How to evangelize?

[Pockey]

Hi. How does one start an evangelistic meeting? Are there written resources on this? Anyone with personal experience with this willing to share?

[Gregory Matthews]

The first priority should be to do it in connection with a local congregation:

a) This gives you a group of people with whom they can affiliate.

This gives you people who can work with you to make the meetings a success.

c) This gives you financial resources that you can use.

d) This gives you a pastor, connected with a local Conference taht acan give you access to resources to use during your meeting.

[David Koot]

Hi Sid,

An important step is to make and develop contacts. You can do this in a number of ways--whether through work associates, people you may meet in the community, neighbors, and door-to-door. A lot of people are searching, and as you pray, God will lead you to them. I have found that it is very important to have some connection with them BEYOND 'Bible-thumping.' Be a blessing to them, show personal interest in them, and so forth. THEN, you can invite them to the 'reaping event' which is scheduled. Pray for God's guidance. By all means, make contact with a local church. Those who accept the message will need to unite with an Adventist church. The members can be praying for the success of the meetings, and be part of the soul-winning team.

David Koot

[Dr. Shane]

I have held a few evangelistic crusades both here in the US and in Mexico. Amazing Facts has great materials you can use.

This is what I do.

1. I make contact with a local church.

2. Ask each member in the local church to choose 3 of their friends and family that are not Adventists to pray for every day for 6 weeks before the crusade begins.

3. Advertise the crusade. I prefer fliars or brochures handed out by members of the church to their friends and family.

4. Local support is very helpful. Local church members that attend will make the audience appear larger for the nonAdventists that come and will be able to answer many of the questions the nonAdventists have.

5. Practice your sermons before giving them and know your material.

It is also helpful if you can hold a revival in the local church a few weeks before the crusade begins.

[David Koot]

Sid, what Shane suggested very definitely is one way to go about it. However, formal church backing would require Board action, and varying degrees of red tape. For someone who is just starting out, often a church will be a little skeptical, not wanting to risk the church's money or reputation. In those circumstances, there is an appropriate way to put on a series without obligating the church. Coordinate with the district pastor, but don't put a burden on the church, unless the church wants to take on the responsibility. Once there is evidence that God is blessing, that provides credibility, and then it will be easier to get formal church backing.

David Koot

[Dr. Shane]

Actually I never got any money from a local church to help me with crusades. (A local church did fund a radio ministry I once had). For me the key was just getting the local pastor to support me. The local pastor preached the revivals sermons and encourage those in his congregation to pray for their friends and family to come to the crusade.

Another helpful thing is music. I have always preached crusades in Spanish and a mariachi makes the whole differene. They come to hear the music and stick around for the preaching.

[Pockey]

Thank-you all for the info.

What types of evangelism methods are there? Would you consider an internet outreach a type of evangelism?

[David Koot]

Quote:

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Sid said:

Would you consider an internet outreach a type of evangelism?

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VOP sponsors Internet evangelism. Before that, there was Bible correspondence school, with mail-in lessons. One weakness of both these types of evangelism, is the lack of personal contact. With mail-in lessons, the students may still be visited, and fruitful contacts developed. However, with the Internet, personal visitation would be problematic. Without such visitation, and developing a personal relationship including regular home visits, it will be difficult to get a decision.

Sid, from my experience, the most productive form of evangelism would include several components: being a blessing to people, discovering their needs, ministering to them and winning their appreciation and confidence; and then pointing them to Bible truths. I am reminded of what EGW says about Christ's method of evangelism:

"Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching people. the Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good, showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs and won their confidence. THEN, He bade them, follow Me. There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort . . ."

First, pray for God to lead you to people whom you can be a blessing to. He will. Look for things you have in common with those you meet, look for ways to minister to them, and, as the doors open, point them first to Jesus. Share with them what Jesus means to you, and then point them to His holy Word, the Bible. Make friends with them, in the process. Your personal relationship with them will be a powerful factor in leading to a decision for Jesus.

David Koot