Christian's Expositor Journal
Vol. 7. Issue 4, Dec. 1993
One of the last commands our Lord gave before he ascended back to the Father is found in Mark 16:15-16. He said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (NKJV).
We have long recognized the need to spread the gospel to a lost and dying mankind. Christians of all ages have made it their mission to lead others to a saving faith in God's Son. Acts 8:4 says that those who were scattered by persecution went every where preaching the Word. Paul made at least three missionary trips to those who had never heard the good news. And to the brothers at Rome he wrote the following, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10:14-15).
Teaching others the message of Christ can be the most rewarding endeavor in our lives. After all, no other activity yields such eternal consequences for both teacher and student. But in all honesty, those who frequently spread the seed know of the difficulty therein as well. Many a zealous would be personal worker has felt his "bone fire" of enthusiasm extinguished by rejection and insecurity, (Jerimiah 20:9).
Each Christian has the responsibility of witnessing to others. For too long many have viewed this as the "preacher's" job and have not exercised their talents. While a congregation may support a man to dedicate his life to the spread of the gospel (Ephesians 4:11-12, Romans 10:15, Acts 13:2, 1 Corinthians 9), this does not alleviate individual responsibility. The major difference between "preacher" and "member" lies not in responsibility, but in time and intensity. Christ did not leave a clergy/laity system for His people. A carpenter, plumber, or computer programmer is just as much a "personal worker" for Christ as a preacher.
In the following pages our goal will be to discover some very practical yet effective tools that we can use in our visits with prospects. The right tools will help us maximize our wattage as lights in the world (Matthew 5:16). Many of these things will he simple, common sense techniques: things that we already do everyday without thinking. Other things, however, will require effort to implement. Let's get started!
with the Prospect
Most of us have asked similar questions at one time or another. It is both natural and productive for us to want to be as effective as possible. But in asking these questions there lies a danger. If we are not careful it is easy to prejudge those whose lives have not yet been touched by the gospel. How many of us have judged others unworthy of Christ because of their looks, race, economic status, criminal record, family background, etc.? It is a human tendency to overlook the inherent value of those dissimilar to ourselves. Jesus realized this and told his disciples to go to all the world.
The book of Acts is the hallmark of evangelism. It tells us how the early church, in just a few years, had turned the world upside down with the gospel (Acts 17:6). The method they used was simple. They went with the message on their lips, and not until after it was spoken did they access the hearer's worthiness. Many times today we want results so badly that we spend all our energy developing the sure fire strategy and have little left over for doing the job. While Acts does not represent a haphazard approach to evangelism (some planning is mandatory) it shows there is no substitute for "just doing it." Sometimes Paul would preach and his audience would reject him. But only after the rejection did he move on (Acts 13:46). Today we need to get ready for rejection. It's part of the job. But at every opportunity, at every open door, the Gospel must go forth.
There is no one, sure fire, way to gain an opportunity to visit with others about Jesus Christ. Many of us have searched for years, perhaps wasting time and energy, for that elusive "magical conversion technique" to finally realize that God's technique is our everyday lives. There is simply no substitute for living the Christian life. Inherent within God's plan is the truth that if we shine our light others will come to that light. God provides ample opportunities and prospects if we will seize them.
Sometimes, however, these opportunities must be made. Techniques such as radio programs, TV programs, door knocking campaigns, offering a correspondence course, visiting the hospital regularly, may at times gain prospects. The adage, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" is appropriate even in evangelism. A variety of techniques should be used. See what is effective in your area and constantly be open to new ways of reaching others. Sometimes folks who are involved in major life changes are our best prospects. Events like a new birth, a death in the family, a resent job change, a marriage, a recent divorce, etc. may provide an open door. During these times people think more about spiritual matters.
So who is a prospect? Everyone is a prospect! All must be given the opportunity to hear the gospel call at least once and those closest to us must be given daily exposure to the light we shine.
Basically we will encounter two types of people:
FIRST, there are complete strangers. These are often those who we meet while knocking doors, etc. Such "cold calls," as they are sometimes termed, can he the most challenging of all. No previous "get acquainted" opportunity has been afforded and a certain distance will naturally exist.
SECOND, there are those whom we have either previously met with; whom we have a common acquaintance; with whom we have shared a common experience such as a job, or to whom we are related. These prospects are often called "reference prospects" and usually afford us the best opportunities. A complete stranger may not grant us the time to share with them Christ's love, while these prospects usually will at least out of courtesy do so.
Because many of our visitation opportunities come because we initiate them it is mandatory that we develop a proper approach. Many times it may be necessary for us to go to the prospect's home to visit them. How we conduct ourselves will greatly determine our success.
First, our visit may he caller centered. This visit is designed to get acquainted with the prospect. Its focus is primarily social and establishes the fact that we are interested in him/her as a person. At this visit there may be little if anything said about religion. This is a time for our light to shine by our concern and conduct (1 Timothy 4:12). During a visit like this it may be more effective to have a fresh baked pie in our hands than a Bible. Such visits are excellent tools to use when a new neighbor moves to the block, when an acquaintance is in the hospital, or when we are called on to drop our children off at a classmate's birthday party. These visits are short and very cheery.
