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25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms

25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms. A Few Alarming Facts About SBC Churches:.  3 out of 4 are plateaued or declining.  North America is the only continent where Christianity is NOT growing.  The average church baptizes only 7 people.

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25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms

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  1. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms

  2. A Few Alarming Facts About SBC Churches:  3 out of 4 are plateaued or declining.  North America is the only continent where Christianity is NOT growing.  The average church baptizes only 7 people.  It takes 44 members to reach 1 new believer.

  3. It is a sin to be GOOD, When God has called us to be GREAT! -- Dr. Thom Rainer, President Lifeway

  4. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 1. Set a Baptism Goal • Let your leaders help set the goal. • Share the goal with your congregation. • Share the goal often.

  5. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 2. Constantly Talk about Baptism • Preach on baptism 2-3 times a year. • Incorporate baptism into most sermons. • Explain the meaning and purpose of baptism. • See people, not numbers.

  6. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 3. Use Media to Promote Baptism • Use pictures with music in the background. • Show in next week’s service. • Give copies away.

  7. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 4. Use a Membership Class • Have all new members complete the class. • Discuss baptism in class. • Show video in class.

  8. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 5. Develop a Baptism Brochure • “The Meaning of Baptism” • Give in membership class. • Make it available in the foyer.

  9. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 6. Use Testimonies at Baptism • Let the candidate share their story. • Live or by video.

  10. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 7. Make it a Celebration Event • Create a party atmosphere. • Let there be applause, hugs and whistling. • Luke 15:5-7

  11. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms • Luke 15:5-7 (NIV): And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

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  15. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 8. Take Your Baptisms Outside of the Building 8. Baptize Outside of the Building

  16. Use Hot Tubs, Jacuzzis 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms

  17. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms The Beach or Ocean

  18. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms Lakes or Rivers

  19. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms

  20. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms A Water Trough

  21. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms Inflatable Pools

  22. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms • Lake, River, Ocean • Water Trough, Hot Tubs • Jacuzzis, Pools • Even the Bed of a Pick Up Truck!

  23. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 9. Help Them Overcome Barriers • Some Natural Barriers: • Fear of water • Way you look when wet • Odd activity • Singled out • Counsel, explain, prepare. • Use humor. • Baptize a group – there is comfort in numbers.

  24. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 10. Invite Family Members • Encourage them to invite family. • Offer invitations they can use. • Plan event details well in advance. • Recognize family present. • Make family attendance an expectation.

  25. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 11. Make Your Baptisms Special • Remove it from the regular service. • Baptism is not an add-on. • Don’t minimize your worship service. • Don’t minimize your baptism service. • Make it a memorable event.

  26. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 12. Tie it to a Church-Wide Fellowship • Church picnic • Dinner on the Grounds • Involve as many people as possible in the preparation and promotion.

  27. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 13. Take Your Time • Don’t rush this experience. • Expect it to take some time.

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  29. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 14. Take Pictures & Prepare Certificates • Designate 1 or 2 photographers. • Provide film & pay for development. • Get group shots. • Take family shots. • Get live shots.

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  34. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 15. Use Special Events or Days • Don’t baptize every Sunday. • Highlight holidays • Memorial Day Weekend, Mother’s Day • Highlight special days • Anniversaries, birthdays, etc.

  35. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 16. Allow the Christian Father to Baptize His Children and Wife • It will strengthen the family unit. • Sets up father as the spiritual leader. • Memorable for kids, mothers & fathers. • An ordinance of the church, not of ordained ministers.

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  41. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 17. Involve SS Class or Small Group • Let members of the class participate. • Allow the candidate a chance to share who was significant in them coming to Christ. • Invite class or small group to stand.

  42. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 18. Define Public Profession • Emphasize baptism. • De-emphasize walking the isle.

  43. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 19. Use Multiple Hooks • Trot line fishing. • Give options on ways to respond: • Walk isle • Use a Response Card • Offer someone to pray with you • Stay afterwards • Membership Class

  44. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 20. Use Baptism as an Evangelistic Opportunity • No better time to present gospel. • Ask if there are others who would like to be baptized. • Have counselors ready and prepared.

  45. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 21. Plan Annual Campaigns • Plan 2-3 “evangelistic pushes” a year. • Examples: • Revival • Vacation Bible School • Marriage conference • Financial seminar • Wild game dinner • Women’s retreat • Hunting, fishing, golf Event

  46. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 22. Make it Comfortable • Set up heaters. • Provide towels. • Have volunteer teams to assist. • Clothes vs. Robes

  47. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 23. Discover the Natural Opportunities • Marriage Counseling • Financial Counseling • Pre-Marital Counseling

  48. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 24. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail • Try new ideas. • Attempt new approaches. • Communicate: • What • How • Why • Often

  49. 25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms 25. Begin Now • Don’t procrastinate. • The pastor is the pacesetter for baptisms in the church. • Pursue as if someone’s life depends on it – because it does!

  50. Fred L. Hewett Manager of Field Service, Region 3 Church Planting Group North American Mission Board fhewett@namb.net 770-410-6218

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