Last updated April 27, 2010

The apostle Paul wrote to not brag of one's gifts from God, but to not hide them either. So to "not hide", I have created this page. To "not brag", but in order to provide you with relevant information, I have recorded others' comments about my ministry for your consideration.

Reference Letters; Progress Reports

Oral Comments from Participants

Participants’ Evaluation Comments & Follow-up Emails

Newspaper Articles:

Pdf of article from The Anglican Diocese of Huron, February 2008
From The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, April 2007:
2 articles: text; .pdf page1; .pdf page 2
Pdf of article from The Anglican Diocese of Toronto, March 2007
Links to 2 articles from The Anglican Diocese of Toronto, 2006:
Radical Hospitality; Greeting Requires Training
Article from The Church of the Covenant, Arlington VA
Article from the Diocese of Connecticut

Reference Letters from Sponsors;
‘Progress’ Reports from Host Churches
and Participating Congregations

For your review, I have posted the exact texts of some of the letters of recommendation and thanks I have received from previous sponsors during my 12 years of full-time ministry. I also have included some ‘progress’ reports from congregations wishing to advise me of their successes subsequent to their having hosted an event, or their members having attended one. You may scroll through all of these letters; they will appear in the same sequence as these denomination links are listed below. Or, you may click on any denomination name link to proceed directly to the start of that denomination group. Within each denomination, the letters represent a geographic cross-section; the texts are displayed in date sequence, most recent first.

And while these sponsors have been so generous with their thanks and recommendations, I also am indebted to them. So many made it their prime mission to promote their events tirelessly and to provide all the logistical support so effectively that I could out all my energy into presenting the program for which they are thanking me. It is through all of their efforts that my ministry is even possible, much less "successful", and I thank them with all my heart.

The Episcopal Church USA
The Presbyterian Church USA
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The United Methodist Church

and, The Anglican Church of Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada

 

 

The Episcopal Church USA

Mr. R. Kyle Hamilton
Past Senior Warden
Christ Episcopal Church
Fairmont, WV 26554

kyle@wilsonfordlm.com

April 21, 2010

Dear Andy,

∙       Transformational! If anyone asked me to describe The Magnetic Church conference in just one word it would be ‘transformational’. Ironically, describing Magnetic Church in one word does not do it justice. ‘Energizing’, ‘spiritually invigorating’, and ‘magnificent’ are a few of the adjectives I heard from some of the attendees at our conference this past weekend.

During the last three years I served Christ Church as Senior Warden while transitioning from a long-term (five year) Interim to a new full-time priest. It was in my second year in that capacity that I was privileged to first attend your conference (in Charleston, WV). Unfortunately, I was the lone participant from my parish, but I made it my mission to sponsor this marvelous conference at our church so that others could share my enthusiasm. The initial response from our members has been nothing short of phenomenal. We are already busy making changes and looking at everything from a completely different perspective.

My prayer is that God continues to bless you and work through you in spreading “the Good News” and helping Christian communities get a handle on practical evangelism in the complex world in which we live today.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Reverend William Carl Thomas, Rector
Saint Matthews Episcopal Church
36 Norwood Road
Charleston, WV 25314

304-343-3837; williamcarlthomas@gmail.com; www.stmattswv.com

December 3, 2009

Dear Andy,

∙       The Magnetic Church teaching and philosophy has made a deep impact on Saint Matthews Episcopal Church. 18 months ago a small team attended your presentation and brought back an enthusiasm that convinced a larger team to come to your most recent November training in the Diocese of West Virginia. The Magnetic Church approach has given Saint Matthews 'permission' to use marketing techniques including a clean look at graphics and promotional materials. These marketing questions have promoted a review of current methods in many areas of parish life.

This has led Saint Matthews to embrace evangelism as presented in The Magnetic Church as a necessary component of our Christian mission. The organized and highly spiritual techniques of The Magnetic Church affirm, challenge, and build a contagious enthusiasm to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Magnetic Church is now an essential part of how we live into our mission statement as a Christ-centered community and how we equip and enable ourselves to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit in order that people are drawn to Christ. Many thanks for the blessing your work brings.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Very Rev. Michael Rowe, Rector
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1923
Bonita Springs, FL 34133

239-992-4343; rector stmarys@embarqmail.com; www.stmarysbonita.org.

Nov. 20, 2009

Dear Andy,

∙       You know that I have been involved in several of your events over the years as a participant and as a sponsor. They just get better and better. And what is it that makes your presentations so effective? You blend a number of key elements together that add up to excellence. You know what you want to do: help the Churches welcome people home to God and the Church. You are well organized: you are clear about what you are going to do and about what you want us as sponsors to do. This is a great gift, by the way. You share yourself and your faith in an open and winsome way. That assures us that your own faith and Christian walk are real and it shows us that we can share our faith in an open and attractive way.

That sets the stage for How? You offer practical recommendations but you also show us how to analyze our own churches, experiencing them as a first time visitor experiences them. This means we don't just wish we were a more welcoming church; we know how to become one. St. Mary's took twenty-seven people to your conference in Fort Myers in 2006 and then sponsored a conference here in Bonita Springs in 2009. In both cases we were inspired, motivated and equipped to invite and welcome God's people. We are very grateful. God bless you in your ministry.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago: Nov. 8, 2009

When the sponsoring coordinator received a copy of this testimonial, she suggested that I post it here, saying she felt that it was far more pertinent than whatever she might write. Therefore, from participant Patrick DeBrock, (pat@debrock.net), a member of St John’s Episcopal Church in Naperville, IL, dated Nov. 8, 2009:

∙       Dear Andrew: I was at your presentation this past weekend and I wanted to pass along a little story. I was not scheduled to usher on Sunday, but when I arrived at church a very new member was solo-ushering; I went to say hello and she said she was nervous about this being only her second time on the 'job'. I told her I would keep watch and if she was still alone I would come back and help. While praying in my pew, I kept thinking that I should just go back and help. I finally listened and went back to give her a hand. Just as the service was finishing, I noticed a young couple with a 18 month and 2 month old and I did not recognize them. I thought to myself this is why I was pushed to come back and usher; this was my chance to put into practice your lessons.

I introduced myself and tried to remember the script you taught us; the couple was at St. Johns for the first time and had been looking for a church. They seemed very pleased to talk to me and we hit it off. Just then my wife and children (13 yrs, 21 yrs, 18 yrs) came up and they introduced themselves. My daughter offered to babysit and my wife told the mother we had a great church nursery.

I did not want to overpower them so we tried to keep it short. I encouraged them to go say hello to our priest and they agreed. I took them over to her and she had a nice talk with them both. The father said he had a good feeling about this church and that they would be back again next week. I told them your "line" that when they come back they don’t have to worry about not knowing anybody because now they know us. Knowing that I was going to miss next Sunday, I introduced them to a 40-year member of St. John’s and asked him to welcome them next week if they were able to attend in my absence. I believe the Lord put this entire weekend in motion and made your message work in me right away. God pushed me to step up and fill that usher job, made me notice the new family and step up and start the process. Andrew, I wanted you to know if nothing else this weekend you made one very important connection and brought another family to a new relationship with Christ.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, Ninth Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
835 SW Polk Street
Topeka, KS 66612-1688

785-235-9255; dwolfe@episcopal-ks.org

July 3, 2009,

∙       The Magnetic Church program led by Andrew Weeks May 8 & 9, 2009 was absolutely excellent! The program offers clergy and lay leaders practical assistance in changing the attitudes regarding evangelism. Andrew’s presentation was fun and passionate, and everyone left with useful ‘to do’ lists when they returned to their parishes. We were delighted to have him in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas and we are still benefiting from his fine presentation. I would recommend this program to any parish or diocese seeking to be more faithful to the gospel imperative.”

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Reverend Dr. John T. Sorensen, Rector
Saint John's Episcopal Church
576 Concord Road
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania 19342

610-459-2994; rector@saintjohnsconcord.com; www.saintjohnsconcord.com

June 17, 2009

Dear Andrew,

∙       This letter is to enthusiastically recommend the Magnetic Church experience to fellow parish rectors. I attended my first Magnetic Church Friday/Saturday conference with a team of eight parishioners in October of 2008. There, our people learned strategies for newcomer welcome and retention, advertising and publicity. We were given tools for evaluating our church facilities for signs and markers that guide visitors and make the church user friendly. A colleague and I were so impressed with the quality of the Magnetic Church Friday/Saturday conference that we decided to bring this valuable experience to our region of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

We held our Magnetic Church conference in June, 2009 at Church of the Advent in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Three deaneries and six parishes contributed sponsorship money to keep conference fees low. Our recommendation to fellow rectors and vicars was to bring large teams of parish leaders to facilitate implementation of Andrew Weeks’ multi-faceted approach. In response, four parishes brought teams of 10 to 14; and seven more congregations sent teams of 4 to 8 participants. At my congregation, our vestry membership leader returned with tools to better organize new member process. Others were empowered to improve our publications and materials. Another team evaluated our facility and its signs. All ten returned motivated and determined to improve the welcome of our parish.

Evaluations by 75% of our 100 conference participants especially highlighted the "quality of presentation" and "Andy Weeks friendly, humorous, knowledgeable presentation style." Indeed, clergy know that most congregations believe they are "friendly" (often to each other), but making the deep-structure changes that motivate a church to truly be open and welcoming to others is difficult. Weeks’ disarming presentation style and his status as a lay person mean that his 1 ½ day presentation truly changes hearts and minds. I believe that the Magnetic Church conference is a critical tool for congregational growth.

∙       A Progress Report June 30, 2009, from: Pam Lounsbury, Parish Office Manager, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 3625 Chapel Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073; 610-356-0459: Six of us, including our Rector, from St. Alban's Episcopal Church attended the event at Church of the Advent in Kennett Square, PA. The experience was absolutely incredible for me, and I think the others were just as impacted. Andy, you are truly amazing, and I thank you for what you've done and continue to do.

We all got together one evening just a few days later and debriefed. We made lists of what we could do immediately, what we could do in the short term, and then in the longer term. We are also already talking to another church in our Deanery about doing the visits to critique each other's facilities. Two things I did immediately were to change the Sunday worship leaflet and the monthly newsletter. I've had lots of positive comments about the leaflet, and the July newsletter just went out. I would love to send you the before and after of both if you would give me an address where I could mail them. I'm very proud of them, and our Rector, Fr. Hentzi Elek, is so pleased. Regardless, I thank God for choosing you to work through. You're perfect for the job! May he continue to bless you, Andy.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Dr. Robert B. Cook Jr., Interim Rector
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
108 W. Farriss Avenue
High Point, NC 27262
cell 336-706-3760; 336-886-4756x22; rcookjr@triad.rr.com; bobc@stmarysepisc.org

June 10, 2009

Dear Andy,

∙       I want to thank you for bringing the Magnetic Church to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in High Point, NC. As the interim rector, especially following a wonderful long-term rector ship, this, I believe, is the single most important work we can be doing for the future. We have had many, many newcomers coming through our doors and not have any kind of retention rate to speak of. The work of the weekend has jump-started us with a taste of the reality only you can bring to the campus. My son and his family came from Los Angeles this past weekend and when they visited the church I found him walking around at a fairly brisk pace. When I asked him what he was doing he said, “I can’t find a mens’ room”. We can’t get to work fast enough on those signs, let alone the doors, greeters and print communications. Having the weekend with the summer coming gives us time to get things together over the summer.

And, I would strongly suggest to all Dioceses that the Magnetic Church be considered for the interim period of ministry. I know it will have been a blessing to our new rector who ever she or he may be. Again, thank you for your great work. We got exactly what we asked for (and more).

PS. As crass as this may sound, if we had maintained half of the newcomers who have come through our doors and they had pledged half of our average pledging unit, we would have expanded our vision of ministry tremendously and added $35,000 to $40,000 to our budget. This is big and a no-brainer.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

Bill Wrenn, Deputy to the Canon for Pastoral Care and Program Ministries
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
200 West Morgan Street, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27619
800-448-8775; 919-834-7474; 919-834-7546; bill.wrenn@episdionc.org

May 21, 2009

Dear Andy,

∙       By now, over six hundred Episcopalians have attended The Magnetic Church in this diocese. And that's only the Episcopalians! Since 2004, we have sponsored six events in this diocese alone while you have led thirteen statewide. Members of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, and many Presbyterians, Lutherans and United Methodists have been touched by your teachings. The spiritual path you have traveled and the discoveries revealed through you have been a tremendous blessing to all of us.

My saying that lives were "touched" ranks among the understatements of recent times for this diocese. The reviews from all the gatherings have been very favorable, and the wonder is that I don’t have to "sell" it. The folks who have attended continue to talk it up; this past weekend in High Point was no exception. Your passion and the great efforts you take through preparation and the continual care and upgrade of the material you present is extraordinary and a strong witness to your commitment to make the finest offering you can to our Lord every time you face an audience.

All these events have shown your ministry to be effective across geographic boundaries, liturgical styles and theological positions. A wonderful, positive energy is created. And, I have to tell you that for me the key comes right off the proverbial bat. The courage and vulnerability shown in the telling of your story on Friday night both sets the stage and makes me receptive for Saturday’s teaching. Please don’t ever alter that format. I am grateful to you and for you and thank God for your ministry.

In addition, Bill wrote to The Rt. Rev. Neff Powell, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of SW Virginia, inviting him to encourage his members to attend the Sept. 18/19, 2009 Magnetic Church event being sponsored by The Presbytery of the Peaks in Roanoke, VA. (Published here with Bill Wrenn's consent).

∙       Good afternoon, Bishop. We just had the 6th Episcopal-sponsored "Magnetic Church" in the last 10 years this past weekend. It was also the 14th ecumenical event in North Carolina. By that, I mean that we have had Episcopalians attend "The Magnetic Church" in Presbyterian, Lutheran and Methodist congregations as well as had their folks present at ours. Our attendance runs 55 - 125 depending on the geographic location. The sponsoring church is under the gun to provide "radical hospitality" under Andy's guidance and "guest" attendees are in for a treat.

Andy's personal witness, stories, PowerPoint slides, handouts and samples are first-rate and constantly being upgraded. I must tell you that I think that if this Friday night/Saturday event were $125.00 per registrant it would be worth every penny; at $35.00 it is a proverbial steal and one of the best "attraction/retention" evangelical teachings I have seen. I HIGHLY endorse Andy, his work and having a diocesan relationship. Over these past years, he has also become my friend but that came after the endorsement. Andy did not ask me to write this, but when I found out that he had a fall gig in Roanoke, I volunteered to contact you on his behalf. Both he and the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia have much to gain.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Dan Thomas Edwards
The Episcopal Diocese of Nevada
6135 Harrison Drive, Suite 1
Las Vegas, NV 89120-4076

702-737-9190; www.nvdiocese.org; dan.thomas333@gmail.com

February 19, 2009

Dear Fellow Bishops,

∙       Our diocese recently sponsored two Magnetic Church Workshops led by Episcopal lay evangelist Andrew Weeks. We had 78 people attend in Reno and 116 in Las Vegas. And so far, we have sold 75 copies of his book, Welcome. I assure you in a diocese of our size and with our geography, those numbers are remarkable to say the least. The workshops were inspiring, engaging, entertaining and informative. They included "to do lists" that will take us a good decade to accomplish.

In the wake of Magnetic Church, we have formed a new diocesan team to implement Andy's strategies for evangelism today. We had three guests from the Diocese of Idaho and I understand they have already persuaded their diocese to schedule a workshop for them. I heartily endorse Magnetic Church. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

And, from The Rev. Laurie Chappelle, coordinator for the Magnetic Church Event in Reno and promotion coordinator for the Las Vegas Event (Jan. 30/31)
The Episcopal Diocese of Nevada
6135 Harrison Drive, Suite 1
Las Vegas, NV 89120-4076

cell: 775-771-4361; w: 775-322-6477; peach@gbis.com.

Feb. 7, 2009

Dear Andy,

∙       As you know, on January 23/24, 2009, 76 folks gathered in Reno for The Magnetic Church Conference. I wanted to update you with the news that excitement after our event was so high that the four parishes in Reno/Sparks each spontaneously scheduled a get-together of their attendees within three days of the event. On the heels of their discussions, the four parishes opted to support a monthly, full color ad which will be in 50,000 homes in the area for a six-month period of time. This type of cooperation and promotion is new to us, so thanks for the inspiration. (And later, Laurie wrote: and thanks for your help on the phone with the headline and content of the ad).

 

The Episcopal Church USA

Lea Thullbery, Current Senior Warden
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
2575 Parkway Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

336-765-0294; www.sttimothy.ws

Sept. 29, 2008

∙       I have now attended one Magnetic Church conference and hosted a second at my church. I am pleased to report that both experiences exceeded my expectations. Andy has designed a program that is foremostly informative, but also filled with delightful personal stories and anecdotes. It is always refreshing to be entertained as well as informed.

The suggestions that our parish has implemented thus far have born fruit in so many ways. We have learned to take a good hard look at our approach to evangelism. We have learned practical applications that our individual parish can use to reach people who need a community of faith, which lets face it, is everyone. I highly recommend The Magnetic Church Conference to any church body large or small. We brought Andy into our community so that he could share his ministry with our parish and others in the surrounding area. Well organized, packed full of useful information, and entertaining - what more can you ask for? And, the resources Andy leaves you with are amazing and appropriate for any denomination. I am glad he came.

Progress Report from Lea Oct. 17, 2008: Andy, I just wanted you to know that St. Timothy's is buzzing! New signage, expanded greeters and duties; the narthex will be stripped shortly and a really cool welcome/info center (we are looking for a better name) has been busted right in through the adjacent former coat closet; and, we have a new sitting area downstairs thanks to your suggestions of what to do with the giant furniture that was formerly in the narthex. The nave is next - perhaps the reredos and maybe those sterile white columns that would be so cool marbleized. Thank-you for teaching us to see through other eyes.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Canon Don Muller, Chair of the Congregational Development Committee
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
808 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08618-5326

609-654-2963; cell 609-694-3453;frdon@stpetersmedford.org

June 26, 2008

∙       The Congregational Development Committee and The Right Onward Visioning Committee were co-sponsors for the “Magnetic Church” program for the Diocese of New Jersey May 2-3, 2008. We went into this a little concerned about it being a two day program, but believed it to be too important not to go forward with it.

The number of registrations and the number of congregations participating exceeded our expectations. Everyone in attendance took home enough tools for evangelism to keep them busy for months. At the same time the tools were, for the most part, easy to implement. I know that as the congregations integrate the material learned, God will bless their openness to the stranger, and send them visitors hungry for God.

And, I know that we will be sponsoring this conference again.

 

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves
The Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
P.O. Box 1903
Monterrey, CA 93942
831-394-4465; BishopMary@edecr.org

June 18, 2008

∙       The Magnetic Church was a treasure chest of new ideas and insights for how to more effectively be the church in the 21st century. The people of the Diocese of El Camino Real benefitted from being together to consciously and intentionally work on our evangelism skills. Given the question: "How does someone seeking God in Jesus experience our church?", all of the 199 people that attended were given a variety of gifts with which to explore such a question during our time with Andy. And, I know that our congregations walked away inspired and equipped to more carefully and intentionally share the gospel.

As well, the content of The Magnetic Church will be appealing to people from a variety of cultural backgrounds and liturgical styles. Having been a church leader in Southeast Florida as well as California, I can honestly say there is truly something for everyone. I admire Andy as an evangelist, and he inspires others to go and also share the good news of Jesus Christ.

and, from Ann Wright, Event Co-Ordinator, Chair of The Conference Education Resource Team and immediate past Chair of The Diocesan Standing Committee
The Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
P.O. Box 1903, Monterrey, CA 93942
408-605-2914; AnnWright6@comcast.net

May 22, 2008

Dear Andy,

∙       Our diocese was fully energized after a spirit-filled weekend with Andrew Weeks and the Magnetic Church Conference. This well-organized presentation left everyone wanting more and even the interactions between the churches present was amazing as they shared their stories with each other during the weekend. And church groups have begun forming to follow up on ideas gained from their participation; to date, I have heard of at least 6 churches who have already gathered together to begin their work. And because the incredible advance preparations suggested by Andy were so clear, working with him was easy and when the day arrived I knew that we were ready to go and that the weekend would be great. It was! The enthusiasm is still continuing and today we sent out a letter to all who participated to come together for another time of sharing and checking in with each other.

∙       On Aug. 7, 2008, Ann sent to me a set of updates/reports from some of the participating congregations. As it is too lengthy to include here, I have posted it as a Word .doc; click refcaepecr.doc to retrieve.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer
The Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia
P. O. Box 5400
Charleston, WV 25311
304-344-3597; mklusmeyer@wvdiocese.org

April 8, 2008

Dear Andy,

∙       Again, thanks for everything! It was a tremendous event, and I know that the Diocese of West Virginia has been energized because of your presence. I cannot thank you enough for being with us this past weekend to lead the Magnetic Church Conference. After the so very positive response to the first one we held, this was our second, and it was more successful than the first, with 98 participants!

Your passion for evangelism came through with humor, grace and honesty. You helped to encourage the people to step out of their comfort zone, and to begin to become an energetic, dynamic ‘magnetic’ community. You have a remarkable gift for gently moving people forward, and I truly appreciate that. I cannot thank you enough for what you did, and how you have positively energized our congregations. Your expertise in helping our folks prepare was invaluable, and your experience transcends geographic boundaries. I am truly grateful, and may God continue to bless you and the ministry you exercise in Christ’s Name.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. R. Scott White, Rector
The Church of the Good Shepherd
231 North Church Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252-442-1134; swhite@goodshepherdrmt.org

October 31, 2007

Dear Andy,

∙       I want to thank you for such a powerful and uplifting weekend here at Good Shepherd. Did you know that roughly 50% of our average Sunday attendance participated in the conference? As well, 50% of the participants were from the Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Episcopal denominations.