Our goal should always be to establish a relationship so that in the future, as ties are developed, we can formally introduce them to Christ. As Christians we must realize that it is both ineffective and inappropriate to unload our full religious arsenal on folks the minute we meet them. It has been rightly said that "people don't care what you know --- until they know that you care." Caller centered visits show people we care! If Christ is in us it won't take long for others to see Him and ask questions.
A caution, however, must he considered with this type of visit. Far too often we as Christians get stuck in the "social phase" of our evangelism. We develop great friendships with people, but along the way, either through embarrassment or shyness, we fail to tell their about the greatest Friend of all. While God does not call on us to abandon the friends we make, even if they reject Christ, the primary reason for a caller centered visit is to gradually teach them of eternal salvation. Prayer and patience will be the tools we use to enter the doors God opens.
Second, our visit may be church centered. This type of visit differs from the caller centered visit in that its primary goal is to invite others to the assembly rather than to merely socialize. Some of the rules, however, are the same. Concern for the prospect as a person is paramount. Sometimes the church centered visit will naturally result from the friendships we develop in our caller centered visits. At other times church centered visits may occur while we are either making cold calls or while we are contacting reference prospects.
In church centered visits some basic steps are helpful to follow. First, this type of visit is most effective if carried out in pairs. This is especially true if the prospect is not already a personal friend or has not been through the caller centered process. This is an excellent time to get others in the congregation involved in evangelism. If we are married we may want to take our spouse with us. Developing a family friendship between our family and theirs gives additional opportunities, especially if children are involved. Kids are great "ice breakers!" When we visit we should take someone with us with whom we are comfortable and have confidence. As mentioned, a Christian spouse is an excellent choice. If our spouse is unavailable or if we are unmarried, another brother or sister from the congregation should be invited. To avoid temptation, embarrassment or undue questions, a married person should take along someone of the same gender if their spouse is unavailable.
There are some very practical and scriptural reasons for visiting in pairs. It was surely by no accident that Jesus sent the twelve, and later the Seventy, out by twos (Luke 10:1) Paul generally had a Silas, Barnabas, or Timothy with him too. Visiting in pairs affords moral support. Sometimes it can get discouraging going it alone --- especially if the prospect is uninviting. Working by twos does not double our effectiveness but rather geometrically increases it! Visiting in pairs affords Christian association. Some of the strongest ties develop between fellow soldiers as they fight the battle together. Perhaps one of the reasons we are not as close in the church is because we have not bled with each other on the battlefield of evangelism. Visiting in pairs sets the prospect more at ease. A prospect may be more willing to listen to us if they perceive that we are acting, not as a single person, but as a part of a larger caring body. Visiting in pairs also provides additional safety for physical concerns.
The church centered visit should be short and to the point. Some colorful, up to date looking material, such as a church bulletin or gospel meeting announcement should be in hand. This will help break the ice and will give prospect something to look over when we are gone. Whatever we give them must be well written and present the church in the most positive light. Our materials don't have to be expensive but they should look professional. We have only one chance at a first impression and it should reflect the importance of the church (I recommend "Introducing You to Our Christian Family Worship" by Brother Ray Powell). Attire should also he given some attention. Usually a pressed shirt and tie is in order. Even in rural communities business men look the part. If a tie is not appropriate for the visit (some individual judgment is necessary here) cleanliness and neatness remain a must.
The church centered visit is a time to tell the prospect about the local congregation of the Lord's body. Don't embellish the good qualities of the church, but be sure to show them that the congregation is a caring, close knit group of dedicated Christians (if we aren't, then this must be corrected before the church will grow!).
Try to discover what would be of interest to your prospect. If, for example, the prospect has children, then we need to tell them about the children in the congregation. The more that our prospect finds in common the more likely they will be to visit our services. Make them feel that they would want to he a part of the Lord's family. You may even want to have a picture of the building (or better yet, the congregation members! pdc) along with you. Above all, this is not a time to discuss every difference we have with the denominational world. If a controversial subject arises we should delay the issue and seek a future time to come and have an open bible study. If, for example, the prospect seems dismayed that we don't offer Sunday School to the children ---redirect the concern and tell them about the edifying and all inclusive teaching that goes on at the congregation (If your teachers don't provide good teaching then this is an area that needs work. God does not require eloquence or entertainment but He does require edification).
Like the caller centered visit some caution is also in order. Church centered visits are just one of many tools we have to bring others to Christ. Too often, however, we invite prospects to church and think that we have done our part. Sometimes we place all our confidence in the building. We must realize that Christ went to the people --- He did not invite them to the synagogue to hear His lectures. The attitude that we sometimes have of "Salvation Available, Inquire Within" is not found in God's Word. A building is nothing more than a convenient place of assembly It is not a primary means of evangelism.
