Extended Interview: Steve Sjogren
Steve Sjorgen must be convinced his teachings can be a "beacon of hope and impact" because why else would he leave the comfy confines of Tampa, Fla. to trek to locales like Southfield and Gladstone, Mich.? Sjogren is regarded for his passion and leadership in the area of servant evangelism and he has published more than half a dozen books and hundreds of articles in a variety of magazines, while maintaining a blog that he says has more than 3,900 trackers. Editor RJ Walters recently chatted with Sjogren about his teaching strategies as well as his plan for his Bishop's Day engagements.
Q: How do you see your message fitting in with this year's theme of Bishop's Day?
A: What I've done for the last 20 years is I've led things and my churches have led things a lot like Bishop's Day. The idea of getting people to connect and to get them to become outward a little bit is natural to me. I've been doing it a long time and I find I'm kind of wired that way now, I am just naturally more outward than inward. It's exciting when we can help people see what their city can become if they step out of the safety of a local setting and do something a little more outward.
Q: Sometimes "evangelism" can be viewed as sort of a "dirty" word by people outside of the church because they might hear it and think of someone making them listen to something they have no interest in. On your blog you say Servant Evangelism is not aggressive and it can touch a lot of lives with just a few people. Can you expand on that a little?
A: The idea behind "SE" or servant evangelism is we are going to connect with a people in a way that opens doors to Christ. As we simply get beyond our own lives, and look beyond ourselves and our circle, God opens doors that are tremendous. There's a verse in Romans chapter 2, "The kindness of God leads to a radical life change," is what I think "The Message" version says. So as we show God's kindness to people we are more open to becoming like Christ ourselves. So it's a simple way of connecting with people that's going to make a difference and open up their hearts and the rest of their lives really, so they can feel more in touch with Christ.
Q: How then do you take those main points of servant evangelism and present them to the church on Bishop's Day? How do you convince people that sometimes evangelism is as simple as just showing love and opening doors?
A: Hopefully when we're together we'll practice a little bit. We will connect with people in restaurants and practice a little with servers and waiters, just simple ways of showing people this stuff really does work. What I want to do is be an encouragement to people that they can test things; we're going to have like a little lab experience when we're together to get people out and try things. And I think as people try things they will see that these things actually do work. We'll practice a little, and as they say, practice makes perfect.
Q: Do you consider yourself in essence a life coach, because you certainly have a little "coach-speak" in you.
A: I am a coach. I coach about 150 churches right now that are doing these things right now. There is a lot more to be discovered certainly, but I have learned how to do these things over the last 20 years or so and I am coaching people.
Q: The Methodist Church and other denominations are seeing membership declines the past few decade. As a starter of more than a few churches in your day what simplistic advice can you give both lay and clergy about increasing membership and outreach?
A: People like me come along and we have ideas, we've been doing things for quite a while, and the idea is to step up and try doing things that might make a difference. You know, the great thing about having a coach come along is that anytime you are in a situation they have stories about what has happened to them, so you're not all by yourself, you aren't out there on the jagged edge without any encouragement. My role really is to take the smoldering wick and blow it into a flame.