{"id":302441,"date":"2012-01-12T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-01-12T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/reaching-detroit-for-christ\/"},"modified":"2012-01-12T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2012-01-12T17:00:00","slug":"reaching-detroit-for-christ","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/reaching-detroit-for-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Reaching Detroit for Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dennis Rainey talks to Detroit pastors Bob Shirock and Dave Wilson about the response of the churches there to lift Christ up and make Him known.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2012-01-12.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"26.27M","filesize_raw":"27544666","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2821],"tags":[5188,2639],"podcast_series":[7851],"cwp_profile":[9256,3295],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-302441","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reaching-out","tag-detroit","tag-sharing-your-faith","podcast_series-everyone-a-chance-to-hear","cwp_profile-bob-shirock","cwp_profile-dave-wilson","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/302441\/reaching-detroit-for-christ","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/302441\/reaching-detroit-for-christ","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"9uUqA8UvY4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/reaching-detroit-for-christ\/\">Reaching Detroit for Christ<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/reaching-detroit-for-christ\/embed\/#?secret=9uUqA8UvY4\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Reaching Detroit for Christ&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"9uUqA8UvY4\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Dennis Rainey talks to Detroit pastors Bob Shirock and Dave Wilson about the response of the churches there to lift Christ up and make Him known.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2012-01-12.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 If you had to pick a city in the United States where things are maybe the toughest right now, what city would come to mind?\u00a0 Two pastors from Detroit say, \u201cThings have been pretty tough there over the last couple of years; but in the midst of it, God has been at work.\u201d\u00a0 Here\u2019s Pastor Bob Shirock.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, here\u2019s Detroit in the midst of its greatest economic tsunami in history.\u00a0 What\u2019s the church supposed to do?\u00a0 Sit in the suburbs and sing our great music and all that, or are we supposed to rise up like the ancient church did in times of plague and go into the city and be the healers and the helpers?\u00a0 I think it is \u201cgame on\u201d for Detroit, in terms of the church.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think Jesus Christ has said, \u201cLook, I\u2019ve humbled your region like no other region in the country, in the world.\u00a0 You are the icon of failure.\u00a0 Can the church come together and show the world what the church should be?\u00a0 And if so, I\u2019ll give you a future and a hope.\u00a0 If not, I might just turn out the lights.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Thursday, January 12<sup>th<\/sup>.\u00a0 Our host is the President of FamilyLife\u00ae Dennis Rainey, and I\u2019m Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We\u2019ll hear about how God is at work in the city of Detroit, bringing His people together.\u00a0 Stay tuned.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 Thanks for joining us.\u00a0 You were up in Detroit a couple of months ago; and as I remember, you came back pretty pumped about what was going on in Detroit, of all places.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019m telling you, there\u2019s some cool stuff taking place.\u00a0 It is because these two guys, who join us here on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>\u2014it\u2019s because of their faith, their lives, and their influence in the area that it\u2019s happening.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDave Wilson and Bob Shirock join us on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 Dave, Bob, welcome to the broadcast.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 We\u2014I can speak for myself, I think Bob would agree, I\u2019m glad to be here.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Glad to be here.\u00a0 Thanks for having us.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Both are pastors in the Detroit area.\u00a0 Dave pastors Kensington, and Bob, Oak Pointe.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got too many Bobs here.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Just two, you can handle it.\u00a0 (Laughter)\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 We\u2019ll get there.\u00a0 Some of our listeners are going, \u201cBob pastors Oak Pointe?\u201d\u00a0 Well, he does.\u00a0 Bob Shirock pastors Oak Pointe.