Altar Worker’s Training: Who, What, Where, When, How and Why

1. Altar Worker’s Training: Who, What, Where, When, How and Why

2. The goals of this training workshop: • To explain the purpose, principles and processes of an altar call • To prepare and train future altar workers • To share and reinforce the knowledge of experienced altar workers • To provide a foundation of excellence for growth within the altar work ministry • To help align the altar work with the vision of SSCC

3. Why do we have an altar call? • To give the listener the opportunity to respond to the message and the call of God • To give ministers the opportunity to minister to their spiritual needs • a. Acts 2:37-41 (The first altar call of the Church!)

4. What is the typical order of an altar call? • Various altar calls are given by the Bishop/Pastor • Respondents approach the altar in response to the call • Ministry is offered to the respondents • Respondents are led to various rooms for personal follow up ministry • a. Point: Follow up ministry could include prayer, laying on of hands, explanation, answering questions, etc.

5. What are the different types of altar calls? The call to Salvation (Relationship with God) Acts 2:37-41 The call for Membership (Relationship with the Church Body) Hebrews 10:25 The call for Prayer (Deliverance, healing, blessings, etc.) Acts 4:23-31 The call for Rededication (Reconnecting with God and His Church) Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 2 Cor. 2:6-8 POINT: Other altar calls may be given by the Bishop according to the leading of the Spirit

6. Who is expected to respond to the altar call? The unsaved (for Salvation) The unchurched (for Membership) Those in need of Prayer (for deliverance, healing, blessing) Those in need of Rededication (for restoration) POINT: Respondents become members of the Body of Christ upon salvation, and members of the local Church body upon their request to join

7. The Unsaved will be led into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ: • By confessing and repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – Acts 2:23 • By showing their acceptance of salvation through baptism - Acts 2:38 • By being filled with the free gift of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands • a. Acts 2:37-39; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-7 (Examples of believers being filled with the Holy Spirit)

8. The UnChurched will be instructed to join the Foundations Class: To fulfill the membership requirements of SSCC To learn the basic tenets of the Christian Faith which are taught at SSCC POINT: Former members who are Rededicating their lives to the Lord may or may not be required to attend the Foundations class depending on the circumstances, the length of their departure and the assessment of SSCC Leadership

9. What is the role of the altar worker during this moment? To provide Protection (safety for participants) To maintain Order (crowd control and direction) To provide Assistance (prayer, anointing oil, guidance, tissue, etc.)

10. Why is Protection needed? • To prevent altar participants from experiencing harm or hurt by altar activity or other altar participants • a. ex: catching the falling respondents, managing the shoutingrespondents

11. How is Order maintained? • By assisting responders to safely position themselves according to the direction of the Bishop/ministering Pastor • ex: catching the falling respondents, managing the shoutingrespondents • By preventing interference by family, friends and audience members

12. How is Assistance provided? • By reinforcing the instructions and directions of the Bishop/Speaker • By providing clarity of information to the respondents as needed • By meeting the immediate needs of the respondents (tissue, comfort, covering, etc.) • By rendering any assistance that the Bishop/Speaker requests (i.e., supplies Bible, anointing oil, etc.) • By praying for respondents at the Bishop’s request • a. NOTE: The prayers of the Bishop/Speaker normally take precedent over the prayers of the altar worker

13. Who may be used for altar work during an altar call? Pastors, deacons/deaconesses, licensed ministers, ushers, leaders Church elders appointed by the Bishop or other presiding leaders during the altar call

14. Being Slain in the Spirit: POINT: Being “slain in the Spirit” occurs when the Spirit of God overwhelms the physical body of a respondent, causing them to lose strength, control of their bodies and possibly awareness of their surroundings: Daniel: 10:7-9 – “I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn’t see the vision. Yet, they started to tremble violently, and they quickly hid themselves. So I was left alone to see this grand vision. I had no strength left in me. My face turned deathly pale, and I was helpless. I heard the man speak, and as I listened to his words, I fainted face down on the ground.” (GW)

