CREED

For Mission Effectiveness

CREED is a simple tool that can be used both individually and corporately to be intentional about Jesus’ command to make disciples:  

The concept of CREED originated in Massachusetts, U.S.A. as a mission praxis model developed by Majors Bill and Sue Dunigan of the USA Eastern Territory. In the 1990s the Dunigans were led by God to start an incarnational ministry in an area that had become the equivalent of a ghetto. They convinced the Salvation Army to purchase the run down ex-mansion of the New Kids on the Block which sat in the middle of this neighbourhood to convert it to a planting ministry. Out of this premises they walked the community, prayed and started community based activities to build relationships. Everything that they did worked in with the CREED philosophy for mission. 

We have found CREED to be a great way of helping us be intentional about making disciples. We think of each part of CREED as an opportunity to lead onto the next. This is an opportunity that needs to be prayer soaked and offered, rather than pushed in anyway.
 

1. Contact

We all meet people all the time. We need to be mindful of first impressions and watch for the God fingerprint in who he places in our circle of influence. This can be from the person you meet at a bus stop, your own neighbour, a customer who shops in a Family Store to anyone you have contact with – both inside and outside the church. 

2. Relate

Are you building relationship with that person? What does that relationship look like? Is it healthy? Is their relationship with you beneficial and one that exudes the love of Christ? Eg. Is their experience in the family store a good one relationally, do you go the extra mile with the new comer at church to build a relationship with them? Are you building relationship with your neighbours? CREED Mission Tool Written by Captain Jenny Collings 2016 

3. Educate

As we meet people and build relationship with them they are learning about who we are and what we stand for. What messages are you purposefully or inadvertently sending out about who you are and what you stand for and about who the Salvation Army is and what we stand for? Are they true and helpful messages? Are you being intentional in providing opportunities for people you are relating to learn more? Are there any unhelpful assumptions taking place or blind spots that need to be addressed? Remember that education goes hand in hand with good relationship. That way a person is far more receptive to what you have to offer. Organisationally and as a church are we thinking intentionally about the messages that we are sending out to people. Think about the messages you and or your ministry is sending out – through individual communications, team communication and promotions/publications. What can you do to refine the way you communicate so that people are getting a true unfolding picture of who we are and what we stand for. 

4. Evangelise

If a persons contact, relationship and education experience is soaked in prayer and been intentional in a healthy way, then at some point in the relationship journey the person will become ready to hear the claims of the gospel. This is the key goal of the education part of CREED – to have a God ordained opportunity to share the Gospel message – whether it be one-one or in a congregational/small group setting. IF a person accepts the claims of the gospel and wishes to give their life to Christ – it is at this point that evangelism will naturally take place. Ie. this is the moment where they decide to commit their lives to Christ ie. evangelism has taken place. 

5.Disciple

Once a person has committed their lives to Christ, they become a disciple of Jesus. We need to be intentional about providing opportunities for them to learn what it means to be a follower of Christ. This can be one-one, small group and worship services all working together. This is where our discipleship track comes into play, which is designed to work in with the CREED philosophy. (copy can be obtained through Marcus). Discipleship in our context, includes the Alpha course and Mission Matters course as we believe that “initiation” into the body of Christ and learning early on what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, is a key part of becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ. 

The CREED model is circular because as a person completes the circle they then reach out to their “contacts” and start the CREED journey with others to make disciples. 

All above text is taken from ‘CREED Mission Tool’ by Captain Jenny Collings, 2016.