\u00a0 Before we get to the story of what\u2019s taking place up in Detroit, both of you guys have previewed the <em>Art of Marriage<\/em>\u00ae as pastors.\u00a0 Dave\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, now wait.\u00a0 Dave\u2019s <em>in <\/em>the <em>Art of Marriage<\/em>.\u00a0 Session 2 of the <em>Art of Marriage<\/em> starts off with Dave and Ann Wilson telling a remarkable story of God\u2019s grace in their lives.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 The greatest story of my life\u2014I get to tell about my horrible ten-year anniversary!\u00a0 Anybody knows anything about Dave and Ann Wilson that is all they know\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Is about your major failings as a husband.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014is that I almost lost my marriage.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, despite your major failing that we have on video, you\u2019ve decided to use it in your church.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 Oh, yes.\u00a0 When it came out, you guys were talking about it.\u00a0 I honestly was skeptical.\u00a0 I was like, \u201cOkay, is this going to really be good?\u201d\u00a0 When I saw it, I was blown away\u2014not because we\u2019re in it.\u00a0 It was\u2014what you guys did was fantastic.\u00a0 So, we previewed it with a focus group at Kensington, up in Detroit.\u00a0 Thirty couples went through it to see it so they could all understand it and then say, \u201cOkay, how are we going to use it?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 You like the fact that you\u2019re in it; don\u2019t you?\u00a0 (Laughter)\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 I wish it was a better story.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 There are sessions\u2014session 2 is getting all the rave reviews from our group, but we\u2019re going to do a series of Friday night date nights for our congregation.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to do three of them.\u00a0 So, we\u2019re pretty excited.\u00a0 We\u2019ve already got 300 - 400 people signed up for the first one.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s cool.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 If Oak Pointe\u2019s going to do that, we\u2019re going to do <em>five<\/em> date nights because whatever they\u2019re doing, we\u2019ve got to do better.\u00a0 (Laughter)\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 A little competition going on here, I see.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 There is a pecking order in Detroit.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, Dave, the last time you were on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, we flew you down here because we were in the middle of a recession, and your church\u2014and I\u2019m sure, Bob, your church as well\u2014was filled with people who had lost jobs.\u00a0 As I recall, you had 100 people a week\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014being laid off in Detroit.\u00a0 There\u2019s a different spirit today, though.\u00a0 Something is going on up there spiritually.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 Definitely, in \u201908, \u201909, it was a dark time.\u00a0 Hundreds of thousands of people were leaving Michigan because they couldn\u2019t find jobs there.\u00a0 So, as a pastor\u2014yes\u2014you\u2019ve got spiritual care going on with people really losing hope.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, just to give you a perspective on how bad it was, <em>TIME Magazine<\/em> does an almanac every year of top stories around the world.\u00a0 In 2010, they did a three-page story on Detroit.\u00a0 The opening line said, \u201cDetroit has become the icon of the failed American city,\u201d but the closing line became sort of the challenge to the churches and church leaders of Detroit.\u00a0 Closing line\u2014and I quote it, \u201cThe world is watching Detroit with interest to see if it can find a way to rise from the ashes.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 You\u2019ve taken that almost like a challenge.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 That was \u201cgame on\u201d.\u00a0 It really was.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 I mean, the reason I wanted our listeners to hear what happened through your\u00a0 churches and over 500 more is because, I think, as we move forward\u2014and this is not going to be the last recession we experience\u2014it\u2019s not going to be the last set of catastrophic events and circumstances\u2014the church needs to move into the battle and needs to seize the day.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou did that, Bob.\u00a0 You had an idea initially that was just for your church; right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, it was for our church.\u00a0 I saw it happening overseas in India, Asia, and Africa.\u00a0 I saw movements of churches and parachurch organizations coming together to reach entire urban centers in short periods of time.\u00a0 You know, combining strategies, and resources, and <em>saturating<\/em> a region with good deeds and Good News.