I have been in the ordained ministry for ten years and this is certainly been one of the most profound congregational gatherings I've experienced. We are a parish of some 500 persons in a city with static population growth and shifting economic trends, from agriculture to technology dependence. As our city continues to change in demographics and culture, the Magnetic Church Conference has profoundly awakened us to the presence of the non-churched around us and how we can better see our church through their eyes rather than our own; how we can better be present to them and reach out to them and invite them to visit with us.

Our Evangelism Committee has taken all of the discoveries of the weekend and set them out into an action plan for implementation. I have never seen such an excited and energized group of people in the church. Most importantly, the conference has been a catalyst at changing our parish culture from one where we are looking only to take care of ourselves to one where we are see our presence as a mission and ministry to those who are not yet here.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade
Office of the Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
525 NE 15 Street
Miami, FL 33132
800-268-9993; bishopfrade@aol.com

May 8, 2007

Dear Andy,

∙       I wanted to wait to write you after a couple of months since your (February) conference in the Diocese of Southeast Florida in order to see the results of your work with our laity and clergy at our Bishop's Spring Conference. I can tell you now that the two days you spent with us not only energized our people but also empowered them to make - in some cases radical - changes in order to attract new members to our congregations. It's working!

I am willing to recommend you to any other diocese or judicatory seeking not only a very dynamic and entertaining speaker but also someone who has a practical message on how to grow the church. Thank you again for your work in our Diocese. You are great!

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Terri Stanford
Chair of The Evangelism Commission
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
65 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611
diocese: 312-751-4210; her: 312-944-1083x12, tbstanford@saintc.org

April 11, 2007

Dear Andy,

∙       Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful and dynamic “Magnetic Church” conference here in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. The responses from participants were overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic with respect to your presentation and the conference material itself. Several churches have reported that they immediately went back to their home parish and held a “brainstorming” session the next day with other parishioners to start putting the ideas and information they received into action right away.

Two other parishes have indicated a strong desire to host another conference in the Diocese - always a good sign that the material and ideas were welcome and useful. Working with you to plan this first conference in Chicago was enjoyable. Your organization of preliminary preparations and follow-up made our job of getting all things ready so much easier! Blessings and peace.

∙       A Progress Report from: Richard Adams, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Wilmette, IL: frarico@sbcglobal.net: Thanks for a terrific time at the conference this weekend. We held our "resolution" meeting yesterday after church, have sorted our impressions, and soon will start prioritizing items to perform against our goal of greater sharing of the Love of God. Our Newcomers and Small Group Ministries leadership are hosting a dinner on the 23rd to report and present some possibilities. We are under way!

∙       2^nd Progress Report from: April 17, 2007: We have an annual plant sale at St. A’s that pulls in several hundred people from our surrounding communities and this year we decided to approach them. We had imprinted promo items: retracting measuring tapes, small inflatable footballs, jartop looseners, and, most importantly, our new publication leaflet (click here for .pdf) for the curious. We also had lemonade and cupcakes and candy. We gave out lots of the leaflets over the two weeks (four days of a manned table at the sale), and we have eight new prospects for follow-up. We’re very pleased; typically, it takes us three months (or more) to generate that volume of Sunday visiting newcomers.

And! Here’s an epiphany that our chair had that I think you should know of, since I don’t recall it being mentioned in your presentation, and it’s definitely worth a mention! She’s been “mining” old parish directories for the names of people who’ve stopped showing up! We’re starting to call these people, and at least three families have been with us over the last several weeks here in the Easter season. I think that biz of looking at old directories is really valuable. We’re steaming along out here!

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. David Boyd, Rector
St. David’s Episcopal Church
San Jacinto & East Seventh - 304 East 7th St.
Austin, TX 78701
512-472-1196; david.b@stdave.org

March 8, 2007

Dear Andy,

∙       Thank you for the outstanding weekend you offered here for our community and guests. Your presentations were challenging and energizing, and you left us with many great ideas that will move us into the future in exciting ways. Your preaching on Sunday was very well received and, perhaps the best comment of all came from my 14 year old son, who, after at the service at which you preached, walked up to me and said, “Has this guy written any books? I want to read them.”

We were delighted at the turn out from other Episcopal parishes and from churches of other denominations that joined us for “The Magnetic Church”. In 23 years of parish ministry, I have never seen people so excited about sharing the Good News of Christ and, in addition to the excitement generated among our own parish community, the comments from our guests have also been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you for your visit, Andy. And may God continue to bless you in your ministry, and through you, to bless the many people and churches you visit.

The Episcopal Church USA

A Progress Report from:
Chad Slater
St. John's Episcopal Church
PO Box 558
Ripley, WV 25271

February 9, 2007

Dear Andrew:

∙       I attended your presentation last year in Clarksburg, WV. Afterwards, I spoke to you privately about my own small church. You gave me several pointers about how to make people feel welcomed and comfortable when they walked into a church of six people. I took the handouts and the advice and returned to my church.

At the church we talked about being tired of feeling sorry for ourselves; we talked about closing the doors; and we talked about going out with a bang. We decided that we couldn't help the financial situation that plagued us. We decided that our small, rural, West Virginia community needed to hear and see the Gospel. "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s."

We went through your handouts and the church's checkbook and we did what we could afford (and a little more). We wrote grants for ads from the Church Ad Project. We started a Sunday School. We offered kids from the community a free ride each Sunday to Church; one member took a van, others went out in their personal cars. We painted, planted flowers, put up signs, made welcome brochures, visitors bulletins, and made sure a greeter was on duty every week. We threw ourselves into ministry, just as you had recommended.

From a congregation of six people a mere seven months ago, we now average 35-40 people. That includes the kids we pick up (about 10-16), the parents of those kids who now attend, and persons drawn in by the ads we placed in the local paper. We have seen old members who had left the congregation years ago, visit again and talk about returning. We no longer worry about how to pay the electric bill; we worry about how to send all the kids on the Diocesan Youth Ski Trip.

If you want more tangible proof that the program you put together works, St. John's, Ripley, is that proof. Because of your help this withered vine now produces fruit. More than one person has stated that if it were not for St. John's and the non-fundamentalistic atmosphere it provides, they would not be in church. Those people now have a closer relationship to God because of your service to the Kingdom. May God continue to Bless you and keep you. Thank you for your ministry.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Edward R. Rich, III Rector
St. Catherine of Alexandria Episcopal Church
502 Druid Hills Road
Temple Terrace, FL 33617
813-988-6483; cell 813-598-3138; RICHERR@aol.com

Nov. 16, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       What an outstanding weekend experience! Your Magnetic Church Weekend was powerful, inspiring and practical. We are a congregation in transition, growing in numbers and diversity. As a result of your dynamic leadership, dozens of people have offered fantastic ideas. Perhaps more importantly, nearly every one of our participants has expressed a desire to carry on the good work you helped us to begin. When you left us Sunday it was not the end a conference but rather the beginning of a new era for St. Catherine’s!

The Episcopal Church USA

The Reverend George Adamik, Rector
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
221 Union Street, Cary, NC 27511
919-467-1477; rector@stpaulscary.org

Nov. 2, 2006.

∙       After 27 years of ordained ministry I found “The Magnetic Church” to be a wonderful opportunity to renew, recharge, and revise ways of welcoming and incorporating members into parish life. Andy Weeks presentation is thought-provoking and filled with sound theology as well as practical ways of living into that theology. I encourage all clergy to attend this most nourishing and challenging opportunity.

The Magnetic Church event is well worth the commitment of time and energy. Our parish has been energized through the 60 parishioners who participated, and now has the potential of a new language, and a renewal of our congregation’s culture regarding evangelism. We are a parish of almost 1400 members, located in a booming part of North Carolina, and find ourselves welcoming newcomers every week. It isn’t always easy to step back and find ways of improving the hospitality we offer to those walking into our midst, those who may be looking to explore possibilities of participation. How beneficial it is to have someone like Andy Weeks walk with us for a couple of days and offer not only his ideas, but also practical suggestions to all the participants as to how they can change their parish culture.

Andy makes evangelism, a word that many of us have allowed the Christian Right to hijack, become an important and vital component of parish life. Not only does evangelism become an acceptable word but an engaging component of parish life.

Note: And in the following issue of the parish newsletter, all participants were invited to attend a meeting to discuss the 8 pages of ideas which had flowed from the event.

Progress Report/Andy note: In the December, 2007 newsletter, the Rector wrote that St. Paul’s had attracted 265 new members between January and October of 2007. I note that data here not because I can take any credit for that growth subsequent to the Conference, but deliberately to encourage you readers to consider just what is possible when the Holy Spirit collides with a group of determined church members! And although St. Paul’s is blessed to be in a growing community, population growth absolutely does not translate into church growth unless the church is intentional about attracting and welcoming newcomers.

For some great pictures and commentary, see also: http://www.stpaulscary.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=240&Itemid=306

The Episcopal Church USA

A Progress Report from:
The Rev. Bob Williams, Rector
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
639 Edgewater Drive
Dunedin, FL 34698
727-733-4125; www.churchgoodshepherd.org

May 25, 2006.

Dear Andy,

∙       I’m going to send you more of our material from time to time to show you how things have changed and continue to change here at Good Shepherd. I can say for me, at least, and I believe for many others in the parish, that not a day goes by without my looking at our church and all we do here without in some way thinking ‘magnetic church’. It permeates and influences every piece of data, mail and information in whatever form that we produce and send out from here. We've not done nearly what we need to do as a result of our Magnetic Church Conference here last November, and we're all well aware of it; but at least it's in front of us and we know what we have to do. It's talked about, and even on the agenda, of every single Vestry meeting. We're just getting around to re-configuring our parking lot behind the church like you suggested, but that's OK, everything's going to come about in its own good time. At least we've got people looking and thinking.

We're sending out our parish announcements (which are repeated in the Sunday bulletin) every Thursday afternoon to all 148 recipients listed on our parish email list. I especially wanted you to see one for of the outstanding use of graphics that our Administrative Assistant, Jan Cote, produces. You'll see that we've adopted the shepherd's staff/cross as our ‘brand’, and it's used exclusively on all parish materials. I'll send you a copy of our Sunday bulletin and perhaps a recent newsletter to give you other examples, but I think you'll see a new freshness and crispness to things that was not present before you came to us.

I could go on and on, Andy, but The Magnetic Church has had a profound effect on me in the way that I look at everything here. It feels like I'm looking at things through "Andy's eyes", so to speak. Example, a couple of weeks ago, the dates for Memorial Day weekend and the Memorial day services were listed in the bulletin, and I asked the staff, "what's this? What's happening on those dates?", knowing perfectly well what they were about; but I said, "I'm looking at this through Magnetic Church eyes, and as a visitor, newcomer, or maybe even a regular parishioner, I have no idea what you're promoting." God's every blessing, good friend, and thank you for the profound effect you're having for the Glory of God on the Church.

And from:

Eugene Q. Belote, Chairman, Evangelism/Outreach
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
639 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin, Florida, 34698
www.churchgoodshepherd.org; 727-733-4125
727-736-842; ivangoofinov@verizon.net

Nov. 17, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       My church (host of the Nov. 11/12, 2005 event) was really excited and impressed by you and “The Magnetic Church” Conference this past weekend. I heard nothing but positive comments and the same is true of the written evaluations. This was the second time that five of us had attended your conference and we enjoyed it even more this time as it was more about us! It was especially inspiring for our Incorporation Commission and their Welcoming Group. Buildings and Grounds already have a list of projects to present at Vestry tonight. We found out that even though we consider ourselves a very welcoming church, we still need improvement. We found how difficult it is for a non-churched person to walk in to our property. Even Episcopalians have a difficult time finding their way around.

You gave us new tools for Evangelism and Marketing our Church. We are working on a new common logo for all our brochures, bulletins, newsletters and letterheads. We are also updating our web site to market this “Thin Place” where the Holy Spirit is at work. Best of all, I know that I have a new friend in Andy who will be there to give me honest appraisals of our Evangelism ideas.

39

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus
Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac
1051 N. Lynndale Drive, Suite 1B
Appleton, WI 54914-3094
920-830-8866; rjacobus@diofdl.org; www.episcopalfonddulac.org

May 9, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       Thank you so much for your enthusiastic and empowering “Magnetic Church” conference presentation. It was well received by participants from congregations of various sizes. Members from the small congregations said that most of what they hear and read regarding evangelism does not apply to their situation. The practical applications you gave them to evangelize their communities were appropriate, most helpful, and, as one person said, “actually do-able”.

Your storytelling manner of presentation was very appropriate in our small diocese where most of us know one another and feel like we are family. You really fit in as one of us, showing us how we might easily and without embarrassment proclaim our faith and welcome others into our communities of faith in Jesus Christ. May the Lord continue to bless you in your ministry.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Reverend Fred H. Tinsley, Jr., Rector
St. James Episcopal Church and School
1620 Murray Street
Alexandria, LA 71301-6843
318-445-9845; parishrector@bellsouth.net

May 4, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       Many, many thanks for your presentation of the Magnetic Church to the people of St. James as well as to our diocesan and non-diocesan participants. Many of my colleagues in ministry, and the laity alike, commented afterwards, either by phone or short note, how much they enjoyed and appreciated the conference. To a person, they cited your excellent preparation, your own vulnerability in sharing your story, and the humorous and creative way you spoke of evangelism and related matters.

The Magnetic Church program bears witness to your commitment to empower the local congregation to proclaim Jesus Christ in a forthright, open, and dynamic way. To that extent your careful preparation, your helpful materials, and your effusive enthusiasm for what you do, all offer robust encouragement for participants of the program to get on with building up the Church for the cause of Christ in ways quite reasonable and practical.

On behalf of the Vestry and the members of the Evangelism Team I can only say, Well done, Andy, very well done. Please know that we at St. James heartily endorse and recommend the Magnetic Church program and would be happy for you to share our delight in your efforts with others. And may God continue to bless this unique ministry of yours.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Paul Bresnahan, Chair of The Evangelism Committee of
The Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia
c/o St. Mark's Episcopal Church
405 B Street
St. Albans, WV 25177
304-722-4284; paulbresnahan@yahoo.com

May 1, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       Another big thank you seems in order for a wonderful conference in Evangelism. Your storytelling skills and practical suggestions, not to mention your theologically sound analysis of the dynamics of Proclamation, were engagingly presented and enthusiastically received by the people of this diocese. You have kindled new hope in scores of congregations and tiny regional clusters. What you present is equally applicable to full size program and even corporate size congregations as well as those of much more modest measure.

In addition, your attention to detail in helping our Diocesan Evangelism Team prepare for the event made it seem easy to prepare for one of the most successful diocesan events presented in West Virginia for many years. Thank you for your ministry in the Church.

 

∙       A Progress Report from: John A. Proctor, Senior Warden, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Huntington, West Virginia; c/o Underwood Law Offices, 910 4th Ave.; Suite 1111, Huntington, WV 25701; 304-634-9455. May 8, 2006:

Dear Andy: Thank you again for your wonderful program (April 28/29, Clarksburg, WV). As Senior Warden for St. John’s Vestry, I am ashamed to admit that I was not pleased that our rector had unilaterally decided to make “The Magnetic Church” our vestry retreat this year. However, now that we have come and attended, I feel that St. John’s was blessed to have had such wonderful representation because we now have 15 or so “new evangelists” in our congregation. I would strongly recommend that all church vestries attend your program so the vestry members could present a unified front to the laity as the impetus for needed change.

Your ministry is truly inspirational and has invigorated all of us to become proactive in making changes to our church that will make it an even more welcoming environment to all comers. In fact, on Sunday morning, I went to the church early to look around at some of the immediate changes that could be made and there were three other vestry members there already doing the same thing. Thank you again and please stay in touch as we have discussed the possibility of having you “stop by” on one of your many journeys if that would be at all possible. May God bless you and keep you safe in all your travels.

The Episcopal Church USA

Jim Strader, On-site Coordinator for the Feb. 3 & 4, 2006 event in Tucson, for
The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona
114 W. Roosevelt
Phoenix, AZ 85003
To contact Jim: cell: 520 975-6448; jstrader2@yahoo.com

(Jim wrote to The Rt. Rev. Kirk Stevan Smith, and copied me; reproduced with Jim's permission)

Feb. 5, 2006

Good Afternoon Bishop Smith,

∙       I thought that you might like to receive a review of Andrew Week's Magnetic Church Weekend Conference Event in Tucson given that I was there serving as a "sponsor" for the diocese. In short, I think that Mr. Weeks provided the 71 participants who attended the conference (on either or both days) an abundant and inspirational conference. Clergy and lay leaders alike now possess practical sets of useful, Spirit-filled, and enjoyable evangelical tools to create “magnetic churches.” I have no doubt that everyone came away with at least one message, resource and/or experience they can quickly share with current and prospective Christians in their parishes. I spoke with folks from Grace St. Paul's, St Matthew's, St. Michael's, and Church of the Apostles as well as with folks from throughout Southern Arizona. It's my sense that the people I chatted with believe they received a wealth of information while enjoying the time they spent with Andy Weeks during the past two days.

I need to tell you how immensely impressed I was with Father Bob, Kathleen Nyhuls and the folks from Church of the Apostles who volunteered just a few short days ago to support the event. (Note: the event had to be moved on very short notice). We experienced some minor technical difficulties with audio visual resources but Mr. Weeks, Kathleen, and Bryce Downing were superstars in working through the last minute difficulties to produce an excellent conference. And, I think that Andrew, Kathleen and I worked with one another rather well given that we didn't collectively know one another at all until 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning. I really relished the "Just Do It" philosophy that we were able to create in such a short time. Anyway - my biggest kudos to Mr. Weeks, and everyone at Church of the Apostles who displayed such wonderful hospitality and Grace to one another as well as to the conference participants.

Lastly, I would like to thank Chuck, Mark (diocesan staff), and you for allowing me the opportunity to sponsor Mr. Weeks while he was here in Tucson and for trusting me to represent the Diocese of Arizona. I now have lots of fresh ideas and pragmatic means for welcoming new people into the Episcopal Church as I step into my emerging sacramental and parochial ministries. If nothing else, I know how to quickly split 64 or 68 people into groups of four or eight without giving it hardly any thought. All joking aside, I am truly blessed and honored for what I was able to experience this past Friday and Saturday.  Thank you.

The Episcopal Church USA

Tom Prather, Senior Warden
Iona-Hope Episcopal Church
9650 Gladiolus Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
cell 239-691-9894; Tommyp37@aol.com

Jan. 29, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       Some random thoughts about my experiences with The Magnetic Church:
- My attendance (at the April 2005 conference in St. Petersburg and then our hosting this January, 2006 event) enabled me to see our church, our home and our business differently; not as I see it, but as others see it.
- How important media image and graphic consistency is to overall marketing concepts.
- I have a better understanding of what welcoming ministry means and needs to be.
- The Magnetic Church changed my life.

The Episcopal Church USA

Bill Wrenn, Missioner for Congregational Development
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
P.O. Box 17025
Raleigh, NC 27619
800-448-8775; 919-787-6313; 19197870156; bill.wrenn@episdionc.com

Nov. 1, 2005 ( please see May 21, 2009 for an updated version of this letter)

Dear Andy,

∙       By now, over 500 people have attended our Magnetic Church conferences in this Diocese: in 2004 at Greensboro (Feb.) and Wake Forest (Oct.); and, in 2005 at Concord (March), Charlotte (Oct.) and Greensboro (Oct). this past weekend. These members of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, and many Presbyterians, Lutherans and United Methodists have been touched by your teachings. The spiritual path you have traveled and the discoveries revealed to you and through you have been a tremendous blessing to us all.

And my saying that lives were "touched" ranks among the understatements of recent times for this diocese. The reviews from all the gatherings have been very favorable, and the wonder is that I don’t have to "sell" it. The folks who have attended continue to talk it up, and I have no doubt that it will be SRO for the event already scheduled by The Presbytery of New Hope (Raleigh, March/06) and for the Lutheran Synod and the Diocese of Western NC when they engage you.

All these events have shown your ministry to be effective across geographic boundaries, liturgical styles and theological positions. A wonderful, positive energy is created. And, I have to tell you that for me the key comes right off the proverbial bat. The courage and vulnerability shown in the telling of your story on Friday night both sets the stage and makes me receptive for Saturday’s teaching. Please don’t ever alter that format. I am grateful to you and for you and thank God for your ministry.

And a Progress Report from:
Rae Augustin, Magnetic Church Conference Host
Director of Religious Education St. Francis Episcopal Church
3506 Lawndale Drive
Greensboro, NC 27310
336-288-4721; rae@stfrancisepis.org

Nov. 25, 2005

∙       The Magnetic Church Conference has been a catalyst of positive change for our parish. We had 31 parishioners attend and Andy has encouraged us to look at our facilities and processes with new eyes. Changes were in place by the Monday morning after he left because Andy empowers you with the “hows” as well as the “whys”.

By Monday morning, a huge "We're glad you're here" banner was hung in a previously empty space in our parish hall. On Thursday, a parishioner bought lunch for any participant who could attend a brainstorming meeting. 12 of us were able to be there and we came up with a three page ‘to-do’ list. We are dividing the items among the appropriate commissions and are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. We call ourselves The Magnetic Church Reunion Group and plan on meeting regularly to check on our progress.

