The Ripple Effect of an Annual Evangelism Strategy
By Jimmy Kinnaird
 When I think about a ripple effect, I think about the effect a rock has when it is thrown into the calm waters of a pond. The energy released by the initial splash disturbs the stillness of the water as the ripples travel out, some even touching the shore. But eventually these ripples dissipate and the waters retreat back into a calm. The only way to keep the waters stirred is to keep splashing, to keep the energy going. Evangelism in a church is often like splashing water in a pond. For evangelism to keep its proper place there must be continual ripples in the water. The ripples spread in all directions transforming lives as they go.
Looking at evangelism in the body of Christ, there are at least six ripples that need to be energized continually. Let’s look at each of these along with some recommendations for ways to keep the ripple effect going through use of an annual evangelism strategy.
The first ripple is the pastor. He is the initial splash in the waters of evangelism. According to the Scriptures, he is one of those charged with the responsibility to equip the church for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). Certainly a huge part of that work would be evangelism. What can a pastor do for himself and the church that will keep evangelism stirring on an annual basis? Here are some ideas:
1. Be challenged intellectually in evangelism. Read two or three good books a year on the subject of evangelism. These should both be intellectual and passionate.
2. Pastor should schedule weekly evangelistic visits, whether they are appointments with church visitors or door-to-door evangelism.
3. Meet weekly with another pastor friend and share not only personal and church items, but hold one another accountable in your Christian witness.
4. Plan and calendar a yearly evangelism strategy through church leadership. (see Suggestions for an Annual Evangelism Strategy below)
5. Mentor one or two new believers each year. This will help you to see a renewed perspective of new-found faith. It will keep you fresh.
6. Establish a church-wide weekly evangelism and outreach ministry.
The second ripple is the staff. Many churches have paid ministerial staff. While the pastor touches these, they will touch many more of the leaders in the church as well. What can the church staff do on an annual basis?
1. At staff meetings make the pastor and staff’s personal witnessing a topic of conversation and prayer.
2. Assign staff to read exceptional books on evangelism and/or important articles on evangelism. Subscribe to On Mission magazine.
3. Encourage staff to mentor a new believer each year. Make this a topic at staff meetings.
4. Make participation in the evangelism/outreach ministry mandatory for staff.
The third ripple is the volunteer church leadership. In most Baptist churches this will be deacons and the church council. Ministry decisions are made by these two groups. Deacons are an example of active ministry. The Church council is the planning and implementing of ministry. What can be done in these two groups to continue the ripple of evangelism?
1. At each meeting, pray for the lost.
2. Develop the church evangelism strategy with staff, deacons and church council.
3. Talk about the church evangelism strategy and update its status.
4. Appoint and empower an evangelism leader to be on the church council.
a. The evangelism leader should attend and report on the church evangelism strategy.
b. The evangelism leader should form a church evangelism team from every major ministry area in the church to help implement the strategy.
5. Establish an intercessory prayer ministry for the lost.
The fourth ripple is the Sunday School or Small Group Ministry teacher. Make evangelism a regular part of this ministry. The group teacher or leader has an important influence. Here are some ways to continue the ripple effect of evangelism out to your Sunday School or Small Group teachers:
1. At each meeting, ask for specific requests for the lost to be saved. Challenge members to find lost people in their networks and take their requests as well. Pray for them.
2. Challenge members to share with the lost.
3. Periodically have an outreach fellowship. Holiday times are a good time to invite those who are spiritually lost.
4. Participate in a servanthood evangelism project as a group.
5. Take evangelism training as a group. RELAY: Sharing Your Faith Your Way is one resource.
The fifth ripple is other ministry volunteers. This would be anyone who has a position of any responsibility in the church.
1. Make personal evangelism training a part of that position.
2. Consider making every area of ministry represented on the evangelism team.
3. Periodically have all ministry volunteers fill out a “Who Do You Know” questionnaire to discover possible prospects for prayer and evangelism.
The sixth and last ripple is the general church member. These are members not serving in any official capacity in the church. Here are ways to involve them.
1. Offer church-wide evangelism training at least on an annual basis.
2. Structure Sunday morning worship to make it easy for church members to invite the lost.
a. Do a felt needs series and print high quality promotional resources church members will be proud to use.
b. Have a yearly or bi-yearly “Friend Day” emphasis.
c. Don’t over program your church. Members need time to connect with people outside of church.
3. Have an annual or semi-annual special evangelistic event that involves all ages of your church. Many who will not commit to a long-term ministry will do something that is a special event.
Two things to keep in mind when thinking about the ripple effect, like that of a splash in the water: First, the ripples closest to the splash are the greatest. This means the pastor should carefully consider who he is pouring his life into for evangelism. The pastor needs to be strategic in staffing and leadership. Second, the greater the impact, the further the ripples go. The pastor, whether he likes it or not, is the one who can make the greatest impact. The pastor cannot abdicate this to someone else. There is no one else.
Implementing one or two of these will not have much impact for evangelism in your church. Doing all of them for a short time will likewise have a minimal effect. But utilizing all six and doing it over time will establish a ripple effect that could grow into full waves of evangelism. These waves will have crest and trough, but they will stir the waters of evangelism in your church and change lives for eternity.
Jimmy Kinnaird is NAMB’s personal evangelism resource coordinator.
Suggestions for an Annual Evangelism Strategy
July: Pastor, staff and leaders take prayer retreat for God’s vision and set goals
Plan a fall personal evangelism training emphasis
Plan a fall and spring high impact evangelistic event. Consider joining the GPS initiative for the spring
Follow-up on VBS decisions and guests
Youth Camp
August: Begin promotion for personal evangelism training
Take donuts to local public school for the teachers as they being classes
September: Begin personal evangelism training
Start weekly church outreach program: September - December
Encourage Sunday School or Small Groups to perform a ministry evangelism project
Begin promoting a high impact evangelistic event
Have a church-wide “Friend Day”
October: Participate in Soul Winning Commitment Day
Conduct the high impact evangelistic event
Provide a Halloween alternative or event that coincides with the holiday
Begin a new believers or members class/group
November: Meet with church leaders to review the fall evangelism and the coming spring evangelism
strategy
Encourage Sunday School or Small Group ministry to have a Thanksgiving or Christmas
outreach event
December: Have an evangelistic Christmas event, such as a community Christmas service, meal or program
January: Plan an evangelistic Super Bowl party through Sunday school or small groups
Plan to attend your state convention’s evangelism conference and bring your leaders
Start weekly, church outreach program: January-May
February: Promote your spring high impact evangelism event (GPS)
Encourage Sunday school or small group to plan a ministry evangelism project connected to
GPS event
March: Church training for the GPS event
April: Conduct the GPS event and begin follow-up
Start new Sunday school classes or small groups
Start a new members or new believers class/group
Being training workers for VBS, think of ways to make it more evangelistic
May: Make special preparations for Mother’s Day
June: Conduct VBS
Begin Follow-up of VBS
Children’s camp
Valuable Resources:
The Evangelism Planner (EP), available at www.namb.net
Soul Winning Commitment Day Materials: www.thebigday.org
High Impact Evangelistic Events, available at www.NAMBSTORE.COM
RELAY: Sharing Your Faith Your Way, available at www.theRELAYway.com
Vacation Bible School materials, available at www.lifeway.com
Praying Your Friends to Christ, available at www.namb.net
|
|
