Witness and Outreach Ministry
Witnessing Helps
The 2023 LCMS convention asked all the Synod’s congregations to take stock of how they are giving people opportunities to learn and practice key witnessing skills - beginning a spiritual conversation, listening discerningly to a non-churched person, making a simple statement of the Gospel, and defending the Resurection. Below are links to one-sheet (both sides) sets of helps that, together, offer three suggestions for each. Also found below are links to short videos that introduce each set of witnessing helps.
Beginning a spiritual conversation
Info Sheet | Video | "Teaser" Handout
Listening discerningly to a non-churched person
Info Sheet | Video | "Teaser" Handout
Making a simple statement of the Gospel
Info Sheet | Video | "Teaser" Handout
Defending the Resurrection
Info Sheet | Video | "Teaser" Handout
Bible Passages for Inquirers
At CID’s joint pastoral conference with Southern Illinois District in fall, 2024, Dr. Chad Kendall from Concordia University Chicago mentioned something he did as a parish pastor. He used particular biblical passages to lead inquirers about the faith, singly or together with others, into exploring what Jesus brings them. He promised to make a list of these passages available.
His list can be accessed here... Inquiry Schedule (pdf)
Gathering Contact Information
Gather contact information on those who view your online service. Visitors present in your building can sign a guestbook or a “rite of friendship” pad, but how about visitors who are not there physically? If they watch your church’s service on Facebook live or a similar platform, you can see who they are. But what if the service is loaded onto YouTube, or your church website? How do you entice viewers to contact you, say, via e-mail, so that you can follow up on them later? A resource with practical ideas may be found here.
Resources and Congregational Helps Available
Please contact Dr. Ken Schurb at the CID office with questions (contact info at bottom of page).
- Every One His Witness - Kit is available from Concordia Publishing House. We can help you use it.
- Gospel Communication Clinic - Craft a witness for a particular person
- Connect to Disciple - Outreach workshop (Friday night and Saturday morning) available to your congregation. Your church’s cost for this is slight.
- Incorporation - Assimilation workshop available to your congregation.
For more information on Witness and Outreach Ministry, contact:
Dr. Ken Schurb, Evangelism Executive
LCMS Central Illinois District
1850 N. Grand Avenue West
Springfield, IL 62702-1626
(217) 793-1802
kschurb@cidlcms.org
Dr. Schurb can assist congregations with outreach to their communities. He is available to consult with the pastor and outreach committees of our congregations. Contact him to lead Sunday Evangelism Festivals, various outreach workshops, or help with demographic studies.