How others evangelize

Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany, pastored by the Rev. Maurice Drown, is "a community-based church, and we welcome everyone that wishes to be served here. The United Methodist organization has committed millions of dollars towards a national campaign titled, 'Igniting Ministries,' and this is our main evangelization effort. This campaign directs that message of welcome in national media."

The church offers training programs for members interested in neighborhood outreach, welcomes newcomers and visitors to the church, and provides active evangelization programs for children, teens and young adults.

"Primarily, we seek to serve those people who might be searching for a local community place to worship," said Pastor Drown. "Ours is a church that continues to welcome everyone. That's what the Gospels direct us to do."

Northway Fellowship Church in Malta was established just two years ago, said Pastor Buddy Cremeans, but it has blossomed to a congregation in the hundreds.

Part of that success, he said, has been that they "pay specific attention to guests" when people visit the nondenominational church.

"We welcome everyone, whether they are seekers, investigators or questioners, or people who have no faith at all," he explained. "We try to put ourselves in the shoes of those we are seeking to serve. Jesus Christ transforms our lives. Those that have experienced this transformation will often invite and encourage their friends to visit our church to experience their own transformation for a day or a weekend."

To that end, he said, "we have greeters, hosts and hostesses, hospitality teams, and guest services."

Explaining his philosophy, the pastor noted: "Jesus said to His disciples, 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' At Northway Fellowship, we [give people] an opportunity to ask questions and to be supported in the faith they have in Jesus Christ. We promise the visitor a creative, compelling experience of faith, a safe place for them to come where they can feel free to tell us what is on their mind and ask questions while seeking a relationship with Christ."

(1/20/05)