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, I came back.\u00a0 Big visionary that I am, I drew a circle on a white board in our church board room.\u00a0 I said to our church, \u201cLet\u2019s do this: 12-mile radius, Oak Pointe Church, 250,000 people; let\u2019s give everyone a chance to hear in one year.\u201d\u00a0 So, that was the vision.\u00a0 One of my staff members raises his hand and says, \u201cWhat about the other good churches in the circle?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you think you ought to at least talk to them to see if they might want to work with us?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOne church led to a series of meetings, lunch meetings, and it was seven churches.\u00a0 Then, Dave\u2019s group from Kensington walked in on it with eight staff members to a meeting.\u00a0 Suddenly, the thing just blew up.\u00a0 It suddenly became 3.5 million people that we were going to try to reach in a 40-day period following last Easter with good deeds and Good News.\u00a0 It just exploded.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat happened was incredible.\u00a0 Detroit has been historically divided racially, denominationally\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014economically.\u00a0 It\u2019s been one of the most divided cities in the world in terms of the Christian community.\u00a0 The barriers dropped immediately because, all of a sudden, reconciliation wasn\u2019t the goal.\u00a0 Suddenly, the <em>mission <\/em>was the goal.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPeople who hadn\u2019t talked to each other for years, and people who didn\u2019t like each other for years, suddenly liked each other.\u00a0 Sort of like two guys in a fox hole and the enemy is coming over the hill.\u00a0 All of a sudden, you are best friends because you are fighting a common enemy.\u00a0 We linked together to do the Great Commission in our region.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 A part of what impressed me about what happened was that you coalesced over 500 churches in a hurry.\u00a0 I mean, historically\u2014and this is to our shame\u2014across the nation, churches\u2014we laughed about at the beginning\u2014but churches compete.\u00a0 We\u2019re pretty turf-oriented.\u00a0 You know?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat you actually did here, what you guys called other churches to do, was draw a circle around their church.\u00a0 If they overlapped, it didn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s reach the area.\u00a0 Let\u2019s reach Detroit.\u201d\u00a0 Are you guys amazed that that many joined together and dropped their egos and logos, and said, \u201cLet\u2019s proclaim Christ\u201d?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, I think it\u2019s one of the best things that happened as a result of the campaign.\u00a0 I really don\u2019t think we were competing with anybody, but we\u2019re doing our thing.\u00a0 We\u2019re trying to fulfill God\u2019s call for Kensington.\u00a0 We\u2019re not thinking a lot about the other churches around us\u2014not in a bad way or a good way.\u00a0 It\u2019s just like we\u2019re so focused on this.\u00a0 This helped get our eyes <em>off<\/em> ourselves around the <em>bigger <\/em>mission.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tReally, I\u2019m embarrassed to say this was one of the first times in 21 years of being a pastor at Kensington that I actually looked around and said, \u201cWho else is doing ministry in this city?\u201d\u00a0 This mission put us in a room, and everything has changed since then.\u00a0 There\u2019s something now that can be birthed out of this network that was always there but had never been coalesced to do something greater for the Kingdom.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Bob, let me ask you about the vision because it\u2019s not like Detroit is an unreached people group.\u00a0 I mean, you\u2019re in a reached area\u2014\u201cEveryone A Chance to Hear.\u201d\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t every American already have a chance to hear?\u00a0 Is there something new we need to be doing here?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, I think Dave has experienced this; and I have, too.\u00a0 We planted Oak Pointe 14 years ago with 60 adults and 30 kids.\u00a0 We\u2019re about 3- or 4,000 people now.\u00a0 What we are finding is\u2014thousands of people who really--they had no idea that Christianity was like this.\u00a0 They\u2019ve seen some version of Christianity, but it\u2019s not what they\u2019re seeing at churches like Kensington or Oak Pointe.\u00a0 This is authentic, simple-to-understand Bible teaching, great worship, people that love God.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>We\u2019re finding that there are tons of people, who if they just had a shot to experience authentic Christianity, they\u2019d probably step across the line of faith.\u00a0 So, when I talk about \u201cEveryone A Chance to Hear,\u201d I\u2019m not talking about people who\u2019ve heard some version\u2014I\u2019m talking about people who are lacking the chance to hear a clear, simple, modern, relevant explanation of the Gospel.