CE with people from different cultures

Kevin de Young is Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He's also a popular and blogger and author. He started running CE at his church a few years ago, and has found it a great tool for reaching internationals.

Kevin says: "If you are looking for an evangelism program to use in your church, I strongly urge you to consider Christianity Explored. We appreciate that the CE videos go through a book of the Bible (Mark) and does not skip over the doctrine of sin.

"It is bearing more fruit than we imagined, especially among internationals."

On his blog he and one of his elders, Bruce Jeffries, explain how they have found the course works.

Interestingly, they find their numbers grow as the course progresses: "We get two waves of people coming along, the early adopters are the first wave and then they invite their friends for the second wave."

And one of the key elements of the course, the relational aspect where real friendships are formed between Christians and non-believers, has been a crucial part of the success of CE with internationals.

"Our Asian guests are very perceptive of our hospitality strengths and weaknesses. They see Americans as friendly and quick to make contact, but slow on follow up. So the process of spending dinner together for ten [seven, in the new CE course!] weeks and intentionally asking personal questions about their lives is very disarming, but in a good way."

And Kevin and Bruce have found three "types" of people being helped, encouraged and challenged by CE:

• Those with an atheist background: "Many of our guests come from an atheistic culture where they have received formal education denying God's existence. We have had a number of guests complete CE and on their final evaluation form write that they now "believe God exists" but that htey are not convinced that "Jesus is God" or that Jesus is their "Savior". While not a beliver yet, the change in worldview is nothing short of miraculous."
• Those who have already heard something of the gospel: "When we see confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior, it is generally where others have already planted the seeds and we are providentially fortunate to be there for the new birth. As for numbers, I would guess we see maybe one new professions of faith per session."
• Young Christians: "We always have a number of young believers. CE materials are helpful to clarify and re-organize gospel truths in these cases."

You can read the full interview with Kevin and Bruce.

Have a look at CE’s course materials in the US and the UK.