How we do Church!

No one method will always work in every culture, and even within the same society, a variety of ministry approaches will be necessary for every person to hear God's Word so they understand.  We’re not saying the way DISCOVERY does church is the only way – it’s just the way God’s called us to exist!

DISCOVERY CHURCH is not preaching a new message. We have no desire to change (as if we could improve!) the message of God's love. We only want to deliver that message in a method that the people of today can understand!  

Additionally, as someone who is considering joining DISCOVERY, you need to know this important truth: DISCOVERY's innovative distinctive is not our theology.  The teaching transmitted by Jesus through His apostles contained in the Bible governs our individual beliefs and conduct. It is our full and final authority.  DISCOVERY stands firmly in the biblical, historic Christian faith.  

On the other hand, our methodology is new and innovative.  We have a strategy of working together with you to reach those who are seeking truth and answers.  Our plan is simple – working as a team, deliver the message through our ministries and our people!

Here's how we do evangelism together as a team!

1.    You start to attend DISCOVERY

2.    We help you to grow in your faith and teach you how to develop quality relationships with others.   

3.    You learn that by developing relationships you build "connections with credibility." People will be more inclined to consider a radical message from a trusted friend than from a stranger. 

4.    We teach you how to share your "life story" when the time is right.  

5.    You start to invest in and then invite your friends and family.

6.    We offer upbeat, contemporary and relevant weekend services that supplement the evangelistic efforts you make every day.  From the music and drama to the practical messages, every aspect is coordinated to work together to communicate a consistent theme, and we try to use a variety of means to get the message across in a compelling, and often unexpected, way

7.    You wait for the appropriate time to describe the life you once lived, introduce the Savior who came to us, and the changes He's made. It is not enough just to be "nice or friendly" - people need to hear why we are the way we are, Who can save them, and how. 

8.    We continue to help you to grow in your faith by offering small groups and New Community - our midweek worship and bible study

9.    You grow in your faith, get involved in ministry and continue to build relationships and share your story

Sounds simple, doesn't it?  Well, it is and it works!  By working together as a team we can effectively make an impact in the world we live in.  It is DISCOVERY's obligation to offer relevant services and ministries as well as train you in the faith and the ability to tell your story.  But the key to it all - you have to invest in and then invite your co-workers, neighbors, family and friends.  

“Teamwork” - A Strategy for Building The Church

The "Teamwork Strategy" is simply a practical

approach to reaching lost people primarily though supporting

the individual evangelistic ministry of our church members.

The “Teamwork” Strategy

The “Teamwork” Strategy is the way we work together with you to introduce people to Christ.  And beyond allowing us to help you reach seekers with the message of Christ (Steps One through Three), it also guides them to maturity in Christ (Steps Four through Eight).  

In short, the “Teamwork” Strategy is the track we follow together to cultivate fully devoted followers of Christ.  However, for the strategy to work, each team member has to do their part.  Listed below are the individual steps you need to do as part of a team that is introducing people to Christ:

T - “Take the time” - Invest in someone” - Make a Connection

The first step you need to take is to reach out to "Unchurched Harry and Mary" personally. Rather than beginning with the message of Christ, we seek to make connections so that when we do share the message, we have credibility. You need to have relationships with a reason!  People are more inclined to consider a radical message from a trusted friend than from a stranger. The love and interest we show cultivates the ground in preparation for sowing the seeds of the  gospel.  In short, you have to invest in people before you can invite them!!!!

E - “Explain your story” – Introduce them to your story - Share a Verbal Witness

A witness in a courtroom simply describes accurately what he or she saw. That's what we do when we witness to unchurched friends. During the course of an ongoing friendship we wait for the appropriate time to describe the life we once lived, the Savior who came to us, and the changes He's made. It is not enough just to be "nice people" - unbelievers must hear why we are the way we are, Who can save them, and how.

A - “Ask them to church” - Invite them to a Seeker Service

The "seeker service" is designed to supplement the evangelistic efforts made on the part of the believer to reach the nonbeliever.  Every weekend, we use the seeker services at the church to present some facet of the message of Christ - our goal is to give people answers to life in the 21st century.  

