tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253529165034405240.post2748260930075219689..comments2008-04-15T09:12:31.559-04:00Vince Antonucci:http://www.blogger.com/profile/01577695138497215119noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253529165034405240.post-28255323180867536762008-04-15T09:12:00.000-04:002008-04-15T09:12:00.000-04:00I remember our pastor talking about when he was planting our church... He and the small group from their "home church" just started walking the neighborhood, knocking on doors and talking with people. Not so much "we're starting a church you should come", but more "hi, we'd like to know you better". They would even help with projects if they walked in on the middle of it. <BR/>It was their way of practicing all 3 elements, all at the same time. They canvassed something like 3000 homes in the months before the first service. <BR/><BR/>I liked the way they approached it - handing out no more than a casual calling card but being real in the community. Making their presence known. I would have stood on the porch and chatted with someone... all the better for that first service if you go and already know someone. It's all about personal, human, connection!Me:http://www.blogger.com/profile/02568280491920583093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253529165034405240.post-58339088611715256792008-04-14T23:30:00.000-04:002008-04-14T23:30:00.000-04:00When we first started our church, I'd have to admit that we borrowed a lot of what we saw was working in other places. Some of it translated, much of it didn't (a lot of lessons learned!). Now, doing what we do, each of our churches seem to be rising more out of the culture--that's definitely true with the churches that started with a mix of brand new Christians and unchurched people or totally unchurched people. Still to early to tell, though.<BR/><BR/>I would say the best way to determine what methods work best for the culture your church will be in is to live in it for awhile and be exposed to it--and not just for a couple of months like many "parachute drop churches" seem to do. I'm not sure you can learn and adapt to a particular culture in just a few months. It takes longer than that to get to know people, to learn the area hot spots, what drives the economy, what is important to people, the needs of the community, entertainment choices, etc. Maybe 1-2 years or more before the core group building begins. I don't know... I came back home, and already know the culture (but I still need to be a better student of it).aaronsaufleyhttp://aaronsaufley.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com