A TOTAL, BALANCED PLAN OF OUTREACH
J. T. PUGH

Every church needs a total program to involve every person in soulwinning outreach. Often different plans concerning various phases of soulwinning are presented and we become very thrilled over these. Sometimes other effective methods are abandoned to concentrate upon a new and exciting way. However, each church needs a balanced program to involve the entire church at all times in some form of soulwinning.

There is a place for everyone in personal evangelism-soulwinning outreach. Though we cannot assume that every person in the church is suited to do every type of evangelism, yet everyone can do something. A home Bible study course may be too difficult for the new convert to conduct, but he can do Sunday school invitation and other types of soulwinning outreach and give his testimony.

This is the most concise plan for a total and balanced soulwinning outreach ever presented. Please note the following headings.

PRIMARY OUTREACH

Tract Distribution

Christians print a hundred pages for every thousand which communism produces. Hungry minds, emerging from illiteracy and starving hearts searching for a way out of religious coldness are anxious to read truth. Let’s give this truth to men.

Every church should have these basic items and use them in this primary outreach for souls:

1. A Tract Depot: Obtain a variety of tracts and keep them in an accessible place. A special cabinet or a set of shelves is suitable.

2. Tract Rack: Make these tracts available to visitors in the entrance of the church through use of a tract rack. This can be obtained from the Pentecostal Publishing House. Appoint someone to keep it full and to see that it is presentable.

3. Literature Stations: Table top and wall tract racks can be placed all over the city and provide a highly effective outreach. Wash-a-terias, waiting rooms, depots, lobbies of public buildings and in business offices are good places. Be sure to get permission for placement, provide an attractive rack and appoint someone to keep them filled. Choose your literature carefully.

Almost anyone can do this kind of work. It is primary, basic to the needs of lost souls and should be a highly developed ministry among us. See the separate chapter on this subject.

Sunday School Invitation and Visitation

This is a ministry. It is easily done that everyone in the church can be involved. Even children can invite others to Sunday school.

As an organized effort it must work totally through the; staff and is a normal operation of the Sunday school. The “Total Soulwinning-Outreach Plan” would not be complete without gram.

Bus Ministry

A church that expects to grow, in this day, can hardly be without a Bus Ministry. The spectacular growth of the nation’s largest Sunday schools is largely credited to this ministry. In fact, conventions are being held on the theme, “The Bus Ministry.” It could
build your church just as easily as it will build the denominational church. All it takes is work.

The Bus Ministry involves people in soulwinning outreach.First the bus driver, and then the route helper. As the route grows, the children themselves become involved in expanding it. When the bus is full buy another bus, put on another driver, then a helper
and watch your Sunday school grow. It’s work, but it works. That’s the test.

For a complete set of records for the Bus Ministry, write Rev. Winfred I. Black, c/o Apostolic Pentecostal Church, 1301
Gravois, St. Louis, Missouri 63123. Ask for the Personal Contact Report, Scholar’s Attendance Report, Teachers’ Report of Absentee Contacts and a description of the plan.

Books are also written concerning this subject.

B. SECONDARY OUTREACH

Personal Testimony

Many people say they do not know how to do personal evangelism. However, they are neglecting to put the proper value on their personal testimony. The personal testimony is always effective because it expresses your heart to another. It is telling another person what happened to you.

The personal testimony can be given to anyone, anywhere at the job, at school, in public business places, anywhere you find
people.

The personal testimony can begin like this: “Let me tell you what happened to me. . .” Like Paul said, “I was on a road. . I saw a light . . . I fell down to the ground . .I heard a voice. . .I went to Damascus . . . I received the Holy Ghost.” This powerful testimony cannot be refuted because who can say that you did not experience conviction, forgiveness, baptism in Jesus’ name, and speaking with tongues when you received the Holy Ghost.

Eighty to eighty-five per cent of the people won to Pentecost are won by new converts. Why? Because they have an effective personal testimony! Enthusiastic! Factual! Convincing! Personal! Urgent! Develop your personal testimony by emphasizing its most exciting points, use if for astounding results.

Personal Evangelism and Witnessing

Each church should establish an organized personal witness outreach. This involves (1) obtaining prospects, (2) maintaining a
prospect file, (3) working the file by follow-up.

There are several plans which can be used in an organized effort. Sometimes a church will set a certain night for visitation
outreach. Acquaint your workers with the prospect file, and they can select the persons they feel to visit. Sometimes this can be organized on a couple-to-couple, man-to-man, or woman-to-woman.

