Local Evangelism

Darren Fields

Supporting Scripture:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Matthew 28:19-20 "

Purpose:

 This ministry exists to help us fulfill the Great Commission in our own local communities. Local Evangelism is an area of critical importance for the growth of our congregation, the maturity of our members, and the well being of the souls all around us. This ministry coordinates greeters to meet our visitors, contacts them after their visit, and maintains the baptistery dressing rooms.

 We need to remember that visiting a church for the first time can be an intimidating experience. People frequently visit a church for the first time during a period of stress or change in their lives. We want to be responsive to their needs and make their initial visit with us a meaningful one

Responsibilities:

• Welcome visitors as soon as they arrive at the church building. Meet them in the parking lot and direct them to the foyer.
• Coordinate the greeters for both services on Sunday mornings. Provide two adult greeters in the foyer at the beginning and end of each worship service and the Bible class hour on Sunday mornings.
• Ask greeters to fulfill the following responsibilities:
  • Escort visitors to the nursery, an appropriate class downstairs, to an adult class, etc.
  • Help to seat people when services are crowded.
  • Distribute a visitor's packet to every first-time visitor. Ask them to fill out a visitor's card and then place it into the collection basket.
  • Give visitors the current quarter's listing of Bible class options.
  • When visitors have young children, also give them the worship schedule for our younger children, printed on golden colored paper.
  • Collect visitors cards and place them in the church office.
  • Connect visitors with members of similar age and interests.
• Assemble a ReachOut! Ministry team. Seek volunteers through bulletin announcements.
• Plan a yearly orientation meeting and thank-you luncheon. This orientation meeting has typically been a catered luncheon on Sunday after morning worship.
• Explain that team members will be given a job assignment each week to pray for our visitors or to contact them through emails, phone calls, and cards.
• Provide opportunities for team members to share their ideas and experiences.
• Coordinate contacts with our visitors after their initial visit to our assemblies. On Sunday or Monday, email the ReachOut team members and give them their assignments.
• Oversee the baptistery.
  • Make certain that both the men's and women's baptismal dressing rooms are neat and attractive.
  • Keep an ample supply of baptismal garments and towels, making sure they are neat, clean and in place.
• Coordinate the introductions for new members after their baptism or their meeting with the elders.
  • Ask the elders to notify you when they have met with new members.
  • Before new members are introduced, have them complete the questionnaire that will serve as the basis for their introduction.
  • Introduce the new members to both assemblies on the Sunday following their meeting with the elders.

Note:

We made the decision to be a part of the Pitman family because we wanted to worship at a church with leadership already in place and with a church which had a youth group that would develop and encourage our daughter's Christian growth.

  I agreed to oversee this ministry, first because I was asked by Gary Theis to help him with this ministry, then when he was no longer with us, it seemed the right and natural thing to pickup where he left off.

  I believe that this is an important ministry because so many churches miss opportunity to grow their church simply because they didn't know the visitor(s) were there. I believe that every person that walks through our doors should be welcomed and then contacted after their visit.