T.E.A.M.S. Evanglize
FAITH, GROW, It's LIFE, and other outreach "programs" are all designed to make the connection between our Bible study classes and the Christian's responsibility to be faithfully sharing about Jesus Christ and His transforming relationship. Our church has made this connection with GROW - an acronym for God Rewards Our Work - we go, we tell, God draws. Every member of First Baptist, Silsbee should be a member of one of our outreach teams - visiting at least during the week of that team's assignments.
T.E.A.M.S. Evangelize
Guidelines for the Class Evangelism Coordinator
Necessary Gift: Evangelism
Purpose: To guide the class to maintain reaching people as its top priority, recognize that reaching opens the door to the Kingdom and opens the front door of the church.
Primary responsibilities:
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Is trained in the church's evangelism ministry (GROW) and equips future evangelists.
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Encourages others in the class to learn how to share their faith and to reenlist in future training semesters to disciple others to share their faith.
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Helps those who have been trained to identify future students from the class.
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Keeps a focus on identifying, contacting, and enrolling prospects in Bible study.
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Seeks out and greets guests each week.
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Makes sure the class Evangelism Director or the class Outreach Secretary knows who has visited the class. A group from the class visits those guests who were in their class.
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Is certain the class Ministry Coordinator has the names of all new enrollees so that they can be assigned to Care Groups.
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Is prepared to report on outreach results and activities during class.
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Attends monthly Bible study T.E.A.M.S. meetings, and annual trainings.
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Assists and supports the start of new classes.
Guidelines for the Class Evangelism Disciple Leaders
Necessary Gift: Love for the lost (every Christian should share this love).
Purpose: To discover how to share his/her faith and disciple others.
Primary responsibilities:
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Is trained in the church's evangelism ministry (GROW) and equips future evangelists from his/her class.
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Seeks out and greets guests each week before, during, and after Bible study.
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Attends class training meetings.
Student Disciples
- Enlists on a team during the semester and learns how to share his/her faith.
- Works with his/her leader to contact and enroll prospects in Bible study.
- Prepares to become a future Disciple Leader or discipler of new believers.
Enrolling someone in Bible Study
Those involved in the evangelism ministry will learn how important it is to enroll people in Bible study. Thousands of church members have been asked whether it should be easier to join the church or the Sunday School class. Almost everyone replies that it should be easier to join the Sunday School. However, most churches have no membership requirements (except baptism), but have Sunday School requirements. (ex. Having to attend three Sundays in a row). The Southern Baptist Convention has about 16 million members. However, only 8.3 million are enrolled in a Bible study class and all of these are not church members.
T.E.A.M.S. encourages classes to reach out and enroll people in Bible study in their home, on the street, or in the mall. Here is an enrollment speech that works:
"You may be familiar with the old Baptist way. If you looked and acted like us and came three Sundays in a row we would put your name on the roll. If you missed on Sunday we were concerned. Missed two and we get upset. Missed three and we erased your name. I want you to know that our church does things differently.
I would like to place your name on a Bible study class roll. It doesn't cost you anything and it only costs us about three cents to put your name on this card and enter it into the computer. It doesn't obligate you to use, it obligates us to you. We want to pray for you, love you, and care for you and your family. It doesn't even mean that you have to come. At some point you may decide you want to come, and when you do our class leaders will not ask you to pray, preach, or lead the singing. If you would allow me to enroll you in a caring class, simply give me your birthday."
Thousands of people have been enrolled using this approach. Why does it work so well? First, it dispels the old idea that you have to be a regular attender before you can be enrolled. Second, it tells them that we want to care about them, not that we want anything from them. Third, it puts them at ease, especially if they are non-Christians, that we will not embarrass them in front of the class.
Begin enrolling people everywhere you go. The above speech is a good one to memorize.