The Episcopal Church USA

Carolyn M. Chilton
Program Director
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
110 West Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220
1-800-DIOCESE; Mobile: 540-333-1178;cchilton@thediocese.net

Oct. 18, 2005

∙       It has been my great pleasure to work with Andy Weeks in hosting five Magnetic Church conferences (3 in this diocese; 2 earlier in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina). The Magnetic Church conferences are both inspirational and practical. Andy’s humor, humility and call help people relax, overcome their fears and misunderstandings of evangelism, and renew their passion for Jesus’ call to all of us in the Great Commission.

And if that weren’t a full enough plate, you also get a wealth of resources and practical tools to make your church more visible and welcoming. The Church of the 21st century has to renew its energy and practice its ministry with excellence. Andy Weeks can start you on that journey.

The Episcopal Church USA

A letter to her former parish from Laura Trott, Communications Coordinator
Calvary Episcopal Church
102 North Second Street
Memphis, TN 38103
901-525-6602x105; fax: 19015255156. ltrott@calvarymemphis.org

March 12, 2009

To Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Vestry
C/O Mr. John H. Stanley, Jr.
18 Reservoir Heights Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72227

∙       (Note: I have removed some of the personal content, but not edited what remains in any way)
I understand that you have invited Andy Weeks to present the Magnetic Church at the Cathedral. How wonderful for you and your community! When my colleagues and I first attended the Magnetic Church, we had no idea what it would have in store for our church let alone our personal spiritual journeys.

Some of you may know that I grew up at the Cathedral and attended the Cathedral School. I have wonderful memories and what those memories bring to mind is community, community that welcomed me and my family with open arms. I was so happy and part of the “group” that I didn’t think about what it might be like for someone new. It’s just not something that crossed my mind. That’s what’s great about Andy Weeks. He can imagine what it’s like for someone to walk through your doors for the first time. He can share with you what someone might experience. And he can help you figure out how you can welcome them into your community.

When I attended the Magnetic Church for the first time in 2006, it was a total, “Aha” moment. I can’t tell you how many times my colleague Ebet Peeples and I looked at each other during Andy Week’s presentation and gave each other the eye that said, “Oh my God” (and I mean that with the utmost respect and as a prayer of thanks!)

It wasn’t that Calvary wasn’t a great community. Calvary is a great community! BUT, we were really behind on what it was like to make additions to it. After listening to Andy’s presentation, which was at another church, we realized that this was much more than the two of us could handle alone. This was going to take a full-church effort. If we wanted to do what Jesus did, to spread God’s love and welcome, we were going to have to do more than we were currently doing, which wasn’t a whole lot more than the routine church thing. I’m sure you’re familiar with it: Sunday worship, choirs, Sunday school classes, outreach initiatives, parish events, etc. We were going to have to add evangelism. We were going to need to welcome people. We were going to need to become MAGNETIC.

We’ve come a long way since that first event with Andy Weeks. Within six months, our then new Rector had invited Andy Weeks to Calvary for our own Magnetic Church. We worked hard to make sure a lot of parishioners attended the event and we also tried our hand at spreading the word and inviting other folks to come hear his message as well. It was a great jumping off point for our new ministry together.

Our extension of welcome to the Memphis community has increased dramatically and the people of Calvary have recognized how important it is to be aware of newcomers within their midst. It’s not just in recognizing their presence, but it is in recognizing the importance of the choice they made to step through the doors of the church and honoring that choice. Then, it is in helping them figure out “what’s next” instead of leaving them unwelcomed, unengaged, and left alone.

The Magnetic Church is fun! It is engaging! It will provide you with “Aha” moments and “Oh my God” moments. Andy’s stories are surprising, uplifting, and spirit-filled. I urge you to do what you can to help make this event a success for the Cathedral. Sign up as soon as possible and get 10 other parishioners to sign up with you. He’s going to present you all with some challenges, but if we’re being honest with one another, when was Christianity not a challenge?

 

A Progress Report from Laura Trott, Communications Coordinator
Calvary Episcopal Church
102 North Second Street
Memphis, TN 38103
901-525-6602x105; fax: 19015255156. ltrott@calvarymemphis.org

July 6, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       Calvary Episcopal Church is brimming with energy as we are beginning to meet many of the evangelism goals we set for ourselves after your Magnetic Church presentation in November, 2004. People are comfortably saying the word evangelism and relating it to their unique blend of southern hospitality. I thought you might be interested in a few of the programs the Magnetic Church helped us to initiate:
+ An Evangelism Ministry Group has been created to encourage parishioner participation and organize Calvary’s multiple evangelism strategies.
+ The Vestry has made evangelism one of their top priorities and has asked each ministry group to consider evangelism when planning programs.
+ 64 people have signed up to serve on rotating Greeter Teams and have been trained using the Magnetic Church teaching guide.
+ Two teams have been developed to coordinate the ordering of new signs for our exterior and interior. Our goal is to have the signs and budget approved by August 2005.
+ Our Interior Sign Team is redesigning our Information Center and creating a welcome kiosk so that we may better welcome visitors. We are prototyping now.
+ A welcome brochure has been designed using your book Welcome! and notes taken at the Magnetic Church presentation.
+ We now have a staff member dedicated to newcomer ministry. The Magnetic Church helped us shine a light on visitors so that we can better welcome them as well as help them get to know Calvary.
+ Our visitor card (created after we attended the Magnetic Church at Grace-St. Luke’s in February 2004) helps us realize the needs of our visitors and meet those needs.
+ As you know we are an urban parish; therefore, we have studied the demographics of downtown Memphis. Knowing our downtown community better will improve our communication to the residents.
+ Research has begun on the update of our calvarymemphis.org website. We hope to make it more user friendly as well as simplify the maintenance.

Thank you for your continued support since the Magnetic Church. I have greatly appreciated your continuing advice on our newsletter as well as your willingness to edit our welcome brochure before printing. As you can see from the number of bullets above, the Magnetic Church was a true Godsend for our parish. The people of Calvary Episcopal Church give thanks for you and your continued ministry.

And from: The Rev. Andrew MacBeth, D. Min
Rector, Calvary Episcopal Church; amacbeth@calvaryjc.org

Dec. 30, 2004

Dear Andy:

∙       We at Calvary would be happy to recommend you and the Magnetic Church conference to any group that is thinking about sponsoring or attending it. Just have them give us a call.

I have attended the Magnetic Church three times over about 10 years, as a sponsor, a diocesan evangelism leader, and an ordinary participant. My experience is that it provides a great way to give church leaders new energy for the ministry of practical evangelism. Here at Calvary, a significant group of people have become much more aware of ways we can help visitors to feel welcome. You and our fellow conference participants helped us see Calvary with fresh eyes. We learned a lot! Thanks for the ministry you exercise in God’s church.

∙       From The Rev. Bonnie Malone, Associate Rector, in an article published in The Chronicle newsletter, Nov. 21, 2004: Evangelism: Not a Bad Word Anymore

Is evangelism really a bad word for Episcopalians? Since the Magnetic Church Conference, lots of Calvary folks don’t think so. Andy Weeks gave a face-lift to the word and to the practice. Evangelism, sharing “good news,” is natural for folks who love their church. Offering nourishment to a “spiritually hungry” world benefits us as well.

“Andy made evangelism approachable for reserved people like Southern Episcopalians,” says Elizabeth Madden. “The conference was powerful, uplifting, engaging, mind-boggling, energizing, exciting, thought-provoking. Now I can be an evangelist - of a sort.” “He defused the negatives about evangelism. His teaching was filled with personal references… and good humor,” says (parishioner) Bill Henry. When asked if he was ready to be an evangelist, Bill said, “Well…I’m ready to be a greeter. Evangelism is basically God-talk one-on-one. I can do that.”

“The Magnetic Church changed the way I feel about evangelism. I don’t have to go door to door…I can simply spread evangelism in my everyday life by enhancing things I already do - planting seeds as Andy called it,” says (parishioner) Mary Baddour. Talking to a co-worker about how you love your church, welcoming a newcomer, inviting a friend to come to a Calvary event, telling someone you will pray for them are all seeds of evangelism, Andy suggested.

The Episcopal Church USA

A Progress Report from: Julie Denman, Administrative Assistant to The Rector
The Rev. John Moloney
Grace - St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
1720 Peabody Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
901-272-7425x15; julie@gslparish.org

June 27, 2006

∙       In February 2004, we hosted the Magnetic Church here in partnership with The Diocese of West Tennessee's Evangelism Task Force (their financial contribution was quite helpful). I have only positive comments to make about the March 2004 event. Andy knows his stuff. We learned LOTS of what to do and what not to do. 120 participants representing multiple parishes attended, so it was a good diocesan event. In addition we engaged Andy to preach and teach an adult class on Sunday morning.

We consider Andy to be more than an Evangelist - he is a friend. I do not hesitate to call him with questions or to seek his opinion; we have built a lasting relationship. We have worked on how we present ourselves to the community and how we welcome visitors. As a result of Andy’s program, we reviewed and revamped our printed materials: church newsletter, visitor card, minor changes to our service leaflet. We created a color brochure - an overview of parish programs - to send to visitors. We have increased our presence in the community by advertising (small start), sending photos and press releases to the community sections of our newspaper, utilizing neighborhood publications, and building relationships with the religion editor so that they now call us looking for stories. We put signs in the lawn for upcoming events to attract the neighbors.

We had to admit our facilities were in terrible shape - just looked unloved. This is not a new church and we had deferred maintenance for years. The workshop and a large donation from a member enabled us to get some badly needed repairs made. Parishioners who love to garden have spruced up the exterior. We were the poster child of poor exterior signage; all those are now replaced around our campus, and we now reserved parking for visitors. We immediately made homemade interior directional signs; a year later, we replaced many of those with professional signs. We hosted our Diocesan Convention in March 2005 and that was a wonderful reason/excuse/impetus for additional interior painting and repairs and some outside painting and work as well.

We have gathered and trained greeters who serve each Sunday; they are outgoing folks who love their mission and take it very seriously. We regularly remind our members to speak to everyone they see and to introduce themselves. We wear name tags every Sunday and we upgraded our coffee hour. We try to learn something about our guests; we follow up with visitors and we try to determine their needs and to meet those needs.

So, do we have hundreds of new members as a result? No. But I am certain that we have made a huge improvement in the way we present ourselves via the look of our facilities and our marketing/advertising. There's plenty of room for improvement but we've accomplished a lot. I know we have significantly improved our interaction with visitors. We make every effort to talk with them and learn a bit about them. We write, phone and email. We follow up with special mailings and invitations to social events. I believe we have improved our retention rate. Sure we have visitors who come only once, but not every church fills every need. We pray for our visitors. Our next area for improvement is keeping track of visitors for the longer haul and we're working on some strategies.

There's always more to do and Andy’s conference gave us the enthusiasm to do it. Also, the large number of our members who participated have given us a big "voice" in the congregation. We have asked for money and gotten it. Here, almost 18 months later, the Vestry has asked for a report on what remains to be implemented from the event. I've got lots of ideas to share with them and requests to make as well as an update on our progress. Would we do it (The Magnetic Church) again? Definitely!

And: A Progress Report from: The Reverend John H. Moloney, Rector
Grace-Saint Luke's Episcopal Church
1720 Peabody Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
901-272-7425; fax 901-272-9833; athermoloney@gslparish.org

March 1, 2004

Dear Andy,

∙       It has been three weeks since this large Episcopal parish in Midtown Memphis hosted The Magnetic Church. I have met with four groups since that time and taken at least that many facility walk-through’s. A sign with the name of our church and the service times is being installed today. "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" signs are on order. Banners are being designed to hang from long abandoned architectural poles at the curbside. A sign is on order to mark our future development at the Baptist Church we bought across the street. Interior signage is being designed by Buildings and Grounds. Greeters are welcoming people at the front steps of the church.

"How can all of this be happening?," you ask. The answer is: because the out-of-town prophet told the people what the home town boy has been saying for three years, and they heard it. Andy, it was a great weekend. You had us eating out of the palms of your hands. We had a couple dozen of our folks attend the workshop (note: in addition to 100+ from other churches). After you left, we quickly planned a follow-up meeting the next weekend. I consistently heard the following from everyone: "I never thought that I would be attending a conference on evangelism in the Episcopal Church, nor that I would say that I had fun at a conference on evangelism...but I did, and I did." It was a great weekend! Thanks, Andy.

And, from the most recent edition of The Messenger, the newsletter of Grace-St. Luke’s (names abbrev. for privacy)

We’re Becoming A Magnetic Church!

Over 40 members of Grace-St. Luke’s participated in The Magnetic Church Conference hosted at GSL in February and attended by many other West Tennesseans. The good news is that we’re following up on the new ideas and working to make GSL a magnetic church – a church that attracts and keeps visitors, a church focused on evangelism. Sandy B. stepped forward to head up the Sunday Morning Greeters. These Greeters are trained to engage visitors in conversation, learn something about visitors, provide orientation to GSL as needed and encourage repeat visits. If you’ve entered the church through the Peabody doors recently you’ve seen our dedicated corps of greeters at work.

The Building and Grounds Committee is addressing a list of property improvements; watch for clean up and paint up. Additional exterior and interior signage to guarantee visitors can find their way around our buildings has been ordered thanks to the generosity of a parishioner. The lot closest to the church entrance is being set aside for parking for visitors, seniors and the disabled. Noel S. and Claudia P. are working with Katherine S. to make our grounds even more inviting by adding new planters.

Paul L. and Jonathan C. are heading the efforts to improve our printed communications for newcomers. Attention will be given to all areas of our internal communications to make sure they are attractive and informative. Other communication efforts will focus on adding more feature articles to The Messenger, utilizing all available local media (such as the new section in the Commercial Appeal, The Flyer and midtown neighborhood publications) to present our parish to the community. Our Palm Sunday appearance on WMC TV news was due to the efforts of parishioner Lynn H., and we hope to increase our visibility.

Retaining visitors, responding to their needs, nourishing their well-being and fully involving them in the life of the parish is the goal of Shepherds. Leadership and volunteers are needed in this area. Our ministry of hospitality is growing, and everyone is invited to join in the ministry of hospitality. Check off your interest and send it to me and you’ll be put to ministry!

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. David Keill, Chair
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
Commission on Congregational Development
1704 West Laburnum Avenue
Richmond, VA 23227
804-264-9474; episcopal@cachurch.net

April 18, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       On behalf of our diocese, I would like to thank you for the two conferences you led over the past couple of weekends in Virginia. “The Magnetic Church” is a valuable tool for today’s churches. During the conference you managed to keep us laughing, often at ourselves, while at the same time challenging us to view our churches from the point of view of a newcomer. Your presentation was inspiring and informative as well as a lot of fun. And, you provided practical steps to guide each church in making itself more welcoming to those who walk through our doors on Sunday morning.

As I departed I felt challenged and inspired, but even more importantly, I was aware of many specific actions my church could take to make our community more welcoming to newcomers. It is your emphasis on the practical that makes your conference so helpful to churches who are serious about reaching those who are seeking God. You have given us the inspiration and the resources to be more effective evangelists. And so, the members of the Commission are looking forward to our third Magnetic Church event which we are sponsoring on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2005.

And on a personal note - it was great to meet you and work with you this past weekend in Glen Allen. Thank you so much for the passion and practicality you bring to your conferences. I had a great time and so did my wardens.

The Episcopal Church USA

∙       A Progress Report dated 3/02/05 from Carol Cline, Parish Coordinator, All Saints Episcopal Church, 525 Lake Concord Rd., Concord, NC 28025, 704-782-2024, www.allsaintsconcord.org; host of the third diocesan event, on Feb 26, 2005:

Dear Friends: On February 25-26, All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Concord, NC hosted The Magnetic Church conference, presented by Andy Weeks. 78 people from many different Church affiliations attended. Andy Weeks opened the conference Friday evening with his personal story and faith journey. The focus of the conference is Evangelism, and we all know just how uneasy that word makes us feel; Andy helps us to overcome that fear and any other apprehensions that we may have with his humor-filled presentation. Many participants came to the conference somewhat wary, but left feeling energized and ready to implement changes that would keep their churches growing.

The Magnetic Church provides all the tools one needs to attract new members. Andy not only provides the strategies but also includes time to practice during the conference. Every church can benefit greatly from this. Andy is a lay evangelist whose full time vocation is The Magnetic Church, and he is proof positive that evangelism is a lay ministry, empowered by the clergy. Just as his brochure suggests, he involves even the skeptics in this conference. Andy’s humor helps everyone to keep listening for more of his presentation.

I highly recommend this program to every church in the diocese that is interested in new member ministries and new member growth. The conferences previously held in the diocese sold out quickly so please don’t miss the chance to hear Andy Weeks’ message. I am confident that those who attend will find their time invested well spent.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Canon Sylvia Vásquez
Canon for Congregational Development
The Episcopal Diocese of New York
1047 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10025
212-932-7360 (Diocese); 845-928-6231 (St. David's); CanonVasquez@frontiernet.net

Nov. 4, 2004

To Whom It May Concern:

∙       The Magnetic Church Conference was a huge help in our efforts to bring the issues of evangelization and church growth to the forefront of our parishes. We set a limit of 150 participants and were overwhelmed by parishes sending people in large groups of ten and twelve people. We had to accommodate well over 150 in the final days before the conference—what a great problem to have!

My favorite comments on the evaluation forms were those that talked about reclaiming the word “evangelism” for the Episcopal Church. And, we are still hearing about parishioner’s enthusiastic efforts to implement the techniques they learned from Andy Weeks.

∙       And, an Oct. 19, 2004 letter from The Rev. Robert L. Shearer, Interim Vicar of Christ Church in New Brunswick, NJ (732-545-6262), a long-term friend and colleague, who attended this event but had brought members of his former parish to a previous event in NJ (exact text,
minus purely personal comments):

Andy, you were as always spectacular in transforming the viewpoint of participants from being comfortable ‘homebodies’ looking out at a strange world or avoiding it to being ones on the ‘outside’ looking in to find something life-giving. Thank you for having:
made it possible for my last parish to experience a net growth of 9% in a 7 month period; without your ministry, it could never have happened; and, you advised me wisely not to mix radically different liturgical styles - no praise music in traditional services, for example - with the result that we mounted a very successful separate praise service. Thank you again!

Ed Note: Bob sent a group from another church in 2007, and again from another (interim) in March, 2009.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Jack M. McKelvey
The Episcopal Diocese of Rochester
935 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
585-473-2977; fax 585-473-3195; bpjackm@aol.com

May 11, 2004

Dear Andy,

∙       I want to thank you for the marvelous conference which we had in Geneva last week. Our people were very excited about the practical ways which your theology of evangelism can be given wings. And, as you may have been told, our diocese under my leadership is defining ministry as “all that we are and do in support of God’s mission.” Every aspect of your theology of evangelism seems to acknowledge this reality. Anyone who came to the conference could acknowledge that they are ministers of The Gospel as they carry out the very practical aspects of being a welcoming church.

I heard one of the participants say, “Oh, I can do that.” In a significant way, you have de-mystified the call to be evangelists without even using that word. I wish you well as you continue your conference gatherings, and I would urge other dioceses and judicatories to consider setting up conferences like ours.

And from The Rev. Canon Carolyn Lumbard: The feedback was extremely positive - both solicited and unsolicited. The Bishop and canons are still hearing positive and excited comments wherever we go. I received one email to tell me a participant planted flowers in front of the church before worship on Sunday morning! One rector has ordered 24 copies of your book Welcome from our bookstore. Four people from different congregations, have made a point to tell me that they said hello to someone they did not know. The Bishop in particular was very impressed with the practical nature of the work and presentation. He will add a question in his next round of visitations - "I see you were at The Magnetic Church; what did you take from that conference and implement here?"  He will also be asking what further resources/training might be helpful. So, the entire enterprise was and continues to be a success. And for that, I am more grateful to you than I can say.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Don E. Johnson
The Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee
692 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
901-526-0023; fax 19015261555

Feb. 25, 2004

∙       I want to endorse The Magnetic Church, a full and rich day and a half presentation on evangelism. The conference is demanding of your time and best efforts, and it is practical in application. As a Senior Warden from one of my smallest congregations noted after the conference, "This will change our whole diocese."

The Magnetic Church draws us into evangelism without getting stuck on today’s hot button issues. Andy Weeks, the evangelist and guide for this gathering, has an understated and engaging approach. That is to say, he doesn’t hit you over the heard with the Bible, but the biblical witness is at the heart of his teaching, calling and message as an evangelist for Jesus the Christ.

Need practical and faith based evangelism training? Call Andy Weeks. He will challenge, encourage and enable your congregation to share the good news of Jesus Christ in a way that will make sense to you and those you and I are called to serve. This is an opportunity you will not want to miss. Why not grab it?

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Jim Nutter, Rector
Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church
6221 Main Street
Houston, TX 77030
713-529-6196x123; fax 713-529-6178; nutter@palmerchurch.org.

May 20, 2003

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

∙       The people who attended the Magnetic Church conference here at Palmer Church in May 2003 were well served by having Andy Weeks lead this event. The feedback from attendees was very positive.

Andy’s true heart for God, for God’s people, and for God’s church was apparent to all as he presented concrete, specific, challenging, insightful, and thought-provoking ideas for making the church more hospitable and welcoming. At our staff meeting on Tuesday following the conference, we developed at least twelve ways to immediately make Palmer Church a more inviting place. I’m certain that the people of Palmer will generate more ideas as this first round is implemented.

Mission and evangelism are things we’ve taken quite seriously at Palmer but we’ve also become accustomed to our place, our literature, our signage - Andy Weeks was able to help us see many things we do in new ways. Andy made a difference in people’s lives by challenging some of their assumptions. His leadership at the conference will make a difference in this community for the mission of Jesus Christ.