Third, our visit may be Christ centered. Here the primary goal is to begin a regular Bible study program. Usually, but not always, these visits will occur after we have developed a friendship with the prospect. Occasionally people will invite total strangers into their home to study the bible but this is rare. Friendship and confidence are usually job one.
In setting up the study there are some basic considerations. The time of our study will he crucial to its success. Usually studies are conducted in the evenings. Be sure to pick an evening that will afford the least opportunity for cancel. Weekday evenings are usually best because weekends are filled with distractions. Take the prospects lifestyle and work schedule into consideration. Most of all, we must be flexible. As much as possible we should bend our schedule to fit theirs. If we know, for example, that our prospect is an avid football fan it may be unproductive to schedule a study during the Monday night game time. Try for Tuesday or Thursday.
Another consideration will the topic of study. If possible, we should try to follow some preset schedule. Some have found filmstrips, videos, or Cd's to be very effective. Others prefer open Bible studies. Charts or other visual aids are effective as well. Whatever we use staying on track is mandatory. At times we may have to provide answers to questions about Bible topics which don't coincide with our outline. We must be careful, however, not to let our studies evolve into an open forum discussion or argument. These studies usually do more harm than good. Some questions that arise during a study may need to he dealt with immediately. Usually, however, prospects are amenable to postponing a discussion until a future date. If we don't know the answer to a question we should never be afraid of saying so. Prospects will he more impressed with an honest "I don't know" than with an incorrect answer. Tell the prospect that you will study the issue and get back with them.
We don't want to push our prospects too quickly, but we do want to systematically lead them to Christ. At some point issues like the "cups" or "classes" will naturally come up. We must be careful, however, that we don't scare people off by bringing up such issues at the outset. In our zeal we sometimes tell people more than they can handle and actually drive them away. Begin your studies with topics which pertain to issues like: man's need for salvation, the structure of the Bible, the general theme and purpose of the Old Testament, the general theme and purpose of New Testament, Christ's love and sacrifice, the establishment of the church, etc.
There is no one sure fire way of studying with others. As members, various people have found different methods suitable. Whatever the case, use what you feel comfortable with. For the novice it might be helpful to rely on the experience of the partner. The more experienced should lead the study. Again, going in pairs is most effective. Usually the more experienced leads the study with the helper acting as a silent partner. The silent partner says very little but his role is indispensable. He may at times be called on to help redirect a controversial discussion. He may find it necessary to distract noisy children by actually playing with them while the study is in progress. Most of all the silent partner must appear interested --- not bored. He may also need to help in other ways as the study progresses. Team work is key.
During the study have your Bible open as much as possible. Let God's Word do the convicting. It is often helpful to provide "like" Bibles to our prospects during the study. If they aren't familiar with the location of passages a page number can he given instead. Let the prospect do as much reading as they feel comfortable with. This may also be a good time to get your partner involved.
When the study is over thank the prospect for the evening. If they have provided beverages or snacks compliment their hospitality. Be sure to let the prospect know that you look forward to the next visit. Usually the average visit will last about an hour. This may vary depending on the topic and the interest shown. While we don't want to discourage interest and conversation we must keep our visits timely. We must never wear out our welcome.
During this introduction process we should he careful to shield our prospects from problems in the church. Every congregation has difficulty from time to time. We are human and humans have problems. We must be careful, however, not to let these situations overcome the prospect or the new convert. If our congregation has strife --- get it settled! The devil loves nothing more than to see the body divided. Naturally we don't want to make folks think that we think we are perfect. But nothing aids in conversion like brotherly love and peace. (1 Thessalonians 5:13).
Finally, after we have converted our prospects we must not abandon them. New converts are babes in Christ. They need care, feeding, love and patience. Be assured that they will continue to need weekly Bible study. Be assured that they will sin. Be assured that they will be overwhelmed at first. Be there for them! Jesus realized that keeping the prospect was not over at baptism. He commanded that they continue to be taught (Matthew 28:19-20). We must be patient and let them make the same mistakes we made when we were new to the faith. We must not judge them too harshly.
Time should be set aside each week for the sole purpose of telling others about Christ. If you are in a congregation that does not have a visitation program then take the initiative to implement one. If you are a leader of a congregation then head up a weekly or at least monthly organized visiting program. Help brethren select a partner and then begin compiling a list of prospects. These may include friends, acquaintances, or even door to door contacts. Keep a card file of the names so future reference can be made. Put people you meet on a mailing list and keep them abreast of meetings and events at the congregation. Visit them at least four to six times a year Regular contact is a must.
When we approach the prospect's door we must be aware of our surroundings. If they have pretty flowers or a pretty yard we may want to give a genuine compliment. Most of all be sincere. We must also be aware of timing. If our visit appears to be at an inconvenient time (ex: the family is leaving for a dinner out) apologize and try back later. Most of all, we must not let circumstances dissuade us. Christ never promised ease in spreading the gospel, but He did promise reward. Our home is in heaven --- let's show others the way.
219 NE Carriage CL., Lee's Summit, Missouri 64064
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