Increasing the Kingdom

Below are suggestions from several different successful efforts that have saved souls. The very first and most important factor one must ask himself or the congregation: Are you ready and willing to pay the price and do the work necessary to reap the reward? If you are willing, then the list below should prove to be of benefit to you.

Effort #1

I. Hand-outs that are getting results. Consider handing the below items out to people visiting your congregation. The secret to getting good results is in the follow-up. Don’t only give them the CD/Video, but tell them once they have a chance to hear/see it, that you would like to get together and talk about the presentation. Do your best to set a meeting time when giving the CD/Video to them. The more you practice this, the easier it gets.

A. CD & Videos

1. http://livingletters.org/free.htm

a. This link shows that CDs/Videos are free but they are free only for nonmembers this congregation is trying to help.

b. The CDs for all of us are very reasonable at $1.00 each and Videos are $2.00 each.

c. Contact info is on their site.

2. Where Will You Spend Eternity? (7 CD series, second edition)

a. http://www.newtestamentchurch.org/CDI/Review.htm

(1) CDs that presents New Testament first principles.

(a) Several have done it this way... First give only one CD (can be any volume) and let them know there are 7 CDs in the series. Let the person know that you are willing for him/her to listen to the first CD and have him/her write down questions he/she may have about the talks and material therein. You also listen to your CD (same volume as given) and write down questions and comments you would like to bring up in the study for his/her benefit. Let him/her know you can have a study on each of the CDs in this way... (7 studies possible) he/she would gain a lot of Bible knowledge this way and would know what is required by God to make it to Heaven. There are only a limited number of these CDs remaining and you are welcome to copy the CDs after we run out.

i) The cost is 12.75 + shipping for the 7 set series. If a congregation cannot afford the CDs, we are willing to send them at no cost and you only pay for shipping. Contact gospel@nt-c.org

3. You can also record your own first principles sermons on CDs and give one at a time to the person you are trying to help.

4. If after several studies you feel the person understands what is required to obtain eternal life and they do not respond to baptism... don’t give up!

a. Ask what is holding them back and then find Bible responses to satisfy their concerns. Also show the need is immediate... 1Cor 6:1-2

b. One thing that several successful evangelist have stated, is to never give up on anyone, but if there is no response within a reasonable amount of time, don’t allow a major part of your time to be spent on those people, but spend your energy on fresh leads.

Effort #2

II. One of the most promising encouragements to a visitor or someone you are studying with is to send them encouraging notes, letters, cards. It is personable and shows that you and/or the congregation really care.

A. The easiest and best way several have found to organize such an effort is through “Send-Out-Cards.” If you have a computer and Internet access the system really pays for itself and helps you stay focused and organized.

1. www.nt-c.org/Christian_Businesses/SendOutCards/SendOutCards.htm

2. Here are some suggestions for good results:

a. Place a little note at your registry requesting a full address so the congregation will have a complete record of who visited.

(1) Have someone at each service available to encourage a visitor to sign the registry and when they start, ask them to give their complete address so the congregation can send them a thank you card & Gospel Meeting announcements.

(a) Check and make sure all the info needed is written down... work on positive, non-aggressive ways to ask them for needed info... Show you care!

i) If they didn’t put the entire address down, but left a phone number, call them and let them know that the congregation was glad they visited and then say you would like to keep in touch and also send Gospel Meeting announcements and need your/their mailing address...

ii) A good registry is very important; it should be user friendly and give an encouragement to leave a complete address and phone number (if someone would work on designing a really good one for congregations, I am sure we could find a printer willing to print it).

(b) Another way of getting address information is to have visitor cards and pencils next to the song books and if you have visitors, create a well presented comment to encourage them to fill out the card and leave it on the set.

i) Here is a suggestion for your consideration... If service is scheduled to starts at 10:30am ...At that time welcome everyone and state service will began in 2 minutes and suggest that everyone prepare for worship.

a) During this time ask the visitors to complete the visitor card and leave it on the bench. Ask if anyone needs a pen to fill out the card to raise their hand and you will bring one to them. (This may subconsciously suggest to them to pick up the pencil, if one is next to the card.)

b) The leadership may want to write a letter to all the members in the congregation and let them know the reason for requesting the address and suggest that everyone make it a point to meet the visitors after services... get all the members involved.

