Thursday, November 30, 2006
Registering to this Blog
There are two ways to be kept apprised of new messages and comments published on this blog:
1) BlogReader: receiving the news feed on your "aggregator", a barbarious name meaning your personalized internet news page (example : www.bloglines.com).
2) Email: receiving emails in your inbox, to subscribe simply enter your email address in the subscription form from FeedBlitz. It is possible to unsubscribe from any email titled "[FeedBlitz]" received in your email inbox.
Happy reading !
(translated from French)
1) BlogReader: receiving the news feed on your "aggregator", a barbarious name meaning your personalized internet news page (example : www.bloglines.com).
2) Email: receiving emails in your inbox, to subscribe simply enter your email address in the subscription form from FeedBlitz. It is possible to unsubscribe from any email titled "[FeedBlitz]" received in your email inbox.
Happy reading !
(translated from French)
Monday, November 13, 2006
Church Project, Church Initiative, Church Plant
In order to clarify what Vineyard Tourcoing is in Vineyard jargon is to specify which stage of the process of birthing a new church is in:
- Project
- Initiative
- Plant
Prior to being considered a mature or standalone church, a church typically goes through the various stages listed above.
Disclaimer: While this (Church) Project is not affiliated officially with any Vineyard church in the world, we are products of the Vineyard Church of Columbus in Ohio, USA, and would apply to become part of the worldwide association of Vineyard churches.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Church Planting in France: a Challenge
Church planting, being in it of itself quite an endeavor, can prove to be even more challenging in France. In this country often described in US missionary circles as "the missionary graveyard", it is important to find what makes the French tick to see the Kingdom of God expand.
In this high context culture, a lot of things are not responded to like in a younger non-latin culture as the USA. It is up to God's workers to turn this handicap into a challenge, and pray to God He gives us the keys to help unlock the hearts of the French.
A post-Christian nation, France has had a long Christian heritage, both mixing the good and the bad. Secular since the French Revolution in 1789, with further legislation in 1905 in regards to church legal activity, French society incorporates much of the Christian ethics, but is unable and unwilling today to recognize this religious heritage, possibly as a way to remind the church the French Republic now is sovereign over French matters--and no longer the church which meddled with politics for many centuries.
In this high context culture, a lot of things are not responded to like in a younger non-latin culture as the USA. It is up to God's workers to turn this handicap into a challenge, and pray to God He gives us the keys to help unlock the hearts of the French.
A post-Christian nation, France has had a long Christian heritage, both mixing the good and the bad. Secular since the French Revolution in 1789, with further legislation in 1905 in regards to church legal activity, French society incorporates much of the Christian ethics, but is unable and unwilling today to recognize this religious heritage, possibly as a way to remind the church the French Republic now is sovereign over French matters--and no longer the church which meddled with politics for many centuries.
Marketing the church
While Jesus transcends all cultures, churches and ways of doing church do not. Because a local church is an implementation of the new life found in Jesus men and women engage in, it needs to be culturally relevant to the place and time it belongs to.
Therefore, the local church must be in constant or regular self-awareness to how it is perceived from the "outside world", in order to stay relevant as an effective actor of change for the Kingdom of God.
We have reworked Marcus Neto's 18 Word of Mouth Marketing Tips for Churches to highlight which ones may or may not work in French culture, and under which conditions:
1) Make it easy for people to find you: If people come across your website, yellow pages, or start a conversation with you, make sure to make them wonder about what your church is about, get them curious to ask questions, or to want to come check it out! Actually, just do church right there right then, as you never get a 2nd chance to make a good 1st impression.
2) Use communication tools as necessary to get the message out: From ringing church bells (legislated by the townhall) to blogging on the internet :-)
3) Leverage provocative content to make it talk-worthy: Who wants boring?
4) Keep the Jesus' story always fresh with today's issues: How is Jesus' message relevant today?
5) Tell people about you: Caution must be used here in France as any pushy (or even simply enthusiastic) talking may raise eyebrows and make people wonder whether you are part of a cult! You will need to hone your communication skills for French environment, but remember the soapbox approach will probably scare people away.
6) Truly engage others with relationship-building intent: Do not lecture or monologue, the person might just want to escape...
7) Use interesting stories to bring your word-of-mouth topics to life: Nothing like true stories to get to people's guts!
8) Do something unexpected and generous: Giving something free to someone in France might quite easily get rejected. French people are terribly proud in all kinds of ways, the idea of getting something for free is often perceived as degrading, demeaning, devaluing their persona. On the other hand, people feel valued if you ask them for a favor, like helping them get rid of something... be creative and do not look too nice!