I highly recommend the Magnetic Church to any community that might be considering it.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev’d Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr., Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
1115 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
800-889-6961; 803-771-7800; fax 18037995119

March 26, 2003

Dear Andy,

∙       “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Jesus tells the eleven disciples at the end of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. This message was not just for the eleven, but for the whole Church in all ages, including us - you and me - all of us today. As Episcopalians, however, many of us are fearful of being included in this commission - fearful because we aren’t equipped with the theological understanding of evangelism and fearful because we aren’t equipped with the tools and resources for evangelism.

Andy, your Magnetic Church workshops here in Upper South Carolina were enormously helpful in casting away our fears about the Great Commission and being evangelists for our Lord. I believe that Christians everywhere want to share the Good News, but often fail to do so out of self-doubt and fear. You are an exception to this. Your call and passion for the ministry of evangelism is clear. You are so clearly working out of this call and your many gifts for it. It is truly your vocation – you have listened well to our Lord’s call in your life and are a faithful steward of that call and your gifts.

We continue to reap the benefits of the Magnetic Church workshops. People are more empowered, and, dare I say, bolder! The lingo of evangelism is changing for us – we talk more about the ministries of hospitality and publicity; the role that everyone must play in evangelism (not just the clergy and lay leaders); and that at its core this is a simple message of love that we need to share with the world.

We are grateful for your coming to be among us. I highly recommend you and your ministry to others in the Church – the Church in all its denominations. May God continue to bless you as you have so richly blessed us.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Reverend Penny Pfab, Rector
and Wardens Wheaton, Junnila and Curley
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
4557 Colfax Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55409
612-824-2697; fax 16128253752; pfab@st-lukes.net; www.st-lukes.net.

March 3, 2003

Dear Andrew,

∙       We thank you for presenting The Magnetic Church here Feb. 21 & 22, 2003. We were very energized by your wonderful presentation. Attendance exceeded our expectations, and we believe we now have the skills and motivation to move forward in positive ways.

Your PowerPoint presentation was excellent; your lively and engaging style kept everyone interested and focused. We appreciated the challenges you set before us and look forward to meeting them in the days to come. Some of your suggestions have been implemented already. Again, we are grateful for the time you shared with us; we are richer for it. May God bless you in your important ministry.

The Episcopal Church USA

Fr. Larry Hofer, Rector
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
208 West Foster Avenue
State College, PA 16801
814-237-7659; fax: 814-867-7959; estandrewljh@aol.com

Feb. 25, 2003

Dear Andrew,

∙       I want to express my appreciation for The Magnetic Church Conference. I came as a skeptic, believing that your program might be just another gimmick, but came away a convert.

The conference was helpful in bringing focus to our ministries of welcoming and integrating new members into the life of St. Andrews. The presentations were practical and entertaining, and communicated not only the need to be hospitable but also ways of shaping a welcoming parish. The idea of using annual reports as a way of interpreting the various ministries of the parish to new member and confirmation classes is a great one. Thank you for a multitude of insights.

cc The Rt. Rev. Michael W. Creighton, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Canon Sandra Holmberg
The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
1730 Clifton Place, Suite 201
Minneapolis, MN 55403-3242
Diocese: 800-596-3839; cell: 612-845-5106.

December 4, 2002

Dear Andy,

∙       Twice this year the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota has been pleased to host The Magnetic Church. Comments from participants in both gatherings were overwhelmingly positive. People from large, medium, and small congregations from small towns as well as the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, said they gained new perspectives on evangelism. They gained new ideas on attracting and retaining new comers. Participants at both events reported that the material you presented was very helpful and practical.

Lay leaders and clergy alike said there were suggestions and ideas that they could put to immediate use. Everything from the appearance of the buildings and grounds, to creating more helpful printed materials in the congregation were gratefully received. Participants felt encouraged to share their own faith stories.

May God bless you in your ministry of helping others to engage in this vital aspect of Christian mission.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. The Reverend Donna H. Brown, Rector
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
12621 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-622-5860; fax 301-622-5861; office@stmarks-silverspring.org

November 5, 2002

Dear Mr. Weeks:

∙       I would like to thank you for coming to St. Mark's to present the Magnetic Church Conference. It is apparent from your energetic and informative presentation that your mission in life is to help churches become more visible and attractive to seekers. The conference was informative, inspirational and, best of all, practical. The people of St. Mark's were left with a better understanding of evangelism issues, a set of well-organized materials and a clear vision for what we need to do to convey the good news to a hungry, waiting world.

It was an added gift for us to have you preach at our worship services and to present our very first adult forum. I hope it was an added gift for you to share in our worship and the blessing of the animals. Our prayers go with you as you continue to this important ministry.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Dennis Campbell
Canon for Congregational Development
The Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas
300 W. 17th St.,
Little Rock, AR 72206
866-887-1114; 501-372-2168; fax 501-372-2147; Dcampbel11@aol.com

Oct. 14, 2002

To Whom It may Concern;

∙       I can whole-heartedly recommend Andrew Weeks and his conference, The Magnetic Church. We had planned for a group of 65 participants, but by following Andy’s detailed instructions and excellent press kit, we had 141 people. It was the largest and most successful training conference held in our diocese in years.

Andy’s presentations are lively and informative and the small group work proved very helpful. I believe The Magnetic Church conference is the best training available anywhere for new member incorporation and hospitality.

The Episcopal Church USA

Bart Rinehart, Senior Warden
Old Donation Episcopal Church
4449 N. Witchduck Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
H: 757-671-1029; rinehart15@cox.net

June 27, 2002

Dear Andy,

∙       Thanks for what I believe to be the best conference of any kind that I have attended. God was obviously present and speaking through you last weekend. I am glad I made it back so I could attend. Not only were your words effective, but your voice inflections, body language, facial expressions, energy, synergism and interaction with the group were extraordinary. (And) when you can convince someone who has always considered evangelism a four letter word that "those Baptists" used into an enthusiast, you have really accomplished something.

As to communications - I thought we had good publications and other forms of communication, and I still do, but there is much we can do to improve. And, as to our facility - boy, did we benefit from your visit. I'm sure glad you picked on us. I have already started the ball rolling on this.

Being Senior Warden, and with our Rector unavoidably being in California, I thought it was my duty to be there, then I began hearing such good things about the conference, I thought I might learn a thing or two. Boy, did it exceed all my expectations. There, I think I've said it all. Thanks again.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Michael Creighton
The Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
Box 11937
Harrisburg, PA 17108
717-236-5959; cenpaepisc@aol.com

May 3, 2002

Dear Andrew,

∙       The Magnetic Church Conference you offered in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania last weekend was an inspiring and practical success. It is my fondest hope that you will be able to return and continue to explore evangelism with teams of people from our parishes. An exciting dialogue has begun, and you have stimulated imaginations with practical things that ordinary, caring parishioners can do to make a difference.

I appreciate the perspective of getting the parish "in order" - organized, trained and joyfully ready to welcome and sensitively introduce people to fellowship of the congregation. With your wit and stories you fostered an atmosphere that was non-threatening but challenging. You put your whole self into the event and I appreciate that what you do has been shaped by personal experience and years of reflection.

Without reservation or hesitation I recommend you. Your message, your manner, your practical perspective is needed throughout the church.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. James E. Waggoner, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
245 East 13th Ave.
Spokane, WA 99202
509-624-3191; fax 509-747-0049; JimW@spokanediocese.org

May 1, 2002

Dear Andy,

∙       I am pleased to write on behalf of the Diocese of Spokane to enthusiastically commend “The Magnetic Church.” I am joined by many in this diocese in saying that your leadership of the event was inspiring and transforming. We were richly blessed by your communication skills, your experience, and your commitment to the Episcopal Church, and above all to the Gospel.

I am confident that this diocese will continue to reap the rewards of participation in “The Magnetic Church” for years to come. Thank you.

The Episcopal Church USA

Mr. Andy Figueroa
Director of Communications
The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
412 Sycamore St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
800-582-1712; 513-421-0311; andy_figueroa@episcopal-dso.org

April 29, 2002

Dear Andy,

∙       I'm writing to let you know what an incredibly productive and uplifting time we had at the Magnetic Church Conference last week. The Holy Spirit was with us and everybody seemed to know it. Three congregations have already asked me about the possibility of having you come back in the Fall so they can bring others to learn first hand how to become "Magnetic Churches." At the Hocking Valley Deanery meeting, those who attended the conference committed to serving as Magnetic Church evangelists to those congregations that did not attend to help them all better serve those who have not yet been reached.

You can probably sense my own enthusiasm as you read these lines. Those of us who had previously attended Magnetic Church conference found rich rewards in doing the program again and hearing again with fresh insights how to continue to build upon the successes that we've enjoyed so far from working the program. Thank you from all of us. I'm firmly convinced that every congregation that hears your message and implements what they learn at the Magnetic Church conference will become more effective at reaching the unchurched and keeping those whom God sends our way.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Bennett A. Brockman, Ph. D. Rector
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
661 Old Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06430
203-259-3013; stpaulsffld@juno.com

Feb. 28, 2002

To whom it may concern:

∙       A year ago, I went with a colleague to one of Andy Weeks’s conferences, and we determined that we would do all we could to bring him back for a weekend presentation to the churches in our deanery. We did; and he presented “The Magnetic Church” to representatives of a dozen parishes, including ten people from my parish. He also preached at two of our services on the Sunday following the conference.

I find Andy’s clear sense of his own call to the ministry of evangelism compelling and contagious. I deeply appreciate his practical understanding of evangelism as first of all listening to seeking. His humor and lightness of touch - about a subject so many people in the ‘mainline’ or ‘legacy’ denominations find so fraught with adverse associations - are reassuring and inviting. His approach, based on accessible and interesting examples from his own experience of a variety of churches and faith traditions, encourages learners to explore their own faith more deeply even as they invite others to discover faith.

After his visit, we are very much more conscious about how all of our publications would be read by someone new to the faith, and from the Vestry outward we are a great deal more alert and responsive to the needs of visitors who come our way. And I believe we are on our way toward incorporating more of them as fellow members. The evangelist in my heart of hearts is delighted.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Canon Rev. Lou Blanchard
Front Range Region Missioner
The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
P. O. Box 6
Arvada, CO 80001

Feb. 28, 2002

Dear Andrew,

∙       Thank you for coming to share your ministry in the Front Range Region of the Diocese of Colorado. The Conference was a great success with people still talking about what they learned about their churches from the perspective of the newcomer. At a meeting last week someone said they would never look at a church building the same again!

Churches are rethinking how they present themselves and God to people searching for God and a place to worship. Some commented that they had been to several conferences on evangelism and that this was by far the best. You made it very entertaining, helping us to look at ourselves and laugh at the same time – a rare gift.

Others appreciated the material that was well organized so they could take it back to their churches. The newsletter and bulletin ideas were also a tremendous help.

You are a gifted lay minister of God and it was a delight to have you in our Region.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rt. Rev. Bertram Nelson Herlong, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
50 Vantage Way, Suite 107
Nashville, TN 37228
615-251-3322

Feb. 26, 2002

Dear Andy,

∙       Who would have thought that a hundred folks (from 25 parishes) could actually enjoy staying intensely focused on practical evangelism for all these (10) hours. At the beginning, your own witness got our attention. Then we appreciated how rapidly you showed how even very simple ministries communicate God’s valuation of us and of all those "others". Feedback is uniformly enthusiastic. Congratulations.

Please accept my personal thanks for renewing our vision of what we should be about.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Paul Lautenschlager, Rector
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
7400 Tudor Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
719-598-3244

Nov. 8, 2001

Dear Andy,

∙       I write to thank you for your ministry to the church. Yours is a message that needs to be heard by mainline denominations. St. Michael’s was pleased to serve as the host church for the October Conference that brought together Episcopalians from the Sangre de Cristo region of this diocese. Serving as host church proved to be an added plus for us because you pointed out numerous things that could be done here that will make St. Michael’s more inviting and receptive to newcomers. What is more--many of things involve just small expenditures. Serving as the site for a Magnetic Church conference offers a unique and valuable opportunity for the host church. It was fortuitous that we were chosen to be host.

Thanks for helping the Episcopal Church get back on track!

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Mark Sullivan, Rector
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
22 North Union St.
Smyrna, DE 19977
302-653-9691; marksull@shore.intercom.net

On behalf of the Maintenance to Mission Committee, the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware

Oct. 8, 2001

Dear Andy,

∙       On behalf of those who attended your "Magnetic Church" conference in Lewes, Delaware, September 14-15, 2001, let me say "thank you". Faced with the enormity of the terrorist bombing crisis in our country, we decided that we should hold your conference for those who could come. We had no idea what the response would be. Over 17 churches, from our Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, and Presbyterian churches from Virginia, were represented. Nearly 80% of those people who registered actually showed up. We were astounded.

Your personal witness to your own spiritual journey, and the difficulty you faced in coming to be with us, your humor and your tears, did us all a world of good. Many people felt that our gathering was a witness to our faith and our determination to proclaim the good news in the midst of darkness. I cannot imagine a better use for what you describe as "practical evangelism". We shared the good news of Jesus Christ with one another. We met other struggling pilgrims. We returned to our parishes. I believe what we experienced together will forever be in our minds and hearts.

Thank you from your fellow pilgrims.

and from

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Wayne P. Wright
The Episcopal Diocese of Delaware
2020 Tatnall St.
Wilmington, DE 19802
302-656-5441

Nov. 5, 2001

Dear Andy

∙        I have heard many very favorable comments about your workshops - both at St. Peter’s, Lewes and Immanuel, Highlands (Wilmington). The practical, positive approach that you take to evangelism and congregational development has been very well received in Delaware.

I join with many others here in thanking you for the energy and expertise you have brought us.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Robert Lundquist, Rector
St. Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church
6190 East Quincy Ave.
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80110-1002
303-771-1063; fax 303-771-4506; rlundquist@stgabriels.org

March 29, 2001

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

∙       We have just finished a weekend with Andy Weeks – it was terrific! This was Andy’s first visit to the Diocese of Colorado, sponsored by the High Plains Region, and he presented The Magnetic Church workshop to 77 Episcopalians and Presbyterians from across the state. The enthusiasm was high, and the learnings evident!

Having worked with Mr. Weeks before, I knew he would offer a prayerful, carefully thought-out and engaging workshop on making one’s church home a welcoming experience for any who would visit. Andy keeps his presentation fresh – I find there is always something new in his presentation.

We were blessed to have Andy as our preacher and teacher at St. Gabriel’s on Sunday. His invitation to join him in the ministry of Christian hospitality was effectively presented in both formats, and I received several positive comments from members of the congregation. His accompanying evaluation of our parish print materials has already yielded results in the way we present ourselves to the world.

I wholeheartedly commend Andrew Weeks and The Magnetic Church to you! Andy’s ministry will bless you.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev’d Canon H. Gregory Smith, Rector
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
5421 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-844-8544
Fax 12158440763

Nov. 21, 2000

Dear Andy,

∙       We both want to take the opportunity to let you know how wonderful your Magnetic Church conference was for us here at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. All of the evaluations were extremely positive. Even those who said “My Rector made me come” said they had a good time, learned a lot, and didn’t want to leave!!

As you know, of our 80 participants, half came from St. Luke’s and the other half from ten congregations in the Diocese and four congregations from other denominations. Even though we were a very ethnically diverse group, we felt that you were very inclusive in your style, were able to address everyone’s concerns, and showed us how the basics of evangelism apply to almost any setting.

Finally, your “Planting the Seeds” Sermon and Forum on Sunday was the icing on the cake for us. Our members are still talking about your ideas and plan to incorporate some of them into our Annual Meeting in January as kind of a pep rally for the year ahead. We look forward to living into what you have helped us to see is God’s charge for us.

We commend you and The Magnetic Church evangelism conference to any church who wants to become a more welcoming and “magnetic” and have fun doing so.

May God bless you this Advent and be assured of our continued prayers for you as you.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Reverend Pierce Klemmt, Rector
Christ Church
118 North Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-549-1450

Oct. 4, 2000

Dear Andy,

∙       What a What a wonderful job you did here at Christ Church with the Magnetic Church conference on September 15 and 16! It was such a positive way to begin our program year! The 60 Christ Church parishioners who attended left energized and enriched by your insightful message, and I know that your ideas will continue to fuel our efforts to create a warmer and more welcoming environment for the many visitors who worship with us each week. The Magnetic Church experience will undoubtedly raise the quality of our parish dialogue about evangelism and increase lay participation in our welcome ministry. In addition, your insightful sermon and subsequent forum on everyday evangelism inspired a significant number in our parish who were not able to attend the conference. Your sermon empowered so many to share the Good News!

The impact of this conference reached far beyond Christ Church. The interaction among the 18 Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations that attended clearly created a great spirit of hope and new purpose in those who participated. I am grateful to you for bringing your message to northern Virginia.

I commend the Magnetic Church conference to any church that wishes to move beyond the old approach that serves members but often ignores visitors, especially the unchurched. Urging us to focus on the needs of newcomers and equipping us with practical techniques and the confidence to do so was a great gift to every participant.

Thank you for sharing the gift of your leadership and faith with us all.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Very Rev. John S. Smylie
The Cathedral of St. John The Evangelist
127 East Twelfth Avenue
Spokane, WA 99202-1199
509-838-4277; fax 15097474403; jsmylie@stjohns-cathedral.org

June 6, 2000

Dear Friends,

∙       Andrew Weeks’ visit opened my eyes to the Cathedral in which I worship. He helped all of us who were in attendance "visit our space" as if we were here for the first time. Needless to say we have much work to do, yet Andy's visit energized us to get to work for the sake of leading many to our Lord.

Andy's presentation was practical, nonjudgmental evangelism, filled with many insights, much wisdom, and lots of good humor. It is with pleasure that I recommend Andrew Weeks to you! We look forward to bringing him back next year so his gifts can be shared with the larger community of Spokane.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Mark H. Chattin
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Haddon & Fern Avenues
Collinswood, NJ 08108
856-858-0491

March 28, 2000

To Whom It May Concern,

∙       The Magnetic Church Conference held at Holy Trinity Church has energized us for ministry beyond the walls of the church. I highly recommend Mr. Andrew Weeks as lay evangelist and conference leader. He is dynamic, entertaining and deeply spiritual. His ideas and suggestions have helped us to become a welcoming congregation to those searching for a church home. We have been reminded and given practical ways of sharing the gospel with people in our daily lives. Many of the conference participants have commented to me on how their lives have been changed by this experience. Please do not hesitate to call me should you desire further information about this experience.

An extra, an email 7/28/00, from a member of the congregation:

It is hard to believe that it's been five months since you visited us at Holy Trinity in Collingswood, NJ. Since then, some wonderfully encouraging things have been happening. We have started a greeter's ministry; re-worked our welcome/information brochure; ordered new Episcopal Church signs; begun replacing old, dim light fixtures with bright, new ones; and rearranged our tower entrance to make it more inviting. This summer, we plan to do away with our mystery bathrooms and mystery Sunday school by installing helpful directional signs. There are also plans for painting and renovating tired parts of the facility; and handicapped access is back in the priority file.

Your work of inspiring people is often in my prayers. For me, personally, the weekend of your seminar was an incredible spiritual adventure. I am still energized, and with His help, I will continue to be. We can easily miss so many opportunities. Thank you for pointing out some of them to us.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Very Reverend Jerome E. Kahler
Co-Dean, El Norte Deanery
Diocese of Los Angeles
Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Parish Day School
3290 Loma Vista Road
Ventura, CA 93003-3002
805-643-5033

May 22, 1999

Dear Andy,

∙       The Magnetic Church conference at St. Paul’s, Ventura, stimulated our imagination for evangelism. You gave us the tools we need to effectively welcome and follow up on the people God sends to us. It is going to be exciting to put these tools to use and watch God at work. Your presentation was filled with a sincere faith in Jesus Christ, a genuine warmth, and a wealth of personal experience.

I was particularly interested in two qualities you brought. Firstly, while you are an Episcopalian from the Northeast, you effectively communicated to Southern Californians helping us introduce people to the new life available in Jesus Christ. God’s work is your focus and it shines through. Secondly, you have a disarming and humorous way of offering constructive criticism without offending. Your keen observations initiated a review of our church/school environment and materials so that we can better welcome those whom God sends. We are excited. Praise God for your ministry.

And, from the parish newsletter January 2000:

∙       Since September 1999, a small group has been meeting to promote community awareness of St. Paul’s; they have decided to call themselves the "Magnet" group. They have developed a new parish logo, revised the parish brochures, and developed a website, and will be presenting the fruits of these efforts to the entire parish on January 23, 2000.

And, from the Rector’s Annual Report to the Parish, Feb/2000:

∙       Andy Weeks helped us recognize the unintended obstacles we can place in the path of those seeking to find the Lord in this place. He inspired us to take advantage of technology, in both electronic and print media, to share our story of faith and service for Christ. Upon returning from the Conference, vestry members invited others to form what has become known as the Magnet Committee to develop ideas and useful tools and programs of evangelism. (See note above).

And, from Mr. Bill Ferguson of Trinity Parish, Santa Barbara, event co-ordinator:

∙       It was a pleasure for me to meet and work with you -- I hope this will not be your only trip to the Diocese of Los Angeles. All of the Magnetic Church participants from Trinity were very pleased with and inspired by your presentation -- I'm looking forward to some great new energy (and some dramatic changes) that will help us do better at attracting and retaining new members of our community. Thanks for the way you allow God to work through you to help make that happen.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev'd Robert E. Taylor, Rector
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
200 Riverside Avenue
Riverside, CT 06878
203-637-2447

November 24, 1998

Dear Andy,

∙       Thank you so much for leading The Magnetic Church Conference here at St. Paul's a week ago ( Nov. 13 & 14 ). While the dust seems to have settled, the excitement and new vision have just begun. As you know, I am not one to be blown from one new idea to another in the name of growing the church. Yet your conference brought together for me the old, the new, and the yet untried.

