Get Their Name: Grow Your Church by Building New Relationships by Bob Farr

by Bob Farr

As a church leader, you are (probably) targeting the wrong people with your 'evangelism' efforts. You are operating a model that no longer works, because it is too passive, too polite, and focused in the wrong direction. You are not making new disciples, not adding significantly to Christ's transformation of the world. And you--or at least your congregation--are (probably) unaware of this fact. There is hope, and you will find it in these pages. Farr, Kotan and Anderson reveal the ways most churches unwittingly misdirect their reach into the community. The authors show in practical terms how to change the habits of leaders and entire congregations, so that invitation is natural, constant, systemic, genuine, and easy. Get Their Name clearly demonstrates how your church can change, and equips your people to share their faith in a way that is effective, biblical, and transformational.

Genres: Discipleship, Christianity, Evangelism

Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

Reviews

[Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Get Their Name: Grow Your Church by Building New Relationships" provides a new way at looking at evangelism in the church. Taking a school metaphor and beginning in elementary and moving up from there allows the reader to really see what is necessary to have a successful evangelism program in their local church. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking at beginning a hospitality ministry, evangelism ministry, small-group ministry, etc.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Evangelism is about building authentic relationships with people we don’t know.”

Faith Sharing in Groups
“We mainline Christians have lost our story. That’s not so say we don’t have a story. But we have simply lost the art of sharing our story with others…As Wesley asked, ‘How is it with your soul?’”

“We must find our own story… When you gather with your small group, you now know that every time you come you will be asked the question of accountable discipleship: ‘How have you experienced God recently in your life?’…When you are continually looking for where God is in your life – gues what? You see God’s presence and footprint all over your life! In other words, you see how deeply and consistently God is involved in your life.”

“…when we share our faith consistently in our small group…we are not only keeping God at the center of our own life experience and helping those unconnected discover God’s presence in their own life. We are also regularly practicing to share our faith in Jesus Christ with others in our network of relationships.”

“Persons who actually practice this faith sharing make the following kinds of comments on their experience: ‘Bonding…Inspiring…Spiritually deepening…Fresh awareness of God in my life… Energizing…Uplifting…Supportive…’ Imagine the difference it could make in your own spiritual life if you regularly shared your experience of God with others and heard their sharing as well.

Beginning Outside Conversations
“A recent Gallup poll reported that 92 percent of Americans believe there is a God. They want to read the Bible. They want to be spiritual. They like Jesus. But they don’t like the church in its current condition.”

“When we are attempting to share our faith with others, we have to reach down and find our faith. This leads to a vitality and deepening of our own faith and experience with Jesus Christ.”

Your Building Matters
“Every church needs a connector. What is a connector? A connector is a person or group of people who invest in building relationships with guests and help them ‘connect’ into a ministry where the guests will get their needs met. The connector will keep in contact with and track the guest until the guest becomes a regular attender, gets involved in ministry, and fosters a relationship with Christ through your church’s intentional faith development pathway.

Once a greeter has identified a guest, is there a connector available for the guest? Is that connector trained? Is that connector gifted for this responsibility? Does the connector introduce him or herself and escort guests to the hospitality area for a drink or refreshment? Is the connector equipped with questions that are friendly and un-intimidating, while still obtaining necessary information for a follow-up and ultimately a good connection point? Is the connector introducing the guests to others? Does the connector invite the guest to sit with him or her during service? Is the connector introducing the guest to the pastor at the conclusion of worship? Does the connector invite the guest to lunch? Does the connector walk away with at least a name, address, and phone number and the reason the guest decided to attend worship? Is the connector aware of the next step in the connection process, and is he or she committed to take that step with this guest?”

Epilogue
“The idea of reaching people we do not know for the sake of Jesus Christ is inherently a biblical idea. One of the Bible’s themes is that God wants to reach people. And throughout history, God has always used people to reach other people. God is not an isolated God. God thrives in community.”

[Rev. Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful text for a course in Evangelism that I will take at Phillips Theological this semester. Two comments in the book really drew my attention: "If any denomination is to have a future, it must reconnect to the biblical purpose of making new disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. To accomplish this mission, it requires us to be once again people who widely, continually, and fervently share their faith in Jesus with those who do not yet have such a faith. This sharing must occur in relevant ways, without being obnoxious, so that they might have the possibility to come to this life-transforming and saving faith (p. X) And "In churches that are growing, the clergy and the laity spend at least 20% of their time not maintaining the church and its members, but instead being out in the mission field with the unconnected, serving people the do not know" (p. 43-44) --- From the Publisher: As a church leader, you are (probably) targeting the wrong people with your 'evangelism' efforts. You are operating a model that no longer works, because it is too passive, too polite, and focused in the wrong direction. You are not making new disciples, not adding significantly to Christ's transformation of the world. And you--or at least your congregation--are (probably) unaware of this fact. There is hope, and you will find it in these pages. Farr, Kotan and Anderson reveal the ways most churches unwittingly misdirect their reach into the community. The authors show in practical terms how to change the habits of leaders and entire congregations, so that invitation is natural, constant, systemic, genuine, and easy. Get Their Name clearly demonstrates how your church can change, and equips your people to share their faith in a way that is effective, biblical, and transformational

[K.D. Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most useful information was the author's treatment of the question of "why is there evil in the world". This is the question many unbelievers and believers alike. Herein, he dealt with our love as a matter of freewill. He stated that man was created as God's image and humanity are not "robots". Freewill allows man to choose between loving evil (the world) or loving God.

[Kay Mcgriff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of practical ideas for people in churches to connect with people who aren't.

[Allan Bevere · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful analysis of the UMCs missional failings and practical advice for how churches can address the problem.

[Rhegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of practical ideas and examples, though some a little overwhelming for a very small congregation.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

To The Point

I read several other books with more words and less content—Thank you Bob, Doug, and Kay!!

Now, to take action.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for work and it isn't really a topic I'm thrilled about so that's why it's three stars instead of more. The content in it is good. Evangelism is about relationships and the authors make it clear that if you invite someone to church you should make sure your worship service is excellent and meaningful and that your congregation is hospitable. The book has three authors and perhaps that's why I didn't care for the writing style. It was annoying that when one of the authors told a personal story they had to put their proper name in parentheses after the "I."

[Richard Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every person in every church needs to read this book

This book gives a comprehensive view of evangelism for the 21st-century. It is theologically sound and it is practical. It is infuriatingly challenging. If every church put this into practice we would no longer be moaning about the decline of the church. Get the book. Read the book. Make the book live in your church.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn't say much that you won't already know. Still, this book causes you to ask basic questions about your ministries that can kill your ministries if you don't ask them. Extremely valuable resource for churches that are having a hard time growing.