don't speak the truth in love loudly because we cannot stand the heat of debate. Then we sit on the sideline and curse the darkness while failing to shine the light? Some of your thoughts above did address this topic.<br /><br />Thanks Terry, I really liked what you had to say about the placement of the church in the community. Wow what an opportunity. What we have here it seems is a basic image problem. I read the other day from a study done that the average church supplies $184,000 dollars of services to the community through its services. That's impressive by any standards. I am seeing that a lot of community leaders are very open to what the church can bring to the table if we would only bring it. Of course you know that and that's why your making an impact in VT the most secular state in the nation.Bruce James, BCNE Evangelism and Male Leadership Directornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-45154870662107561752010-02-04T20:28:43.720-05:002010-02-04T20:28:43.720-05:00Really enjoyed reading this Terry. You've arti...Really enjoyed reading this Terry. You've articulated the issues very well. I've often thought that the churches in New England have so many stained glass windows that people haven't been able to see outside the church. If you asked the average non church goer on any street in any town in VT: "What would happen if the churches in town closed?" What would their response be?Frank Rothenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-71154058116793157792010-02-04T20:15:10.955-05:002010-02-04T20:15:10.955-05:00I like this.I like this.Frank Rothenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-31218877759247096272010-02-04T19:41:49.959-05:002010-02-04T19:41:49.959-05:00Practical ideas. Not sure it will totally do the j...Practical ideas. Not sure it will totally do the job, but at least it is a start. Better than just sticking your head in the sand and watching the church waste way. Thanks for writing this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com