First Annual Outreach Resource of the Year Awards (2003)
by Tamara Rice
When Warner Bros. Pictures released a movie called “JESUS” in 1979, did the film company realize it would become the most-watched movie of all time? Probably not. It broke no box office records and won no Oscars. But steady promotion by Campus Crusade for Christ’s “JESUS” Film Project and years of outreach around the world have changed its destiny. It is now arguably the most utilized evangelism tool of all time—besides the Word of God itself— with more than 5 billion viewers to date and versions translated into over 800 different languages.
So when the editors of OUTREACH sat down to discuss our first annual Year’s Best Outreach Resources section, we considered the spiritual “history” that lay in the path of these products and what their potential impact would be for the future. Will they fly under the Church radar, barely noticed after today? Or will you as church leaders take them to the next level, utilizing them to transform lives in your communities and beyond?
Submissions were made by publishers and suppliers from across a broad spectrum of medias (products must have released in 2003). The nominee list was assembled by the editors of OUTREACH and divided into 12 categories. Then you, our readers made the final selection. The editors of OUTREACH selected the Best Outreach Resource of the Year winner from among the winners of those 12 categories. It’s our hope that by giving these resources the attention they deserve they, like the “JESUS” film, will continue to be used in the years to come to aid and support the Church’s efforts to spread the Good News.
Congratulations to all of our winners and nominees for their excellent efforts to advance God’s kingdom through outreach.
And the winner is ...
2003 OUTREACH RESOURCE OF THE YEAR
Rebecca Manley Pippert’s “Saltshaker Resource’s Evangelism Tool Kit” (InterVarsity).
EQUIPPING CONGREGATIONS
A product designed and proven to equip, train or otherwise teach congregation members (individually or corporately) to be more effective in their outreach and evangelism efforts
WINNER:
"Saltshaker Resources Evangelism Tool Kit”: Talking About Jesus Without Sounding Religious; The Way of Jesus; How to Lead a Seeker Bible Discussion; and Looking at the Life of Jesus by Rebecca Manley Pippert (InterVarsity Press)
Nominees:
“How to Reach Unchurched Families in Your Community” VHS (Church Growth, Inc.)
Seeker Small Groups: Engaging Spiritual Seekers in Life-Changing Discussions by Garry Poole (Zondervan)
TRAINING STAFF/LEADERS
A product designed and proven to equip, train or otherwise teach Church leadership to be more effective in their outreach efforts
WINNER:
The Unchurched Next Door: Understanding Faith Stages as Keys to Sharing Your Faith by Thom S. Rainer (Zondervan)
Nominees:
Biblical Church Growth by Gary L. McIntosh (Baker Books)
Beyond the Box: Innovative Churches That Work by Bill Easum and Dave Travis (Group Publishing)
Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age by Ed Stetzer (Broadman & Holman Publishers)
Taking It to the Streets: Using the Arts to Transform Your Community by J. Nathan Corbitt and Vivian Nix-Early (Baker Books)
One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches by George Yancey (InterVarsity Press)
ELECTRONIC/MEDIA
A technology-related (digital, electronic or software) product effective in engaging unbelievers with the Gospel or facilitating steps toward Christ
WINNER:
MediaShout Version 2.5 MediaComplete
Nominees:
ACS Extend Platform
Prologue SundayPlus Version 2.3.4 Grass Roots
Igniter Videos Vol. 1 VHS/DVD (Vertical Sky)
NowTryGod.com BGEA, Campus Crusade
Oxygen multimedia graphics Oxygen Multimedia Ministries
CHILDREN’S
An effective tool for reaching children with the Gospel, either to the point of conversion or as part of a spiritual journey toward Christ.
WINNER:
Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions: Why Children Should Be Your Church’s #1 Priority by George Barna (Regal Books)
Nominees:
Discovery Club Pioneer Clubs
Jonah: The Movie VeggieTales VHS/DVD (Big Idea Productions)
Puppet Ministry Starter Set Puppet Partners Inc.