Whether spontaneous or organized, witnessing must be spiritual. Mechanical witnessing is discouraging, defeating the true purpose of witnessing. We go out to give life! Power must flow, miracles can and will happen and souls will receive the Holy Ghost. Be a “power witness” wherever you are, anytime, all the time. Organize the church to an effective outreach. For advanced training obtain “The Power Witness.”

A personal evangelism visitation outreach should feed into the Sunday school and the regular services of the church as well as to revivals. Many times people consider an “invitation” is sufficient. However, the personal evangelist will be able to plant the seed in the heart and work with the person until the seed bears fruit. They will begin to come to Sunday school, then to the morning worship, to Sunday night service, and ultimately to revival. It is in these services, no doubt, where they will receive the experience of the Holy Ghost.

Census and Saturation Visitation

A community census will turn up many good prospects and offers an opportunity to saturate an area with our witness. For a complete treatment of this subject, refer to the chapter titled, “Census/Witnessing Saturation Program.”

Telephone Ministry

Being able to influence another though you have not met them is a real art. Some people can use the telephone to invite others to church or talk to them about God.

The layman can use the telephone in much the same way as the pastor. By making the file available to qualified laymen,
the ministry of the pastor can be expanded. Arrangements can be made to bring people to service, prayer requests can be obtained, friendship can be developed, and many scriptural questions answered by the personal worker on the telephone. The
personal contact in this manner is a great blessing.

An ad can be placed in the local newspaper advertising a special telephone number. The telephone company offers a “dial-a-message” service, which is a pre-recorded message from you at a special number. Check with them for the possibilities in your area.

C. ADVANCED OUTREACH

Home Bible Study

This is one of the most effective methods in our day. We cannot always get people to attend our services, but we can take the Gospel to their homes. People are hungry to know more about the Bible and a home Bible study course can be taught by
burdened people.

For a complete treatment of this subject, see the chapter titled, “Home Bible Study.”

INVOLVING THE ENTIRE CHURCH IN EVANGELISM

Can a person be finally saved without being a soulwinner? Should any department of the local church exist for any other purpose than missions and evangelism? How can every individual and every department of the church be correlated into a striking force for outreach?

These searching questions press themselves upon the consciousness of every pastor, official and worker. A right answer will insure the salvation of individual church members and the effectiveness of the church.

THE CHURCH AS A STRIKING FORCE

An over-view of the tremendous potentials of the church requires each responsible person to ask himself the question, “Are we doing enough to reach our area, are we utilizing every individual and are our efforts coordinated?” The Outreach Director can play a vital role in giving the pastor the kind of proficient help he needs in implementing a total program of evangelism. He becomes a ranking coordinator to wield the potential warriors into an effective striking force.

The Units Of Workers, Natural Groupings

The Sunday School, Ladies Auxiliary and Youth Departments are natural groupings, ready-made for action. Coupled with the overall direction given by an efficient Outreach Director, these units will function as a team.

Adding New Units Of Workers

Such programs as Census/Witness Saturation Visitation teams, the Bible Study Outreach Program, Institutional Evangelism (hospitals, prisons and rest homes), Campus Ministry, Special Ministries (Deaf, Blind), and other endeavors will add immeasurably to the spread of the gospel canopy over the area.

To keep from overlapping as to personnel, timing, coverage and interest, these activities and units of people need specialized overall direction. This can effectively be given by the Outreach Director.

COORDINATED EFFORT

Involving as many departments of the church as the accompanying graph shows, a look, at first sight, indicates overlapping of duties and efforts. However, it must be kept in mind that the Outreach Director is directly responsible only for four areas but he shows an interest in and consults with the other departments as to their evangelism outreach. By giving the total program of the church an overview, he can readily spot areas of weakness or over-emphasis and keep the outreach of the church in balance.

CONSULTING WITH DEPARTMENTAL LEADERS

Care must be taken lest the Outreach Director’s interest in the evangelism activities of other departments be misconstrued as meddling and nosiness. The most important factors to prevent this are the pastor’s confidence in the Outreach Director, instructions as to his duties, and the pastor’s explanation of this position to the other workers and the church as a whole. If these things are made clear, there is less chance for misunderstanding.

The Outreach Director’s work is directly under the pastor. He consults with the pastor in analyzing the outreach of a department or of the entire church and acts under his direction. He should not have the authority to call any department into question nor to give them orders. Interest, analysis, consultation, encouragement, coordination and overall planning are the Outreach Director’s main functions as relates to other departments not under his direct responsibility.

Worth and effectiveness of his work will be directly related to his ability to blend into the general operation of the church.