EVANGELIZATION STRATEGY
THE MANDATE
Although few churches fully integrate this verse into their doctrine, the text clearly commands us to evangelize all ‘ethnic’ groups, not just the group we feel comfortable with. Jesus putting the woman at the well (John 4:7) was an indication of his intent to reach all nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This is the mandate for the church as it enters the final hour. In (John 4:23) Jesus speaks of the arrival of that hour when we need to transcend beyond cultural groups and barriers with the message of salvation.
THE MISSION
Strategic planning is often seen in the corporate world as setting long-term plans against resources to achieve core business strategy. The same tool can be used to achieve core goals based on a specific mission statement. While God has given us the mandate, he has left us the methods and strategic implementation to infuse into our local church’s evangelism strategy. With the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit we can touch and transform lives. It should be noted that evangelism without the five-fold ministry structure (Ephesians 4:11) is very difficult to accomplish. The office of evangelist needs to be restored in the church. In (Acts 8:5) this role is played by Philip in preaching the Kingdom message beyond Jerusalem. To be an effective local church, one must have both a strategy and a vision to stay focused with their ministry gifts and resources. The Holy Spirit does not prevent us from planning, he simply inspires us to plan.
THE METHOD
Churches, regardless of size, can implement an evangelism strategy. The following action plans can be incorporated into the master plan of church calendars and budgets. Each item in the section (1.1-1.10) is connected to an action plan given in the evangelism planner to help you accomplish these action items.
1.1 Organize a month of evangelization and establish an evangelization department.
The focus scriptures are based on evangelism.
Sermons are based on sharing your faith.
Monthly Bible study material focused on winning souls
Practical experience can be gained from the evangelism team.
Organize a follow-up team to contact new members and converts
Evangelism departments should organize training for new members
2.1 TRAIN YOUR MEMBERS IN PERSONAL EVANGELIZATION
Personal evangelism training is one of the most basic components of an evangelistic church strategy. A church will not grow effectively without someone specifically appointed to the office of evangelist (Ephesians 4:11) and dedicated to sharing, training, and influencing others to develop and impart new gifts.
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3.1 PLAN OR PARTICIPATE IN A REVIVAL DURING THE YEAR
Revivals remain the mainstay of many churches’ evangelistic strategies. Thousands of people can be reached through the evangelistic and outreach activities associated with revivals.
4.1 DEVELOP AND EXPAND AN EVANGELISTIC PROSPECTUS FILE
It is imperative that every church or ministry have a growing list of people who can be contacted, visited and evangelized. Each church or ministry must identify and locate people who need to be reached for Christ with the proper contact information.
church cards
Leave conference guests
5.1 ORGANIZE SPECIAL EVANGELIZATION EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, CRUSADES: TV IN SPECIFIC PLACES
Organize outdoor crusades
Organize and design the mass distribution of the tract to the local area
Design tracks to target special groups
Particular outreach activities should be planned to reach the lost for Christ. Many unbelievers will not attend a church service, but rather attend special outreach activities, such as a community-wide block party focused on the needs of their community.
6.1 MAKE PLANS FOR SPECIFIC TARGET GROUPS:
Youth evangelism through visits to local parks and community centers.
College and University Evangelization
Evening Events with Refreshments:
Contact your local council to find out what the community needs and try to meet them
7.1 DEVELOP A PROGRAM OF ONGOING EVANGELISTIC VISITS
Organize small local groups (teams of 4-6) in different geographic locations based on where members live. This is a subset of your total church congregation in a small group.
Meet regularly in coffee shops during the week for just 30 minutes and exchange contact details with non-Christians with little business cards about the church.
A weekly program of evangelistic visits where people are visited and evangelized. This should be at the very core of a church’s outreach strategy. This should be implemented in conjunction with an ongoing personal evangelism training program. Small teams should meet afterward to pray and complete an activity report.
8.1 DEVELOP A PRAYERFUL EVANGELIZATION STRATEGY
Prayer is the foundation on which all evangelization strategies must be built. By focusing strategy on prayer, a church’s strategy is connected to the source of the Holy Spirit.
Regular prayer meetings should be held and focus primarily on reaching unbelievers in their communities. Organize an all night prayer vigil in which you confront the territorial spirits of the area. Charles Finney, the American evangelist was very interested in prayer meetings focused on unbelievers, Finney spent about a year praying for a town before his meetings, David Yongi Choi spent a year praying on a mountain before his church exploded .
9.1 THE STRATEGY J Luke 10:1-12
Jesus had three groups in his ministry – the Group of 3 Fellowship and Prayer, the group of 12 – Apostolic (Acts 6:1-7), the group of 70 – Evangelism (Luke 10:1-4)
Step 1: This approach to evangelization sends a team of troops similar to the SOS special forces in the army, their role is to spy on the area with prayer walks taking note of the main territorial spirits that govern that locality. The SOS team should be a small group of four, no media, no TV, no noise, just silently praying and speaking God’s peace over homes.
Step 2 – The SOS team should report to the prayer leader with the identified ruling spirits over the area, eg drugs, poverty, crime, prostitution.
Step 3 The evangelism team can form a prayer evangelism strategy and pray specifically against demonic strongholds in the area while speaking peace over the minds of the households making them receptive to the gospel. (Romans 16:20, Ephesians 6:15, Luke 10
10.1 BIBLE SCHOOL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE VACATION PLAN
VBS and Bible clubs are some of the best ways to reach children and families for Christ; this can be arranged by a youth pastor for teens during the summer terms. Church leaders should participate in associative, state, and national evangelistic training events and activities. Encourage attendance at evangelization conferences and seminars. A youth pastor may host outreach meetings and combine youth outreach meetings and camps.
10.2 REGISTER COVENANT WORKERS TO ENSURE COMMITMENT
Senior Pastors should pray with new members to ensure that motivation and interest are sustained long-term.
This process ensures that members will be engaged, the reasons for the lack of interest in evangelism is that it has been treated as a low visibility ministry.
Care must be taken to raise their profile in the local church with the full commitment of the senior pastor. For evangelism to be effective it has to move from low visibility ministries to high visibility ministries.
10.3 PLAN A MINIMUM OF ONE LARGE EVANGELIZATION EVENT ANNUALLY
Revival prayer meetings focus on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: only the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures and prayers are based on the work of the Holy Spirit.
10.4 MINIMUM PLAN OF BIENNIAL EVANGELIZATION EVENTS
One hour witnessing workshops
One day witnessing workshops
10.5 DEVELOP AN EVANGELISTIC PRAYER MINISTRY
Prayer walk with anointing oil
Praying for Our Friends: Friendship Evangelism
Ask each member to bring a friend to an open service
Have soft drinks.
Organize an evangelistic prayer team