...resource materials for growing your own church

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Purpose:   Instructions and resource materials for developing your own local evangelism program for your church. 

CONTENTS

V. Local Church Workshop

Part 1

The Goals and Objectives of the Program
 

Goals

• Local Involvement
   

• Follow-up work directly tied to the efforts of the headquarters office.

Goal 1: Local Evangelism

Three things that do not work:

1) Churches that develop localitis--becoming an individual work.

2) Local advertisement:

• Expensive
   

• Local funds will not allow.
   

• Long history of not producing fruit.

3) Not having close contact with and help from the Headquarters Office.

Three things that will work:

1) Mail a quarterly letter when we are to have a guest speaker. Include monthly calendar of events, activities, Bible studies, new booklets.

2) Invite guest speakers of the ICG for special occasions; for example, special Holy Day meetings, local workshops, etc.

3) Bring them up to date on new booklets or a special taped sermon from Tyler.

The goal is to effectively reach those who have responded in the past. This will hopefully help increase attendance or visits of these individuals. The result is increased laborers to the work; increased numbers in the congregations.

Interesting point: This program is responding to people that God has already called rather than us taking action to "call' them.

We need to remember that most new responders are not yet converted. The importance of "the work" and the end time message of warning will not yet have the same effect or importance in their lives as ours. The ongoing outreach over the 18 month program will continue with specifics that made them responsive in the first place. This follow-up will also introduce them to an ongoing active work of the church that is within their grasp to attend. People need to feel they are part of something. New potential members need to "see" an ongoing, positive and effective work. The ongoing letters will fill that need. It will also make them less timid over time to attend.

Goal 2: Strengthening the Membership for Better Retention

The two things that hurt membership retention are:

1) Feeling that they were not valuable in the actual workings of the church.

2) Feeling that they are left out in the dark.

Solutions:

1) The membership needs to feel they are important to the church.

2) The membership should be informed on a regular basis what is going on in the workaround the country and world.

The follow-up of the local outreach will begin to create needs for as many as want to serve.

• No one will need to feel left out or unproductive.
   

The following are the by-products of the local evangelistic work:

1) Greater involvement from the membership.

2) Will require more work to accomplish the task.

3) Open more doors for greater opportunity to serve.

4) The membership will spend more time together working on specific tasks to accomplish.

5) It defines short and long range goals.

6) Members will develop a greater sense of awareness of the awesome task of the work.

Goal 3: Increasing the Percentages of Those Responding to the Broadcast to Attend Services.

Most people who view the program comment later that they did not know that there were local churches around the country.

Sub-Goals:

A) Target localized areas, of names on the mailing list where there is a local church in their area.

B) Mail out when a guest speaker is coming to town.

C) Include a return card (to the local church) if they would like to be included on a monthly mailing list of news of the Work, local services, speakers activities, etc....

D) Local church follow-up would include them in the monthly letters and calendars of events.

E) Target specific times for mailing (example: 6 months, yearly ... ). If no response for attendance, evaluate a change for those names or cancellation.
 

Goal 4: Developing Intra-Action With Other ICG Churches

Sub-Goals:

A) Communicate with other ICG churches that you have already made contact with.

B) Communicate with other ICG groups in your Area.

C) Communicate with the ICG churches from which your speakers will come.

D) Schedule combined services with other ICG churches.

E) Schedule whole church visits to other ICG churches.

F) Plan joint-projects or events at your common Feast area.

Goal 5: Establish Local Leadership Teams.

Two attitudes to Overcome & Eliminate:

1) Attitudes of self-importance.

2) Attitudes of ego.

Two attitudes to Develop:

1) The Team Concept.

2) The Servant Concept.

Developing within the mind of a servant attitude plays a greater impact than that of a leader or leadership. It places greater emphasis on duty not on the individual "the leader'.

Sub-Goals:

A) Having clearly defined goals with specific purposes in mind is a starting point.

B) Step by step directions in accomplishing the task is vital.

C) Teaming up to evaluate progress and problems will be vital in the overall team's success.