The elements of our “seeker service” work together to communicate a consistent theme, and we try to use a variety of means to get the message across in a compelling, and often unexpected, way.  Every aspect is coordinated so that the seeker is the primary target audience, not the "already convinced.”  However, the Believer is also taught and thrilled with the practical teachings and positive production.

The combination of the groundwork done by the individual's verbal witness followed by the impact of a highly relevant, creative presentation brings home the message so that Unchurched Harry and Mary consider anew the age-old truth of Jesus Christ.  But you have to do the asking, you have to do the inviting!

The seeker services are also designed to facilitate or begin a process of evangelism; that is, most people are not ready to throw out their world - and life - views after a one-hour church service.  Experience shows that people need time to process and discuss information.  Hopefully, the people you invite will want to inquire about what they've heard.  In fact, we encourage your guests to talk to you on the ride home about what they heard at church!  When that process is honored, the commitments made take root better than poorly informed impulse decisions.

M – “Move to mid-week” - Become Part of New Community

At some point, "Unchurched Harry and Mary" accept Christ as their Forgiver and Leader. When they do, generally the next step is to begin attending New Community – our midweek worship and Bible study.  It is at New Community where they can gain a better grasp of God's Word through in-depth Bible teaching. The New Community is a service designed for believers, so Harry and Mary - now "Believer Bob and Betty" - experience worship through song, prayer, and the sacrament of Communion.  New Community also hosts periodical Sunday night worship & praise service.

W – “Walk with God“– Grow spiritually

It is critical that new believers grow and mature in the faith.  Developing the ability to read God’s word, prayer, worship and sensing God’s leading are all part of the spiritual growth process. 

O – “Open Up in small groups“- Participate in Small Groups

Life change happens best in the context where people can be known authentically and where they share their spiritual journey with others. A small group is often one of the best places to do that. Four to ten believers gather at least two times a month to share their lives, learn from God's Word in a discussion format, and serve one another. Groups often also serve the body at large, either by being a serving group, or through periodic short-term service.  Growth or Discipleship groups are also a great way to continue to get grounded in the basics of the faith.

R – “Recognize & use your gifts” - Serve in the Body of Christ

Every believer is given a spiritual gift or gifts by the Holy Spirit, and that gift is to be discovered and then used for the common good. These gifts are given equally to both men and women.  Whether in a small group or on a serving team, every participating member knows he or she is truly part of the church when his or her spiritual gifts are being used to further God's work in the church - and beyond.

K – “Keep God first in your time, talent & treasure” - Steward your resources

When God becomes master of our time, our talents and our treasure (our spending and giving habits), we can be confident He is master over the most personal areas of our lives. All our resources are entrusted to us to use for Kingdom purposes as well as for meeting personal needs. The last step in the Teamwork Strategy is to allow God to have freedom in the most personal areas of our lives. That way, what we use, what we keep, as well as what we give (using the historic benchmark of 10 percent of our income as a starting reference), honors Him in every respect.

Teamwork - Working together with you to change our world!

How do the “Teamwork” Strategy and the ministries of Discovery work together?  More importantly, how does DISCOVERY work with you to reach the world you live in?

Well, while it is our job to train and help you in your evangelistic efforts, the implementation and success of this strategy is determined by the commitment of the members of DISCOVERY CHURCH to build relationships with Unchurched Harrys and Marys.  You have to “invest, introduce and invite” your co-workers, neighbors, family and friends.

Assuming you are doing that, it is then the responsibility of DISCOVERY CHURCH to provide leadership and training to assist believers in their efforts to accomplish these goals, and to ensure that new believers receive leadership and training as they embark on their walk with God. This is accomplished through the "subministries" that form the core of the ministry at DISCOVERY CHURCH.