9) Identify socially-adept people in the community: Making worthwhile allies can get you going a long way.
10) Allow people to experience what is the Christian life: Making it tangible, to address people felt needs, being real and natural, etc.
11) Ask people about their impressions and feedback: Informal polling can prove highly beneficial.
12) Give opportunities for people to respond to your message: An old folk story says importing of the potatoe to European kitchens proved quite difficult. Challenged by people's disinterest, a lord placed guards around his potatoe field; soon enough people came to steal the prized vegetables... and the rest is history!
13) Recruit workers that are interested to partake in your vision: Delegation and participation are great ways to create a snowball effect!
14) Create a market advisory council: Keep on top of how folks perceive your church! Keep it alive!
15) Encourage people to tell two friends about you, not just one: As God leads and enables
16) Engage people to share your vision and roll up their sleeves: They will bring new blood and new life into your endeavor! (I remember this famous Vineyard Church UK worship leader who started playing in streets with the ministry team before being a Christian, or even before considering becoming a Christian!!)
17) Be an encouragement to others about marketing: Marketing is also/mainly about getting the message of Jesus out...
18) Train and equip folks with life-impacting skills: Give something of value with exponential potential.
19) Make it safe to "do" church for people: How do you become a truly disciple otherwise?
20) Press on where God is working: Be opportunist as God shows you who He is blessing
Therefore, the local church must be in constant or regular self-awareness to how it is perceived from the "outside world", in order to stay relevant as an effective actor of change for the Kingdom of God.
We have reworked Marcus Neto's 18 Word of Mouth Marketing Tips for Churches to highlight which ones may or may not work in French culture, and under which conditions:
1) Make it easy for people to find you: If people come across your website, yellow pages, or start a conversation with you, make sure to make them wonder about what your church is about, get them curious to ask questions, or to want to come check it out! Actually, just do church right there right then, as you never get a 2nd chance to make a good 1st impression.
2) Use communication tools as necessary to get the message out: From ringing church bells (legislated by the townhall) to blogging on the internet :-)
3) Leverage provocative content to make it talk-worthy: Who wants boring?
4) Keep the Jesus' story always fresh with today's issues: How is Jesus' message relevant today?
5) Tell people about you: Caution must be used here in France as any pushy (or even simply enthusiastic) talking may raise eyebrows and make people wonder whether you are part of a cult! You will need to hone your communication skills for French environment, but remember the soapbox approach will probably scare people away.
6) Truly engage others with relationship-building intent: Do not lecture or monologue, the person might just want to escape...
7) Use interesting stories to bring your word-of-mouth topics to life: Nothing like true stories to get to people's guts!
8) Do something unexpected and generous: Giving something free to someone in France might quite easily get rejected. French people are terribly proud in all kinds of ways, the idea of getting something for free is often perceived as degrading, demeaning, devaluing their persona. On the other hand, people feel valued if you ask them for a favor, like helping them get rid of something... be creative and do not look too nice!
9) Identify socially-adept people in the community: Making worthwhile allies can get you going a long way.
10) Allow people to experience what is the Christian life: Making it tangible, to address people felt needs, being real and natural, etc.
11) Ask people about their impressions and feedback: Informal polling can prove highly beneficial.
12) Give opportunities for people to respond to your message: An old folk story says importing of the potatoe to European kitchens proved quite difficult. Challenged by people's disinterest, a lord placed guards around his potatoe field; soon enough people came to steal the prized vegetables... and the rest is history!
13) Recruit workers that are interested to partake in your vision: Delegation and participation are great ways to create a snowball effect!
14) Create a market advisory council: Keep on top of how folks perceive your church! Keep it alive!
15) Encourage people to tell two friends about you, not just one: As God leads and enables
16) Engage people to share your vision and roll up their sleeves: They will bring new blood and new life into your endeavor! (I remember this famous Vineyard Church UK worship leader who started playing in streets with the ministry team before being a Christian, or even before considering becoming a Christian!!)
17) Be an encouragement to others about marketing: Marketing is also/mainly about getting the message of Jesus out...
18) Train and equip folks with life-impacting skills: Give something of value with exponential potential.
19) Make it safe to "do" church for people: How do you become a truly disciple otherwise?
20) Press on where God is working: Be opportunist as God shows you who He is blessing
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Narrow Boundaries of Religious Expression
Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom defines freedom of religion as:
"Religious freedom is pivotal to a free society. Thomas Jefferson called it the “first freedom.” It is enshrined in the first clause of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. And it is first in another sense: freedom of thought, conscience and religion is the prerequisite for the exercise of all other basic human rights. In theory and practice, free expression, freedom of press and freedom of association depend on the prior guarantee of a free conscience. The historical reality is that where religious freedom is denied, so too are other basic human rights.
