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| Churches Use Wild Game Dinner to Reach Men for Christ |
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 Pheasant Stew, Sweet & Sour Pronghorn Antelope, Barbequed Venison Steak, Buffalo Meatloaf, Venison Chili. . .Does this menu make your mouth water? If so, you might consider joining the growing list of Nazarene churches who are utilizing a love for the outdoors as a strategy for introducing Christ to members of their community. In a strategic way, wild game dinners and outdoor adventure events are being used as evangelistic methods, in much the same manner as Biker Sundays are attempts to use motorcycle riding as an entry point for presenting Christ. Following are just a few examples of churches using this innovative evangelism.
Detroit, MI Warren Woods (Detroit, MI), just completed its 19th year of offering a Wild Game Dinner with a guest speaker and give-aways. Community interest has grown to the point that two dinners are required to seat the 800+ who will visit the church. In addition, they will have over 300 at their Young Bucks Dinner where outdoor experiences are introduced to elementary-age children. Harrisonburg (VA)
Kankakee (IL) Kankakee (IL) First Church invited their community to a half-day experience featuring over 40 booths related to the out-of-doors (fishing, hunting, scuba diving, boating, outdoor art, boating, biking, foods, motorcycling); workshops (fishing, hunting, wild game cooking, taxidermy); barbeque; demonstrations (archery, fly-fishing, climbing wall); a 4-wheeler and a mounted doe drawing; and a special presentation from professional outdoorsman, Jimmy Sykes. Over 600 guests came to the event and 25 decisions for Christ were made following Sykes’ presentation of the gospel. The church wrote notes to all guests and the staff did followed-up on those making decisions. As a result, new attendees are in the congregation and a community Bible Study began with over 30 at its first session. Potsdam (NY) Potsdam (NY) First Church, situated in the Adirondacks where hunting is a way of life, draws both young and old to a White-Tailed Deer Hunting and Tracking Seminar. This event held the week before bow hunting season begins, is conducted by a specialist who is also a Christian. Many of the 230 individuals who attended last year’s event either experienced initial conversion or recommitted their life to Christ. Individual follow-up has resulted in a group discipleship session using Navigators materials. Monte Vista, Colorado A special event at Valley Church of the Nazarene in Monte Vista, Colorado, incorporates some outdoor experiences into Friend Day. Activities include canoeing, black-powder shooting, a hatchet-throwing contest, and a dinner that features elk and other wild game. If you would like more information, contact a staff member from the churches mentioned above. I’ve recently discovered two Christian sportsmen’s web sites and an examination of them can lead you to many others sites. Check out Christian Outdoorsman and Sportsmen’s Devotional. Wild game evangelism is clearly appealing to many individuals and is being used by many churches as an entry-point into Christianity. So, perhaps there’s another variation for our denominational mission: “Making Christlike Disciples in the Fields and by the Streams.” By Marshall Duke |
Harrisonburg (VA) First Church also hosts a dinner that includes some exhibits from area businesses. Their menu features shrimp, but the more adventurous can purchase wild game separately. Last year Steve and Annie Chapman, outdoor sports persons and singers, were part of an entire weekend worship package which featured a men’s event, a women’s event, a community concert, and Sunday worship services. 