Following are some of the ministries that have been specifically developed to assist believers in accomplishing the “Teamwork” Strategy:

Evangelism Ministry (Steps 1 & 2): The Evangelism Ministry recognizes that asking believers to build relationships with the unchurched will often be met with some resistance. Many believers are reluctant to venture into situations that may be uncomfortable or incompatible with their life in Christ. Many lack the confidence or the tactfulness to approach the topic of the gospel with unchurched people and find it more comfortable to concentrate on building relationships with other believers.

The leaders of DISCOVERY CHURCH, along with the Evangelism Ministry, remind believers that they faced a Christless eternity before someone reached out to them, just as those without Christ in their relational worlds face a Christless eternity now.

It is the goal of the Evangelism Ministry to help believers verbalize what Jesus has done in their lives. We teach you how to introduce others to Christ.  This is accomplished, in part, through the Becoming a Contagious Christian Evangelism Course. This course is designed to help all believers clearly express the gospel and answer questions and objections that an unbeliever might raise. The content of the course is not just for those who have identified evangelism as a spiritual gift, but for all believers who have a desire to reach out to those who are lost.

Service for Seekers (Step 3): The weekend "seeker service" is designed by the pastoral and programming team to supplement the evangelistic efforts made on the part of the believer to reach the nonbeliever. This service provides "a safe place to hear a dangerous message."  

Music, drama, and multi-media, video, technical production and relevant teaching are used to present some facet of the message of Christ – we want to give people answers to life in the 21st century.  Every aspect is coordinated so that the seeker is the primary target audience, not the "already convinced.”  However, the Believer is also taught and thrilled with the practical teachings and positive production.

The combination of the groundwork done by the individual's verbal witness followed by the impact of a highly relevant, creative presentation brings home the message so that Unchurched Harry and Mary consider anew the age-old truth of Jesus Christ. 

New Community (Step 4): Just as the seeker service is directed toward the unbeliever, New Community is designed for the believer. This Wednesday night, midweek service provides a time of corporate worship, prayer, and in-depth Bible study. This time of fellowship, worship and teaching  is a critical part of a believer's spiritual journey. New Community also hosts a once a month, Sunday night worship & praise service.  The programming team also has responsibility for the development of this service in cooperation with the senior pastor.

Growth & Small Groups (Step 5 & 6): Life change happens best in the context where you can be known authentically and where you share your spiritual journey with others.  A small group is often one of the best places to do that.

It is the goal of the DISCOVERY CHURCH leadership to have everyone become a member of a small group. The goal of the small group is to help each person mature in Christ, regardless of where they may be in the process of growth. 

Groups provide accountability, instruction, encouragement and support for members.  Four to ten believers gather at least two times a month to share their lives, learn from God's Word in a discussion format, study growth principles and serve one another.  Groups often also serve the body at large, either by being a serving group, or through periodic short-term service.  Finally, growth groups and seminars offer accountability and authenticity.

Network (Step 7): As Christians mature spiritually; they learn that serving the body of Christ is a form of worship. Network helps believers discover who they are in Christ through the identification, development and implementation of their spiritual gifts. This allows them to serve the body of Christ in an area that reflects who God has made them to be. 

Network leads participants through a several-week seminar that focuses on the following topics: Goals and Purposes, Servanthood, biblical Teaching, Gift Characteristics, Your Unique Contribution, Servant Profile, Responsibilities of a Servant, Ministries, and Developing Your Gifts. Believers will be fruitful and fulfilled in service only when they are serving in areas that reflect who they are in Christ.

Good Sense Ministry (Step 8): The Good Sense Ministry team is dedicated to helping believers become good stewards of the resources that have been entrusted to them by God. Members of the Good Sense Ministry team present several seminars throughout the year designed to focus on biblical foundations for money management, instruction in preparing and maintaining a personal budget, and the application of biblical principles to such areas as investment and insurance.

The annual Budget Seminar is held in January. Additional seminars are incorporated into other church ministries throughout the year (i.e. Marriage Preparation and Development). Tapes from Good Sense workshops are available through the Tape Ministry. A team of trained budget counselors is also available for personal and confidential individual or family budget counseling.

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