T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
April, 1936
125
do and say in approaching the prospect. Any number of methods would be usable, but we would suggest that the method and the instruction be as simple as possible so as not to confuse the workers and burdèn them with the machinery of the plan. V isitors T ransformed I nto S oul -W inners In advising workers, we frequently suggest the follow ing approach. W e say : If you are making a call as a worker, you should first of all extend an invitation to at tend an evening service, asking the members of the family to set a date when they will attend. You should then make it a point to be present at the meeting that night so as to welcome these visitors when they come. When convenient, ask the family, “ Are you active in any church in town ?” If they are members o f a church out o f town, they will gen erally say so, and then you can suggest that the pastor might call to discuss the matter of transferring their membership to the local church. If they appear friendly to your suggestions, continue by asking them, “ Has any one ever had the privilege of explaining the simple way of salvation to you, not as an opinion, but as a fact based upon God’s Word ?” They will probably answer in the negative, as very few people have ever-been approached in a friendly manner wifit an operi, Bible by some one desiring to revèàl ta them the way o f salvation. Then say, "Would you be willing to have (name o f pastor or worker) return with me at a convenient time, in a friendly visit, to ex plain just what it means to be a Christian? We would not take more than a half hour of your time, if so desired, and we-will respect your feelings and iri.no way embarrass', you.” , In a major campaign, !so many appointments will be made that it will be! necessary to select a few special workers to work with the pastor arid.evangelistic party? The members o f this group should be chosen carefully with reference to their tact and spiritual attainments, and then they should be given special training in the work of leading people to Ghirist! with the rise o f the Bible; .! When the prospects have accepted Christ in the office or home, they are instructed;to make an open confession o f:their faith, at the evening service,. ,Later, a worker, urges them to join the church o f their choice. As the meeting progresses, the general workers are organized into a. per sonal workersï’ . band, to be active in the evening service.’ ,. As the general workers gain experience in leading peo ple to Christ, through the instruction received while mak ing the return call with, the pastor or special workers, they can be added to the group,of special workers-apd bn their own accord go through the plan of salvation with each prospect. There is no better way than this to, train yorir church members in personal work. This; method, as outlined, adds. the .service, o f many Workers to supplement the efforts o f the pastor and the evangelists,; At the same time, it designed to prevent the securing o f ,church members on any basis dess than per sonal acceptance o f the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. With the blessing of God, this method will do wohueys during an evan- I gelistic c a m- I
to use the Bible in dealing with people. It seems apparent that no man has been led rightly to Christ until he knows that he is saved, not on the basis of sentiment or feeling, but as a fact supported by the Word o f God. Any program that falls short o f this, whether in mass or visitation evan gelism, must be uncertain arid unscriptural. 2. A visitation campaign lacks the dynamic normally found in a good mass evangelistic program. There is nothing definite or compelling to inspire the professed convert to tie up with the church and regular preaching services. 3. A visitation campaign requires a greater number o f experienced soul-winners than can be found in many localities. We have found it almost impossible to train properly the large number of workers normally used in a major visitation campaign. They need more help before they can rightly lead people to Christ, using Bible truth. A P rogram A deqüàte to the E ntire N eed As a result of these difficulties, this question naturally arises : Is there not a method which will give us the results o f a visitation campaign, combining the depth and dynamic o f an old-time mass revival meeting? We would answer by saying, “ Why not combine' rnas^s evangelism and the best in visitation evangelism?,’/ Wiffri this combined plan we have found our ministry revolution ized and the results so very encouraging, that we desir,e to tell others about our plan of organization and work. This plan will prove effective for a pastor in his regular work, as well as for an evangelist specializing in mass, evangelism. T he C ombined P rogram !P resented Certain details o f organization make1possible the link ing of visitation evangelism and massbevàngelism. The! program which we have found- practical; includes the fol lowing steps : 1. Church members take, a regulcircensus-.; using an assignment card, the same ,as in the usual visitation cam paign. When a single church is holding à series o f evan gelistic meetings, the members can secure a 'smaller 'apa possibly more Workable prospect list by listing thosè who have been contacted by the different organization's of the church, along with 'thé ¡fjriends ,of the merribets''of the church. This prospect list, should be made up before the series of meetings begins., ' 2: General workers aré then drafted from me member ship o f the church, the pastor selecting those who are cap able of making contacts for the special workers; ; (D o not call for volunteers, as very few will respond.) This group will! serve to make, .contacts for! the special workers, com posed of the pastor and members o f the evangelistic party. 3. The general workers receive special direction. They are asked to meet with the pastor or evangelist during the early part of the !campaign for instruction.! The town is divided into districts with an able captain in charge ofièach district. He has charge of the workerst assigned to his dis - trict and distributes the assignment cards as he sees fit. It is his duty to .see that some one calls upon all the prospects
in his d is tr ic t w i t h. t h e t h o u g h t o f making a con tact f o r t h e evan g e 1i st ic party or pas tor. In instruct ing the general w o rk e r s , we u s u a l l y tell them what to
paign, or it can be made a per- manent part of. the o rg a n iza tion and pro- , gram o f the fl c h u r c h U throrighorit the J .whole y e a r . 1 Try it ! I
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