Last Sunday I called together the Magnetic Church alumni to share what we learned and discuss what we might do. The 21 people who were able to come were a changed group. They each spoke of what they themselves were prepared to do, as well as thought through what we as a community might do to make St. Paul's an even more magnetic place.

The energy, good humor, and faithful, hard work that you demonstrated served to encourage all who attended. I am so glad that we invited you to preach at our Sunday Eucharists. And the adult Forum allowed many who did not attend the conference to taste and see what we had been up to for the
weekend.

Without a doubt, I stand ready to encourage any parish interested in developing their new member ministry and reclaiming the word Evangelism to invite you to offer your conference. The Lord only knows what will be the results of this weekend. But what I know is that St. Paul's is a place that has changed its outlook on welcoming God's people into its life. We will do it more intentionally and faithfully. I thank you and ask God's continued blessing on your ministry.

The Episcopal Church USA

The Rev. Andrew E. Fiddler, Rector
Trinity Church on the Green
New Haven, CT 06510
203-624-3101

February 6, 1998

∙       Recommendation: Andy Weeks is a wonderful storyteller. His accounts of various stages in his faith journey were riveting. We especially appreciated his ability to combine humor with religious conviction. The conference weekend was a very animated and thought-provoking experience for us. In small groups, we had the chance to "practice" the art of greeting newcomers with all of us role-playing each side of the encounter. It gave us a little more courage to try it out with real visitors on Sunday mornings.

We also had the opportunity in small groups to critique all of Trinity's printed materials (newsletters, Sunday bulletins, etc.) with the intent of improving them to make Trinity more inviting to newcomers. We had to remind ourselves to engage in attentive listening and to hear constructive criticism as the helpful suggestions they were intended to be from (others) in our small groups. As a result, we have made immediate changes in next Sunday's bulletin that have been received positively.

Our overall impression has been that the learning curve is steep but not overwhelming. The weekend gave us a lot of practical suggestions for more effective evangelism, some of which can be made to happen right away, others within the next year or two. We enthusiastically recommend Andy Weeks to any church, or group of churches, that is serious about making the Gospel more accessible to more people, and which is intentional about becoming a more inclusive and welcoming community.

 

 

 

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Randy Stevens, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
1901 Patrick Henry Ave.
Martinsville, VA 24112-3954

276-632-3431x311; rcstevensfpc@juno.com
www.firstpresbyterianmartinsville.org

March 18, 2010

∙       What a joy and rich experience it was for us to host The Magnetic Church conference, led by Andy Weeks. Andy came here and helped us to look at ourselves from a totally new perspective - not as the pastor or church member, who knows how to find his/her way around the church's facility but as a first-time visitor trying to locate the church office, the restrooms, or the sanctuary. Andy gave us very practical advice about how to greet visitors, what signs are needed and where to place them, and how to market the church so that we are more visitor-friendly. Andy's style is very engaging, and with his excellent PowerPoint presentations, supportive illustrations, working knowledge of church governance, and his vast experience from being in many churches, he gets his points across. All who were present felt that it was a worthwhile weekend and, as a result, we will become a more welcoming church. Thanks, Andy!

The Presbyterian Church USA

Patricia J. Wakeley
Communications & Resources Co-ordinator for
The Presbytery of Blackhawk
P. O. Box 157
Oregon, IL 61061-0157

815-732-3258; www.blackhawkpresbytery.org

March 10, 2009

Dear Andy

∙       It was a pleasure to work with you on this conference. The work that you do in advance makes it easy for conference hosts to handle publicity, set up and hosting. You have a unique blend of humor, practicality and understanding of Christian calling and mission that engages participants and keeps them focused and energized. On Sunday, I was with a congregation which had sent several members to the conference. They were all wearing their name badges and talking to others in the congregation about what they had learned. They had already scheduled a meeting to plan how they would apply their learnings to their church. It was great to see a group moving from learning to application! Thanks for being with us, and blessings on your continued ministry.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. David R. Witt, for
The Presbytery of Shenandoah
Opequon Presbyterian Church
217 Opequon Church Lane
Winchester, VA 22602.

540-662-1843; pastor@opequonchurch.com

Nov. 17, 2008

∙       I thank you for your uplifting ministry of evangelism. It was a tremendous weekend for all in attendance. Our Opequon team met this (Monday) morning and shared six pages of newsprint notes under the various headings from your presentation. We are off and running in implementing ideas, and session meets tomorrow evening and will get several recommendations. Get out the blue paint!

And from Julie Covert, Evangelism Team Co-Chair
Opequon Presbyterian Church

540-671-9540; jcovert@amerisave.com

Dear Andy,

∙       I wanted to write you and thank you again for such an amazing seminar. I personally heard such great feedback and the majority of the comments were that it was more than worth the time and money. I also heard how many from other churches are eagerly anticipating the next event, in Fishersville in Feb., 2009. You do such a wonderful ministry of making a serious and very important subject accessible and you made it incredibly enjoyable to learn about and more importantly get excited about.

It was a relief to see how evangelism could be approached in a non-threatening and non-intrusive manner - very refreshing. You are certainly blessed with a wonderful gift; thank you for sharing your gift with us. It was an honor, and we’ll look forward to seeing you in February. May God bless you and God speed to you.

Note: Based on an overwhelming response (150 people tried to register and our capacity was 120) to this event, The Presbytery team immediately scheduled a second event for February, 2009; 100 attended that one.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Paul E. Luthman, Executive Presbyter
Flint River Presbytery
826 Liberty Expressway SE
Albany, GA 31705
800-411-8029x23; 229-435-9726x23; pluthman@flintriverpresbytery.org

June 4, 2008

∙       Back in March, 2003, when I was a still-wet-behind-the-ears Executive Presbyter for Flint River Presbytery, I wrote: “Andrew Weeks is great! His evangelism workshop, The Magnetic Church, lit a fire in the hearts of our people. Andrew has no ax to grind – no political or theological agenda; no allegiance to any one style of worship or size of church – only a passion for reaching out to the unchurched with the Good News of the Gospel. His presentation combines a wealth of practical suggestions with a depth of personal experiences; and a zeal for evangelism set in solid, mainstream theology. I was personally blessed by his ministry, and my only regret is that every Presbyterian in Flint River Presbytery was not able to hear him.”

Now, after five more years struggling to help churches understand that their future (if they are to have one) lies not within the warm fuzzy cocoon of their fellowship but outside the doors of the church, I was even more convinced of the validity of my assessment of Andy’s ministry when we brought him back for another weekend in April 2008. Attendance was way up; “repeaters” found new insight and did not regret returning; and new participants were empowered to go home with a new sense of mission. I commend Andy's ministry to you!

The Presbyterian Church USA

The Reverend Dr. Charles "Chuck" Cary, Pastor/ Head of Staff
The Moorings Presbyterian Church
791 Harbour Drive
Naples, FL 34103
239-213-5223; ccary@moorings-presby.org

April 23, 2008

∙       Andrew Weeks and his Magnetic Church Conference was a tonic for the soul of our church. He engaged us in the critical task of evaluating how we as a congregation appear to newcomers. The results were a revolution in the ways we approach evangelism and outreach. No longer do our old assumptions apply. We are now more excited than ever about the little things we can do to develop our people as the body of Christ in our context. Most importantly, these things are consistent with what we believe to be the Gospel imperatives for our day. I strongly endorse Andy’s ministry and commend the workshop. It will surely bear fruit for the transformation we need in order to be the best possible Church.

The Presbyterian Church USA

The Rev. Dr. Robert P. Reno
First Presbyterian Church
1340 Murchison Drive
El Paso, TX 79902
915-533-7551; reno.robert@sbcglobal.net; http://www.firstpres-ep.org

March 19, 2008

Dear Andy,

∙       Thank you so much for a wonderfully uplifting and useful weekend here at First Presbyterian Church in El Paso. We had excellent participation from our own church, from the other six Presbyterian Churches in El Paso, and from Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist congregations. In addition to all we learned from your presentation, we were delighted to work together as an ecumenical group here in this Border City.

I first attended at Magnetic Church Conference in Atlanta in 2003. It was a wonderful event from which I learned so much about helping my congregation to be more welcoming. When I moved to far West Texas last summer, I had no hesitation in hosting a workshop here, even though El Paso, as a predominantly Hispanic town immediately across the Rio Grande from Mexico, is a very different community from the southeastern city of
Atlanta.

My confidence in your work was rewarded by the excitement and enthusiasm of our elders and Evangelism Committee over the last two weeks (since the event). We have already acted on several of your suggestions, and we are setting up systems to implement much more of what we learned. Most importantly, the conference has been a catalyst enabling us to become proud and active evangelists for our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for all you have done!

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Dr. James W. Riley
Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Congregational Life
Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis
7700 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-253-6461x328; jriley@secondchurch.org

Oct. 11, 2007

Dear Andy,

∙       I want to thank you for coming to our church and giving all of us who attended an excellent presentation that challenged our false understanding of evangelism and encouraged us with a genuine need to do evangelism. I was amazed at the wonderful way you approached evangelism that combined theological integrity, spiritual insights, and knowledge of human relations, with the practical understanding of how churches can use marketing and publications to reach new people. You brought such great enthusiasm, extensive knowledge of our changing culture, and practical ideas for how churches can best do evangelism in today’s world.

We had 121 participants from 26 churches of all sizes and many different diverse denominations, including Episcopal, Quaker, Mennonite, Baptist and several African American congregations. Our (Whitewater) Presbytery jointly sponsored the conference and we had many Presbyterian churches participate, including a number who came a great distance to attend. Everyone left with a renewed faith in Christ and new energy to share the good news. And all of the members from our congregation were very positive about your presentation. Our members greatly benefitted from all the suggestions that you shared with us. We now have the opportunity to move ahead with implementing the many creative ideas that we have gained from you.

With deep appreciation, I can highly recommend you and The Magnetic Church Conference to any church that seeks to be faithful to Christ’s call to spread the good news. And, his email 10/23/07: Andy, I am so thankful for all you did for us at Second Presbyterian Church. I am hoping that we will over time make many new changes that will reflect what you encouraged us to think about. We are scheduling training events for our greeters to incorporate new ideas from your presentation, and planning on adding new signage in the church. We may also next year look to having a couple of new signs out on Meridian St.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Joanna M. Adams, Pastor
Morningside Presbyterian Church
1411 N. Morningside Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
404-876-7396x11; joannamadams@bellsouth.net

April 2, 2007

Dear Andy,

∙       Two weeks have passed since your marvelous Magnetic Church presentation at Morningside Presbyterian Church, and we are on fire and energized in a way we’ve never been before. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your coming and sharing with our congregation and representatives of the other congregations who joined us for your wonderful vision of hospitality. What was so marvelous was the way you combined theological integrity, vision, and wisdom, with the practical means of implementation. We now have our marching orders for the next couple of years.

God bless you in your ministry. It is a truly vital ministry, and God has given you a unique set of gifts. Please know will always have a friend in me. With deepest gratitude and respect, I am, sincerely yours, Joanna Adams.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Paul Malles
Chairperson of the Evangelism Committee
Geneva Presbytery
c/o First Presbyterian Church
211 Main Street
Penn Yan, NY 14527
315-536-8235; pstrpaul@verizon.net

March 30, 2007

∙       Small rural churches will especially benefit from Andrew Weeks' ideas for effective new ministries. His deep knowledge about Presbyterian polity makes his suggestions very practical for Presbyterian churches. The Geneva Presbytery, in upstate New York, thanks Andrew Weeks for his inspiring and relevant workshop. His insightful humor made us laugh and see the issues facing our churches with greater clarity and hope.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Anne Clifton, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
930 West Avenue B
Garland, TX 75040
972-272-2595; revanne@verizon.net; http://fpcgarland.presbychurch.org/

Nov. 20, 2006

∙       Andy Weeks brings great enthusiasm, knowledge and practical ideas to the ministry of evangelism; I highly recommend him and his conference, The Magnetic Church. 119 participants from 23 churches attended this fourth event in Grace Presbytery in just 12 months! They left with renewed faith, energy and specifics for receiving visitors and making our churches more visitor-focused.

The Presbytery sponsored the first three events in November, 2005, and February and March, 2006. It was so well received each time that we here at FPC sponsored and hosted this one. It was one of the best offerings this church has supported during my tenure and our 30 members who attended were inspired! We are grateful to Andy for his leadership, commitment to his call and keen observance of our church from the eyes of visitors and non-churched folks.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Michael Beaugh
for The Evangelism Sub-Committee of Grace Presbytery
c/o Southlake Blvd. Presbyterian Church
1452 West Southlake Blvd.
Southlake, TX 76092
817-442-8983x101; mb.beaugh@verizon.net

May 1, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       Wow! The Magnetic Church Conference on March 31 & April 1 was simply gratifyingly overwhelming. As the third event in Grace Presbytery, it exceeded all our expectations. Obviously, word had gotten out about the previous two events. With 182 registered attendees, you touched the lives of many Presbyterians and the churches they represented. The proof of your effectiveness was easily seen in the energy exhibited by the crowd. At least two churches were asking how they could get you back. And now we will have you back in Grace Presbytery for a fourth time in November - Note: the event will be on Nov 17 & 18, 2006 at First Presbyterian Church, Garland, TX.

As the sponsor of these events, I was uncertain going into this trio of conferences just how our churches might respond. Then when I received your detailed 3 pages of guidelines and checklists, I wondered what I had gotten us into. Now I have the answer to both concerns. We want more of you, and your detailed guidelines are invaluable for ensuring a professional atmosphere. Even when I had to forego being at the second event and needed to hand off all the site planning to another committee member, the lists were instrumental in his and my being able to ready the site without any problems. (I’m keeping the lists for future use!).

I want to thank you for all your supportive phone calls and emails, your willingness to roll with and resolve the glitches, and especially for the high level of enthusiasm you brought to each conference, regardless of the number in attendance. I hope to see you again in November.

and from Feb. 28, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       Now that we have completed 2 of our 3 events, I wanted to write to say thank you for what you have accomplished for the members of Grace Presbytery. From comments I have heard and evaluations I have read, I know that you have inspired many participants to go back to their churches and start making a difference. We received comments like, “just what we needed,” “outstanding,” “wish my whole session could have been there.” Our presbytery is abuzz with talk of the positive impact that the Magnetic Church Conference is having on all of us.

I also want to thank you for all your supportive phone calls and emails, your willingness to roll with and resolve the glitches, and especially for your agreeing to rent a car and drive yourself back and forth 120 miles from DFW when it became absolute that I could not be at the second event. We thank God for your safe travel and your good spirit throughout the ordeal (ice storm). I am very much looking forward to seeing you again, and working together to make the Dallas event the crown in this event trio.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Nona Holy
Associate Presbyter for Leadership Development
Presbytery of the Western Reserve
2800 Euclid Ave Ste 500
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-241-3966 ext. 20; nholy@preswesres.org

March 6, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       I wanted to thank you for your leadership of the Magnetic Church event this past weekend. I am hearing from pastors and elders about how much they appreciated what you presented. Folks are using words like practical, funny, hopeful, do-able to describe what they heard. There are already churches talking to each other about a joint ad in the local paper for Easter Sunday. And I know of several other churches that have gathered the participants and begun to follow-up on your presentations.

You speak “Presbyterian” very well and most importantly, you speak as someone who cares about and really knows the church but also as someone who is profoundly attentive to the people and the world beyond the church. And as an educator I appreciated that you were extremely intentional about your presentation. That attention to detail pays off in a weekend that engages and energizes the participants. Thank you again. Blessings on your continued ministry!

The Presbyterian Church USA

Edward L. Clapper, Magnetic Church Conference Coordinator
First Presbyterian Church
356 Summit Road
Springfield, PA 19064-1499
H: 610-565-3762; edfel@comcast.net

Feb. 28, 2006

Dear Andy,

∙       In the Spring of 2004, we sent 4 members to your event in Jenkintown, PA. We knew we wanted more, so in February 2005, we sent 19 to Ardmore, PA. We began to apply immediately much of what we had learned, but we knew we wanted more and right here in our own church. And this past weekend, we got more! 120 participants: 45 of our members with 75 from 11 Presbyterian, 2 Episcopal, 2 Lutheran, 3 Methodist, 2 Baptist, and 1 Pentecostal churches! We feel both blessed and very challenged as we have much work to do.

The event served to energize and inform all those who attended. We received many positive comments from our guests. It was a privilege to have had the opportunity to host the conference. There could be no doubt on both days the spirit felt in the room was the presence of God. I would also like to commend you on how much you have upgraded your presentation since we last saw it;  the changes are most helpful and push us even further to become an even more "Magnetic Church". May God continue to bless you and your ministry.

The Presbyterian Church USA

A Progress Report from Darryl Bishop, Clerk of Session
Eddington Presbyterian Church
3650 Bristol Pike
Bensalem, PA 19020
darryl52@comcast.net

Feb. 19, 2006

∙       In September 2004, 10 of us went to the Magnetic Church Conference in Morrisville, PA. We started a magnetic church group several months later and it became one of the big factors that changed our congregation. From the dozens of Andy’s suggestions, we began to consider how we could make Eddington a welcome place for visitors. We began to realize that there were a lot of areas where we could improve things, so we began to divide up into 15 teams.

Each month, we brain stormed with each team and after a few months we discovered something very special: our magnetic church group had become the spiritual think tank of our church, where all magnetic and even non-magnetic ideas come under consideration. The magnetic church concept has now become a way of thinking, a way of life, a spiritual experience and a mission within our church. We developed a new church mission statement: "Our goal is to provide a welcoming place for all who want to grow in their relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ".

At first we were concerned mainly with the visitors that come to our church. But then we began to think about everyone else that is involved in the worship experience. We asked some serious questions:
A. How do we get parents to bring children to worship services? We recognized that praising was something that both parent and child enjoy, so we make sure that praise songs are included. We also discussed the Passing of the Peace of Christ to determine how long it should last, but we decided to let it happen with no restrictions. Now, the Passing of the Peace at first service lasts more than 5 minutes on most Sundays with people shaking hands, hugging and kissing. Will this display of fellowship make a lasting impression on our children’s minds? We think it will.
B. How do we get teenagers to attend church services? By playing contemporary music that they hear on the radio. We also think that it is valuable for parents and their teenagers to sing and enjoy the same music. We now have teenagers who invite their friends to church.
C. How do we get people to come on the days after Christmas and New Year’s? Here we needed to be creative and think outside of the box, so instead of worshiping in the sanctuary, we decided to have breakfast in our fellowship hall. We told everybody, ‘you don’t have to get dressed up, come as you are.’ And somebody said, ‘Come in your pajamas!’ - and guess what, they did! Several families and several others came in their pajamas. Paul tells us to be all things to all people, so I guess this idea is a good one.
D. How do we involve the congregation in the worship experience? We put on a skit around the Good Samaritan that was acted out mostly by the congregation (not the band). One of our non-members has been asked several times to read scripture. We now have a weekly stewardship minute for mission. One of our missions is giving clothes and candy to children in Iraq and we have pictures of Iraqi children wearing our clothes.

The new attitude and mind set at the church are spreading. Several weeks ago, somebody showed up with a box of pens with Eddington’s name, address and phone number on them. It might have been mentioned, but I don’t remember the subject ever being discussed. We are finding ways and volunteers to make things happen. We have already: started an ID badge system for worship services; installed a conference phone in the Memorial Room; redesigned the pastor’s office; and, our flag and church windows are now lit at night. In addition, a new and more noticeable church sign is in the works, and we are planning how to make the inside of buildings look happier, less cluttered.

We also learned that not all ideas work. We decided to have a fellowship hour after each service every week in our fellowship hall, which is in a separate building. Few adults came. Sunday School students had a great time eating the snacks before Sunday School, but we felt that this was not its intended purpose. But even though some things do not work, we keep trying until we find out what does work. We have a fellowship hour once a month between services that is working in the same building as our sanctuary.

We also learned that implementing ideas creates more problems and difficulties, but we seem to merely brainstorm the problems until we find a solution. We have a small problem with parking. Isn’t that a great problem to have? Maybe we’ll expand to a third service! Rev. Brecht is already talking about it.

The magnetic church attitude has enabled us to think outside-of-the-box. Our outlook has changed completely, from a negative or apathetic ‘we can’t do it, don’t need to do it, or shouldn’t do it’ perspective to a positive and enthusiastic ‘let’s try it’ one. Our attendance has gone up from about 75 to 100-105, a 33 % increase. We have gone from no lay leaders in 2000, to more than a dozen now. Because our resources are limited, we do not act on every idea. We recently started to make a wish list for our church, so that now our Magnetic Church team is becoming a dream team for our church, setting goals and preparing plans for our church.

Having a magnetic church group, a spiritual think tank and a dream team in your church is a great way to get everyone in the church involved. You don’t have to be an officer or even a member to participate. It’s a great way to see how God works within us to get things done. It’s amazing, but we can actually see some people becoming more spiritual and active in serving God.

And, his email 3/07/06: Two women de-cluttered our Memorial Room, which has now become a spacious meeting room instead of a cramped one. We are trying an ambitious combined traditional-contemporary Lenten service. We are adding exit signs to our doors; there seems to be no stopping us. We keep coming up with more ideas; who knows where it will all lead? Your work in Christ has inspired us to be the "heavenly hosts" that Jesus wants us to be. We thank you and be assured that God thanks you!

