What conditions make it right to evangelize someone into church?

[Neil D]

I want your ideas....

What are the conditions that make for someone to want to come into the church?

And please, give me tangables, like a person has to want to go thru bible studies....PLease don't give me things like "they need the Holy Spirit" because I have no real control over the HS...[and,yes, I am taking the short cut]....I am seeking ideas as to what you did to love someone into the church....and what ingrediants are needed to get that same person into a church....

[doug yowell]

There are many wrong reasons and many right reasons but the main (right)one that comes to my mind is that the potential church member (I'm interpreting the "come into the church" as meaning more than "come to church")desires to share their Born Again experience with others who've had the same change in life. This would include their desire to grow in their experience and knowledge of God's Word.

If you're asking about perking an interest to attend or investigate the church then omit the above.

[Neil D]

Your answer is perfectly fine, Doug....I'm looking for ideas on how to get someone interested in coming to our church....It's the "after you've been converted, what church do you come to and what made you come here?" Did you ask them? Did you say that your church has this wonderful potluck fellowship after church to sample vegitarian coooking? Was there this excellent conversation on how you felt doing the Lord's work? what is it that gets people to come to your church?

[Gail]

Good question!

It's good to feel out where the person stands spiritually and offer what your church has available.

[Dr. Shane]

Meeting a need are what I think of. What does the person need? We do the Binding the Wounds seminar in our church every couple of years and invite the public. Of course there is the old stop smoking program. The new CHIP program seems to have a lot of potential. Divorce care programs also have a lot of potential as does substance abuse programs. Another that many evangelical churches are having success with is after-school programs. Basically it comes down to meeting a need.

The problem with offering Bible studies or inviting friends to prayer meeting is that their pride normally gets in the way. They will ask themselves, "Why do I need to study the Bible?" of "Why do I need to go to prayer meeting?" Their pride will tell them they don't. So we need to give them a reason to come that does not cause their pride to protest.

[ClubV12]

About that "Stop Smoking Program",,, they didn't have one here, I was mostly left on my own. Reading Great Controversy and at times it was hard to see the pages through the cigar smoke.

Eventually I figured it out, but it wasn't over night. I was surprised to find out later that the typical evangelistic meetings aren't "all that" in the eyes of most Adventists. All I can offer in that regard is my testimony, I thank God they were there when I needed them. I got a flyer in the mailbox, the meetings were only a block or so from my house.

I figured it was civic duty to check these people out, seeing how's they were right in my backyard! Community Watch you see. :)

[Gordon1]

I had been told the SDA Church stuck to the Bible, so after being convicted of sin and brought to repentance, then I sought to know more about Jesus and the Bible. Conviction of sin & repentance precede Biblical baptism.

It does sound like you're seeking short-cuts Hamilton-Beach; truth is what new believers value above all else. So try to make sure there is truth in the church if you want to attract believers. If you think this involves a reformation within the church, then you are correct. This was the burden of Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9. Even the message of Ted Wilson as he made the rounds of camp-meetings this summer - Revival, Reformation.

Ellen White specifically states that God keeps true believers out of the churches for this very reason, that the congregations would destroy the faith of many. God's own Community Watch.

[skyblue888]

I, like many, have come to the church from reading The Great Controversy. Once I read this book I wanted to read anything else Ellen White had written. By the time I joined the church I had read all I could lay my hands on. I was more than amazed at what I was discovering in her books especially that I had read so many religious books before I was introduced to her writings. So I read myself into the church. For many of us her books are the reason why we have joined the church but once in the church one must continue the search for truth by studying the history of the church in order to understand what has delayed the second coming especially when we are told that Jesus should have come back shortly after 1844. In 1901 Mrs. White declared that we would have to remain in this world many more years because of insubordination. We are still here and the second coming is still being delayed. We need to understand the time in which we live. We do not understand it. We do not half take it in.

sky

[John317]

So, so true, sky.

[skyblue888]

Glad you agree John. I would be nice to know if there are others who do.

sky

[skyblue888]

Ellen White specifically states that God keeps true believers out of the churches for this very reason, that the congregations would destroy the faith of many.