Religious freedom has two dimensions. It belongs to individuals and also to religious groups. It includes a person’s right to walk down the street wearing a cross, a yarmulke or a headscarf, or not to do so, and to express and live out one’s beliefs in society. It also includes the rights of groups to worship God as they wish in community, to run schools, hospitals and other institutions, to publish and possess sacred literature, and order their internal affairs.
In recent decades, the institutional dimension of religious freedom has proved crucial in opening up social space..."
As appearing in bold (our emphasis), these concepts hold specific meanings and fields of application in French society.
By and large, French society is highly fragmented. People often talk about the "public sphere" and the "private sphere", with the two having little communication. Religious freedom is seen by most Frenchmen as belonging exclusively to the private sphere, thus, making it very difficult for people to express their faith in public venues : education, work, public meetings, etc.
Also, worship is commonly understood (and legislated) to be limited to the religious facility, thus making it difficult for religious organizations to engage the society; tax-exempt and tax-deductible status is not granted to organizations engaging in activities other than the narrowly defined French meaning of worship.
While French authorities do not generally prosecute religious organizations that do not scrupulously follow the legal guidelines for religious activity, churches often are in violation of the law (e.g. a 2002 finance law reform requires all organizations to have a large amount of cash in treasury to have someone on staff, a stringent requirement which most churches cannot meet), and may be wrongfully associated to cults--as a striking example, my request of renting a hall in a Catholic spiritual center for a Thanksgiving meal was temporarily thought of as a cult simply because we give thanks to God!
(You can read a 2006 in-depth analysis of the religious freedom in France by the US Department of State)
"Religious freedom is pivotal to a free society. Thomas Jefferson called it the “first freedom.” It is enshrined in the first clause of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. And it is first in another sense: freedom of thought, conscience and religion is the prerequisite for the exercise of all other basic human rights. In theory and practice, free expression, freedom of press and freedom of association depend on the prior guarantee of a free conscience. The historical reality is that where religious freedom is denied, so too are other basic human rights.
Religious freedom has two dimensions. It belongs to individuals and also to religious groups. It includes a person’s right to walk down the street wearing a cross, a yarmulke or a headscarf, or not to do so, and to express and live out one’s beliefs in society. It also includes the rights of groups to worship God as they wish in community, to run schools, hospitals and other institutions, to publish and possess sacred literature, and order their internal affairs.
In recent decades, the institutional dimension of religious freedom has proved crucial in opening up social space..."
As appearing in bold (our emphasis), these concepts hold specific meanings and fields of application in French society.
By and large, French society is highly fragmented. People often talk about the "public sphere" and the "private sphere", with the two having little communication. Religious freedom is seen by most Frenchmen as belonging exclusively to the private sphere, thus, making it very difficult for people to express their faith in public venues : education, work, public meetings, etc.
Also, worship is commonly understood (and legislated) to be limited to the religious facility, thus making it difficult for religious organizations to engage the society; tax-exempt and tax-deductible status is not granted to organizations engaging in activities other than the narrowly defined French meaning of worship.
While French authorities do not generally prosecute religious organizations that do not scrupulously follow the legal guidelines for religious activity, churches often are in violation of the law (e.g. a 2002 finance law reform requires all organizations to have a large amount of cash in treasury to have someone on staff, a stringent requirement which most churches cannot meet), and may be wrongfully associated to cults--as a striking example, my request of renting a hall in a Catholic spiritual center for a Thanksgiving meal was temporarily thought of as a cult simply because we give thanks to God!
(You can read a 2006 in-depth analysis of the religious freedom in France by the US Department of State)
Limitation of Religious Expression Denounced
Back in 2003 a government report prompted lawmaking in 2004 to ban "overly visible" religious symbols in public schools, as a response to the growing uneasiness of school administrators confronted to girls wearing muslim headscarves.
While this is somewhat minor in comparison with religious persecution in other countries as reported by the Center for Religious Freedom, it brings questions as to the reasons and fears that motivated French society to limit the expression of religious faith in such a way.
Could the suppressing of this expression, politically motivated in part to denounce the struggling integration of (mostly Islamic culture) immigrants, might have provoked the urban chaos of 2005?
While this is somewhat minor in comparison with religious persecution in other countries as reported by the Center for Religious Freedom, it brings questions as to the reasons and fears that motivated French society to limit the expression of religious faith in such a way.
Could the suppressing of this expression, politically motivated in part to denounce the struggling integration of (mostly Islamic culture) immigrants, might have provoked the urban chaos of 2005?
