Evangelism Ideas

[Sulla]

Just curios as to what great evangelism ideas people have. Come on I know there must be some out there:)

[miahnie]

I know this is not an answer to the thread but my opinion of great evangelism lies on whatever the situation is.

If you are evangelizing a totally non-Christian environment, the best way may not be in other situations.

If you are asking a general question wherein it involves a Christian community already, I believe it would be through our actions. Because in Christian communities, there is the sad fact called prejudice. As what I remember in EGW's Desire of Ages, prejudism to evangelism is rampant because the truth hurts.

[Sulla]

Well maybe I should tell people to be exact in what they suggest. Like how to evanglelise muslims in a muslim country for example.

And I agree our actions should ALWAYS be speaking to people:)

[miahnie]

I am from a Christian country, but I grew up in a region where around 40% is Muslim and the next city is 95% Muslim.

Since the Seventh-day Adventist is the Christian church closest to Islam, I believe evangelism to these people should start with showing to them that our church has lots of something in common with Islam. I know of an organization here, started by a Seventh-day Adventist, that evangelizes to Muslims. I cannot share everything to you since I have only vague ideas. But as what I could remember, the organization started explaining what are in the Bible that are also found in the Qur'an. This organization explains to the Muslims that the 5 Islamic Pillars are also found in Seventh-day Adventism. There is a passage, I heard, that the Qur'an says that Saturday is Sabbath. Now this organization is holding Sabbath services for Muslims. Muslims attend this service like the way they usually do, separate sitting arrangement for men and women, removal of footwear, washing of hands, feet and face...etc. But it is important also to take note that they don't believe Jesus Christ as a Saviour and God. So from what I heard, they do not preach the gospel abruptly. But that is their ultimate goal, to let Muslims accept Jesus as Savior.

[miahnie]

Let me share a testimony from one of the Inside Stories of our lesson quarterly:

CHRISLAM

Only a few of the teenagers attend the little mission school on our island in southern Philippines. Most are embarrased because they can't read or write and don't want to be tease by their younger siblings who attend the mission school. So these teenage boys spend their time diving in the coral reefs and catching fish. They deep us supplied with fresh fish every day.

We teachers wanted to reach these young men, but wewere not sure how. Finally we decided to try to engage them through sports. We told the boys what we wanted to do, and they helped us clear an area to make a simple basketball court. We found a metal ring to use as the hoop and pooled our money to buy a basketball. Then we taught then to play. They enjoyed the game and soon played quite well. We formed teams to encourage them.

We went swimming with tehm and invited them to eat at our cottage. Sometimes we worshipped with them in their Mosque. We bacame friends.

During a group massage session we held for the boys, some of them opened their hearts to us. They talked about problems they aced, and we listened. Little by little we realized that they noticed we don't smoke, don't drink fermented coconut juice, and don;t eat shellfish. Their religion forbids these things. but they do them anyway.

Onw day they exressed their questions to us. "Teacher," one said. "You are different from most Christians we know. You don't smoke o drink alcohol or eat pork as most Christians do. OUr elders tell us smoking and drinking alcohol is bad because it destroys the Masjid (temple) of Allah.

"We Muslims worship n Friday, and most Christians worship on Sunday. You Adventists are a bridge between Muslims and Christians, and you worship on Saturday. Thus, you live the life of true Islam. That is why we respect you as you live up to what a true child of Allah shluld be. Thus, we will call you Chrislams, which means "Christians who live as Islam."

We were humbled as we realized that our actions had spoken so clearly what our mouths couldn't say to these sincere and open young sons of Islam. Pray for them as they search for the path to the living God. Pray for the student missionaries who teach these children of Allah to truly live for Him.

Our mission offereing help support Mountain View College, which sends student missionaries throughout souther Philippines.

[Sulla]

My experience with my Muslim friends shows that to be very true. They are interested when they find out you do not smoke, drink, eat pork, watch porn, listen to rock music etc etc. And its a wonderful way to make friendships and to tell them what you believe. BUT its a huge step from that to a Muslim accepting Christ. They have been told their entire life that Christ is not God. That the apostles made up ever thing about Christ being God. That the Bible is so full of errors it cant be trusted etc etc. And the only Muslims I have ever seen become Christians either were secular Muslims in name only or people that had direct visions from God saying this is the truth. And I am sure there are some that just converted but I have not seen any devout Muslims convert.

Normally what I see happen is this. The things we talked about are a great opening. But when you get to doctrine you are stuck. The reason why is you cant say see the Bible says this or that. They do not care as its corrupted. And you cant teach them to be Christians from the Quran as thats not what it teaches. So then you are stuck as you do not have any common ground to work from. And its interesting as Muslims understand this. If you read books by Muslims about how to convert Christians the main thing is to cast doubt on the Bible. And at the same time get them to believe in the Quran. Then if they can do that the rest is strait forward.

So the $100,000 is how do Christians do it. Its much harder to attack the Quran as its a much younger book and written by one person. Plus they do not have 150 years of skeptics trying to prove it wrong in and outside of the church. But it does lack something. It has no prophecy. And the Bible has huge amounts of prophecy. Telling exact dates. The rise and fall of Kingdoms etc. But its interesting I have never met a Muslim that understood Bible prophecy as like Adventists. So I have been wondering if maybe this is the key. Have a prophecy study geared just for Muslims. Show the huge amounts of prophecy in the Bible and how it all fits together. So instead of attacking the Quran build up the Bible.

Any way just a thought since you mentioned Islam:)

[phkrause]

Praise the Lord

pkrause

[Stan]

The methods Christ used..

He mingled with them

He won their confidence

He then said "Come follow me"

In our day to day life, we are so much closer to Muslims than we are Catholics/Baptists.