1) It has also been suggested to have one or two of the leaders stay in the back and warmly greet any visitors, offer to escort them to a seat and do this up to the time worship services start.

(c) A great deal has been stated about getting addresses, but if this is not done, the “thank you” cards and future meeting announcements cannot be mailed to the visitors.

3. The "Send-out-Card" system allows you to have a congregational picture on the card ... It is suggested that you personalize your card as much as possible.

a. This will also make the entire congregation become a part of this effort.

(1) Let everyone know when the picture will be taken so as many will be there as possible.

4. It has also been proven very successful to have all the congregation sign one side of a standard size white card (with different pens ~ black and blue inks / standard and fine points) and then take a good digital picture and that picture can be placed on the card (the signatures need to be close together in 2 columns). Keep the signature card for 2 or 3 Sundays to make sure everyone had the opportunity to sign the card. When placed onto the card, a good picture of the signatures will look very close to original signatures! And it will be very easy to update the signatures later.

5. For any questions or to set up the Send-Out-Cards, you may email Brother Bob or Sister Drema Duncan drema1943@yahoo.com or call 870-424-4481.

Effort #3

III. Set up a booth at large fairs, farmers markets and trade shows in your community.

A. You must have friendly members attending the booth and rotate to keep them fresh.

1. Think of unique ways of drawing people to your booth... prepare way in advance.

a. Offer book markers, pens, pencils, etc with congregation’s info on them.

(1) Then offer a free Bible Correspondence Course.

b. Offer a laptop Bible Knowledge questionnaire that automatically gives their score (If computer is not available, then paper questionnaire).

(1) Participate in the questions or Bible game by you reading the question and keying in the answer for them.

(a) It is really nice to have the laptop connected to a large second monitor where several can see the questions at the same time.

i) A good booth location helps greatly

ii) Before event, make sure there is no computer connection and monitor clear problems and you are protected from rain. Test things out before the event.

(2) Give them the opportunity to take a level of skill that will interest them. Easy / Standard / Scholar questions ...or... Bible games for Children, Teenagers, Adults.

(3) Offer a prize if they get a certain score. Prizes might be a gospel music CD and/or one of the above study CDs, book markers, pens, pencils, etc. Let them take the test over until they receive the prize.

i) One of the items given to them should have congregational information on it.

a) Name of Congregation

b) Address with Map

c) Times of Worship

d) Contact Information

e) By Way of Introduction Information

(b) Offer to mail them a Bible Correspondence Course or the 7 CD series as shown above (one CD each week or every other week).

i) Obtain their address.

ii) If they accept, then offer to grade their course or answer any questions about the CDs each week or every other week at their home.

a) Place a "carrot" in front of the offer of you coming to their home several times and state on completion of the home study course... they will receive a certificate of completion and a Study Bible.

1) Many times this type offer helps to setup the home study.

iii) Invite them to Worship services.

iv) Keep good records of prospects that came by your booth.

a) Make personal notes of things you found that interested them to help with future conversations.

1) Mail a SendOutCard stating you enjoyed meeting them and a little info about the congregation.

c. Have a sign to register for a drawing of a free Thompson Chain Reference Bible and display the Bible.

(1) Mail a SendOutCard stating you enjoyed meeting them and a little info about the congregation.

(2) Send Gospel Meeting announcements by SendOutCards or some other means.

(a) SendOutCards makes it very easy to send out personalized bulk mailings.

2. Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up!

a. Let them know you are there for them.

b. Sorry for repeating this, but this point is important !

(1) Sending a non-aggressive “SendOutCard” or card or letter is a good way to follow-up and means a lot to most prospects.

c. Don’t overdue it, but keep in touch by phone. Veterans suggest there is a fine line between being "too pushy" and not aggressive enough. Also some people may need a "push" in the right direction and others may not.

Effort #4

IV. Design a unique business card that catches peoples' attention (something they would be less likely to throw away). If someone designs such a card as a template for all congregations to consider using, we could have a print shop give us a special price for each congregation. Consider doing a 3 dimensional holographic folded card... something that really catches the eye. We could report the printer's contact info on our next update. Such a card would cost around $1.00 each but if you saw one, you most likely would want to keep it yourself. ...So one would have to consider is it worth a dollar for a non-member to have in his possession all the info needed to visit a congregation, make contact with one of its members or listen to a phone sermon, radio or TV presentation. Also have standard business cards for bulk handouts and have all the congregation handout cards.

