May 2023
In This Edition....
Introducing - "The Responders"
Coaching and Development Opportunities
Conversation Tips - Trolling or Just Broken?
Video Training Resources - Hinduism Worldview
Introducing "The Responders"
The ministry was founded on a belief that there would be loving Christians wanting to share Jesus with others and giving their time to meet those coming with questions. These volunteers have been the lifeline of Need Him for 27 years.
For as long as we can remember, we have debated what to call our loyal saints. We have worked hard to avoid labels that are confusing or have other connotations such as counselors or missionaries. We have considered other options such as spiritual coaches, online evangelists, but nothing seemed to capture the breadth and depth of what you do.
The ministry has gone through further growth and evolution since the pandemic. This includes:
o Global reach expanding with over 60% international conversations
o Geographic expansion with conversations from over 220 countries last year
o Growing conversations with people from other faith backgrounds
As we were thinking through these changes and how the ministry is focused on live conversations, two themes started to come together. The first is that the ministry conversations have truly gone global. The other theme is that we are a relational ministry encouraging people to connect with us so we can share the Gospel.
Need Him Global has had millions of conversations with people and in each case, someone "responded" to a person with questions or looking for encouragement. It reminds us that our identity is responding to the world’s questions about Jesus. We are also responding to the call of Jesus to make disciples.
All this reflection on response has led us to adopt a new name for volunteers. We have decided to express your importance and incorporate this concept into the ministry logo. Collectively and individually, we are:
"The Responders"
It has a ring of a Marvel Superhero to it. Although that was not our intent, we know that those who volunteer to share Jesus are much greater than any comic book character and will be truly celebrated in God’s kingdom.
Coaching and Development Opportunities
You asked for it and we will deliver..... Whether you are a seasoned Responder or new to ECHO, we want to provide advanced Coaching and Development opportunities to enhance your online productivity and impact.
These will be working sessions (via Zoom) where you can dialogue with other Responders, gain insights and ask questions in a safe environment.
We have several sessions available for you to choose from.
Tuesday, 5/9 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm CST
Thursday, 5/18 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm CST
Saturday, 5/20 from 10:00 to 11:30 am CST
Respond to natalie@needhim.org of your interest and we will forward the appropriate Zoom Link...
Conversation Tips - Trolling or Just Broken?
You will eventually encounter some people that want to debate, argue or simply demean. Many of these people are frequent visitors and do not always show a desire for real conversation. We have determined that many of these people are deeply hurt or do not have a clear picture of who God really is. Many have a corrupted worldview or have been swept up in cultural trends.
When trying to manage these types of conversations (Serial Seekers, Agenda-Driven Seekers, Angry Visitors) in our own strength, we will often falter, resulting in dialogue that quickly erodes. In fact, there is a tendency for us to often view difficult seekers as "trolls" or "agitators" and Tag them as such. While that may be their initial intent in coming to our site, we have found that a few grace-filled comments from our side can soften and will often lead to productive and fruitful discussion. One of my all-time Top-Five conversations started with a seeker cursing God. My initial intent was to blister him with judgment, but the Holy Spirit prompted me to simply say, "Sounds like you have a great deal of pain in your life, how can I help?"
We realize this is not always easy and takes a great deal of grace and patience on our end, but we want to encourage you to slow down and work to peel back the heart of the seeker. To listen to their pain and to look for on-ramps to share a message of hope. It may sound like a cliche, but we urge you to pray before, during, and after each conversation, allowing the Spirit of God to speak through you.
When I look back at my own life, after having lost my dad as a teenager, I was angry at God for many years and could not understand how a loving God could take my dad from me. It was through the grace of two men that God brought into my life to walk with me that I was able to see the Hand of God at work. They loved me in my pain and shared truth in a gracious manner. God used them to pierce my broken heart. So I want to encourage you to slow down and look for ways to "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" - Romans 12:14 - Chris Schultz
For more information on how to manage Difficult Conversations with Repeat Visitors, please see the Responder Training Manual - Page 55.
https://needhimvolunteer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Responder-Training-Manual-April-2023-Final.pdf
Video Training Resource - Hinduism Worldview
We have all faced difficult conversations with those from differing religious backgrounds and beliefs. To help train and equip you to have fruitful conversations with Hindu seekers, we have partnered with Adam Shefferman, who serves as an Associate Cluster Leader for the International Mission Board. He has put together an excellent video for you.
You will find this video in the “Other Religions and Faith Systems” section of the Responder Training Portal.
Hinduism (Video) Hinduism Worldview (Shefferman)
Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the video and other resources available on the Responder Training Portal.
https://needhimvolunteer.com/ Password: NHGresources
In closing, please know that we are incredibly grateful for each of you giving your time to "respond" to those with questions and to share the Gospel. Please let us know if we can be praying for you in a specific way. Blessings to you...
Need Him Global - - - Chris, Pete, Julie, Karen, Natalie and Cathy