The Presbyterian Church USA

The Rev. Joy Kaufmann, General Presbyter
Presbytery of Huntingdon
323 Main St. / P. O. Box 99
Bellwood, PA 16617
814-742-2200x1; gnrlpres@atlanticbbn.net

Oct. 21, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       One week ago, you led us in a Magnetic Church event. It was a "Wow!", and I still can't get over the amount of energy you pour into these events. I've already heard from one third of our participating church representatives about their plans for follow-up, without my asking for it! (40 of 51 congregations participated). You gave us maximum energy, quality content and the context of your faith journey. When you made yourself vulnerable to us by sharing your story, you also encouraged participants' gifts through your gift of humor. I could see doors and windows opening in people's minds as you led us.

You've structured this event really, really well. Trust, enthusiasm and curiosity built throughout the Friday evening session. By Saturday morning, participants eagerly engaged in small group activities about practical ministries of greeting, communication and property renewal. Even those from some of our smallest congregations left the event with hope in their hearts and plans in their minds. I am very grateful to God for your ministry and to you for sharing so much of yourself with us. You continue in my prayers.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Michael Davis, Associate Executive For Congregational Development
Presbytery of Middle Tennessee
c/o Glencliff Presbyterian Church
416 East Thompson Lane
Nashville, TN 37211
615-361-7858; soaringeagle6514@aol.com

Sept. 20, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       Rev. Dr. Phil Leftwich, our Executive Presbyter, and Mary Evelyn Bedenbaugh, our chairperson of Congregational Development Unit, join in thanking you for our excellent event on this past weekend. Using the publicity material you provided, we relentlessly promoted this event, generating the largest crowd and highest percentage of churches attending a Presbytery event in many years!

And once they arrived, participants were treated to your enjoyable presentation, practical information, and creative ideas to enrich our approach to evangelism. The reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, and we believe all the attending churches will benefit from your wealth of experience, excitement, and energy.

So we would like to thank you for your commitment to equipping churches to embrace their mission in Jesus Christ.

And from Mary Evelyn Bedenbaugh on Oct. 10: Greetings! My computer died, so, a very belated thank you for spending time with the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee. First, you made things so much easier for us with your guidelines. Secondly, everyone seemed to go away from the conference with a sense of enthusiasm. As you know the evaluations were all positive. We've heard from both member participants and clergy participants how extremely helpful your presentation was. And, our Presbytery Executive was totally elated. This conference had more people and churches in attendance than any other conference! God's blessings upon you as you continue your ministry!

The Presbyterian Church USA

A Progress Report from: Brenda Perryman, Administrator
Trinity Presbyterian Church
2800 West Louisiana
Midland, TX 79701-5853
432-682-2514; tpc@apex2000.net; www.tpcmidland.org
(See also letter Feb. 21, 2005 from Bitsy Lee, Moderator of the Outreach Committee and Bobbye Rose, Conference Coordinator)

August 5, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       We hope things are well with you and with your ministry. Lots have been going on since you were here (Jan. 28 & 29, 2005); to update you:
- new inside signs are going up; the outside wooden doors have been painted.
- each Trinity Fellowship Sunday (bi-monthly) there is now a sign on the point of property inviting community to come plus large posters posted on the doors as you enter church.
- we have installed bright, eye-catching bulletin boards in the narthex with current and upcoming activities, studies, etc.
- we now have a welcoming stand as visitors enter that is manned each Sunday; we now give visitors a wonderful small canvas bag with Trinity & PCUSA logos, vision statement, church name, newsletter, booklet on being Presbyterian, book on Bible, welcome brochure, current month church
calendar.
- there are new indoor maps of church posted on strategic places showing you where you are and how to get elsewhere.
- we have applied PCUSA logos on the glass doors entering church, and there are signs on the doors with worship and Sunday School hours.
- we now have postcards to send visitors with a picture of Trinity in the middle, surrounded by people in various studies and activities; these are being sent to visitors saying we were glad they worshiped with us and inviting them back; we also now send postcards to members who have been absent saying we miss them.
- Spiritual Renewal Event September 11 & 12 with guest speaker, Charlie
Schuler.
- Wednesday Night Program will include new study & second Wednesday night each month will be a hymn sing; Wednesday Night Program for children (grades 1-6) will tie in with their SS curriculum; a computer lab being set up for children to use at Wednesday Night Program and also for use by Children's Learning Center.
- prayer Closet ministry has just begun this month, plus many other opportunities for worship, study & service.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. John C. White, Chairman
Presbytery Committee on Church Development & Evangelism
Presbytery of Transylvania
2480 Fortune Drive, Suite 140
Lexington, KY 40509
cell 859-806-5268; h: 859-988-5369; whitejohn1@aol.com
(See also letter May 26, 2004 from Linda M. Crawford, Associate General Presbyter)

March 29, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       I was thrilled to see you again and I felt the conference went well. You not only managed to hold our attention for nearly ten hours; but as the soon-to-arrive-to-you evaluations reflect, your presentation proved to be of immeasurable practical value.

That you were willing to travel the number of hours you did to give your presentation in a remote, little corner of our state speaks volumes of your enthusiastic willingness to go where the Lord sends you. As I have now been to your conferences in both Lexington, KY and this past weekend in Vicco, KY, I saw nothing less than you sharing your gifts to their fullest extent. I do, in fact, think that your offering works quite well "off the beaten path" where folks seem to be particularly needful and, at the same time, extremely appreciative.

I look forward to when next our paths may cross, perhaps as soon as next year when more local Presbyterians are targeted as beneficiaries of your treasure-trove of goodies.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Paul H. Lang, Magnetic Church Conference Host
Member of the Evangelism Committee of New Hope Presbytery, and
Senior Pastor of Peace Presbyterian Church
770 West Fire Tower Road
Winterville, NC 28590-8411
252-355-2273; paul@peacepresbyterian.org

March 29, 2005

To Whom It May Concern:

∙       I’m writing to tell you of the powerful impact which Andy Weeks and the Magnetic Church Conference have had in my own congregation and in the New Hope Presbytery. As members of the presbytery’s Evangelism Committee, we planned the conference expecting that 80 would attend. To our delight more than 140 participants attended! And now we are looking to bring Andy back again to New Hope Presbytery in the not too distant future. That alone speaks volumes about how valuable the conference was to all who attended.

Both the comments made to me and the feedback received via the conference surveys was very positive. Key areas of strength were: Andy showed a wonderful sense of humor during the training; he demonstrated a clear understanding of Presbyterian polity and theological foundations; the training was full of very useful, practical, and achievable ideas which participants could employ soon after returning to their churches; and, a wide variety of church types (rural, suburban, urban) and sizes (from family size to corporate size) found much that was useful to them.

The most important new understanding we gained here at Peace was to understand the ministry of greeting as a ministry of compassion - rather than as a ministry of “cheerleading.” Indeed, Andy taught throughout the conference that good evangelism is showing people who arrive the same consideration you would give to Christ. Evangelism ceases to be about gaining people and becomes a ministry of faithful kindness to those God entrusts to us. Participants from Peace are already hard at work implementing much of what Andy taught us, and there is an enthusiasm and spirit of joy for which we all give thanks.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Chuck Noonan, Associate Presbyter
Presbytery of New Hope
2309 Sunset Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252-443-7090x126; cnoonan@nhpresbytery.org;

March 15, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       Thank you again for being with us this past weekend, and for conducting such an informative and engaging conference. The feedback we have received from event participants has been excellent and it will be our job at the Presbytery to work on ways to keep people engaged and connected in the aftermath of this conference. Once people go home, the work begins and keeping these individuals connected and energized will be the challenge.

Again, thank you very much for everything you do. Your work is truly a ministry and many people throughout the Presbytery of New Hope and around the country have been touched by your work. I feel that a seed was planted this weekend that will begin to grow throughout this Presbytery.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Bitsy Lee, Moderator of the Outreach Committee and
Bobbye Rose, Conference Coordinator
Trinity Presbyterian Church
2300 W. Louisiana
Midland, TX 79701-5853
432-682-2514; tpc@apex2000.net; www.tpcmidland.org

February 21, 2005

To Whom It May Concern:

∙       Trinity has long held that outreach is for everyone. But personal evangelism is hard to put into action. Andy Weeks presented ways that each of us can make our church more welcoming. The Magnetic Church Conference was an inspiring event that motivated us to begin, now! Andy’s plane had hardly left when we began forming teams, not just to plan but to take action. We are on the move. We started Sunday after the conference, and on Wednesday following, we had a getting-started meeting to organize; over 30 people came!

The Magnetic Church Conference has come but it has not gone. Eighteen different churches from various denominations are now sharing with their congregations the enthusiasm and ideas that Andy sparked. We at Trinity Presbyterian Church are thankful that he shared his knowledge with us and the members of all the churches that participated.

Also, from a participant, Cayce Cowan of Sierra Vista UMC, San Angelo, addressed to Trinity Presbyterian Church, and copied to me:
Thanks for all of the preparation you and your team obviously put into this weekend's seminar. We learned so much and had so much fun! The time passed so quickly. We appreciate Trinity opening the seminar to us non-Presbyterians. I wish Trinity the best as changes are implemented. Hopefully all of our churches can learn to be more welcoming. I think all of the denominational churches have some challenges ahead, but maybe through change we'll come out for the better.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Dr. Valerie Fargo
Associate General Presbyter
Presbytery of Lake Huron
P. O. Box 6129
Saginaw, MI 48608
800-621-6905; 989-799-7481; vfargo@presbylh.org

December 1, 2004

Dear Andy,

∙       We in Lake Huron Presbytery are thankful for the Magnetic Church event and your leadership. Over half of our churches were represented, and the registration of 115 people is the largest ever for this kind of educational event. Comments I heard during the event indicated that people were enthusiastic about their experience. In several of our churches the Magnetic Church participants are actively meeting and working to implement things they learned during the event. The follow-up packet has been very helpful.

The day after the event, I happened to be visiting one of our small churches that averages 30 in attendance for Sunday worship. When I walked in I discovered that, for the first time in my memory, they were all wearing nametags. They then submitted a brief informational article to the local newspaper and the following Sunday two families of visitors attended worship, both as a result of reading the article. Neither the nametags nor the article would have been in their thoughts before the Magnetic Church event.

As the coordinator for the conference, I must admit that when I first received your packet with the pages of long lists, I was a little overwhelmed. As time went by, however, I discovered that the lists were helpful and virtually eliminated the possibility that I would overlook something. With this thorough preparation, the event took place without a hitch. Even the brief power failure was only a momentary issue because of our advance planning on the technical aspects. Again, many thanks to you for your efforts and commitment to sharing the Magnetic Church. Your relevant and well-prepared presentation really has made a difference for our people in Lake Huron Presbytery.

The Presbyterian Church USA

David Gill, Event Coordinator and Chair of the Evangelism Committee
Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church
421 Oakland Avenue
Rock Hill, SC 29730-3529
803-327-1015; dsgill@comporium.com

Dec. 1, 2004

Dear Andy,

∙       I attended a Magnetic Church seminar with a group from my church in the Spring of 2004. A review meeting found the group almost unanimous in wanting to bring the seminar to our church. I was the no vote.

My vote wasn't an evaluation of you or the seminar. It was prompted by what I thought would be a poor response from our congregation. I'm glad I was outvoted. Your program brought energy and a new approach to Evangelism at Oakland Presbyterian Church. May God continue to bless you and your ministry.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Linda M. Crawford, Associate General Presbyter
Presbytery of Transylvania
2480 Fortune Drive, Suite 140
Lexington, KY 40509
859-264-8867; fax 859-264-8869; agp-transy@mindspring.com

May 26, 2004

Dear Andy,

∙       The Magnetic Church event has now come and gone, and what a whirlwind time it was for all of us! The careful preparation done weeks ahead of time, the numerous phone calls to those in this corner, the PR done in many ways - all of these things came together to provide one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in my many years with the PC(USA)! Given the theological and cultural diversity we have in this body, we were hoping for a high number of fifty people to sign up, so when we were blessed to have over seventy-five, we were thrilled!

Your warmth, your sense of humor which set folks at ease immediately, and the well-laid out presentation made for a marvelous meeting of people from churches of all sizes, basically breaking down any barriers that might exist. What I have heard since the event is how very valuable the take-home materials are, for they are written to be used immediately by church committees and individuals.

Thank you for giving us a wonderful “shot in the arm” as we begin a new phase of our journey with the new Interim General Presbyter. There is conversation brewing about having you return to do further work, and I will look forward to working with others to make that happen. May God continue to richly bless you and your vital ministry!

The Presbyterian Church USA

The Rev. Steve Smith
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
140 W. US Hwy 30
Schererville, IN 46375
219-865-2686; ipcsteve@pla-net.net

Feb. 10, 2004

Dear Andy,

∙       I am thrilled to be able to say that hosting the Magnetic Church Conference has been a great boost for our congregation! I knew the weekend had born real fruit when one of our men, who has led strategic planning initiatives in the business world and who is not easy to please, said: “This was very worthwhile!” At his own initiative, this one has since gone on to create his own PowerPoint proposal for an evangelism plan specifically tailored for our church – using your book and your conference presentation as the foundation.

I was especially pleased last week when twenty-one of our twenty-three conference attendees (one was sick and another was at work) attended a follow-up meeting to begin building on what we learned from you. The air of excitement around here is palpable, and there is fresh hope for the future of our “redeveloping” congregation. Thank you for your flexibility, your outstanding work, and your contagious faith in God!

The Presbyterian Church USA

Mary Lou Ferris
Associate for Christian Education and Congregational Programming
Presbytery of Redstone
1004 Mount Pleasant Road
Greensburg, PA 15601
724-837-6737; fax: 724-837-4112; resource@westol.com

November 21, 2003

Dear Andrew,

∙       Our Magnetic Church Event was an overwhelming success! It surely exceeded our expectations from the time when we began our planning! Over one third of our churches were represented and nearly 150 laypeople and clergy were in attendance. And, a week later at our presbytery meeting, people were still talking about the impact of the conference and the ways they would put into practice many of the things that they learned.

The energy and excitement of that Friday evening and Saturday has given life to some who needed to be revitalized but just didn’t have a framework in which to work. There are already questions from those who attended about when we will repeat the event, so they are eager to learn even more about being welcoming congregations! Thank you for giving us information, nurture, and courage to step up and fulfill the mandate of the Great Commission as we open our doors and hearts to those whom Christ would lead to our congregations.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Paul E. Luthman
Interim Associate Executive Presbyter
Flint River Presbytery
826 Liberty Expressway SE
Albany, GA 31705
800-411-8029x23; 229-435-9726x23; fax 229-883-6440.

April 10, 2003

∙       Andrew Weeks is great! His evangelism workshop, The Magnetic Church, lit a fire in the hearts of our people. Andrew has no ax to grind – no political or theological agenda; no allegiance to any one style of worship or size of church – only a passion for reaching out to the unchurched with the Good News of the Gospel. His presentation combines a wealth of practical suggestions with a depth of personal experiences; and a zeal for evangelism set in solid, mainstream theology.

I was personally blessed by his ministry, and my only regret is that every Presbyterian in Flint River Presbytery was not able to hear him.

∙       And from the event co-ordinator: Rev. Dr. James Huffaker, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1111 Fifth Avenue, Albany, GA 31707: 229-432-9314, j_huffaker@mindspring.com: April 29, 2003:

Dear Andy: Your advance preparation was evident as everything was right on time and the sessions flowed smoothly throughout the meeting. The content was both informative and instructive and presented in an interesting format with just the right amount of humor to keep everyone’s interest. Evangelism was looked at with an entirely new perspective after your words of opportunity and practical application. I believe people went away with a new enthusiasm and encouraging "burst of energy: to take to their respective churches. I give you thanks and high recommendation for this special weekend of renewal.

The Presbyterian Church USA
Please see also the letter from Sam P. Marshall III, then Interim Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Memphis, one letter “down”.

The Rev. Andrew Foster Connors
Associate Pastor for Congregational Life
Idlewild Presbyterian Church
1750 Union Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
901-726-4681; andrew@idlewildchurch.org

March 26, 2003

∙       I have only high marks for Andy Weeks and his energizing, thorough, fun evangelism conference hosted by Idlewild Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of Memphis Feb. 28 and March 1, 2003. I could spend several pages reflecting on the conference itself, but far more important is what has happened as a result of Andy's ministry here among us. Andy's theologically grounded, practically oriented paradigm for evangelism is leading us to create significant changes in the way we go about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in our city and beyond.

As a young clergy person in the early years of ministry, I am particularly grateful for Andy's gift of transforming entrenched ways of being (e.g. "We've tried that before!") into authentic excitement for the future of the church. Andy creates a safe environment that allows participants to take a fresh, constructive look at their churches' strengths as well as their growing edges. For all church leaders - clergy or lay - who are looking for a breakthrough in their churches' attitudes toward evangelism, Andy Weeks delivers.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Sam P. Marshall III
Interim Executive Presbyter
Presbytery of Memphis
1750 Union Ave Suite 21M
Memphis, TN 38104
866-830-7702; 901-324-7701; fax 901-324-7750

March 3, 2003

Dear Andrew,

∙       On behalf of the congregations and pastors of the Presbytery of Memphis, I offer my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the superb ministry you offered us this past weekend by inspiring us all to enjoy the congregational "plunge" into joyful evangelism of the Good News of Jesus Christ. It was my privilege to watch you work with our participants and note the excitement, self-confidence, and comprehension which emerged within each of them. I look forward to commending your ministry of evangelism to all our congregations when I make my visits with them.

Your understanding of the Biblical, theological, sociological and psychological dynamics within our diverse culture was of the highest "Alban Institute" caliber, which is to say, the "leading edge" of our knowledge concerning the importance and depth of our faith.

Your taking time to talk about your personal spiritual journey in the faith was very meaningful, and lent immense credibility to your exciting and joyful presentation. What I found most significant was the holistic approach of your teaching style: a great balance of intuitive, visual, auditory, practical and sensate "tools" to take home and "evangelize" the sessions, congregations, and communities who will be the next "audience" for what our Presbytery participants well-learned from you. Our best prayers and blessings go with you in your ministry.

The Presbyterian Church USA

The Rev. Dr. Franklin Colclough
Associate Executive Presbyter
Presbytery of New Harmony
P.O. Box 4025
Florence, SC 29502
877-662-8411; fax 843-665-1408

March 21, 2003

∙       On March 14-15, 2003 the Evangelism Committee of the Presbytery of New Harmony sponsored a Magnetic Church Event. More than 135 persons attended representing large, mid size, and small membership churches. The group included clergy and laity from the following denominations: Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Lutherans.

Andrew Weeks has managed to put together an outstanding presentation that is informational, insightful, spiced with humor, and presented in a manner that keeps participants interested and engaged. Andy is a master at interacting with his audience and getting participants involved so that the event is not just a monologue but a conversation of learning together.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Dr. John M. Nelsen, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
P. O. Box 29, Sapulpa, OK 74607
Chairperson of the Evangelism and Congregational Development Committee
Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery
918-224-1022; nelsen@fpcsapulpa.org

Oct. 29, 2002

To whom it may concern;

∙       Spiritually based, fun, and most of all, practical are three very applicable ways of describing The Magnetic Church Conference led by Andrew Weeks. The time flew by, and the creative ideas given to us were numerous. I would highly recommend this seminar. In fact, it was the enthusiastic recommendation of two lay persons to our Presbytery's Evangelism Committee that planted the seed to our hosting it. If you want to have a biblically based catalyst for your church's spiritual life, call Andrew Weeks soon!

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Jim Wallace
Moderator of The Evangelism Committee
Palo Duro Presbytery
c/o Westminster Presbyterian Church
4515 South 14th St.
Abilene, TX 79605
915-692-3544; fax 19156923547; pastor@wpcabilene.org

July 1, 2002

To whom it may concern;

∙       Can an Episcopal layman, who is a Rhode Islander, and was born in Montreal, connect with a collection of West Texas Presbyterians? The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” as witnessed by the response we received to Andy Weeks’ Magnetic Church Conference presented at First Presbyterian Church in Graham, Texas, and again two weeks later at First Presbyterian Church in Plainview, Texas.

Andy’s presentation is fast paced, fun, and idea-filled. Participants representing our smallest to our largest congregations here in Palo Duro Presbytery went away informed, enthusiastic and confident those emotions will be turned into positive action when they get back home.

Here are just a few of the comments heard both during and after Andy’s presentation: “I can go back (to my home church) with some ideas…and I thought it was hopeless.” “Friday night alone was worth the trip.” “I drove five hours to get here, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” “It’s obvious that he understands our system of government, our tradition, and our desire for growth…despite our discomfort with evangelism.” “My biggest fear is greeting a ‘newcomer’ and discovering they’re not new. Andy had a simple and effective solution.” “He’s real. He means what he says. He’s sincere.”

As moderator of Palo Duro Presbytery’s Evangelism Committee, I join with the other members of the team in heartily endorsing Andy Weeks’ Magnetic Church conference, and I invite your questions at any time.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Bill Hoffman, Pastor
The Church of the Covenant
2666 Military Road
Arlington, VA 22207
703-524-4115; fax 703-524-4248

Nov. 27, 2001

Dear Andy,

∙       Thanks again for bringing us an outstanding Magnetic Church conference! The eighty participants from Covenant and thirteen other congregations came away energized and better equipped to share God’s love with our communities. Your personal testimony was inspiring and was served with just the right touch of humor.

As the host church, we reaped a special benefit from your eye-opening guided tour of our own facility and grounds. The forum and sermon on Sunday morning enabled many others who had not attended the conference to hear your message. The broad base of enthusiasm generated by the weekend’s experiences has led us to make changes already, and more are in the works.

We thank you for your ministry and enthusiastically recommend The Magnetic Church Conference to others who are seeking new and better ways to share the Good News.

With every good wish for you and your continued ministry!

