This is what Chuck Dawn will be doing with his congregations for the 50 Golden Days of Evangelism.
The entirety of the following is from Jesus Christ bringing into my life relationships with Dr. Bias, Mark Flynn, Adam Hamilton, and Retired Pastor Evers. Those four individuals and Jesus Christ have helped me to understand that love with accountability is and can be defined as a “Relationship”. The prior mentioned clergy helped me to understand that we give intentional opportunities of showing Jesus love and God’s grace in and through our relationships. My hope and prayer is that as we use this material it will bring us and others closer in relationships with Jesus the Christ and our neighbors. My hope is that as we use this material it will bring those that do not know Jesus Christ into a relationship that they will join us in making Jesus Lord of their lives.
50 Days of Love
April 4-10 Care for one another. I Corinthians 12:25
25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.
April 11-17 Encourage…and build up one another. I Thessalonians 5:11 11Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing
April 18-24 Accept one another. Romans 15: 7
7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
April 25- May 1 Stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 24And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,
May 2-8 Don’t give up meeting with one another. Hebrews 10:25
25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
May 9-15 Grow deeper in your faith. Matthew 6:33
33But strive first for the kingdom of God* and his* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
May 16-22 Come Spirit of equality. Romans 8:14-17
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ–if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
50 Days of Love
What will we do after Easter? There are 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. Fifty Days of love is a seven-week Easter to Pentecost ministry in and through which we can demonstrate Christian love to fellow Christians, friends, neighbors, church members and non-church members in internal ways. Between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday, 50 Days of Love will lead the church through a systematic progression of outreach opportunities in the spirit of Christ.
The goals of 50 Days of Love are to: (1) Deepen the faith and spiritual commitment of our congregation through specific acts of love and kindness; (2) Grow new Christian disciples and renew inactive Christian disciples; (3) Broaden the level of congregational involvement and worship attendance after Easter leading to Pentecost; and (4) Promote love and goodwill in whatever way one chooses.
Week One – WEEK OF PREPARATION – (April 4-10) – During this week, we will pray and prepare ourselves to reach our friends, neighbors, church members, and non-church members. As we open ourselves to God’s direction through Bible Study and prayer, God will lead us in the way we are to go.
Week Two – WEEK OF LETTER WRITING-(April 11-17) – During this week, write a letter of appreciation to at least one person. It may be a letter to someone who you have long appreciated but have never formally expressed it; it may be a letter of reconciliation; it may be a letter of encouragement. Its message is one of appreciation, of gladness, and of loyalty and friendship.
Week Three – WEEK OF PHONE CALLS- (April 18-24) – Your gift this week is a telephone call to someone whom you feel you have forgotten due to the demands of everyday life. Its message may be “I appreciate you”, “Thank you,” or “I love you.” Reassure that person that you really care for them.
Week Four – WEEK OF LOVE GIFTS – (April 25-May 1) – Take or send a gift to someone you care for to express your love for them. The old fashioned practice of taking a pie or plate of cookies can help to build goodwill, appreciation, and love. Flowers and books are other possibilities. Preferably select a person to whom you would not normally send a gift.
Week Five – WEEK OF PRAYER – (May 2-8) – Your gift this week is prayer. Select one or two others and pray for them daily by name. Make them your special concern for concern for prayer. It may be someone passing through a time of sorrow or illness, a time of decisions, a time of joy and celebration, or someone you would particularly like to help. Those for whom you pray may never know, but your prayers may be particularly blessing to them if you send a card or note indicating your commitment to daily pray for them.
Week Six – WEEK OF VISITATION – (May 9-15) – Make a personal visit to a homebound person, an inactive member, a prospective member, or someone whom you would simply like to know better.
Week Seven – WEEK OF INVITATION- (May 16-22) – This is a week of invitation. You are to ask the persons you have targeted during the 50 Days of Love to be your guest in worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 23 (or another appropriate Sunday when they can come).
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the disciples saw themselves as the “evidence” of the resurrection. You and I have the opportunity, in response of the resurrection, to be the evidence of God’s love. Together let us “lift up Christ” so everyone will know the love of God in and through us.
