OUTREACH is for EVERYONE

1. OUTREACHis for EVERYONE General Conference Women’s Ministries EVANGELISM MANUAL Training Program

2. OUTREACH IS FOR EVERYONE Chapter 10 Evangelistic Meetings II: Training and Committees General Conference Women’s Ministries Department

3. “One worker who has been trained and educated for the work, who is controlled by the Spirit of Christ, will accomplish far more than ten laborers who go out deficient in knowledge, and weak in the faith.

4. One who works in harmony with the counsel of God, and in unity with the brethren, will be more efficient to do good, than ten will be who do not realize the necessity of depending upon God, and of acting in harmony with the general plan of the work.” Review and Herald, May 29, 1888. Evangelism, p. 109.

5. Training Church Workers • Almost all those involved in the meetings can benefit from training, the experienced mentoring the novices. You can train the church during Sabbath School, church, or prayer meeting, whenever you have a majority membership turnout.

6. Prayer times are important in training others and in working with them. Pray once a week with all the lay workers, including the parking lot attendants and nursery workers. • Surprisingly, one of the most important things you can do to improve your own ministry and to help train others is to do a careful evaluation at the end of any type of public meeting or program.

7. The evaluation form (see Appendix M) is quite detailed, but it will help you find out how well things went if everyone is honest and serious about filling it out. Adapt the form to suit. The final three questions could be used separately for an evaluation in almost any situation.

8. Organizing Committees There are two reasons for having committees to help plan and conduct a series of evangelistic meetings.

9. First, it gets more people involved. • Second, they will then feel ownership of the meetings and will more likely attend and bring friends and neighbors.

10. After you have decided the general outline of your meetings, you can assign committees depending on your local needs. Some important committees include:

11. Steering Committee • This committee consists of the heads of all the committees. They coordinate activities so everything happens on schedule before and during the meetings. They should meet periodically and each subcommittee should report on what is happening in its area.

12. Prayer Committee • This committee will intentionally organize prayer initiatives and ministries in the church before, during, and after the meetings. (Refer also to the section on “Preparatory Retreats and Prayer Groups” in Chapter 2.) Know that this is the most important assignment for the meetings. More is accomplished by prayer than by anything else.

13. Find ways to increase prayer for the meetings. The Prayer Committee’s duties can include:

14. Launching a Prayer Warriors program. In God’s army, Prayer Warriors are the “shock troops.” While it is true that all Christians pray, Prayer Warriors possess special skills. • Be responsible for a ten-minute meeting of Prayers Warriors for prayer every Sabbath following the church service,

15. Organize and direct a prayer walking program before the meetings. (See the section on Prayer Walks under the heading of “Preparatory Retreats and Prayer Groups” in this manual.)

16. Be responsible for advertising prayer events and inviting members to a prayer and consecration service before the evangelistic series starts.  • Arrange for a room or area in or near the church to be designated as a prayer room during the meetings. • Recruit members to pray during the meeting.

17. Children’s Program Committee • This committee is responsible for putting on a special program for children ages four through ten each evening.

18. Decoration Committee • This committee will be responsible for all decorations in the auditorium and other rooms that will be used, including the bathrooms. The committee should be composed of people who have artistic talents and abilities.

19. Food Committee • The food committee will be responsible for feeding the workers for the meeting if that is decided ahead of time, and for organizing Sabbath potlucks or Sabbath meals the weeks after the Sabbath doctrine is presented.

20. Discipling Committee • This committee will plan for the follow-up with the new members after the evangelistic series. It is just as important to disciple the new members and help them become solid, witnessing Adventist members as it is to baptize them. (See Chapter 14, “Discipling New Members.”)

21. Greeting and Ushers Committee • This committee oversees, recruits, and trains people in greeting and ushering for the meetings.(See “Meeting and Greeting” in chapter 9 for details.)

22. Lodging Committee • This committee arranges lodging for the lay and paid workers involved in an evangelistic meeting if they come from a distance.

23. Music Committee • Music can greatly enhance an evangelistic meeting. This committee will be responsible for all the music used during the meetings. (See “Planning the Music,” in chap.9 of this manual.)

24. Public Address/Sound Committee • This committee will be in charge of the sound system for the meetings. Because sound quality is very important, involve this committee in the planning and conducting of the meetings.

25. Parking Lot Committee • This committee provides for the parking needs during the meetings. The number of parking assistants will vary with the number of people and cars to be helped.

26. Transportation Committee • This committee arranges transportation for two groups—visitors who have no other way to attend the meetings, and helpers who have no other way of getting to and from appointments.

27. Visitation Committee • The evangelist should not be the only one visiting the interests. Bible workers, lay counselors and lay pastors, as well as any trained member, can also do visitation. (See Chapter 12 on “Visitation and Getting Decisions” for more information.)

28. With much prayer, careful planning, and dedicated committee members, you will have the foundation for a successful evangelistic event. Encourage and affirm each other as you work together as a team to share the Good News of a loving Saviour.