Ideas For Evangelism - Way of Life Literature
Ideas For Evangelism - Way of Life Literature Ideas For Evangelism - Way of Life Literature
Nevertheless, I pushed my way into the building (avery plain, unattractive affair, bearing the sign‘Gospel Tabernacle’) [pastored by A.B. Simpson,founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance],whence the sound emanated, and found myself in aprayer-meeting. I took a seat and remained throughthe meeting.“I was not much impressed by the exercise, and infact was not at all in sympathy with what transpired.What did, however, make an impression upon mewas the circumstance that, as I was making my wayto the door after the meeting, several personsgreeted me with a pleasant word and a shake of thehand, and one inquired about my spiritualstate” (The Story of Philip Mauro, Gordon P.Gardiner).Impressed with the friendliness of the people, Mauroreturned to the church several times and was eventuallyborn again. After his conversion Mauro became a boldChristian and wrote many books about the Bible. One ofthese was Which Version? in which he defended the KingJames Bible against the Westcott-Hort textual theories.He also wrote the legal brief that was used by WilliamJennings Bryan at the Scopes Trial to defend theTennessee law prohibiting the teaching of evolution inthe public schools. Because of his profession, PhilipMauro had opportunity to witness to many highly-placedindividuals, including Thomas Edison.Following are some suggestions in regard to dealing withvisitors:1. Have designated greeters.It is a good idea to assign volunteers with a special taskof greeting and befriending visitors and helping them inwhatever needs they might have, such as finding the rightSunday School classes, finding the nursery, etc. These
people should be carefully selected by the pastor. Somechurch members are naturally gifted at making strangersfeel comfortable, whereas others lack the tact andpersonality to be successful at this. Every effort shouldbe made to make certain that the visitors do not get theimpression that the “official greeters” are merely doing ajob. It is a good idea to rotate greeters. It is also a goodidea to use a husband-wife team as greeters. The wife canmore properly help women visitors locate the nursery,bathrooms, etc.2. The congregation must be taught and regularlyreminded that it is an important responsibility of eachchurch member to make visitors feel welcome. It is thepastor’s job to make the church “visitor conscious” andto work out practical ways to accomplish this.3. The “hand shaking” time that many churches haveduring the services is not the best way to greet visitors.The following observation is very timely:“One thing that is abused and overworked in somechurches is a greeting time where they ask everyone to turn around and greet someone and peoplewander all over the church. ... You cannot, andshould not, legislate friendliness. Nothing forced isever effective. Many people come to church withtroublesome problems on their minds. They arethere for comfort, to grieve, to pray, to seek solaceand resent being told that they have to shake handswhen they would rather be left alone. Church shouldalways be programmed to be neighborly, but don’tlegislate it. This time can be used to a much greateradvantage in other ways” (Bob Hinds, Double YourChurch Attendance, p. 42).I agree with this observation. Through the years I havebeen in dozens and dozens of churches that have thispractice, and as a visitor I usually feel self-conscious and
- Page 2 and 3: Ideas for EvangelismCopyright 2000
- Page 7 and 8: that they provide syncing across de
- Page 9 and 10: ecumenical, and self-esteem tools t
- Page 11 and 12: IntroductionPastoral Leadership Is
- Page 13 and 14: Morgantown, WV., which the Lord use
- Page 15 and 16: these areas that I have, but I do n
- Page 17 and 18: consumed with our ‘record’ of h
- Page 19 and 20: Training the PeopleNot only must th
- Page 21 and 22: in a low-key manner, but he did ver
- Page 23 and 24: illustrate the Bible truths. This i
- Page 25 and 26: Scripture Memory Ministry [110 S. M
- Page 27 and 28: Why don’t Christians keep the sab
- Page 29 and 30: challenged to be soul conscious and
- Page 31 and 32: “So often churches get stuck in a
- Page 33 and 34: factor, the absence of dynamic corp
- Page 35 and 36: delivers the gospel preacher from b
- Page 37 and 38: of the new converts (47) baptized a
- Page 39 and 40: their students, etc.), they have no
- Page 41 and 42: calling. I would do this long befor
- Page 43 and 44: There needs to be a plan to greet v
- Page 45: ministered to. The music might be v
- Page 49 and 50: “It seems that no one likes a chu
- Page 51 and 52: The Church ServicesBible-believing
- Page 53 and 54: to 30-45 minutes or so because of t
- Page 55 and 56: Monday workday, which is a problem
- Page 57 and 58: Therefore, it stands to reason that
- Page 59 and 60: misapplied Bible teaching that does
- Page 61 and 62: small groups; regular attendance; p
- Page 63 and 64: Visitation ProgramMiscellaneousAn o
- Page 65 and 66: only with the pastor. This is commo
- Page 67 and 68: homebound or nursing home residents
- Page 69 and 70: Another advantage is that while the
- Page 71 and 72: “We use Computer Assisted Marketi
- Page 73 and 74: Pass It On DiscipleshipThe ONE YEAR
- Page 75 and 76: the Second Coming of Christ, Heaven
- Page 77 and 78: Call them “Basic Christianity Bib
- Page 79 and 80: Bible-believing churches can advert
- Page 81 and 82: interested ones aside and instructe
- Page 83 and 84: have not heard. “Firm Foundations
- Page 85 and 86: November I found a sound KJB preach
- Page 87 and 88: AdvertisingPeople need to know that
- Page 89 and 90: meetings can be announced via newsp
- Page 91 and 92: Gospel TractsGospel tracts and pamp
- Page 93 and 94: tract to show people that their goo
- Page 95 and 96: 2. Remember that by giving out the
people should be carefully selected by the pastor. Somechurch members are naturally gifted at making strangersfeel comfortable, whereas others lack the tact andpersonality to be successful at this. Every effort shouldbe made to make certain that the visitors do not get theimpression that the “<strong>of</strong>ficial greeters” are merely doing ajob. It is a good idea to rotate greeters. It is also a goodidea to use a husband-wife team as greeters. The wife canmore properly help women visitors locate the nursery,bathrooms, etc.2. The congregation must be taught and regularlyreminded that it is an important responsibility <strong>of</strong> eachchurch member to make visitors feel welcome. It is thepastor’s job to make the church “visitor conscious” andto work out practical ways to accomplish this.3. The “hand shaking” time that many churches haveduring the services is not the best way to greet visitors.The following observation is very timely:“One thing that is abused and overworked in somechurches is a greeting time where they ask everyone to turn around and greet someone and peoplewander all over the church. ... You cannot, andshould not, legislate friendliness. Nothing forced isever effective. Many people come to church withtroublesome problems on their minds. They arethere for comfort, to grieve, to pray, to seek solaceand resent being told that they have to shake handswhen they would rather be left alone. Church shouldalways be programmed to be neighborly, but don’tlegislate it. This time can be used to a much greateradvantage in other ways” (Bob Hinds, Double YourChurch Attendance, p. 42).I agree with this observation. Through the years I havebeen in dozens and dozens <strong>of</strong> churches that have thispractice, and as a visitor I usually feel self-conscious and
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