Taking the Jesus Story Outside the Church: Witnessing the Michael Beck Method
By Rev. Lauren Harris
Jesus tells the disciples in Matthew 28:19 to go and make disciples of all nations, and for three days, the Rev. Dr. Michael Beck showed us how to do just that in the most unconventional places.
I traveled with several pastors who are part of the Fresh Expressions Academy to Ocala, Florida, to witness innovative ministries in action. Rev. Beck allowed us to participate in two of his dinner churches that are open to the community, but specifically target those recovering from drug addiction. We met women from a local rehabilitation program on the first night and various kinds of people from the community on the second night. We also gave out food to those in need, and the highlight for many of us was visiting the tattoo shop where Rev. Beck and other members of his churches share “the Jesus story” while people get tattoos. A couple of the pastors even received fresh ink while we were there.
The trip was eye opening for me because I’ve never witnessed ministry that targeted those in recovery. I’ve participated in “street ministry” which focused on the unhoused in Washington, D.C. I even led Christmas toy giveaways for families living in motels in Laurel, Md. But I haven’t had much experience ministering to those struggling with drug addiction and recovery.
It was humbling listening to people’s stories at the two dinner churches and interacting with them and some of their children. Some of the people in attendance were recently released from jail, living in poverty, and struggling to maintain their sobriety. The dinner church was a place where they could receive love, support, acceptance, and community.
When they opened the church doors for dinner on the second night, a little boy immediately attached to me. He wanted me to pick him up and help him get food. I obliged him after I asked his sister permission. I didn’t know who his mother was. He and several other children just ran freely throughout the church. I learned later at the Bible study that his mother had just five months sober and had seven children. She shared with us it was the first time in her life she had to deal with difficult life issues sober. She said she felt the pull to start using again, but resisted.
Learning more about this woman, her son, and other children greatly moved me. I have been struggling with my own grief and life issues, which had prevented me from thinking about the suffering of others. When I saw this family and the others, I was moved with compassion. I felt like God was calling me to put away my sackcloth and ashes because there is much work to do for the kingdom. The trip inspired me to get to work.
One aspect of Rev. Beck’s method to reach the unchurched that challenged me, and I noticed also challenged some of the other pastors, is his telling of “the Jesus story.”
As we watched Rev. Beck in action, we saw he didn’t come at the participants of his dinner churches with tons of scriptures, hymns, and things typical of traditional church or “vintage church” as he calls it. There was no order of service. He simply told the “Jesus story” and how Jesus was moving in his life. He asked others to share their stories of God or their “higher power” active in their lives.
We heard some dynamic testimonies. However, during our debrief, the pastors and myself wanted to know if the dinners were a missed opportunity to deliver the word in traditional preaching style. Rev. Beck admonished us that simply telling the Jesus story is a means to draw people into the circle of faith without demanding too much from them too soon.
Learning about and witnessing this method reminded me that we have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do the heavy lifting of convicting, converting, and changing hearts. We have to remember that the power isn’t in the number of words or eloquence of speech, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what Rev. Beck’s style of evangelism reinforced to me.
Overall, the trip was a powerful reminder for me of God’s love for those on the margins of society. It was also a reminder that God has not forgotten about those whom society has left behind. Rev. Beck is doing amazing ministry in Ocala, Florida, and is helping to transform people’s lives. My ministry may not be drug recovery, but I want to be a similar change agent for Jesus. This trip was a call for me to step outside of the box and reach people for Jesus in new and innovative ways.