RECLAIMING MINISTRY

1. RECLAIMING MINISTRY Dr. Gerson P. Santos Sabbath School & Personal Ministries Department Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

2. I. How to present the Gospel to a Former Member 1. Never reprove or condemn. 2. Never defend or take sides. 3. Ask for forgiveness for the wrong doings of the past, and solicit the opportunity to compensate for the embarrassment that they have experienced. 4. Admit that sometimes our church members make mistakes, however, remind them that God does not err. He is always just and considerate.

3. Presenting the Gospel • The divine attraction - 1 John 4:8 • The problem of sin - Romans 3:23 • The solution: the gift of God - Romans 6:23 • Separation of sin - Romans 2:4 • Unity in Christ - Revelation 3:20

4. Acceptance Prayer “Dear God, I invite you to take control of my life. I want Jesus to come into my heart. I want you to be my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me of my sins. I now thank you for giving me eternal life in Jesus. Please help me to obey and follow you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

5. II. Relationships • “The first casualty in the culture war isn’t truth. It is love.” John Ortberg • Witnessing does not consist of winning arguments. It consists of winning hearts. • Friendship leads people into church and helps them stay.

6. II. Relationships • “A kind courteous Christian is the most powerful argument that can be produced in favor of Christianity.” Gospel Workers, 122 • “ If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now is only one.” Testimonies 9, 189

7. III. Relationships Come Before Resources • Rule # 1: Relationships come before Resources • Programs don’t win people back to church, people do!

8. Six Ways to Raise Concern Over Missing Members • Communicate the biblical paradigm. • Share facts. • Encourage personal story-sharing. • Raise a vision. • Begin intercessory prayer sessions. • Connect with a member passionate about missing members.

9. Six Relationship Concepts to Remember When Reclaiming Dropouts • Most people a church because of personal pain, not theology. • Most missing members want to share their story. • Most dropouts need time to heal, time to rebuild relationships. • Most former members would be happy to meet with another church member, but not the pastor. • Most who have left need one visit for every year they have been out of the church. • Most people respond to personal care shown by someone toward them.

10. IV. How to Get Decisions from Former Adventists • The greatest needs of former Adventists are for love, understanding, nurturing and fellowship. • If you do not know the former Adventist already, get acquainted with them using the F-O-R-T approach.

11. Keep in Touch • Visit the former Adventist on a regular basis. • Help them work through special problems. • Find one or two members to befriend. • Add the person’s name to the church’s mailing list. • Send them a greeting card. • Give them a gift subscription. • Call them to tell them about upcoming events. • Visit and support them in times of bereavement. • Pray for them during altar calls. • Don’t embarrass them by acting surprised when they come back to church.

12. Seven “Dos” • Come to the point quickly. • Let the bitterness come out. • Avoid defending anyone. • Do keep confidence. • Do make your visit brief. • Always close your visit with prayer. • Give a brief invitation to come.

13. Five “Don’ts” • Don’t try to arrange Bible studies. • Don’t accept money from backsliders. • Don’t solicit backsliders for an Ingathering contribution. • Don’t dismiss a backslider as hopeless because he is too many miles away. • Don’t argue about church standards with a backslider.

14. V. God’s Church on Earth • The church of Christ is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. • Ephesians 5:26, 27 • Zechariah 2:8

15. God’s Regard for His Church • “Nothing else in this world is so dear to God as His church.” (Testimonies 6, 42) • “The church of Christ, enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard.” (Testimonies to Ministers, 15)

16. The Church is not perfect • “The church of Christ on earth will be imperfect, but God does not destroy His church because of its imperfection.” (Test. to Ministers, 46) • The Church will consist of defective members • “He (God) has a church, but it is the church militant , not the church triumphant.” (Test. to Ministers, 45)

17. Tares amid the Wheat • “Although in our churches, that claim to believe advanced truth, there are those who are faulty and erring, as tares among the wheat, God is long-suffering and patient.”(Testimonies to Ministers, p. 45)

18. Christ is leading a church, not independent offshoots • “God has a church upon the earth... He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here and one there, but a people.”(Testimonies to Ministers, p. 61) • “The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counseled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard.”(Testimonies to Ministers, p. 49)

19. Quotations About Former and Inactive Members • Efforts should be made to bring back those who have strayed • In the parable of the Lost Sheep Jesus illustrated heaven’s attitude toward the backslidden • Hunt up the backsliders with the message of mercy

20. Checklist for Starting a Reclaiming Ministry • Pray for a God-given passion for missing members. • Develop a vision, both a picture of the problem and possible solutions. • Create awareness and communicate your vision with members. • Organize a ministry. • Choose a Sabbath for a special event to take place. • Prepare resources for your church date and event. • Use resources by sending them out or posting them at your church. • Prepare your church. • Do follow-up work, visit, and plan further events.