Mission Statement:
Initiate a movement on
all levels of the church based on principles and best practices of effective outreach that results in conversion growth, life transformation and multiplication.

 

Groups Ablaze! is a dynamic process, not a program, designed to help local congregations reach out to their unchurched neighbors through small group methodology. Small Group activity has typically centered around nurture of present members in most congregations. Groups Ablaze is designed to promote outreach by forming relationships with the unchurched and inviting them into non-threatening small group home meetings which become a setting in which the Gospel of Jesus might be shared.

The process includes a series of modules, each comprised of six weeks of meetings designed to help congregational members to incorporate Gospel outreach into their lifestyle, to help them form relationships with their unchurched neighbors and to form a variety of small group types as support structures for their ministry. It has been shown that most people are willing to commit to a short-term series of learning experiences. After completing a six-week series with positive results, they have the option to make an additional commitment to the next series.

For details on each of the series and information on ordering, please go to the materials page.

To order Groups Ablaze! Materials, e-mail
June@missions.com

How does Groups Ablaze! affect the Church?

It has been estimated that 80% of the congregations of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are plateaued or declining in Sunday worship attendance. While a great deal of excellent ministry occurs in many of these congregations, the lack of growth is a constant concern. Typically such congregations are preoccupied with issues of institutional survival which is counterproductive to outreach. By making the needs of unbelieving people and the lifestyle outreach of church members the focus of the ministry, many of the regressive attitudes and disabling circumstances so prevalent in the institution will give way to hope, new life and new members.

Groups Ablaze! is part of the Mission Revitalization Process

Groups Ablaze! (GA) is a stand-alone process that will help congregational members to reach their neighbors who are unchurched or who do not know Jesus, with the Good news of Salvation through small group activities. The GA process is available now from LCMS World Mission. Information on Getting Started is available on this web site.

Groups Ablaze! is also part of the Congregational Mission Revitalization Process being promoted by LCMS World Mission. Those who enter into a relationship with Jesus through the witness of congregational small groups will need bridges into the congregation. The Mission Revitalization Process offers districts and congregational leaders support through consultations and learning communities. This process is designed to motivate and empower a church to become outwardly focused on the mission to which God has called us: that is, to reach our communities with the love and saving message of Christ. Our every-day relationships form the primary bridge across which the Gospel of Jesus travels. Our churches need to turn from an inward to an outward focus if we are to develop relationships with people who need to know, love and trust Jesus Christ.

The Ablaze! Leading series, currently under development, offers training modules to equip pastors and church leaders to develop leadership skills necessary to support the change in culture of a congregation consistent with a shift in focus from an inward to outward.

What support is available for the process?

Groups Ablaze! works through the mission leadership teams of the LCMS Districts. These leaders are trained and linked to the national network, and in turn provide the infrastructure for coaching and the formation of learning communities among the participating congregations in their districts. Ideally, support and coaching is available at every level of the process. Consult the list of participating districts to find your GA representative. If your district is not yet a participant, contact David Born, the national staff suppport for Mission Revitalization: David.Born@LCMS.org

 

This initiative is designed to augment Ablaze!, the outreach movement of Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod World Missions.