15. Being Slain in the Spirit: Revelations 1:12-13, 17 – “– “And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks: and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and gird about the paps with a golden girdle…[17] and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not; I am the first and the last…’” (KJV)

16. Being Slain in the Spirit: POINT: This experience can also happen to unbelievers and enemies of God: John 18:4-6 -- “Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went to meet them and asked, ‘Who are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus from Nazareth.’ Jesus told them, “I am he.’ Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with the crowd. When Jesus told them, ‘I am he,’ the crowd backed away and fell to the ground.” (NIV)

17. Why do Altar workers catch the falling respondents? To protect them from harm and danger To preserve order during the altar call time Why are some of them covered? To preserve the dignity and privacy of the fallen To prevent distraction within the audience

18. Who are authorized to catch fallen respondents? • Deacons, licensed ministers, trained altar workers, ushers, appointees, etc. • a. NOTE: Wisdom and caution should be exercised when altar workers positions themselves to catch a respondent – consider your strength and size!

19. When do we assist them in rising? • When we see them making an effort to do so • Watch for alertness and movement • Watch for their request for assistance • When asked to do so by the Bishop/Minister • NOTE: It may be necessary to help relocate them for the advancement of the service or to move them out of harm’s way

20. How are respondents assisted in rising? Carefully and respectfully, with proper techniques, paying attention to where hands are placed and physical contact is made With sensitivity to their condition, awareness, gender and age

21. SHOUTING: Why do people shout? It’s a personal expression of overwhelming joy and/or emotion by the person It’s a corporate shout of victory by the congregation POINT: Shouting is often accompanied by praising God in energetic dance and expressions of praise: Psalms 47:1 -- “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy” (NIV) Psalms 149:2-3: “Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” (NIV)

22. Why do people shout? • POINT: It may sometimes be necessary to gently restrict or restrain an emotional shouter for safety reasons • Flailing of arms can be a common activity for a shouting worshipper • NOTE: The Church can be held legally responsible in the state of CA for injuries sustained by either congregants or altar call respondents during their worship

23. How should altar workers respond when a shouting worshipper is praising God? • With Respect for– • The privacy of the worshipper • The space of the worshipper • The presence of God • With Protection of – • The dignity of the worshipper • The safety of the congregation • Yourself!

24. How should altar workers respond when a shouting worshipper is praising God? • Containment of– • The space of the worshipper • The flow of the altar crowd • The observing congregation

25. How should altar workers respond when a shouting worshipper is praising God? • Discerning – • The spirit of the worshipper: is it the Spirit or the flesh? (Discern, not judgment or control) • The Spirit of the atmosphere: is there a spirit of worship or praise in the church? • The direction of the service: is it moving in another direction? • POINT: Constant awareness at the altar is key!

26. Personal altar call wisdom: • Regarding personal hygiene and fragrances: • Maintain clean breath and good body odor • Be sensitive to the use of perfumes and colognes • POINT: Constant awareness at the altar is key! • Regarding difficult personalities and situations: • Avoid altar confrontations at all cost • Be aware to ask for assistance from other altar workers during challenging situations • In situations where it is necessary to escort a resistant respondent from the altar area, always get help

27. What does every altar worker need to know? • How to lead someone to salvation • How to effectively pray for someone’s needs • a. Praying for healing, peace, direction, comfort, etc. • How to offer wise counsel • a. Normally developed through experience • An understanding of the church’s altar call process

28. What does every altar worker need to have? An active prayer life A diligent study life A team mindset A submission to authority and leadership

29. The key passage for altar workers: Luke 5:4-11 -Vs. 4: “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” -vs. 5: “Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” Vs. 6: “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them...” Vs. 10a: “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’”

30. The key passage for altar workers: • “let down the nets”: • The Word of salvation and harvest is given! • “because you say so, I will let down the nets.” • The response of the altar workers – our tools are the nets! • “their nets began to break.” • The work is too much for just a few workers! • “they signaled their partners” • The harvest labor requires a team effort! • AND THE LAST STATEMENT…

31. The key passage for altar workers: “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’” As people respond to the word of the Lord, we all become fishers of men!