Welcome to the REACH Strategy
The apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans, "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known..." (Romans 15:20) Paul’s fervor and determination to reach out to those who are unaware of the Good News about Jesus Christ should be our ambition as well. Let us share the Good News with everyone and anyone who would care to listen. We can do this through a ministry process called REACH. REACH is an acronym that means "Reaching Everyone and Converting Hearts." It involves four stages: Preparation, Proclamation, Persuasion, and Preservation.
“We can do REACH if we work together in the power of the Holy Spirit”
Pastor Bong Baylon
First Step: GO to the Lost
During the Preparation Stage, we GO to the Lost. To GO to the lost, we 1) Generate Connections, and 2) Offer God's Love. We generate connections with people through daily activities like going to work or school. We also engage with visitors during our Sunday Worship Celebration, both in person and online. Creating events or activities to invite new people into our network of friends is also another way. A connection is more than just a name. To stay in touch, we ask for their contact details or connect with them through social media. Also, we do not just meet with people; we make meaningful connections with them by showing them God’s love in concrete and tangible ways. We offer to pray for them or assist them in practical ways. Visiting with them when they are sick or hospitalized is also another way to show God’s love to them. The key is to establish a relationship with them that could generate trust and acceptance over time.
“Start generating connections and offering God's love today!”
Interim: Create a HIT List
HIT stands for “Hearts in Transition.” It’s the transition period between the Preparation Stage and the Proclamation Stage. During this period, we identify individuals among our connections who appear to be open to spiritual matters and we include them in our HIT List. We can assess their openness by asking questions such as “What are your beliefs about God?” or “Where do you do you see yourself spiritually?” If they provide an answer, it may indicate a willingness to discuss spiritual matters further. We call these people "Seekers." If they do not respond positively, we just talk with them about other topics. We will just wait for another opportunity. Oftentimes, when people experience trials, they become more receptive to spiritual matters. Be attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Put authentic Seekers in your HIT List and start praying for them regularly. Pray that God will open their hearts further.
“Create a HIT List today.”
Second Step: BRING Seekers to Christ
During the Proclamation Stage, we BRING Seekers to Christ. This process involves the following steps: 1) Begin RLBS, 2) Recount your Conversion Story, 3) Invite to Seeker-sensitive events or activities, 4) Narrate the Gospel, and 5) Guide toward genuine conversion. Once you’ve identified potential seekers on your HIT List, invite them to a four-session Bible study called RLBS (Real Life Bible Study). Let them know it’s only for four sessions. Participants can choose to stop at any time, but completing all four sessions would be the best option and it will be beneficial for them in the long run. This bible study is free. In the first session, we share our conversion story. We explain how we came to believe in Jesus and how we decided to follow Him as our Savior and Lord. We briefly describe our life before conversion, including the turning point that led us to faith in Jesus. We also highlight some of our experiences as a born-again Christian from then on. We must be authentic. We must share both the challenges we face and how Jesus has helped us in practical ways. Then, we invite them to seeker-sensitive events or activities that can open their hearts. Finally, we explain the Gospel or Good News about Jesus Christ with them using one or more of the Gospel stories. In summary, the Good News is that through believing and following Jesus, together with others, we can experience a life that is so much better than the best life this world can ever offer (we can use John 10:10 as our text). We must make sure that they understand that they are being invited to a faith journey with Jesus together with others. It is not merely about going to church on Sundays. Last but not least, we must guide them toward genuine conversion, which includes repentance, trust in Jesus, water baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. (see Acts 2:38-39) Usually, we accomplish this during the Persuasion Stage. During the Persuasion Stage, we conduct what we call the Freedom Day. It’s a one-day event wherein we review the Gospel in a more persuasive manner and we explain what it means to believe and follow Jesus. We also explain water baptism and why that is important. Then, we conduct water baptism for all those who are ready to believe and follow Jesus together with others. Last but not least, we pray for the Holy Spirit to come to those who were water-baptized.
“Begin an RLBS and BRING Seekers to Christ. Make sure that they are water baptized and pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit through the laying of hands.”
Third Step: JOIN New Believers into the body of Christ
The Preservation Stage is the last stage of the REACH Strategy. During the Preservation Stage, we JOIN new believers into the body of Christ. These involve the following steps: 1) Judge if they still require assistance with their conversion, 2) Orient them concerning the church and the Christian life, 3) Invite them to join a small group, and 4) Nurture their faith through spiritual companionship while they are participating in a small group. New believers are individuals who have repented of their sins, placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, have undergone water baptism, and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (see Acts 2:36-41). These first steps are crucial, even though the gift of the Holy Spirit may come at a later stage. Nevertheless, it is important to evaluate if they still need additional help with regard to their conversion. Additionally, we need to orient them about the church and the Christian life, emphasizing that it is a life of grace through faith together with others. They should not become too hard on themselves (i.e., by being legalistic or self-righteous). It’s easy to feel discouraged during the first few months after conversion. At the same time, we need to remind them that it is also a spiritual battle. There will be suffering and challenges involved. We also need to encourage them to join a small group. Last but not least, we need to nurture their faith through regular spiritual companionship, or one-on-one discipleship, especially after conversion, so that they can learn how to walk with the Lord by listening to the Holy Spirit daily and obeying Him by faith through proper discernment.
“Once you have water baptized new converts and have prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit, join them into a community of faith and/or small group as soon as possible.”
Invite Others to Join REACH
After completing this process, invite others to join REACH. Help them understand how it is done. Let them see how you do it. Then accompany them as they do it themselves until they are able to do it without you. Always affirm them and pray for them so that together we can accomplish this mission. Remember what Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
“Look for someone who might be interested to join MP3. Invite him or her and use this tool to explain the process.”
"Our mission is to help people experience real life in Christ together with others."
Join us to REACH others.
“Nothing is impossible with God. Our mission is possible through the help of the Holy Spirit and the participation of everyone in the local church according to God's gifts and our situation in life.” - Pastor Bong Baylon