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 What did the 40 days look like?\u00a0 What happened in those 40 days?\u00a0 Just give me some examples of what went on.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 In terms of the evangelistic strategy, the Good News, it was really cool.\u00a0 We came up with something called the \u201c2 Word Story\u201d campaign.\u00a0 Dave was in the room the night that that vision occurred.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 That was a crazy meeting.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 It was a three-hour meeting where we were looking for the key macro-strategy to create the buzz.\u00a0 For two hours and forty-five minutes, we were going around the room with all kinds of lousy ideas.\u00a0 The last 15 minutes, out came this thing called \u201c2 Word Story\u201d.\u00a0 The idea was that everybody has a story about their relationship with Christ, their encounter with Christ.\u00a0 It might center around love, or value, or respect, or forgiveness, or healing.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, we came up with this idea of\u2014let\u2019s say your word was loved.\u00a0 \u201cLoved?\u00a0 Loved<strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0 2WordStory.com\u201d.\u00a0 We had billboards all around town\u2014hundreds of billboards with these word combinations on them: \u201cLoved?\u00a0 Loved<strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0 2WordStory.com\u201d.\u00a0 We had thousands of believers wearing buttons, t-shirts, coffee mugs, buses around town with this.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, in terms of creating the buzz, it was everywhere.\u00a0 Then, we turned the believers into the actual story tellers.\u00a0 We equipped them, through some training that Kensington prepared, how to tell their story in three minutes or less.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, if you met somebody and they said, \u201cHey, I\u2019ve been seeing that everywhere.\u00a0 What is that on your mug, that 2 Word Story?\u201d\u00a0 We taught them to simply say, \u201cYou know, everybody has a story; and this happens to be my story of how God has changed my life.\u00a0 I can tell you that story in three minutes, if you want.\u00a0 Then, I\u2019d like to hear your story because everybody has a story.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, that\u2019s what we taught them to do\u2014to engage in conversation, centered around their story and the other person\u2019s story; and then, hope for the opportunity to share God\u2019s story.\u00a0 That was kind of the Good News part of the campaign, equipping believers to be story tellers.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tGood deeds\u2014Dave can talk about that.\u00a0 We had just a gazillion projects going on at the same time to build good-will.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 One of the things we heard early, as the idea was starting to birth and grow\u2014one of the black pastors in the city was in our offices at Kensington, Pastor Bishop Vann of Second Ebenezer.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re talking to him about this whole EACH campaign.\u00a0 He looked right at Steve and me\u2014Steve Andrews at Kensington\u2014and he said, \u201cYou guys can\u2019t just come down to the city and spend a week with us and then bail out.\u00a0 If you\u2019re doing this, we need to partnership.\u00a0 You need to come down and back up your words with action.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat was exactly what Bob had us\u2014the original vision was good words and good deeds.\u00a0 \u201cGood words and good deeds,\u201d that became a mantra, and he was echoing that.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t come in here and do your little white thing\u2014come into the city and then, go back to your big old churches.\u00a0 Come in and let\u2019s partner together.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>That was a real challenge because he was not going to be involved if that\u2019s what it was going to be.\u00a0 If this was <em>real<\/em> and it was going to be lasting long-term and we could build some relationships that would be for decades, he\u2019s in.\u00a0 He was in because the good deeds part was part of it.\u00a0 There were all kinds of things from home renovations to cleaning up neighborhoods.\u00a0 You name it.\u00a0 People had an idea; they just did it.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, there was a network to send out an e-mail and say, \u201cWe\u2019re going down on Saturday to do a homeless barbeque.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to just provide food for homeless people.\u00a0 People are going down\u201d\u2014I mean, it\u2019s\u2014and it\u2019s still going on.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t stop when EACH\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Didn\u2019t stop.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014 the 40 days ended.