Ears to Hear
August 14, 2004
John S. Oliver
Introduction
This proposal is to give a brief overview of an
initiative named
Ears to Hear - Friday Community Gatherings.
Ears to Hear (E2H) is an initial program of an
emerging ministry named Our Metroplex Vision (OMV).
The audience of this proposal includes:
board of directors of Our Metroplex Vision
pastor and elders of John S. Oliver
intercessors that have been supporting John S. Oliver
key people at DTS that are invited to serve as
advisors
pastor and elders of prayerfully chosen churches near
campus
selected advisors
WHO
Those invited to attend the Friday Community
Gathering include: DTS students, graduates, facility, staff, spouses and
friends.
WHAT
The evening will be a blend of:
Christian fellowship
Recording (details later)
Prayer requests and testimonies of answered prayers
(details later)
Potluck meal
home made
fast food (bucket of chicken, half dozen hot dogs,
chips, cookies, etc.)
cash for
volunteers to buy deli trays for next time
and/or funds for volunteers to cook
ministry provides
plates
cups
plastic ware
drinks
ice
WHEN
Fridays
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
WHERE
One of the churches near campus (details later)
HOW
(details later)
WHY
(details later)
POINT ONE
Unmet needs exist
in the DTS community:
A. Every week the students have a stressful academic
schedule that includes
Attending
class
Reading
books
Writing
papers
Taking
tests
Group
projects
B. Each student must juggle their time, energy and money
with other areas. And this can get very difficult.
Marriage
Family
Employment
Church
Ministry
Spiritual
disciplines
Social
activities
Exercise
Sleep
Rest
Relaxation
C. At the end of the week (Friday late afternoon and
evening) there is a mental and emotional shift before the weekend.
D. Often the students feel mentally, emotionally and
spiritually strained.
E. At their local church the students have major and/or
minor responsibilities. Unfortunately many must minister to others from “an
empty cup”.
F. Yet at the same time these same people have spiritual
gifts, talents and testimonies that could be used to encourage and edify one
another.
G. The seminary student is passing through a complex
transition. They are moving from the pew to the pulpit. They are going from
volunteer helper to professional clergy. Those in the pews look up to them with
awe and those in the ministry do not fully embrace them as equals.
H. Only fellow seminary students and recent graduates
can appreciate the kinds of challenges that make up the seminary experience.
I.
There is rarely enough
time to connect with and build up one another.
J. God is always at work in around the members of the
DTS community. Due to the hectic schedules there is rarely the time or
opportunity to testify about what Jesus has done. Short testimonies would
encourage, inspire and edify. They would bring glory to God.
K. There are few occasions for students to casually meet
together in a relaxed social setting with their spouses and the greater DTS
family (faculty, staff, graduates, donors, friends).
L. There are few occasions for the students to meet with
those of the greater DTS family for prayer.
M. There is a need and a desire on campus for a greater
sense of community.
Here is how the Ears to Hear Friday Community
Gathering program of Our Metroplex Vision intends to meet the needs:
A. Let there be MUCH prayer before, during and after
each community gathering.
B. Let there be teams of volunteers that are supervised
by Our Metroplex Vision.
C. Let there be suitable publicity on campus. (posters,
word of mouth, etc.)
D. Let there be plenty of food for all who come no
matter what they bring or pay.
E. Let there be ongoing fellowship in the dining room.
F. Let there be music to accompany the diners (live and
CDs).
G. Let there be dramatic skits for the diners (and video
taped?).
H. Let there be a way to solicit prayer requests and get
them to intercessors.
I.
Let there be a way for
the intercessors to get updates and testimonies.
J. Let there be ways to protect the confidentiality of
the requests.
K. Let there be a room set aside for silent prayer.
L. Let there be a gracious way to include members of
host church.
M. Let there be gracious ways to distribute the leftover
food.
N. Let there be a temporary recording studio set up in a
Sunday school classroom.
O. Let there be a way for the speakers to know when
their 3 minutes is almost up.
P. Let there be a way for the speaker to take home a
tape of their message(s).
Q. Let there be a way to record two 90-minute tapes,
duplicate and sell them there.
R. Let there be a way for the messages to be posted on
the web.
S. Let there be ways to search for messages online by
speaker, topic and verses.
T. Let there be an orderly way to administer the
speakers.
U. Let the speakers be challenged to bring one or more
3-minute messages.
V. Let the speakers have a large selection of sparks on
hand to compose there.
W. Let there be various documents online to spark
3-minute messages like:
Names of God
http://www.osuonline.org/files/Prod_E2H/Names_of_God_unto_3_minute_messages.htm
Nature
of God
http://www.osuonline.org/files/Prod_E2H/Nature_of_God_unto_3_minute_messages.htm
Questions
about God
http://www.osuonline.org/files/Prod_E2H/Questions_about_God.htm
Questions
about Humans
http://www.osuonline.org/files/Prod_E2H/Questions_about_Humans.htm
Questions
about Apologetics
http://www.osuonline.org/files/Prod_E2H/Questions_Related_to_Apologetics.htm
X. Let the various people get to know one another over
course of time.
Y. Let God use informal contacts to give and receive
agape love.
Z. Let new and lasting friendships be formed.
AA.
Let the people will
grow together into a healthy and loving community.
Here is how you can partner with us in the worthwhile
cause of Ears to Hear Friday Community Gathering:
Pray
Pray
for wisdom, guidance, favor, grace and cooperation.
General
prayer requests will be shared online soon.
Weekly
prayer requests for the ministry and others will be shared.
Give
money
Funds
can be designated for
Drinks
Food
Plates,
cups, plastic ware, etc.
Recording
equipment
Web
rental
Host
church
Give
services
Cook
At
home
At
church?
Public
speaking (see the links)
BRIEF
so many can share
3
minutes (practice with egg timer – available at grocery or dollar store)
words
of
encouragement
exhortation
testimony
edification
inspiration
Play
instrumental music
original
other’s
Sing
songs
original
other’s
Present
drama skit
original
other’s
Volunteer
time
Set
up
Clean
up
Buy
drinks, plates, cups, plastic ware, deli trays etc.
Audio
Visual
Web
John S. Oliver
214-821-7530
i.
the board of directors
of the ministry
ii.
John’s pastors and
elders
iii.
Few selected advisors
i.
Walking distance of the
campus from campus is preferred.
ii.
The closer we meet to
the campus the better because many who live on campus do not have a car.