D) Have individuals serving in the right responsibilities is another vital key.

E) Humility and harmony must be the by-words.

We must stress throughout that the work is bigger than we as individuals. Although God looks at us individually and salvation is one on one, we are called together to accomplish a work as a team (the church). The overall work should outweigh personal differences of opinions or dislikes. Remember our goal is to be helpers in others' salvation.

Goal 6: Help Establish Satellite Churches

All of the above steps are necessary in developing a satellite church. Involvement and solid unified leadership is imperative. Some factors need to be considered.

As we grow in size and depending on the area of coverage of the program, our members may be spread out over a wide area. At some point you will begin establishing Satellite Churches using the same energy you expended to build your own. This change must be gradual; it must be positive. Communication must be kept at high levels.

How we deal with change will determine the success or failure in the establishment of new churches. We must maintain a strong home from which to grow.

Goal 7: Reduce Localitis

This program is tied into the efforts of the home office. The follow-up is based upon the fruits of that Work.

The fruits of the local work will branch out to the other congregations already in existence as well as those we may be blessed to help establish in the future.

All the aforementioned is intermingled and tied together by the calling of the hope within us. I believe if effectively put into place, this program can be a successful tool in adding to the stability and growth of the church and help to overcome our problems of the past.

Part II

Planning and Preparation to Put Program into Action

Program Preparation

1) Establish calendar for personal visits.

Program Implementation

1) The implementation of the program will begin with the mailing of the first letter from Tyler. Letter will coincide with our first guest speaker. Mail letters to those who have written to Tyler in the following increments. Each time reducing to the most recent months. This will continue to reduce the cost as we go. Also will eliminate those who have not responded.

Mail to names on list last 18 months. (To correspond with first guest speaker)

Second mailing to names 12 months. (To correspond with second guest speaker)

Third names last 6 to 9 months. (To correspond with third guest speaker)

2) Include with the letter, a return card with local address for those who may be interested in being included in our monthly "Local News of the Work" newsletter. (separate newsletter from our regular Worldwatch or ICG News)

3) Begin the roster for names and addresses of those responding by card. Have mailing labels ready for monthly mailing.

4)  Mailing Team

• Team created for mailing list should meet once a month to compose "Local News of the Work" newsletter. Should be mid-month. This would give a week to compose and put into print and another to address and mail.

• Have someone assigned to gather information on news of the Work. What is happening in other regions, special Holy Day events, etc.....

• Have someone assigned to keep updating the cards and letters wanting to be put on the local mailing list.

• Have team ready for sorting, folding, mailing, addressing, stamping, etc.....

• Have someone assigned for follow-up lefters/cards thanking them for attending.

• Be sure to have someone in charge of a guest register at every service and event.

5) Ask for recommendation for guest speakers to come to town.

6) With the calendar prepared well in advance, we can schedule up to a year or more in advance. Once names are recommended, we can contact them for availability for specific dates. Plan well in advance for cost factors: Have someone assigned to contact airlines and hotels for best prices available. Coordinate transportation. Coordinate food services.

Financing Program

• Determine status of local church finances.
   

• Set up a plan to save and/or set aside money to finance the program, i.e. pay for the visiting speakers transportation and lodging, meals, etc. Also budget for the postage and mailing costs.
   

• With added tithing membership, the income to the local church will increase making budget considerations easier. A successful program will fund itself.

Programs To Concentrate On

1) Guest speakers.

2) Local one-day workshops. Strive for three times this upcoming year.

3) Prayer breakfast --quarterly.

4) Sabbath schools.

5) Bible studies.

6) Special Holy Day services inviting outlying ICG churches, members. Special locations selected for Holy Days with all day schedule including meals, Bible study, services.

7) Video Projector:

A) Remote Bible Studies using Internet link.

B) Almost live feed of services from Tyler using Internet link and download of Tyler services into file for playback 2 or 3 hours later at our services.

C) Use of projector in local Bible studies, workshops and sermons.