\u00a0 Forty days was sort of the kick-off and catalyst, but it\u2019s continued since.\u00a0 That 2 Word Story\u2014it is still going around.\u00a0 There\u2019s t-shirts.\u00a0 On Easter that Sunday\u2014and I know Bob did the same thing\u2014I had t-shirts on.\u00a0 I took one off, and it said, \u201cDad?\u00a0 Dad.\u201d\u00a0 You could personalize this thing.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMy story was\u2014my whole life, I was looking for a father.\u00a0 Dad walked out when I was seven.\u00a0 I found in Jesus Christ, my Heavenly Father.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that simple.\u00a0 You could tell your story that quickly.\u00a0 It gave the body of Christ, I think, a tool to simply tell their neighbor, their coworker, or whoever a simple story; and then, like Bob said, hear their story as well.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Let me go back to what you\u2019re talking about in terms of inner-city engagement and the challenge you got from this pastor.\u00a0 You had to go back to your suburban folks and say, \u201cHey, \u2018game on\u2019\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014\u201cWe\u2019re being called into something that\u2019s more than just a one-Saturday project. We\u2019re being called into partnership.\u201d\u00a0 Folks in your church had to go, \u201cI\u2019m in.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 How did that happen?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 I think inside of the folks in our church, at least, out in the suburbs, is this desire to do more than what we\u2019ve ever done\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2014which has been sort of \u201cgo in and come out\u201d.\u00a0 They <em>know<\/em> it\u2019s not really lasting.\u00a0 It\u2019s not even genuine.\u00a0 They have genuine hearts when they do; but it\u2019s like \u201cYou know what?\u00a0 If we\u2019re going to do this, it\u2019s going to cost us something.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to cost a change in our lifestyle.\u00a0 Am I in or not?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThroughout this 40 days\u2014and by the way, we are all doing a similar series on the weekends.\u00a0 So, we\u2019re teaching.\u00a0 We all taught basically the same messages through this 40 days.\u00a0 They are <em>hearing<\/em>, at all these different churches all around the city, the story of this whole Gospel from Genesis all the way to Revelation\u2014basically, what we taught.\u00a0 So, they\u2019re getting knowledge, and they\u2019re taught.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen, somewhere in that 40 days, I think a lot of people decided, \u201cI\u2019m in.\u00a0 I\u2019m not going down for a weekend.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to decide what this looks like for my family and me and Iong-term, and let\u2019s build a partnership,\u201d\u2014which is still there.\u00a0 It\u2019s not perfect.\u00a0 Still got a long way to go, but there\u2019s something that\u2019s generated that I don\u2019t think has ever been there before\u2014at least from our side to the city of Detroit.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 I really agree with you guys.\u00a0 People do want to do something today.\u00a0 I think we\u2019re sitting at really a key fork in the road for the capital \u201cC\u201d Church, the Christian community.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t seize the day, who will?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, I\u2019ll tell you who will\u2014Evil.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Evil is winning the day, as we speak.\u00a0 Now, I know who wins the war.\u00a0 We all know who wins at the end of the book of Revelation.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe question is today\u2014in our communities\u2014are we going to sit back and leave it to somebody else, or\u2014and I like what you said, Dave.\u00a0 You said, \u201cIt\u2019s going to cost me something.\u201d\u00a0 I think for too long our Christianity has not really cost us much of anything.\u00a0 Yet, the Gospel is about self-denial; it\u2019s about proclamation; it\u2019s about good works, good deeds, and also sharing our faith.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI just have to read the passage because, as you guys were coming in, I just was thinking, \u201cYou know, you guys are embodying Matthew, Chapter 28, 18 through 20.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus said to them, \u201cAll authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me; go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.\u00a0 Behold I am with you always to the end of the age.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s been my experience\u2014and I\u2019m sure you guys have experienced this as well\u2014when you go, you step out in faith, He is with you; He does guide you; He does bless the work of your hands.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob, you and I were walking around here at FamilyLife earlier this morning before we came into the studio.