Gordon1

__________________

I remember reading that somewhere.

sky

[phkrause]

I, like many, have come to the church from reading The Great Controversy. Once I read this book I wanted to read anything else Ellen White had written. By the time I joined the church I had read all I could lay my hands on. I was more than amazed at what I was discovering in her books especially that I had read so many religious books before I was introduced to her writings. So I read myself into the church. For many of us her books are the reason why we have joined the church but once in the church one must continue the search for truth by studying the history of the church in order to understand what has delayed the second coming especially when we are told that Jesus should have come back shortly after 1844. In 1901 Mrs. White declared that we would have to remain in this world many more years because of insubordination. We are still here and the second coming is still being delayed. We need to understand the time in which we live. We do not understand it. We do not half take it in.

sky

I didn't come into the church by reading EGW, but I can tell you that I love the GC. Probably the greatest history book I've ever read.

[skyblue888]

Of course not all have come through reading that book for the majority, or close to it, were born within the church.

But over the years The Desire of Ages became my favorite book and still is today. It is impossible to explain the impact this book has had upon my mind and heart.

sky

[phkrause]

Of course not all have come through reading that book for the majority, or close to it, were born within the church.

Over the years The Desire of Ages became my favorite book and still is today. It is impossible to explain the impact this book has had upon my mind and heart.

sky

I'm guessing your responding to me? I also was not born into the church. I was probably around 5 or so when my Mom started getting Bible studies from a german woman in NYC. Later probably around 13 or so I was baptized. I didn't give my heart over to the Lord till much later.

[skyblue888]

Yes I was responding to you pkrause.

Though you were not born into the church you were so young when your mom joined the church that it is as though you were.

When did you begin reading that book for the first time and how long did it take you to read it? Just want to know how excited you were!

sky

[phkrause]

Yes I was responding to you pkrause.

Though you were not born into the church you were so young when your mom joined the church that it is as though you were.

When did you begin reading that book for the first time and how long did it take you to read it? Just want to know how excited you were!

sky

I think I was probably in my twenties, just after I got married. We read it for worship one year. Not sure how long it took, all I remember the chapters were long. LOL But I really enjoyed reading and recalled how accurate it was to what I'd studied in school, and how things fit so well together. I think I've mentioned a few times in different threads, I'm not a fan of EGWs writings. I don't mean that I don't believe that she was a prophet just didn't enjoy reading her books but when I started reading the GC I really enjoyed it, it wasn't like any of her other books, it was very easy to read. I'm not a good reader, so it takes me a long time to read, but I had no problem reading this book, it was right up my alley.

[Dr. Shane]

Later probably around 13 or so I was baptized. I didn't give my heart over to the Lord till much later.

My son told me last year that he wanted to get baptized. He was 9. I asked him why. He told me because he wanted to be a member of the church. I told him that is not why we get baptized. We get baptized because we see we are sinners, repent of our sin and want to change direction and follow God. He hasn't asked about baptism recently.

[skyblue888]

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

Yes I was responding to you pkrause.

Though you were not born into the church you were so young when your mom joined the church that it is as though you were.

When did you begin reading that book for the first time and how long did it take you to read it? Just want to know how excited you were!

sky

I think I was probably in my twenties, just after I got married. We read it for worship one year. Not sure how long it took, all I remember the chapters were long. LOL But I really enjoyed reading and recalled how accurate it was to what I'd studied in school, and how things fit so well together. I think I've mentioned a few times in different threads, I'm not a fan of EGWs writings. I don't mean that I don't believe that she was a prophet just didn't enjoy reading her books but when I started reading the GC I really enjoyed it, it wasn't like any of her other books, it was very easy to read. I'm not a good reader, so it takes me a long time to read, but I had no problem reading this book, it was right up my alley.

Thank you pk. Being of Jewish descent, how did you react to the very first chapter?

sky

[phkrause]

Thank you pk. Being of Jewish descent, how did you react to the very first chapter?

sky

LOL sky, you would ask me that. First just to let you know, I was not brought up in the Jewish faith. My father had spent 5+ years in concentration camps wanted nothing to do with being Jewish or God in general. But the funny thing is, as soon as my Mom found a jewish/adventist church, he started going to church with us. I will read the chapter and get back to you.

[olger]

If they are warm and breathing, they are a candidate for the Adventist truth

`g

[Neil D]

My son told me last year that he wanted to get baptized. He was 9. I asked him why. He told me because he wanted to be a member of the church. I told him that is not why we get baptized. We get baptized because we see we are sinners, repent of our sin and want to change direction and follow God. He hasn't asked about baptism recently.

I hope you take this in the vein that it is meant [humorous]-

since he hasn't asked about baptism recently, is he ..um..being creative in his...sinning?

I'm thinking that once that is done, he might then want to get baptised...following your advise...

Ok, [looking this way, and that], now that I have step in the proverbial cow pie....