[phkrause]

I do think that you are correct. We had a cousin of my wife living with us a number of years ago, for a few years. She is married to John McGhee. We had several talks about the similarities between SDAs and Muslims. John having been born in Pakistan and me being of Jewish descent. It was very interesting how similar our health live styles are.

pkrause

[Woody]

The methods Christ used..

He mingled with them

He won their confidence

He then said "Come follow me"

In our day to day life, we are so much closer to Muslims than we are Catholics/Baptists.

[Sulla]

The similarity to Islam is really on surface deep. And really only good for a way to open up friendships etc. And Adventist mission work in Muslim countries of the middle east have been a failer.

This bothers me because I have many dear Muslim friends and there has to be a better way.

[Sulla]

Some facts to show the point.

Membership by country 2006.

Iran = 24

Turkey = 64

Egypt = 825

Iraq = 173

And if I remember correctly Adventism was introduced to Turkey around the turn of the century. Not very good growth for 100 years.

Again I just think there has to be some effective way to reach Muslims.

[carolaa]

My experience with my Muslim friends

Everything you said is exactly what I have also experienced with Muslims. Friendship and understanding are great entry points, but we're pretty stuck after that, as far as evangelism. Your idea about prophecy sounds interesting, and hopeful.

[Sulla]

Its sad there is not good Adventist materials you can buy geard to Muslims Garolaa dont you think?

[carolaa]

I think we are starting to get some resources, but time will tell how effective they are. I think what we've been doing is not very effective. At least, what we are able to talk about. There are people trying to do mission work inside different countries, but they can't talk much about what they're doing, so we don't know a lot about how it's working.

[carolaa]

If you're interested, you can contact me offline and I can give you the name of someone who does Muslim outreach that you can talk to.

[darlene]

There is a key for church growth and evangelism that we have an opportunity to use every week and we are so blind that we don't even see it! That key is to have a Sabbath School Class Leader for each and every Sabbath School class. So, what are the class leader responsibilities? They are the ones responsibile for teaching each class member to love as Jesus loved! They take class attendance and arrange for follow-up when member miss more than two weeks, they let them know they are loved, cared for and missed. They arrange to celebrate milestone in class member lives. They help class members to love and care for one another. They also are responsible for a class community outreach project. I don't know about you, but if I have a people in my Sabbath school class who love and care about me, I'll be there and I will share my love with those who care for me.

The class teacher is the one who will help me to grow in my knowledge of my Heavenly Father and help me to grow into a closer relationship with Him.

Can you imagine the growth in a church family that has class leaders? I don't think we can even imagine the results of such a 'hospitable and gifted person!' Our churches would be overflowing and members of the community would be standing in line waiting to get in to know the Heavenly Father we serve. Now that is evangelism!

[fun2believe]

I think we are starting to get some resources, but time will tell how effective they are. I think what we've been doing is not very effective. At least, what we are able to talk about. There are people trying to do mission work inside different countries, but they can't talk much about what they're doing, so we don't know a lot about how it's working.

Ummmmmmmmmmm,,,,,,,,,so why wouldn't they be able to talk about it? Is it a secret, or a cult, or just that they can't communicate with people outside of their daily lives?

[Sulla]

fun2believe because they can be put to death for trying to convert Muslims.

[fun2believe]

Oh,,, well, then they should be careful. I guess it's just like we thought, we will be persecuted for our beliefs. But then aren't all people "persecuted" for something? There is never a time or place on this earth where all people will agree on all things.

My prayers are with them, hoping they can save another life. God Bless.

[Woody]

Darlene ... Some great ideas. Have you seen it work? Did it better unite the church and cause they to reach out more?

[darlene]

Yes, apparently it works extremely well! We don't have many of these in our conference churches but, last week I presented it in one of our churches and they exclaimed, "Why hasn't anyone told us about this before?" Actually I've been telling them this for several years but, it has to come from each church themselves and not from me. I'm waiting to see what happens in the church I presented it at last week. They were so excited when they saw the possibilities.

One of our administrators did this at one of his churches and he said that attendance at all their classes improved but their Young Adult class trippled. And these were not just church members but some from the community.

I think the class leader needs to have the gift of hospitality and a very good relationship with the Lord.

[carolaa]

they exclaimed, "Why hasn't anyone told us about this before?"

Some people really live under a rock, I think. I or others have done this in every church I've been in, except so far not the one I'm in presently. The Sabbath School Leadership magazine has suggestions for this. The book Reinventing Your Sabbath School has suggestions along this line. Every Sabbath School workshop I've been to has talked about this type of thing. If people don't know about this type of evangelism, they simply have chosen not to know. Incredible!

[darlene]

Actually it wasn't the SS Superintendents and teachers (one was) who stayed for my workshop. There were other church leaders and members who stayed and yes, they may not have heard of a class leader before if the SS superintendents, and teachers had not told them.

That is the sad part. People pick and choose what they will do and what they like to do and other important things get left out. We've played Sabbath School for so long (156 years) and we've lost the idea that it is evangelism, it is a place where we learn to love and care for one another just as Jesus does.

carolaa, I'm glad to hear that where you've gone to church you have had a class leader. That is wonderful. Now we have to get other churches to do the same. I suspect if they did SS & church attendance would skyrocket as would baptisms.

[Woody]

Darlene ... I've never been to a church where it was actually carried out. I have been to one where it was somewhat talked about. But, it was just an idea presented and never actually promoted enough so it just died.

My personal belief ...

I think that ALL in the class have to participate. If we leave it up to the leader ... it will not get done. Perhaps you need a good leader to delegate. IS that what the program promotes. Is that what you present?

I really believe in what you have outlined. Can you briefly tell us the key areas. And what has made it work in churches as far as you have seen?