To draw in nonbelievers, leaders of several churches in Lamar, Missouri, including First Baptist Church decided to host a community-wide revival. It seemed like a solution to the challenge of sharing Christ over a large geography dotted with farms and a rural landscape of hard-working people separated by distance. But despite good cooperation, the organizers knew that when several churches come together, its unrealistic to expect everyones ideas to be the same. Challenges will arise. Who does the preaching? Who will supply the music? Who pays for the auditorium and sound equipment rental, publicity flyers or programs? And the one question that could cause the biggest argument and free-for-allwhen someone makes a decision to follow Christ, which congregation will disciple the new believer?

Lamar organizers gave careful attention to preparing decision cards, asking if the person had a church preference, if they were making an initial decision or a recommitment and if they wished to be baptized. During the revival, several ministers and church counselors stood at the front to receive people who made decisions and to escort them into a counseling room.

If they indicated a church preference, the appropriate local minister counseled them. When no preference was indicated, they were asked if they were attending with someone who had a church home.

And, if they had no church background, two ministers were prepared to counsel them about their decision to follow Christ and to give them Bibles.

What First Baptist Church learned was thatby joining togetherthey could share expenses and work, and they could create a larger and more exciting event that had a better chance for success than small events at each church.

They also learned that planning is essential. Challenges exist, but they can be overcome with foresight and good organization.

And they never lost sight of the purpose of their community revival: To glorify God and share His simple plan of salvation. The result was not only new believers but also a stronger community exhibiting a common ground of Christlike fellowship and love.

Laying the groundwork
Commit to plan and pray  toget-her. A community revival is only successful if everyone shares responsibilities.

The event in Lamar was a result of a weekly ministers prayer meeting. We decided we needed to do something together in recognition that God is working to draw us together as a body of ministers, says Kevin Sheat, a rural Southern Baptist minister. Each one of them committed to making the revivals work by focusing on common beliefsgrace, Gods love, victory in Jesusrather than on differences.

Encourage camaraderie among church leaders and members which is necessary before anything can be done. The group of ministers in Lamar became a band of brothers. Their enthusiasm and cooperation carried over into their congregations.

Try to find a neutral meeting place, eliminating any possible feeling of competition in deciding which church building to use. Also, people who feel intimidated when attending other churches will often go to a community building, school or park.

Set the date so that the revival does not interfere with other community and school calendars.

Decide how to meet expenses. Consider items such as auditorium rental and childcare. Lamar ministers ensured support from their church boards before making further plans. Also, the Ministerial Alliance placed a box for a freewill offering in the foyer of the auditorium, and proceeds helped cover the revival expenses.

Plan something for the children. Whether children are cared for on site or at another location depends on available facilities. In Lamar, the leadership team paid the staff of a local day care to plan activities for the children.

Within a week after it ends, while memories and impressions are still fresh, organizers should meet to make notes of what worked well and what they might change next time.

Be realistic about frequency in planning a future community revival. Lamar congregations decided that repeating once every four years would be enough.

Planning the service
No minister or church should dominate any service. Large and small congregations can share duties of Master of Ceremonies, preaching and music each evening. Two Lamar ministers preached every evening, with diversity in delivery styles from dynamic to the quiet conversational type. Sermons were limited to fifteen minutes each, and services lasted one hour.

Different congregations can provide special music, including ladies groups, childrens choirs, mens quartets, vocal and instrumental or a bell choir.

A Youth Night featuring testimonies from local youth could be planned. Arrange for other teens to greet people and hand out song sheets.

Involve your members
Church members can help with planning and publicity, participate in the services, greet and seat attendees, sing in the choir or special music.

Church members can serve as counselors during the decision time. Provide training in sharing the gospel, so they will be well prepared for this crucial part of each service. A bonus benefit to participating in a community revival is raising a group of on mission Christians who become awakened to their call to share Christ as a natural part of their lives and who have opportunities during the revival and after to use their newly honed skills in personal evangelism.

Counselors can use a neutral tract that explains the plan of salvation. The American Tract Society has several that would be appropriate. To order tracts from the American Tract Society call 800-548-7228 or visit www.gospelcom.net/ats.

LeAnn Campbell is a retired special education teacher and freelance writer living in Lamar, Missouri.