CHURCH GROWTH THROUGH OUTREACH METHODS

By: Rev. Leroy Kelly

I. TODAY IS OUR DAY

Never before has the challenge been so great! Never before has our message been accepted like it is this day. Today is our day! Today is God’s time. Endtime revival fires are sweeping into our churches as never before. Today is the time to go full steam ahead. Today is the time to re-evaluate our methods! Today is the time to change old ones and develop new ones. This is our day!

II. USE VARIOUS METHODS

We must try all available methods to see which ones work the best for us. Each methods success can only be determined by the amount of honest effort we put into it. The reason new methods aren’t sometimes successful is because we have a tendency to discover first why it won’t work. This is not an honest effort? We must try to make it work and we will see outstanding results.

The key to church growth is known as “Saturation Evangelism”. We must and will saturate our city with this message. Business firms must know of us. Every home must hear of us. Our city must be aware of our presence. The following methods will help us to saturate the city “For His Name’s Sake”.

III. TELEPHONE MINISTRY

A. ALL CAN PARTICIPATE

The newest convert is a candidate to participate in the Telephone Ministry. Assign a page or pages to competent individuals in your church that will dedicate a couple of hours a week to the Telephone Ministry. The response will amaze you as many people you contact find it hard to believe a church could be so concerned.

B. THE PITCH

Each caller should use the same “pitch” to eliminate unnecessary comments and mistaken information. The following “pitch” is given as an example. “Hello, I’m Mrs. Smith from the United Pentecostal Church. My pastor, John Doe, asked me to call you and invite you to our services this weekend.” Pause for response is negative. Plant the seed, saturation is the key. Divide your Telephone Ministry into teams to see which team obtains the best results. Remember, enthusiasm must be used in any method we choose.

IV. PRINTING EVANGELISM

A. TRACTS

Printing is an inexpensive way of getting the Gospel out. Track racks should be placed in Laundromats, public gathering places, Barber Shops, etc. Your choice of tract is of vital importance in gathering people to you. Use your positive tracts. People are not interested in the “don’ts” of our religion. Let’s introduce some of our “do’s” in Pentecost. When they are filled with the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God will lead and guide them into all truths.

B. WEEKLY PAPERS

A weekly church paper is not only for your present members but mail them to the visitors that come your way, even if just one visit. It gives them the feeling “They Care”. Plant the seed. Saturation is the key.

V. PROMOTION EVANGELISM

Dr. Jack Hyles once stated “most preachers will do anything scriptural to get people to the house of God, but I will go a step further. I will do anything that is not against scripture to get people to the house of God.”

A. WE ARE JUSTIFIED IN PROMOTING

We need to promote our church! We realize this is God’s work and we want the world to know this is God’s work. We have no reason to be ashamed of this message! If major businesses such as K-Mart, Gibsons, Furrs Grocery and etc., do not feel they waste money on newspaper advertisements, why should we think we’ve wasted money by advertising our church? People will never hear us preach if they don’t know where we are. Our message is the soundest message preached on the face of the earth, but without promoting our church our message will never be heard. Newspaper advertisements, radio commercials, tracts, bulletins, suppers, activities and anything to promote the church must be activated in order to reach the lost. We must promote promotion!

VI. YOUTH EVANGELISM

No greater energy will be found than the energy in the youth of our day. Special trips, planned outings and fellowships are easy ways to draw people to the church. Aside from the fact your youth must be kept actively involved, other young people from other denominations will always be interested in a good time of fellowship with Christian friends. Once they are with your group, you have your foot in the door of their heart. The youth of today are very open and easy to reach if we will only give them something to cling to. A true revival is a youth group on fire for God. They will clean the church, mow the lawn, work the Bus Ministry, conduct street services; they will help carry the load.

VII. BUS EVANGELISM

A. NO AGE BARRIERS IN BUS MINISTRY

The church that promotes the Bus Ministry will always be a growing church. This particular method of outreach has created an
unprecedented growth in our churches. It is this writers opinion that the Bus Ministry is the most effective outreach tool we have. This instrument of outreach does several things for a church. First, it creates a work for everyone in the church including the newest convert. I have witnessed practically all ages involved in the Bus Ministry. It is for everyone.

B. MAKES WITNESSING EASIER

Secondly, it is sometimes easier for people to witness more with a group than just by themselves. It gives even the most shy, a certain degree of confidence and boldness.

C. IT IS EFFECTIVE

Thirdly, it has been proven time and time again, you will win family after family from the Bus Ministry. Nothing is better for the church than new blood in her veins. These people are appreciative of what the church has done for them. They will become first generation Pentecostals just like the second chapter of Acts and the same kind of revival will happen to the church now as it did then. Bring the children in, teach them the Word of the Lord, then that child will take home the Gospel and open the door for you.

D. LET YOUR BUSES ADVERTISE FOR YOU

Fourth, your buses should be a moving billboard in your city. Paint them in such a manner that they will become an asset to your church and not a liability. Our best needs to be seen at all times. The looks of your bus can bring people to the church. It plants the seed. Keep the buses rolling! It’s part of the key to church growth, “Saturation Evangelism”.

These are just a few ways to evangelize your city. Try them! Nothing can stop the church. “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

(The original source and/or publisher of the above material is unknown.)

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