Connecting to your community through God's great outdoors

It has been a fantastic adventure so far this year as I have engaged many churches who are either already doing outdoor ministry or are about to kick off ministry in that direction.

We hear a lot of talk about connecting to our communities and I believe outdoor ministry is a very effective resource for churches to engage lost people with the Gospel. Recently I was given the opportunity to speak at Poplar Springs Baptist Church North in Dublin where more than 850 people gathered for the event. By the end of the wild game dinner, which they called Beast Feast, 24 people prayed to receive Christ that night and over 50 individuals rededicated their lives.

Catch this statistic – more than 200 people remarked that they wanted more information about the church. Through this dinner this church became more relevant to these people right there in its own community.

Poplar Springs North Church has only done this event for two years and already it has grown to nearly 900 in attendance. Let me add that everything they did was done with excellence. I noticed when I drove up they were striving for excellence in greeting their guests, even in the small details like parking the cars and carrying guests to the venue on golf carts.

Another key element was the involvement of so many individuals. I saw what appeared to be 150 volunteers cooking, serving, and directing guests to their tables. It is this involvement that causes people to connect to your ministry and find a place where they can use their gifts and talents for God’s glory.

In the church today we need “wins” and we need to celebrate those wins. It was sure good for me to see Poplar Springs have a big win for God and I rejoice with them for the souls who were saved because a pastor and a church with a passion for the lost did everything they could to get people to come hear the Gospel.

Sure, they gave away some amazing door prizes. Yes, they served a delicious meal. But more importantly they focused on sharing the Gospel with people who needed to become Christians and have their lives changed forever.

I want to encourage you to seek the Lord’s direction as to how you can reach people in your community and get busy attempting great things for God. As you become involved in wild game dinners and other outdoor ministries you will see how the Great Commission Adventure is truly a great adventure.