YOUTH
A product effective for reaching youth with the Gospel, either to the point of conversion or as part of a spiritual journey toward Christ
WINNER:
eXtremeyouth.com Youth Web sites eXtremeyouth.com
Nominees:
Red Moon Rising by Pete Greig and Dave Roberts (Relevant Books)
Hear My Story: Understanding the Cries of Troubled Youth by Dean Borgman (Hendrickson Publishers)
Revolve: The Complete New Testament (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
PERSONAL EVANGELISM
A resource proven effective in helping individual Christians as they have interacted with unbelievers, leading them to the point of accepting Christ as their Savior
WINNER:
Talking About Jesus Without Sounding Religious by Rebecca Manley Pippert (InterVarsity)
Nominees:
Stop Witnessing ... and Start Loving by Paul Borthwick (NavPress)
Seven Wonders: Life’s Most Basic Questions (Partners in Ministry)
Permission Evangelism: When to Talk, When to Walk by Michael L. Simpson (NexGen/Cook Communications)
Character Witness by Christine Wood (InterVarsity Press)
POSTMODERN
An effective product for reaching people within a postmodern context, helping them to engage with the Gospel, either to the point of conversion or as part of a spiritual journey toward Christ
WINNER:
The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations by Dan Kimball (Zondervan)
Nominees:
The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch (Hendrickson Publishers)
How Movies Helped Save My Soul: Finding Spiritual Fingerprints in Culturally Significant Films by Gareth Higgins (Relevant Books)
“Sunday” Nooma DVD #004 (Fringe)
TARGET MINISTRY
A unique product developed as a tool to help engage a particular target audience with the Gospel.
WINNER:
Reaching the World in Our Own Backyard: A Guide to Building Relationships With People of Other Faiths and Cultures by Rajendra K. Pillai (WaterBrook Press)
Nominees:
LifeMates: Date Nite Kit by Lisa Keyes, Thom Black, and Jan and Dave Congo (Cook Communications)
White Unto Harvest: Evangelizing Today’s Senior Adults by Charles Arn (Institute for American Church Growth)
A Match Made in Heaven: How Singles and the Church Can Live Happily Ever After (Kregel Publications) by Wendy Widder
Chance to Change Church Initiative
CHURCH ATTRACTION/MARKETING TOOL
A product highly effective in attracting unbelievers and/or unchurched members of a community to attend or visit a local church
WINNER:
Impact Sites Outreach, Inc.
Nominees:
Come Home TV outreach campaign (faithHighway)
SiteWrench (SPEAK! Communications)
CHURCH ASSIMILATION/CONNECTION TOOL
An effective resource for church follow-up, connection and assimilation of visitors, guests or unbelievers toward community whithin a local church
WINNER:
PowerVisitor ConnectionPower.com
Nominees:
Ask Me to Pray for You Church Growth Institute
RDS Advantage RDS
The Gallup Guide: Reality Check for 21st Century Churches by George Gallup, Jr. and D. Michael Lindsay (Group Publishing)
MISSIONS/GLOBAL
An effective resource for engaging individual believers to support, participate with or learn from the global community
WINNER:
Short-Term Missions Workbook: From Mission Tourists to Global Citizens by Tim Dearborn (InterVarsity)
Nominees:
More Than a Prophet: An Insider’s Response to Muslim Beliefs About Jesus and Christianity by Emir Fethi Caner and Ergun Mehmet Caner (Kregel Publications)
“Underground” Open Doors
Secrets of the Koran by Don Richardson (Regal Books)
TESTIMONY/BIOGRAPHY
A resource telling the story of real-life journeys toward the Christian faith—a story inspirational and influential in the spiritual walk of others
WINNER:
Mercy Streets by Taylor Field (Broadman & Holman Publishers)
Nominees:
One Holy Fire: Let the Spirit Ignite Your Soul by Nicky Cruz with Frank Martin (WaterBrook Press)
The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Christian Chinese Brother Yun by Paul Hattaway (Kregel Publications)
-Outreach magazine, "Features," July/August 2004
©2004 Outreach Publishing. All rights Reserved. Usage and reprint permissions.