\u00a0 You remarked about your ministry and FamilyLife\u2014and I\u2019m sure, Dave, you can identify with this as well\u2014when God takes somebody\u2019s availability, you just never know what He is going to do.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMy challenge to folks, out of this broadcast, is to find out <em>more<\/em> about this strategy so that your entire city can be saturated with prayer, with the Gospel, and a lot of good deeds.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 Bob, I imagine there may be somebody listening who is a pastor or who is a lay elder, deacon, in his church\u2014maybe, just somebody who is an active church-goer.\u00a0 They go, \u201cMan, I wish something like this would happen in our city, but we\u2019re\u2014it\u2019s a small church that we\u2019re in.\u00a0 We\u2019re not a big mega church like you guys are.\u00a0 I\u2019m just a layman.\u201d\u00a0 How does something like this get going?\u00a0 How could this happen in Sioux Falls, in Sarasota, or in communities all around the country?\u00a0 Is this a reproducible strategy?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob S:<\/strong>\u00a0 Oh, it\u2019s very reproducible.\u00a0 In fact, it\u2019s happening.\u00a0 It\u2019s really simple.\u00a0 If you can get a small group, a core group of leaders, who don\u2019t have huge egos and they\u2019re not trying to own the thing\u2014if you can get them together and share the simple vision, then, they begin going out and having lunches with other pastors who share the vision.\u00a0 It will spread.\u00a0 It will spread like wildfire if God breathes HisSpirit into it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe didn\u2019t create the coalition.\u00a0 God created it.\u00a0 Remember\u2014this guy wanted to do it, one church alone.\u00a0 My little silo\u00a0 was one circle with Oak Pointe in the middle.\u00a0 God is the one that built the coalition.\u00a0 So, I think if leaders dream and pray\u2014one thing, Dennis, just to piggyback on what you said, \u201cWe know who wins at the end of the book of Revelation,\u201d but we know who loses at the beginning of the book of Revelation\u2014and that is the church that doesn\u2019t act like the church.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJesus walks around and turns the lights out\u2014doesn\u2019t He\u2014on some churches because if the church is not being the church, that\u2019s a big loss for Him.\u00a0 He\u2019d rather have\u00a0 the church with the lights out than the church that\u2019s not functioning properly.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, here\u2019s Detroit in the midst of its greatest economic tsunami in history.\u00a0 What\u2019s the church supposed to do?\u00a0 Sit in the suburbs and sing our great music and all that; or are we supposed to rise up like the ancient church did in times of plague and go into the city and be the healers and the helpers?\u00a0 I think it is \u201cgame on\u201d for Detroit, in terms of the church.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think Jesus Christ has said, \u201cLook, I\u2019ve humbled your region like no other region in the country, in the world.\u00a0 You are the icon of failure.\u00a0 Can the church come together and show the world what the church should be?\u00a0 If so, I\u2019ll give you a future and a hope.\u00a0 If not, I might just turn out the lights.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong>\u00a0 I would add\u2014I think the un-churched population is looking at the church, whether it\u2019s in Detroit or anywhere, and are saying, \u201cWhere are you?\u00a0 What are you doing?\u201d\u00a0 I mean, they expect\u2014I mean, based on what we believe, or at least what they think we believe\u2014that we would <em>act<\/em> rather than just preach and talk.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf there is a blind spot in the contemporary church, that\u2019s probably it.\u00a0 It\u2019s like the un-churched world is saying, \u201cYou believe that Jesus cares, and you\u2019re doing <em>nothing<\/em> but preaching about it or preaching against it.\u201d\u00a0 So, I think we <em>have<\/em> to\u2014there was no option.\u00a0 The church had to be a part of the resurrection of Detroit.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t let it happen, and we were over here watching\u2014we had to be the center of it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe only other thing I would add, in terms of another city or another community doing what we were privileged to be a part of\u2014this guy right here (I\u2019m pointing at Bob Shirock), a man with a vision.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI mean, when I came over to Oak Pointe and heard him then articulate what the e-mail said about \u201cHere\u2019s a dream,\u201d there was a fire in his belly that I felt within five minutes.\u00a0 He\u2019s not jumping up on a stage, screaming and yelling\u2014he\u2019s not that kind of guy.\u00a0 It was just quite, gentle; but there was a <em>fire<\/em> that was like, \u201cOh, my gosh! God is doing something.\u201d\u00a0 You could <em>sense<\/em> it, and you wanted to be a part of it.