8) Local Internet Website with advertising of sight throughout Internet.

A) Links to other local ICG websites.

B) Links to National ICG website.

This element lends itself to a brainstorming session by the Activity Committee. Following are just some to get us started.

Potlucks.

Recreational sports (bowling, skating, etc.).

Video Projector:

Things to keep in mind: Please keep in mind the following questions in accomplishing our goals:

Part III

Leadership

7) Have quarterly meetings with congregation to go over concerns, problems, etc.. This also keeps everyone informed as to what's going on.

1. Objective: Develop a leadership team to carry out the goals and purposes of the ICG at large. This will be our first meeting as a team. This will give us the opportunity to get to know each other a little better and to pull together the desires of the congregation, and to fill those needs as we are able. There is no way to satisfy everyone, but as a team we may be able to accomplish much.

Purpose and goals of the ICG:

FULFILL the commission of Matt. 28

"Go ye therefore into all the world" And "making disciples"

Purposes of the headquarters office and the field churches:

1) HEADQUARTERS OFFICE: Carries on the burden of the majority of the Evangelistic work.

2) FIELD CHURCHES: To carry on in the feeding, and educating of the flock drawn to their Congregation by the evangelistic efforts of the Headquarters Office.

II. Establish the 12-18 month plan to implement the objectives of the Work.

1) Long range goals.

2) Short range goals.

Specific items to accomplish or establish with plan:

1) Establish a solid base of leadership well grounded in the doctrines of the church.

2) Develop a follow thru program to draw in those already responding to the broadcast. (This will be a local Evangelistic outreach to compliment the responses at Tyler)

3) Develop greater involvement with the membership who are presently attending. (Developing stronger bonds)

4) Retain more of those coming through the doors.

5) Develop intra-church activities and programs.

6) Game plan to bring in guest speakers.

7) Ultimate goal is to use all the above to help bring our members to a more mature level of service to Jesus Christ and the Work.

III. Use the Leadership Training meetings to develop leadership talents including speaking, conducting various aspects of services, serving the brethren, understanding and carrying out the policies and guidelines of the Intercontinental Church of God.

IV. This meeting will generally be held monthly on the 3rd Sabbath of the month. (Subject to change)

Part IV

Various Responsibilities Within the Congregation

Responsibilities

The original program material has many supporting documents that deal with the details of specific church responsibilities such as Sabbath Teachers, Local Contacts and even a new position called the Local Church Administrator.

These positions will be handled in detail in Leadership Training Class and/or Congregational Meetings. For the purpose of this paper, we will list possible service positions for your local church. Many of these positions are presently filled while others are being developed.

General Positions:

Attendance Information Table Sabbath Package

Audio Tape Library Inventory Sabbath School

Bulletin Board Literature Table Security

Card Signing Local Church Administrator Songbooks/Builetins

Clean Up Crew Lost & Found Special Music

Computer Scans Meeting Room Monitor Transportation

Computer Services Newsletter Publishing Video Library

Event Boards Parking Video Projector Services

First Aid Photo Board Video Services

Flowers Pianist Website Team

Food Services Proof Reader Youth Director

Greeters Restroom Monitor

Program Positions: Positions specific to the Evangelistic Program. They will be discussed and defined as Program progresses.

Calendar of Events

Communications Packages

Event Planner

Follow Up Letters

Group Rates/Deals

Guest book

Guest Speaker Coordinator

Housing (motels, etc.)

Leadership Team

Mailing List Team

Mailing Team

News of Work Contact Person

"News of Work' Publishing

Transportation

Travel Agent (airlines, etc.)

Part V

Work Together More Effectively

Local Workshop

Again, there are several support documents in the original Program paperwork. For this document, I will present the workshop outline.

2:45 - 3:30 Seminar Wrap Up. Question & Answer session. Quarterly Business session. Will begin approximately 15 minutes following services.

Note:  No information, procedures or instructions in the Resource section are to be considered as church policy or directives.  The Resource section offers suggestions and  information to aid you in your own decision making process.