Churches with an evangelism strategy have many more baptisms, some 60 percent more. The key is to be intentional and specific seeking the Lord’s leading in planning.
Step One: Research lostness
Internal assessment: I recommend Map Church sponsored by NAMB. It is a great diagnostic tool, and it’s free. It is similar to LifeWay’s Transformation Church diagnostics. Online at www.mapchurch.org. Use it to look for gaps in equipping/discipling among segments of members – missiology, doctrine, depth, lifestyle issues, witnessing experience, etc.
External assessment: Boots on the ground knocking on doors is vital. Summer interns were trained to look for pockets of lostness and people groups for ten weeks last summer in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Jefferson City. Their data is online and you can apply for an account to review it at www.peoplegroups.info.
Evaluate resources available: Be realistic about people, time, and budget.
Step Two: Pray intentionally
One Cry is a “win” to draw believers into a closer relationship with the Lord (www.onecry.com) It is encapsulated in a six week program, but can initiate a movement. Sunday School classes need to know how to pray and what to pray for. Getting segments within the church engaged in specific ways is important.
Step Three: Equip for disciple-making
Role models: Pastors and church leaders must set the example for their members.
Personal evangelism: The GPS emphasis across the SBC in 2016 and ‘17 is intentional one-on-one witnessing. Making disciple-makers must be relational and I have seen that orality does this best. Missouri Baptists can have C2C – Creation to the Cross Fold-it tracts at no cost from MBC Evangelism/Discipleship Strategies. C2C is a meta-narrative that is especially good to use with younger generations that just don’t have a Bible background. It starts in the Old Testament and moves through the Gospel and into steps for new believers. You can learn more about C2C and place an order (free for Missouri Baptists) by visiting mobaptist.org/c2c.
Teamwork: Sending out teams two by two requires intentionality and training. “Workers in the Harvest” is a one-day training that I offer that pairs up believers for about one year. (A manual for this is available for a fee.)
Decision Counselors should help new believers after their decision to follow Christ and make it public. They must know how to lead someone to Christ. Follow-up must be required to help new believers become active witnesses and disciple-makers.
Step Four: Sow down the Gospel
Widespread evangelization: Initiate a blitz during an evangelistic “season” that may last for one month at a strategic time. MBC Evangelism/Discipleship may be able to offset some evangelization costs through joint funding provided by NAMB and MBC.
Internet: Recording and uploading member testimonies of believers in your church can be promoted using business cards. You may use an existing service such as www.mostimportantthing.org, www.whativaluemost.com, or perhaps your church’s website can host it. This may require a larger capacity server and a unique website that links to follow-up materials and counseling such as NAMB’s Evangelism Response Center at www.nambercchat.com or calling 1-888-JESUS20.
Commit to making disciples should be the church’s number one biblical priority. Make sure everything done is reproducible and holds people accountable for spiritual development. I believe Bible Storying holds relational and supportive keys to success. I can provide a catalog to those who write snowdenministries@gmail.com.
Step Five: Celebrate with a purpose
Baptisms should become more inclusive and celebratory. New believers should invite family members and the focus of the service should be on the need for salvation and baptism. This helps the new believer be a bolder witness for Jesus.
As the campaign continues throughout the year, testimonials and experiences should be showcased in every communication vehicle of the church including the pulpit as a prioritized act of worship. Remember, you’re not bragging on what you, a committee, the strategy, or the church did, but giving glory to what God did through your church through the activity of the Holy Spirit. This is an Acts 14:27 event as the church gets together and learns how God “opened a door of faith.”