A. In addition to a contact phone number, provide an additional phone number for weekly or monthly 5 to 7 minute uplifting recorded sermons. At the end of the phone sermon allow the prospect to record a comment or question.

B. Several of us are working on a very unique 800 number that congregations can use with the following special benefits...

1. Anyone can call the 800 number and put in the congregation's code, example: 001 and hear a pre-recorded sermon.

a. Following the sermon, the system allows them to leave a message with contact information. Next, the message will be automatically emailed to the congregation's email address for review.

(1) If the person makes the call and hangs up the program will show how long he/she listened to the message and if available gives you the name, address and phone number of the person who made the call.

(2) If the person makes the call and leaves a message it will still verify who made the call by usually providing the name, address and phone number of the person who made the call.

b. If the congregation has a radio or TV program they can include the 800 number with their normal contact information.

2. We are close to providing this service and any congregation interested can get a code number by emailing gospel@nt-c.org.

a. The cost of the service will most likely be $20/mo

b. We can also provide you direct interface with the 800 company and you can do the recordings yourself... That cost would be about $35/mo + your time to record.

Effort #5

V. Gospel Meetings

A. Getting rid of the “Preaching to the Choir” syndrome.

1. Consider a major effort to make your next Gospel meeting a save the lost venture.

2. Over the years, no one that I have talked too has conquered this challenge and more work is needed on this topic. So we can not say, in regards to Gospel Meetings, that we have been completely successful in winning souls to Christ as we should.

a. Many believe that knocking on doors is almost a thing of the past and recently this process has yielded very little results.

b. Advertizing in the local News Paper is still suggested, but it also yields very little results.

c. A large Gospel Meeting banner (about $100 at most business supply stores).

(1) Is a good way to let drive-bys know a meeting is in progress but this routes very few into the parking lot.

d. Sending out notices to nearby sister congregations is good and those congregations need to support nearby Gospel meetings if for nothing more than when a visitor attends they will see and experience the love of the brotherhood.

(1) But the meeting needs to be catered towards the lost, and the following are suggestion that may help.

(a) Well in advance of the Gospel meeting start implementing one or several of the above suggested efforts in obtaining prospects (Effort #1, #2, #3, #4).

i) Someone you are studying with or are in communications with is many times more likely to attend the Gospel meeting than inviting a stranger.

a) Many believe that known “prospects” are the key to a successful Gospel event.

(b) Well in advance get as many in the congregation to commit to bringing local friends, neighbors, co-workers, and relatives to the Gospel meeting (Just announcing it, doesn't get the job done).

i) A couple of months before the meeting help each other prepare a list of who they will invite.

a) Help each other prepare how they should approach each person on the list and what would be best to say to each person on the list to encourage them to come to the meeting.

1) Consider inviting them to ride with you to the Gospel meeting.

2) Consider inviting them to eat or have coffee with you before or after the meeting.

3) Consider how important this is and realize this may be the only chance for them to be introduced to the pure Gospel of Christ.

* Approach this meeting as it was the last for your friend to hear the Gospel and be saved... it could be.

ii) Diligently plan in advance to have at least one lost person attending the meeting with you, each service.

iii) If this was encouraged and implemented by each member of the congregation, think of the real possibilities.

a) Is this practical??? ...NO

b) Is this possible??? ...YES

c) Can it save a soul??? ...ABSOLUTELY!!!

3. This would be an excellent opportunity to send out cards to all the local prospects.

a. Those that visited the congregation within the past few years.

b. Those that are out of duty.

c. Have each person in the congregation give you the address of everyone they know in the community and send an announcement with their name on it.

B. A Gospel Meeting can be a well planned climax of many efforts over a period of many months coming together and then the "choir" can sing O Happy Day along with the angles rejoicing.

Hopefully we will post more success stories on ways our faithful Brothers and Sisters are scripturally winning the lost and fulfilling our Lords Great Commission. May God Forgive us of our short-comings and Bless us all in serving and spreading the gospel story.