And, from Bob and Jeanne Comeau, the sponsoring leaders: The Session was eager to go when I reported on the event the following night. We cannot thank you enough for the energy you instilled in our church; so many people talk about getting to work and the want to do it now! You have certainly made a difference in churches and in people's lives. Take good care of yourself so you can still be doing this in your nineties.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Rev. Larry Wheeler, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
138 North Main St.
Liberty, MO 64068
816-781-6528; lewheeler@msn.com

Oct. 17, 2001

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

∙       Our congregation recently participated in the Magnetic Church Conference presented by Andrew Weeks. We found it an engaging and energizing experience. Andy’s sense of humor helped us to look at evangelism in a more positive light. It was important for us to begin to see ourselves through the eyes of visitors. Old habits can easily become barriers to visitors that we simply do not recognize. We are now rethinking how we communicate to others, so that we can become more effective in our outreach.

The forum discussion that followed our worship service had such an impact upon one of our members that they offered to purchase "business" cards for the members of our congregation. Members can use them as calling cards and invitations to people whom they meet. The cards also become reminders to ourselves of the opportunities we have to invite others to worship.

As a gifted layperson, Andy speaks equally well to clergy and lay leaders. I highly recommend this biblically and spiritually based conference to everyone seeking a fresh look at evangelism.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Greg Wiest, for
The Committee on Evangelism
Presbytery of Donegal
P.O. Box 10054
Lancaster, PA 17605
717-392-4035 (Presbytery Office); his: 717-529-2000; gandlwiest@yahoo.com

Sept. 14, 2001

Dear Andy,

∙       Just a note to let you know how much we enjoyed The Magnetic Church Conference held her in the Presbytery of Donegal in central PA. It was really exciting to have 125 people from many different denominations come out - this was many more than we expected.

I recommend The Magnetic Church Conference to any church or fellowship of churches that is serious about evangelism. Our people were encouraged to "do" evangelism and they were given some very concrete tools to carry out the Great Commission that our Lord has given to us. Thanks again for coming and sharing with us, and blessings on your ministry.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. William J. Fuerstenau, Interim Pastor
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
1313 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005-4790
202-393-3700

May 22, 2001

Dear Andrew,

∙       I thank you on behalf of The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church for The Magnetic Church conference that you presented on April 27-28, 2001. It was a wonderful experience. One hundred and thirty people from over 30 churches in the area attended. There were more than sixty from our own congregation, many from our Session, Board of Trustees, Board of Deacons and our Pastor Nominating Committee.

The emphasis that you place on practical tools for non-confrontational evangelism - the greeting ministry, signs, brochures, lighting church windows for passers-by, has been invaluable for us. We do take for granted those things that are not obvious and even mysterious to an unchurched person. The black door at our entrance that had been painted red by Sunday AM, the day following the event, was testimony to the impact of your message.

We were impressed that the conference is not about gimmicks, nor about clever secular marketing strategies. Rather it is rooted in the scriptural injunction to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s redeeming love. I have found this to be the best event of its kind in which I have participated in the 40 years of my ministry in the Presbyterian Church.

This is a time of transition for The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. We expect to call a new pastor within a few months. The conference helped us to renew our commitment to the Great Commission, thereby connecting us with our history and pointing the way to the immediate challenges ahead of us. The conference definitely disturbed the comfort level of our people. And that has led to continuing discussion, reflection, and the conviction that change is necessary. We recognize more clearly than before, that evangelism is the calling of each member of our congregation and not to be assigned to a single committee. Andy, thank you so much for sharing your calling with us!

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Paul E. Johnson
Evangelism Consultant
Eastminster Presbytery
45 Idlewood Road, Suite A
Youngstown, OH 44515
Presbytery Office: 330-793-2416; His: 330-547-2977

Dec. 22, 1999

Dear Andrew,

∙       Thank you for your wonderful presentation of the "ins and outs" of Evangelism and Welcoming strategies. With 62 persons attending, the responses exceeded our expectations. We have now received and analyzed the evaluations (completed by the participants): "Very personable; laughter, stories, examples helped keep content moving and interesting" - "Down to earth, comfortable" - "Flowed well, made me realize how much more I need to study and learn". And, the piece-de-resistance: "Thank you for the information and I hope to adjust some attitudes. The pastors need to understand that they do not have to hang tough all the time - it’s OK to have ‘pew-warmers’ make others feel welcome".

Andy - thank you again, for your graciousness and the faith you demonstrate in this good work.

And the Rev. Johnson enclosed a copy of a letter he received from a participating congregation, excerpt: "On behalf of Calvary Church, I give thanks (for the) Magnetic Church Conference. Four young adults attended and came back quite enthused. They made reports to the Session and to the congregation. And they’ve come up with a number of suggestions, some of which have been implemented already, while others are in progress. At least partly as a result of that Conference and their enthusiasm, two of these young adults have agreed to serve on Session, and another will be going on Deacons. So our church is receiving some tangible benefits from the Magnetic Church Conference and we’re looking forward to still more."

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Neil W. Brown
Executive Presbyter
Presbytery of North central Iowa
2302 Falls Avenue
Waterloo, IA 50701
319-233-1747

Oct. 5, 1999

Dear Church Leader:

∙       The Magnetic Church Conference led by Andrew Weeks was a significant event in the life of our Presbytery. Using the publicity materials and techniques which Andy recommended resulted in an attendance more than double the number we originally expected. The conference more than lived up to its billing as training in "non-confrontational evangelism".

Andy’s presentations were inspiring, informative and, humorous and self revealing - sometimes more than on at the same time! He sent participants away eager to put their learnings into practice as they attempt to reach out to their communities with the good news of new life in Jesus Christ. I commend the Magnetic Church to you.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Steve Gorman
Chair of the Evangelism and Church Development
Presbytery of Cincinnati
c/o Westwood 1^st Presbyterian Church
3011 Harrison Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45211-5786
513-661-6846

June 7, 1999

Dear Andy,

∙       The Presbytery of Cincinnati welcomed Andy weeks and his conference The Magnetic Church April 30 and May 1, 1999. Our people found this event to be both inspiring and practical. A number of participants said: "I never thought about evangelism in these terms. Our committee has already noted that a number of congregations continue their own self study based on Andy’s suggestions.

We believe that many of our churches will become more "magnetic" thanks to Andy’s sharing, and his excellent materials.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Dr. Robert E. Houser
General Presbyter
Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery
907 National Road
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-232-3490; bobuovuovpresby.org

March 31, 1999

Dear Andy,

∙       Once again, thank you for the fine Magnetic Church Conference you led at First Presbyterian Church in Wheeling. Leading the same event two consecutive years, (as sponsor) I appreciated the work you had done to keep the material fresh. New graphics, updated illustrations, and your continual efforts to learn from evaluations were apparent and helpful.

As we struggled with plans and arrangements for this event, we found your willingness to accommodate our needs critical to the success of the event. Already I have heard of practical applications made by workshop participants. I would certainly recommend your workshop to others. Thank you again.

 

Dr. Houser also wrote this letter, last year, after our first event:

May 21, 1998

Dear Andy,

∙       Thank you so much for the Magnetic Church workshop on April 17th & 18th at First Presbyterian Church (Wheeling). The event gave many of our people energy and a sense of hope. Nothing (else) we have tried so far has been able to accomplish that.

Your personal sharing of faith journey, your sense of humor, your practical suggestions, and the fact that you are a lay person all contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the event. We are presently in the process of trying to schedule you again in 1999.

Thank you.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Robert O'Meara
for the Presbytery of Utica
First Presbyterian Church
108 West Court Street
Rome, NY 13440
315-336-1380; fpresbyt@twcny.rr.com

April 12, 1999

∙       When one of our Elders returned from a Magnetic Church Conference in Syracuse last year, she insisted that we bring Andy Weeks to our presbytery to present his engaging challenge to our church leaders. And, because I have great respect for this Elder's opinions, I volunteered to coordinate such an event for Utica Presbytery last March. It was a lot of work to do all of the publicity and arrangements, but, with Andy's guidance and encouragement, we soon registered a full house of 100 people from 26 churches.

Andy's personal testimony and humorous anecdotes quickly energized the initial Friday night gathering. His carefully scripted presentation kept everyone focused on the material. And, in response to his practical insights, most found themselves asking, "Why didn't I think of that before?", or saying, "Hey, we can do that!" Then, during the Saturday sessions, Andy involved us in small groups to role play the part of greeters, and to provide constructive criticism of our church's printed materials.

I was delighted with the enthusiastic participation of all of the conferees, and especially with their 100% positive evaluation of the event. This was of particular significance inasmuch as they represented both theologically conservative and liberal positions, as well as experiences from all different sizes of churches. The common ground that Andy established was the ministry we all share to invite, welcome, and involve people in the love of Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. And, everyone left with the commitment and tools to just do it.

The Presbyterian Church USA

Rev. Ann M. Philbrick
Associate General Presbyter
National Capital Presbytery
4915 45th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016-4080
202-244-4760

June 1, 1998

To Whom It May Concern:

∙       Are folks in your congregations looking for ideas on how to greet visitors effectively? Are they looking for ideas on printed materials or signs for your land or building? Are they looking for inspiration when it comes to non-confrontational evangelism? Look no further. At The Magnetic Church workshop run by Andrew Weeks, they will find it.

I was very excited to have Andy Weeks in our Presbytery. His is one of the best workshops I have attended in years. Our people came away excited, challenged, renewed and inspired. He offers a combination of spiritual richness along with practical (and GOOD) ideas for connecting with visitors and potential visitors to your congregation.

I work in the area of evangelism and church development and have read many books, heard many speakers, and taught many workshops myself. The time and effort to bring Andy into your region will be well worth it.

 

 

 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Mr. Fletcher Carroll, Council President
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
50 North Prospect, Akron, OH 44304
Church: 330-376-5154; his: peegee@neo.rr.com.

October 3, 2006

∙       The Magnetic Church Conference was indeed informative, enlightening, inspirational and entertaining. Andy Week’s approach to evangelism appeals to all. One leaves the conference ready to implement practical evangelistic approaches and communication abilities. We saw our church through the eyes of a newcomer. We were energized to return to our congregations and share our newly learned skills.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Ronald R. Zoesch
Assistant to the Bishop
The Northeastern Ohio Synod, ELCA
1890 Bailey Road
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221-5259
330-929-9022x26; rzoesch@neos-elca.org

May 24, 2005

Dear Andy,

∙       Thanks again for your helpful presentation to our congregations. As a Lutheran synod in the Midwest with congregations in a variety of settings: urban, rural and suburban, we were well pleased by your presentation of The Magnetic Church. We had participants from these different contexts and all were inspired by your testimony and practical evangelism ideas. And on Monday, we reviewed the evaluations; they were overwhelmingly positive.

Sadly, our event was oversubscribed and we had to turn away about 40 persons. Happily, two of our attending congregations now wish to host an upcoming event and we look forward to your return.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. W. Jerry Weeks, Pastor
Christ Lutheran Church
481 Snead Dr. Fairfield Glade, TN 38558
931-484-7273; christluther@frontiernet.net

March 10, 2005

To Whom It May Concern:

∙       Last March of 2004 I attended a Magnetic Church Conference led by Andrew Weeks. Having attended several evangelism conferences in the past decade, The Magnetic Church undoubtedly was the best event that I had experienced. Not only did it give many practical suggestions that could be implemented immediately, but it gave a much-needed long-range strategy for making our church’s message and ministries known in our community. Upon returning home, I shared much of the materials received at the conference with appropriate committees and parish leaders. We soon began to discover our outreach ministry was more focused and effective.

At once I began to plan for a Magnetic Church conference in my local area of East Tennessee. Inviting the Lutheran parishes from the Southeastern Synod-ELCA, along with Episcopal, Presbyterian, and United Methodist congregations in East Tennessee, we held our conference on March 4 & 5, 2005. With eighty participants from three different denominations, we found that the sharing from the different traditions was especially fruitful. Each participant was able to take with them a larger vision for evangelism together with many new ideas to try in their own setting. I deeply appreciate the many new resources we received, along with the vision Andrew Weeks raised for our parish. This is going to be an exciting year for us!

And from his email March 28: Thanks once again for giving us your time and talents. The conference was a terrific success. I now have heard from several congregations, and the response was been very favorable!

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. James R. Gable Jr., Pastor
St. Paul Lutheran Church
200 W. Orange St., Lititz, PA 17543
717-626-4709; jimgable@dejazzd.com

May 24, 2004

∙       Mr. Andrew Weeks’ “The Magnetic Church Conference” has been in our synod twice recently. Several of us attended the first one and we were so impressed with what we learned we had to “host” the event for the Lancaster County and the Lower Susquehanna Synod area in 2004. We gained renewed enthusiasm and insights in engaging people in the ministry of Evangelism. Andy opened our eyes, as the host congregation, to the ways a visitor might look at our church and our facility.

He presented a practical seminar and workshop, not only “learning about” but actually “doing” the very thing we are called to be as disciples. Our people were so impressed by his presentation that some items were implemented within two weeks of the workshop and the rest have been assigned to individuals to implement at a later date. Andy’s personal testimony was inspiring and allowed many to look at the church through the eyes of a visitor/stranger coming into our midst.

I enthusiastically recommend Mr. Andrew Weeks’ Magnetic Church workshop to all evangelism committees, leadership boards and committed members who want to jump- start their greeting and “welcoming” aspect of their outreach ministry.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Robert Maddox
Phyllis Bush, Event Coordinator
St. Matthew Lutheran Church
30 W. Chestnut St.
Hanover, PA 17331
717-637-7101; 17176374961; rnmaddox@netrax.net

June 10, 2003

∙       There are conferences, and there is "The Magnetic Church Conference". Members of 23 churches of various denominations joined us for an exciting and inspirational experience. Andy opened our eyes to the ways an outsider might look at - or never notice - our church. Andy’s two-pronged approach 1) for bringing newcomers into the church and 2) just as importantly, effectively welcoming them and assessing their needs, simply makes sense.

With his disarming sense of humor and with his obvious love for mainline denominations, Andy provided participants with practical approaches and communications skills with which to meet our neighbors so that we might welcome them into our communities and a relationship with God. At this conference, Andy stressed the art of welcoming as one of greeting, responding to the needs of newcomers, assisting them and offering to walk with them on their faith journeys.

Using Andy’s take-home materials, St. Matthew members, both of the Evangelism Committee and others who attended, have already met to adopt many of the practices suggested at the Conference. Change is in the wind!

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Pastor Paull Spring
Grace Lutheran Church
205 South Garner St.
State College, PA 16801
814-238-2478; fax 18142384104; pastorspring@glcpa.org

Feb. 10, 2003

∙       I am happy to recommend the Magnetic Church Conference and Andy Weeks to you. He presents evangelism in practical and concrete ways that are applicable to any size and type of congregation.

On Jan. 31/Feb. 1, Andy led a Magnetic Church Conference in State college, Pa. It was sponsored by Grace Lutheran and St. Andrew’s Episcopal churches. 16 congregations and 138 people participated; many congregations sent their entire leadership core.

Since the event, there has been such an enthusiasm for evangelism in our congregation. Our people are not so much frightened by evangelism, but are energized in ways I have seldom experienced before.

I am confident that your congregation will be similarly blessed by Andy and The Magnetic Church Conference.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Pastor Richard D. Stephens
Assistant to the Bishop
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod
506 Haws Avenue
Norristown, PA 19401-4543
610-278-7340; rnn@dplus.net

Oct. 22, 2002

∙       I thought I knew a lot about the whole subject of hospitality and inviting, but what a surprise I, and all those attending the workshop on the Magnetic Church, were in for on October 15 and 17 (2002). Andrew Weeks, in a gentle way, challenged us to take a look at ourselves and our practices as they apply to us being an inviting and hospitable church. It was a day and evening well spent.

If you want to grow in your knowledge of what an inviting and hospitable congregation ought to look like to the unchurched, you need to attend a workshop on the Magnetic Church.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. James E. Hazelwood, Pastor, for
The New England Synod Evangelism Network
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
P. O. Box 1259
Charlestown, RI 02813
401-741-2104; jimhazelwood@home.com

February 4, 2002

∙       On behalf of all of us in the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, I wish to thank you for your fine leadership of the Magnetic Church event on January 31, Feb 1 & 2, 2002.

Your presentation was professional, inspirational and most helpful in engaging both lay people and pastors in the task of Evangelism. It is quite evident that you are extremely knowledgeable of this subject, especially as it applies to the task of reinvigorating mainline congregations. What I believe to be the key to the success of your evangelism ministry is the depth of spirit which surrounds the practical information. As you know, there are many tools for making churches grow, what you have so capably included is a heartfelt passion for the rich traditions of the Christian faith.

I would highly recommend your event to other churches and denominations as a way for them to encourage and assist local congregations in being more effective in their ministries of evangelism. While an event like this requires planning and implementation, you provide all of the tools that make it achievable. The brochures, press releases, bulletin inserts, registration forms - all made my job as the coordinator more manageable. This is the kind of event that a Synod or district could sponsor with a moderate degree of focused energy - and achieve measurable results. You helped make us look good.

Our event had 92 participants of which 79 were lay people, and in that I believe is the key to your effectiveness. Lay people truly benefit from this experience. Thank you again for your focus and passion for evangelism.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Anton A. Kern, Jr., Pastor
Hosanna Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
975 Highway 190
Covington, LA 70433
504-893-4296; fax 504-893-4332

May 3, 2000

Dear Fellow Clergy and Lay Leaders,

∙       I am writing to recommend Andrew Weeks’ "Magnetic Church" workshop. As the host congregation for the area-wide (Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod) event, we received renewed enthusiasm and insights. It has been my long-term conviction that we should have fewer seminars and more workshops in which participants not only "learn about" but actually "do" the very things about which they learn. Andy Weeks’ Magnetic Church event combines the inspiration of a seminar with the actual doing of the subject. I am delighted with his event.

I applaud the telling of "what" and the teaching "how-to" as an unusual combination for today’s typical workshop/seminar circuit. In particular, Andy’s greeter workshop gave our people new experience and insight into serving as greeters. Participants are better at greeting than they were before the event. We benefitted from Andy’s tour of our facilities and the various critiques of our newsletter. Our people, myself included, were so inspired that some items were implemented within two weeks.

Andy’s personal testimony was inspiring as it provided insight into the feelings of an outsider returning to church after many years of absence. In addition, it provided a time frame in the journey back to Christ and his church, to which a number of our people could identify. These are just a few reasons I commend Andy to you.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. David E. Cox, Ph.D.
Assistant to the Bishop and
Director for Outreach, Evangelism and Stewardship
Central/Southern Illinois Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
524 South 5^th Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1822
217-753-7915; DAVID_E_COX.parti@ecunet.org

May 1, 1999

∙       This is a letter of recommendation to those within the ELCA community regarding Andrew Weeks and his presentation of "The Magnetic Church".

Andy has come twice to our synod and conducted a seminar based on research he has done regarding welcoming the quest, hospitality and Christian community. His presentation was fresh and engaging. His material is superb, among the best I have seen.

Andy has the ability to talk with Lutheran congregational members in a way which is insightful, meaningful and tangible. His interaction with members of other denominations was also appropriate and well received. His materials and presentation are able to be shared by those who attend his seminars with clarity and ease. I have had calls from congregations which are thanking me for having Mr. Weeks in our synod. They also wonder when we will sponsor him again.

I enthusiastically encourage synodical outreach and evangelism committees to consider having Andrew Weeks as a presenter. His presentation has good substance and is stimulating.

 

 

 

The United Methodist Church

Rev. Mollie Clements, Chairperson
Equipping Local Churches Committee
Metro Ministries, Inc.
The United Methodist Church
Indianapolis East & West Districts
P.O. Box 441190
Indianapolis, IN 46244-1190
317-632-9051; revmollie@aol.com

Feb. 6, 2001

Dear Andy,

∙       What a wondrous weekend! In our planning we had anticipated 60 to 75 people, but to have 237 -- it was beyond our dreams! We feel our congregations must be hungering for such tools and inspiration as you gave, for so many to come and for so many to ask for you to come again.

The way you wove personal life experience and spiritual milestones into presentations of practical tools for evangelism was refreshing and inspirational. People were alert and eager, even through the last session, grateful that you always began on time and honored the time line throughout, for they wanted everything you had to give and did not want you to have to leave out anything. The specificity of the practical tools you offer, the affirmation you give of each church’s unique strengths, and the scriptural basis for each approach were deeply appreciated. As was your humor! All of this contributed to our being particularly impressed with how you appealed to our United Methodist sensibilities. We claim you as an Episcopal brother!

On behalf of the 55 congregations that participated, I offer gratitude to you for the new hope, energy and skills with which we go forth to live and witness to our faith. Thank you!

The United Methodist Church

The Rev. Arnold A. Rhodes
District Superintendent
Kane District
Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
5 South Park Ave.
Kane, PA 16735-1230
814-837-6115; arnoldr@penn.com.

Oct. 21, 1999

Dear Andy,

∙       I commend The Magnetic Church Conference to my fellow United Methodists. The material you shared with the leaders of the Kane District was right on. You provided an opportunity for participants to receive vital information on what is happening in the life of the church today. You also affirmed the need for the congregations to assess their evangelistic attitudes and to improve their communication skills to reach the persons in their communities. Without hesitation, I shared the outline of the conference with the Western Pennsylvania Conference Cabinet of eleven District Superintendents and with Bishop Bashore.

The United Methodist Church

The Rev. Richard Olson
Associate Council Director
Council on Ministries
Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church
500 East Court Avenue, Suite C
Des Moines, IA 50309-2097
712-732-9183; RicOlson@iaumc.org

Sept. 1, 1999

Dear Andy,

∙       Thanks for coming to Iowa recently to present your evangelism workshop, "The Magnetic Church". I am most happy to recommend your program in evangelism to my colleagues in the United Methodist church. Thank you for sharing your insights and your ministry with us, for inviting people into the Church and into a closer relationship with God.

