EVANGELISM STRATEGY
THE MANDATE
Though few churches fully integrate this verse into their doctrine the text clearly commands us to evangelise all ‘ethnic’ groups not just the group that we find comfortable to be in. Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4:7) was an indication of his attempt to reach all nations. (Mat 28:18-20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy spirit’. This is the mandate for the church as we enter the final hour. In (John 4:23) Jesus speaks of that hour coming where we need to transcend beyond cultural groups and barriers with the message of salvation.
THE MISSION
Strategic planning is often viewed in the corporate world as setting long- term plans against resources to achieve core business strategy. The same tool can be utilized to achieve core objectives based on a specific mission statement. While God has given us the mandate he has left the methods and strategic implementation for us to infuse into our local church’s evangelism strategy. With the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit we can touch and transform lives. It must be pointed out that evangelism without the structure of the five fold ministry (Eph 4:11) is very difficult to achieve. The office of the evangelist needs to be restored to the church. In (Acts 8:5) this role is performed by Philip as he preaches the message of the Kingdom beyond Jerusalem. To be an effective local church one must both have a strategy and a vision to remain focused with its ministry gifts and resources. The Holy Spirit does not stop us from planning it simply inspires us to plan.
THE METHOD
Churches, regardless of the size can implement an evangelism strategy. The following action plans can be incorporated into the master plan of the church’s calendars and budgets. Each section item( 1.1-1.10) is connected to a given action plan on the Evangelism planner to assist you in achieving these action items.
1.1 Organise an evangelism outreach month and put in place an evangelism department.
Focus scriptures are based on evangelism
Sermons are based on sharing your faith
Monthly bible study material focused on soul winning
Practical experience can be gained from the evangelism outreach team
Organise a follow-up team to contact new members and converts
Evangelism departments should organise training of new members
2.1 TRAIN YOUR MEMBERS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM
Personal evangelism training is one of the most basic components of an evangelistic church strategy. A church will not grow effectively without someone specifically appointed to the office of an evangelist ( Eph 4:11) and is dedicated to share, train and influence others so that new gifts can be developed and imparted.
(For more information about this please refer to our website details below)
3.1 PLAN OR PARTICIPATE IN A REVIVAL DURING THE YEAR
Revivals are still a mainstay of many church’s evangelistic strategies Thousands of people can be reached through the outreach and evangelistic activities associated with revival.
4.1 DEVELOP AND EXPAND AN EVANGELISTIC PROSPECT FILE
It is imperative that every church or ministry has a growing list of people which can be contacted, visited and evangelized. Each church or ministry must identify and locate persons who need to be reached for Christ with appropriate contact information.
Church cards
Drop in guests from conferences
5.1 ORGANISE SPECIAL EVANGELISTIC EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, CRUSADES: TV BASED IN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
Organise open air crusades
Arrange and design mass tract distribution to local area
Design tracks to target special groups
Particular outreach activities must be planned to reach the lost for Christ. Many unbelievers will not attend a church service, but will come to special outreach activities such as a community-wide Block Party focused on their community needs
6.1 MAKE PLANS TO TARGET SPECIFIC GROUPS:
Youth evangelism via visits to local parks and community centres
College and campus evangelism
Evening events with refreshments:
Contact local council for community needs and aim to fulfil them
7.1 DEVELOP AN ONGOING EVANGELISTIC VISITATION PROGRAM
Organise small local groups( teams of 4-6) in different geographical locations according to where members live. This is a subset of your total church congregation in a bit size group.
Meet regularly in coffee shops during the week for only 30 minutes and exchange contact details with non-Christians with small business cards about the church.
A weekly evangelistic visitation program where people are visited and evangelized. This should be at the very core of a church’s strategy for reaching the community. This should be implemented alongside an ongoing personal evangelism training program. The small teams should meet after for prayer and complete an activity report.
8.1 DEVELOP A PRAYER EVANGELISM STRATEGY
Prayer is the foundation upon which all evangelism strategies should be built. By focusing the strategy upon prayer, a church’s strategy is connected to the source of the Holy Spirit.
Regular prayer meetings should me conducted and primarily focused on reaching the unbelievers in your communities. Organise all night prayer vigil where you confront territorial spirits in the area. Charles Finney, the American evangelist was very keen on prayer meetings focused on unbelievers, Finney, spent about a year just praying for a town before his meetings, David Yongi Choi spent a year praying in the mountain before his church exploded.
9.1 THE J STRATEGY Luke 10:1-12
Jesus had three groups in his ministry – the Group of 3 Fellowship & Prayer, the group of 12 – Apostolic (Acts 6:1-7), group of 70 – Evangelism ( Luke 10:1-4)
Step 1- This evangelism approach send out a team of troops similar to SOS special forces in the army, their role to spy out the area with prayer walks taking note of the principal territorial spirits ruling that locality. The SOS team should be a small groups of four-no media, no TV, no noise – just quiet praying and speaking the peace of God over the homes.
Step 2- The SOS team should report back to the head of prayer with the identified ruling spirits over the area e.g. drugs, poverty, crime, prostitution
Step 3 The evangelism team can form a prayer evangelism strategy and pray specifically against the demonic strongholds in the area while speaking peace over the minds of the homes making them receptive to the gospel. (Rom 16:20, Eph 6:15, Luke 10
10.1 PLAN A VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL FOR YOUTHS
VBS and Bible clubs are some of the best ways to reach children and families for Christ- this can be organized by a youth Pastor for teenagers during the summer periods Church leaders should be involved in associational, state and national evangelistic training events and activities. Encourage attendance at evangelism conferences and seminars. A Youth Pastor can organise outreach meetings and have combined camp meetings and outreach meetings for youths
10.2 SIGN UP COVENANT WORKERS TO ENSURE COMMITMENT
Senior Pastors should pray with new members to ensure motivation and interest will be maintained in the long-term.
This process ensures that members will be committed, the reasons for lack of interest in evangelism is that it has been treated as a low visibility ministry.
Care should be taken to raise its profile in the local church with the full commitment of the senior Pastor. For evangelism to be effective it has to be raised from a low visibility to high visibility ministries.
10.3 PLAN A MINIMUM OF ONE YEARLY LARGE EVANGELISM EVENT
Revival prayer meetings focused on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – just the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Scriptures and prayers are all based on the work of the Holy Spirit.
10.4 PLAN A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARLY EVANGELISM EVENTS
One-Hour Witnessing Workshops
One-Day Witnessing Workshops
10.5 DEVELOP AN EVANGELISTIC PRAYER MINISTRY
Prayer Walking with anointing oil
Praying for our Friends:friendship evangelism
Ask each member to take a friend for an open service
Have refreshments.
Organise an evangelistic prayer team