Connect09

Connect09 F.A.Q.

Pray for our whole community.
Connect genuinely by sharing our lives.
Expect the Word of God to change people and change churches.

What is Connect09?

Connect09 is a campaign to make Jesus known.  A campaign to help churches connect with communities in a way that will connect people to Jesus. It is not a program or a system. Every parish is different, so Connect09 will be done in different ways.  But by doing it together, right across our Diocese, under one “umbrella” we will all benefit from a unity of purpose, the encouragement of learning from others, and economies of scale. 

What do I need to do?

This is best summed up in three words: Pray. Connect. Expect. 

What do you mean by “Pray”?

We mean pray for our city; pray for our region; pray for our suburb; pray for our street.  Coming before our sovereign God with specific requests for our community, our leaders, our neighbours, our contacts in every area of our daily life. Seeking God’s help and God’s wisdom so that what we plan do would be appropriate and that God will bless our efforts. We must ask God that, as we go out, he would show us ways to make a real connection with people. 

What do you mean by “Connect”?

We mean moving beyond contact to making connections. Real connection brings genuine relationship. Many people in our community are disconnected from each other and disconnected from God. Social changes have led to a disconnection between the community and our churches. Connect09 is about making real connections with others as we share our lives and share the love of our Lord Jesus.

Pray for our whole community.

Connect genuinely by sharing our lives. Expect the Word of God to change people and change churches. 

What do you mean by “Expect”?

Many of us are beaten down by the world. The background noise of our everyday lives says to us, “There is no power in the gospel. Nothing will happen.” But that’s not what Jesus tells us. Jesus changed us and and he will change others too. We should expect that as we share our lives and the love of our Saviour, people will be transformed. The word of God is powerful and will not return without achieving its purpose: to bring life, and life to the full. 

Is Connect09 just a church-based thing?

No. You can be involved in Connect09 both in your personal networks and through your church. Connecting “Person-to-Person” involves the networks we already have, such as friends, colleagues at work, relatives and neighbours. Pray for them.  Pray that you will be able to genuinely connect with them and build relationships. Connecting “Church-to-Community” will depend on the needs of your area and the ways you are able to work together with other christians to connect with your local community. Your church should already be praying, researching and planning. The Connect09 office can help with that. Ask your minister or leader what your church is doing and get on board. 

What is an example of connecting “Person-to-Person”?

Jill was collecting her son from school when she got into conversation with another mum named Mandy. Mandy didn’t know it, but Jill was struggling with questions about God. When Mandy talked about her friends at church, Jill wanted to know more. She had lots of questions and went along for six months before deciding to become a Christian. Some years later, her husband started attending church and her three children have all become Christians. 

What is an example of connecting “Church-to-Community”?

St James is a suburban church with about 120 people coming through the doors each Sunday. They noticed that their nearby primary school had a rundown playground. They offered to do a ‘Backyard Blitz’ and tidy the whole place up. The offer was readily accepted. The generosity of church members made a big impact on the school community. Later that year St James held an outdoor screening of the Jesus movie and many people came because of the positive impact of the cleanup. Not all who came were finally interested but of the 30 newcomers who did show up more than half joined a short course being run by the minister. 

What resources will be available to help me?

There are many great resources already available to equip christians and help non-christians. Connect 09 will complement that by producing quality give-away items such as Gospels in print, CD and DVD. The key is not the tools, but the way in which we connect with people - genuinely and prayerfully. 

Are only churches involved in Connect09?

No. We are blessed with great organisations such as Anglicare, Anglican Retirement Villages, Youthworks, a wide variety of schools and much more. These organisations are already connected with large sections of the community and will be actively involved in the Connect09 campaign. You and your church should look for ways to partner with these groups to strengthen the Connect09 campaign in your area. 

Where do I get news of what others are doing?

http://www.connect09.com

I’m not good at talking about Jesus. I don’t know what to say. What can I do?

First, don’t think that you have to do ‘everything’. You may not feel you are able to explain the Gospel - but others in your church will be able to. You may a great welcomer, a great handyman or a great cook! All skills are needed as we seek to connect with those around us. Pray and think about what you might be able to contribute. Some things are easier than you might think and you may also be surprised about what God can do through you. Remember, God is in charge of making people Christians, not us. 

I’m really busy. I don’t think I have time. What can I do?

Don’t panic! Connect09 is not about loading our diaries with extra commitments, but about changing the way we think and act. This may not take much extra time, but will take prayer and thought. Think about the ways you already come into contact with those who are not Christians. How can you start to make a real connection with them?