From the evaluations received, it appears participants had a more enjoyable, informative experience than they had anticipated:
- Our participants greatly appreciated your obvious love and concern for mainline denominations and churches.
- The story you share about your own spiritual journey touched many persons here.
- You bring a new perspective regarding how to help churches communicate their excitement with others in their community.
- You have a great sense of humor which disarms the skeptics and put us at ease with you.
- Your presentation contains high-quality, colorful graphic slides and take-home material.
- Your ideas for practical suggestions opened our eyes to see evangelism in a new way.
- You listened well,
and worked hard to involve the participants in the process.

Keep up the great work you are doing among our churches!

The United Methodist Church

The Rev. Dr. J-LaVon Kincaid, Sr.
Assistant to the Bishop
The Pittsburgh Area
United Methodist Center
P. O. Box 5002
Cranberry Twp., PA 16066-4914
724-776-1499; Fax 724-776-1683; drjvon@yahoo.com

August, 1999

Dear Colleagues in Ministry:

Greetings:

∙       This letter is my personal recommendation of Mr. Andrew D. Weeks, a practical, pan-denominational evangelist. In attending his Magnetic Church Evangelism Workshop recently, I found him to be most helpful to both laity and clergy. Specifically, what Mr. Weeks offers is a fresh approach to evangelism that helps participants learn more about new member recruitment, assimilation, and retention.

Andy is a gifted lay evangelist who uses humor in an engaging and lively way. He has worked with mainline churches across the United States and Canada. He will guide participants through a spiritual, practical and fun-filled workshop. I am pleased to recommend him to you and prayerfully ask your consideration in utilizing his gifts and skills where possible.

( Note: Dr. Kincaid was not an event sponsor, but journeyed to Los Angeles to review my ministry on behalf of his colleagues).

The United Methodist Church

The Rev. Dr. David A. Purdy
District Superintendent
Rhode Island - Southeastern Massachusetts District
New England Conference
38 Sowams Road
Barrington, RI 02806
401-247-1819; Fax 401-245-7117; risem.district@ecunet.org

June 8, 1998

Dear Andy:

∙       I am most happy to recommend your program in evangelism, The Magnetic Church, to my colleagues in the United Methodist Church.

Your honesty about your own spiritual journey, the soundness of your theological foundation, the humor, up-to-date graphic material and practical suggestions make your presentation compelling. You listen carefully, involve the participants in the process and reflect an ecumenical spirit.

I have been so pleased with the two presentations you've given for the United Methodist clergy and laity in the Rhode Island section of my District that I am eager to have you come to Southeastern Massachusetts.

Thank you for the effort you are making to invite people into the Church and to involve them in a closer relationship with God.

 

 

 

The Anglican Church of Canada

The Rev. Ross Gill, Rector
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
237 Wilson Avenue, Kitchener, ON N2C 1G9
519-893-7606; gilljrj@sympatico.ca

May 23, 2009

∙       "God bless you for your life's work. We learned so much from you." "We need to spread the word about these conferences." "Good presentation, good enthusiasm, well put together. Can you be cloned?" These are just a few of the many positive comments people wrote on their evaluation forms near the end of the Magnetic Church Conference held at All Saints Anglican Church, Waterloo, Ontario on April 24-25, 2009.

The event came about largely because of the transformative impact an earlier conference had upon our parish of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kitchener, Ontario. In October, 2007 most of our parish council attended the conference in London, Ontario. People came away energized and eager to implement immediately some of the practical tools and ideas Andy Weeks provided. Perhaps just as importantly they left with a changed attitude toward mission. Out of this emerged the desire to hold a conference in the Deanery of Waterloo in the Diocese of Huron that other churches might benefit as ours has. In April, 2009, this desire came to fruition when 111 representatives from area churches and beyond attended the Magnetic Church Conference at All Saints.

The weekend was electric, to say the least, with people using words like helpful, practical, insightful, and energizing to describe their experience. As people implement what they learned we expect the Magnetic Church Conference to bear fruit for years to come. We can only echo the words of one participant who said, "Thank you so much, Andy. God bless! You have made a difference."

∙       A Progress Report from Ken Cullen Oct. 17, 2009: We are still growing and trying to live what we learned from you in London and then our "refresher" here in Kitchener/Waterloo. We took your advice!!! You led Rev. Ross, me and a church warden to the side of the church and pointed out that we needed to get the ramp going . . . you showed that we were without excuse . . . . we accepted that challenge. I have enclosed the pictures taken from that Sunday. Thank you for teaching us, for leading us, and for expanding our thinking. We still have so much to work on from what we learned during the workshops but we have come a long way. We painted the front door red, the basement walls to a new colour and then the washrooms following our first encounter with the Magnetic Church in London Ontario a couple of years ago.

Now, we have the ramp, accessible washroom, have repainted every wall in the church, started a feeding program for under-nourished children (38% of the children at the school next door to us live below the poverty line; 51 kids are registered), our name tags have taken off, the web-site redesigned, expanded parking plans, and Alpha has taken off with renewed energy.

Thank You for challenging our minds, our spirits, and our pocket-books. You are a blessing to the parish of the Church of the Holy Trinity. May God bless you richly for your dedication!

The Anglican Church of Canada

The Rev. Dr. Michael Peterson, Pastor
The Anglican Parish of Grace and St. George's Churches
Box 188, Ilderton, ON N0M 2A0
519-666-3009; graceanglican1@bellnet.ca

February 4, 2008

∙       The experience of bringing the Magnetic Church conference to the Diocese of Huron (London, Ontario) in November, 2007 was such a positive one that I feel compelled to write this letter to recommend Andy's ministry of evangelism, in the hope that it will inspire others to enlist his considerable talents in building the church of Christ. I first encountered Andy at his event sponsored by the Anglican Diocese of Toronto in February 2007. As a participant, I was inspired by Andy's energy and felt empowered by his many practical ideas for making my church more welcoming, more comprehensible, and more focused on those outside our walls. As a priest, I felt that my own Diocese badly needed to hear this message.

From April to early November 2007, I led the organizing committee for the first Magnetic Church conference in Huron. During these months, Andy gave clear expectations and suggestions to maximize our marketing efforts, plan our venue, and make all necessary preparations. I had the benefit of Andy's experience of publicizing and delivering over 250 of these conferences, and this experience translated into our success. Two weeks before our start date of November 16, we were turning away people because, at 262 registrants, we had exceeded our room capacity. I can't say enough about the help Andy gives hosts in planning events.

As the conference organizer, I felt that Andy delivered an excellent product that lived up to our billing. I believe that Andy's energy, his humor, his intensity and his ideas are Spirit-given gifts. God has truly equipped Andy to be an evangelist. At the end of the conference, his vision had taken root. I looked at each of the 262 evaluations and not one was negative. As one participant put it, Andy offered "A wonderful, inspiring, life-giving workshop".

If your church, presbytery, or diocese is considering inviting Andy Weeks to come and do a Magnetic Church conference, I hope my words have helped you to make the decision. Get Andy booked as quickly as possible. You and your people will be better equipped to serve the gospel and a world that needs to hear the gospel's message.

Thank you, Andy, and may God bless and speed your efforts. You're a gift to the Church.

The Anglican Church of Canada

Bev Salmon, Deputy Warden
St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church
19 Don Ridge Drive
Toronto, ON M2P 1H3
bevsalm@hotmail.com

Feb. 22, 2007

∙       I am pleased to recommend Andy Weeks and his presentation of the Magnetic Church Conference. Andy is an excellent motivator and leaves his audience excited and inspired. His style of presentation is humorous and graphic and he has the ability to appeal directly to his audience on a personalized level. His energy is contagious and participants leave the sessions inspired to take action on his recommendations and determined to make changes to their individual churches to ensure they will become more welcoming.

I have attended two of his Magnetic Church Conferences and the comments following each conference were completely positive and enthusiastic. The overwhelming success of both conferences was largely due to his organization and attention to details as well as the materials that Andy so meticulously prepares. The fact that both conferences were sold out attests to their popularity and effectiveness. Participants come away excited about evangelism, eager to apply immediately there new knowledge and grateful for the time so well spent.

A Progress Report from Bev Salmon: : Our March 3 follow-up meeting was well attended with 21 enthusiastic parishioners attending - still fired up from your Conference. We have moved ahead with: name tags, recruiting greeters, inside signage and revising our Welcome Package. We are in the process of setting up an outdoor signage committee to follow through on the inventory of outdoor sign needs identified at the conference.

The Anglican Church of Canada - Testimonial from May 26 / 27, 2006

Louise Simos, on behalf of herself, Liz Jordan, Ted Krawchuk, Louise Simos, and Lilian Wells, Conference participants and members of:
St. Cuthbert Anglican Church
1399 Bayview Ave.
Toronto, ON M4G 3A6
416-485-0329

May 31, 2006

Singing “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land” almost raised the roof of Saint George’s Pickering as we joined 190 fellow Anglicans in song for the opening of the Magnetic Church Conference on May 26. Andrew Weeks, the dynamic, inspiring and informative conference speaker, entertained us with heartfelt and humorous stories of his life and his experiences as a
layperson and evangelist.

Over the course of Friday evening and all day Saturday, we learned how to attract, welcome and retain new members. But first Andrew challenged our assumptions about evangelism and church growth. With humour and insight he cautioned us against the “vampire trap” that focuses on the need for “new blood in the parish” instead of focusing on meeting the varied spiritual needs of new members. He dispelled concerns about “holy roller” evangelists by describing a “walk with me” style of evangelism appropriate to mainstream churches like ours: an evangelism where we invite people to walk beside us and share the journey of our faith.

Using real examples, Andrew shared many practical and useful ideas for effective signage and lighting, bulletin boards, welcome brochures, websites, bulletins, newsletters, tracking newcomers and more. Tips to make new members welcome ranged from having a nursing rocker in a quiet corner to responding to a newcomer’s body language when offering to shake their hand. He was emphatic about nametags for everyone. We shared our church materials, and we received lots of positive feedback about The Link – thanks to Susan Ellworth’s superb work on this newsletter.

We learned and practiced the important ministry of greeting. Andrew explained that the greeter’s mission is not to be a cheerleader, but to welcome newcomers as guests of God, respond to their needs, assist them in their journey, walk with them, and gather information discretely. We left inspired to build on St. Cuthbert’s strengths in order to invite new members to walk with us on our journey of faith, and share the fellowship that makes St. Cuthbert’s special. Now we are planning how to share what we have learned to make St. Cuthbert’s a “magnetic” church.

The Anglican Church of Canada - Testimonials from Sept. 24 / 25, 2004
3 letters forwarded to me Oct. 7, 2004, from the diocesan website niagara.anglican.ca by

The Rev. Canon Michael D. Patterson
Director of Evangelism, The Anglican Diocese of Niagara
Cathedral Place, 252 James Street North
Hamilton, ON L8R 2L3
905-527-1316x257; mpatterson@niagara.anglican.ca

From: Elizabeth Wensley
St. John the Evangelist
Hamilton, Ontario

The "Magnetic Church" conference, indeed Andy Weeks' entire ministry, is based on the premise that the Church's mission is to proclaim God's love to a spiritually-hungry world. Unlike other approaches to evangelism I've encountered on TV and face-to-face - which have made me profoundly uncomfortable - Weeks really understands that "we have all the answers for you" neither works nor honours the Gospel. Andy also understands that many - if not most - of us come to our relationship with God and Jesus through our relationships with other people, that people join specific parishes, not ‘The Anglican Church’, and that very often the way people are treated the first time they attend determines whether they'll ever come back.

As an active Anglican himself with wide experience of the Church, Andy spoke my language and understood my culture. He also challenged our parish team to look critically at what we are doing in order to improve the way we present ourselves to newcomers. The "Magnetic Church" conference is full of really useful tips and strategies that Anglican parishes can use to attract, welcome and integrate people with little or no previous experience of church - many of which don't cost anything at all to implement. Andy's extremely funny and easy to listen to, and the energy in the room was amazing - you could almost see the wheels turning in people's brains as they explored the possibilities raised by his talks and the small group exercises for their own parish communities. Frankly, it was probably the most valuable time I've ever invested in a church event.

From Amy Cousineau, Rector
All Saints Anglican Church
Erin, Ontario

Andy Weeks is funny, insightful, honest, and interesting. His workshop The Magnetic Church surprised me! I came away feeling energized, enlightened, and equipped with practical tools for spreading the good news about Jesus Christ and about All Saints Anglican Church. The workshop convinced me that, with God’s help, we can do it! We can do evangelism! We’re not too small and we’re not too timid. Using Andy’s ideas and techniques we can invite people into our church family, care about them, and share our faith with them. And we can do that well! I highly recommend this workshop for both clergy and lay leaders – take along as many people as you can. It’s worth every penny of the registration fee and every minute you spend there!

 

From Dave Ponting, Director of Stewardship
The Anglican Diocese of Niagara

What a delightful conference. It’s not often that I actually look forward to a church conference or continuing education event. I don’t lie in bed at night and say to myself “Only two more days until the clergy conference.” But in this case I was looking forward to the Magnetic Church Conference. In fact, I had high expectations going in. I expected this conference to be one of the more important learning events in Niagara in recent memory. It didn’t disappoint.

The Magnetic Church Conference held this past weekend in Burlington was full of helpful information for parishes looking to improve their greeting and hospitality ministries to newcomers. I had the sense that many seminar attendees had been floundering, unsure how to begin this kind of ministry. Andrew Weeks was witty and very knowledgeable. He gave participants a blueprint for the ministry of greeting newcomers to implement back in our own parishes.

Perhaps more importantly, the conference was a call to excellence that needed to be heard. The people attending the conference that I spoke to were pumped by what they learned and unanimous in their praise for the facilitator and the insights and concrete ideas he brought. All the learning from the conference was very practical and, technically at least, not difficult to implement for any parish with the will to move forward.

I am told that 41 parishes were represented at this sold-out conference. It was so great to see some parishes sent teams of 4 delegates or more. One parish originally registered 16 participants and had to be asked to trim their delegate list so more parishes could attend. The ministry of greeting is the job of an entire parish and the facilitator emphasized how important it is to have many people on board.

It seems to me that there isn’t a parish in our diocese that wouldn’t reap huge dividends from attending the conference. I hope we bring Andy Weeks back to Niagara soon. I learned so much and can’t wait to put what I learned into practice. I wouldn’t be surprised if, down the road, many of those in attendance look back and realize that the Magnetic Church Conference was a turning point in the welcoming ministries for their parishes.

 

The Presbyterian Church in Canada

Rev. Ian Fraser, Senior Pastor
St. Columba by-the-Lake Presbyterian Church
11 Rodney Avenue
Pointe-Claire, QC
Canada H9R4L8

514-697-2091; ian@stcolumba.ca

March 14, 2010

∙       The fear of many Canadians, when someone comes from the United States to tell us how to do things, is that they are insensitive to the Canadian context. Andy Weeks, as a native Canadian, is able to speak directly to Canadian Christians. He understands our realities, knows our history, and recognizes the challenges we face. He inspires people to look at themselves in new ways and to realize that the call to reach out in faith to others is not the work of professionals but of ordinary, every day people living out their faith in ordinary, every day ways.

He then gives hundreds of practical ways in which we can make our churches more welcoming centres where people are treated with the care and compassion that all God's children deserve from God's people. I expect that everyone who participates in a Magnetic Church conference will come away inspired and motivated.

 

The Presbyterian Church in Canada

The Rev. Wes Denyer
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
44 Church St. East
Brampton, ON L6V 1G3 Canada

905-451-1723x22; cell 416-271-2233; wesdenyer@rogers.com; www.standrewsbrampton.ca

Nov. 13, 2008

∙       Andrew Weeks walks into your church with a discerning eye. He does not see through the eyes of a long time church member, he sees through the eyes of that person who is new to your church. Andy helped us to see our church again, for the first time.

Andy is overflowing with ideas. His presentation is lively and engaging, inspiring and creative. After you’ve been listening to him for two hours, your mind is not tired, it is alert and bubbling over with new possibilities as to how to transform your church so it will be noticed in the community, attractive to church shoppers and empowered to welcome and assimilate them into the life and work of God at your church.

Andy’s ideas, theology and his suggestions for moving forward in becoming a “magnetic church” were completely compatible with the way we do things as Canadian Presbyterians. Andy is a man with a mission - a calling - and his single-minded passion is to help churches become better at reaching out in the name of Christ, to those who need to find him. At the end of the conference, every person from my church who attended was simply excited to see how we could apply our new insights at St. Andrew’s … and it’s already begun!

The Presbyterian Church in Canada

Tim Herron, Chief Hospitality Officer
Trinity York Mills Presbyterian Church
2737 Bayview Ave.
Willowdale, ON M2L 1C5 CANADA

tim@timherron.ca; therron101@yahoo.ca

Nov. 13, 2008

∙       I wanted to thank you for a wonderful weekend. I enjoyed our sessions at Trinity Presbyterian and the message that you left with us. As a former Board member and now the CHO (Chief Hospitality Officer), I am thrilled to work with our congregation to implement some of the suggestions you shared with us. Since Sunday, I have probably have told 20 people outside the church about the Magnetic Church. It's amazing how many people I now have found out are either church-goers or don't go at all. It's amazing why they left, why they don't take their children and what they think. This is without my saying that I'm a Christian or what I believe. Best wishes for your future sessions. I hope that the other congregations get out of your ministry and e-vangelism what Trinity received.

 

 

 

 

Oral Comments from Participants

Very often at these Magnetic Church events, participants are genuinely and deeply moved by the experience. And often, they will come forward afterwards to thank me for what they feel that I have done for them. It is very clear to me that I personally have done for them only what God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gives me the grace and courage to do. Nevertheless, I myself have been deeply touched by many of their comments, a very few of which I have included here, paraphrased as accurately as I could (listed chronologically, oldest first):

 

     ■   We've never met, yet I really felt as if I had known you before tonight, your stories so touched my own (Fort Lauderdale, FL).

     ■   Before I came tonight, I was so discouraged by my parish I didn't want to attend any more. Now, I can't wait for Sunday, to see what I can begin to do. (Toronto, ON).

     ■   Up until now, evangelism left such a bad taste in my mouth that I came tonight only because my pastor really leaned on me to attend. With your spirituality and stories, you have removed the toxicity from my heart; I'm ready to be an evangelist. (Honolulu, HI).

     ■   I didn't expect an evangelist, especially a white male, to discuss physical and sexual abuse concerns. I'm really moved by your having done so, and for giving me a new way to discuss Christianity with the abuse clients I counsel. (Syracuse, NY).

     ■   I came from a denominational background of guilt, duty, obligation and criticism. Thank you for leaving out the "shoulds, musts and oughts", for not picking on us for what we have failed to do, and for honoring what we have accomplished, even though we now can improve on those too. (Williamsburg, VA).

     ■   When I was eight years old, I saw Jesus in the light, and was elated by the experience. But when I told my parents, they dismissed my experience, telling me that I hadn't really seen Jesus, that it was just a dream or a hallucination. I learned really quickly to not mention this again. So, for twenty years I have repressed the memory of that experience, but never able to dismiss it. When you told your own "light" story Friday night, you told and validated my own story. I couldn't even take notes the rest of the evening I was so transfixed. I now feel so liberated. Also, I never decided to come to this event; I just knew that I had to come. I'm so excited; I feel as if coming here was part one of God's current plan for me. I can't wait for part two, and I'll write and let you know. (Ottawa, ON).

     ■   As an introvert, I never thought I could be an evangelist. So I don't quite know why I came to this event. But I came anyway, and now that you have modeled for me the many ministries introverts can and are doing, including the call that you yourself have accepted, I feel tremendously liberated and excited about possibilities for myself. (East Greenwich, RI).

     ■   Our rector lied to us, telling us this was a "congregational development" conference. I never would have attended an evangelism event. But now that I'm here, and have heard what and why you do, I want to stay, because you are giving us a whole new and acceptable vision of evangelism. (Atlanta, GA).

     ■   I came only because my wife was coming; thought it would be just another ho-hum program. Instead, I've been transformed - into what, I don't know, but I'm leaving here a different person. Thank you; thank God. (Kensington, MD).

     ■   In various forms, at events immediately after 9/11/01: thank you and the sponsors for going ahead with this program; we so needed to come and participate in something positive; and Thank you; I think this is the first time I have really laughed since 9/11. (Torrington, CT).

 

 

 

Written Comments from Evaluations;
Follow-up Emails from Participants

In this section, you can check out how many of the participants in or near your area have reacted and responded. Responses are listed geographically, by state/city and province/city, with multiple events, same city, listed separately, newest first. States/provinces are listed by 2 character postal code; ergo NC precedes NY. I always seek these to request and collect responses, and at most events, the sponsors are willing to ask participants to complete and submit evaluation forms. Some of their personal comments have been genuinely touching and deeply moving; others speak of their reactions to the content and style of presentation and the handouts.

I have included below a selection, transcribed verbatim, of some of the comments received at different events. I hope these will be geographically representative enough to give you a reasonable sense of how the majority of participants have responded to my ministry. However, I have not denoted denomination because, regardless of the sponsor's affiliation, participants from various churches attend all events, so I have no way of knowing the denominational context of any particular comment. Note: my (inserts) for clarity only.

STATE/PROVINCE LINKS:
AR AZ CA CT CO DC DE FL GA IA IL IN KY LA MA MD MI MN MO
MS NC NJ NY NS NV OH OK ON OR PA QC RI SC TN