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, if there is a man or a woman in a city that says, \u201cGod\u2019s called me to do this,\u201d it\u2019s going to spread, if it\u2019s real.\u00a0 Everybody jumped on because of his vision.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong>\u00a0 You guys have established a website, and we\u2019ve got a link on our website at FamilyLifeToday.com to the website that explains how this campaign has worked and all of the elements that are there.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m just thinking if there are folks in other cities who hear about this and they go, \u201cYou know, our city could do something like that;\u201d maybe there are pastors already getting together in those cities.\u00a0 This would be a way for this idea to spread\u2014people who like the \u201c2 Word Story\u201d concept that you\u2019ve talked about today.\u00a0 Again, all of that\u2019s explained on the website.\u00a0 So, go to FamilyLifeToday.com and click on the link that you see there for the EACH website.\u00a0 Again, it\u2019s FamilyLifeToday.com.\u00a0 When you click on the link\u2014that will get you the information you need.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI might mention\u2014we\u2019ve got a resource called <em>The God Conversation<\/em> written by our friend, Dr. Tim Muehlhoff, and Dr. J.P. Moreland.\u00a0 It helps you walk through how to have a conversation with someone about God, about Jesus\u2014how to be ready for that conversation, and how to know what to say.\u00a0 Look for information about that book when you go to our website, FamilyLifeToday.com.\u00a0 Again, it\u2019s FamilyLifeToday.com.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen, I mentioned at the beginning of today\u2019s program the <em>Art of Marriage<\/em>.\u00a0 If you\u2019d like more information about how you could host an <em>Art of Marriage<\/em> event in your church or in your community, there\u2019s information about that online at FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can call us toll-free.\u00a0 1-800-FL-TODAY is the number.\u00a0 That\u2019s 1-800- \u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then, the word, \u201cTODAY\u201d.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, one of the reasons why we wanted to have this conversation today is because one of the things we\u2019re hoping to see happen here at FamilyLife is for God to raise up a whole bunch of husbands and wives and moms and dads who are ready to have a conversation about God, about faith, about marriage, about family, with friends and neighbors\u2014to have those kinds of engaging encounters.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, that\u2019s what we\u2019ve been working on here at FamilyLife\u2014developing tools and resources, like the <em>Art of Marriage<\/em> and like other tools that we have, that make it easy for you to invite folks to come and consider the claims of Christ in an environment where we\u2019re talking about the difference that God makes in a marriage and in a family.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI just want to say, \u201cThanks,\u201d to those of you who help support the ministry of FamilyLife because, in addition to helping to fund the production and syndication costs for <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>\u2014keeping us online at FamilyLifeToday.com\u2014you are also helping us pioneer some of these new tools\u2014these new resources, that we are developing.\u00a0 We appreciate your support of this ministry.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you\u2019d like to help with a donation, you can do that online at FamilyLifeToday.com or do it when you call 1-800-FL-TODAY.\u00a0 We just want to say, \u201cThanks,\u201d in advance to those of you who support us regularly\u2014and those of you, who at the end of the year in 2011, you made a year-end contribution\u2014thanks for your support. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Again, anytime you want to make a donation to help support <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, go to FamilyLifeToday.com and click the button that says, \u201cI CARE\u201d, or call 1-800-FL-TODAY.\u00a0 Again, we appreciate your partnership with us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe want to encourage you to be back with us again tomorrow.\u00a0 Dave Wilson and Bob Shirock are going to be here again.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to talk about what God is doing up in Detroit.\u00a0 Hope you can be back with us, as well.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team.\u00a0 On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We will see you back next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today.\u00a0 Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you.\u00a0 However, there is a cost to produce them for our website.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright \u00a9 2011 FamilyLife.\u00a0 All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 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