Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

Some of those visited are already members of
some church in another community. They have
simply neglected to transfer their membership: we
will invite them to become active members of our
fellowship and offer to help them in securing that
transfer soon. Some have allowed their membership
to lapse: we will invite them to make reaffirmation
of their faith. Others have never made any profes
sion of their faith: we will present Christ to them
as their Saviour and Lord.
It may be well to keep the following in mind as
we carry on this mission:
1. You are, first of all, an ambassador of Christ and
as such represent His Church.
2. Limit your call to approximately thirty minutes.
3. Before you call:
(a) Decide which of the two will open and direct
the conversation.
(b) Pray before and as you enter the home; keep
praying as you converse.
(c) Be sure you know why this person or home
has been assigned for a call.
4. After entering the home :
(a) Be cordial in your greeting.
(b) Make clear the purpose of your call and the
name of the church you represent.
(c) If company is present in the home, excuse
yourself and offer to come back another time.
Seek to make a definite date.
(d) Assume the best.
(e) Manifest a friendly interest in and concern for
the members of the family, their work, their hob
bies, their needs. Remember you are members of
Concerned."
the "Fellowship of the
(f) Come to the point of your mission as soon as
possible.
(g) Visit for a verdict.
(h) Be natural, relaxed.
(i) Make your call Christ centered, not church
centered.
(j) Ask questions, for questions get people to talk
ing; help bring out what is upon their minds and
hearts.
Specifically, make clear our need for the Saviour
our need for salvation from sin unto God. If they
confess that need, point out God's wonderful provi
sion for meeting that need in the person and work of
Jesus Christ, His Son. Make clear the necessity for
accepting that which God has provided for our sal
vation. If the person, or persons, indicate their readi
ness and willingness to repent, confess, and accept
God's provision for their need, encourage them to
make that decision at once and to record it on a card
you provide for that purpose. If opposition is mani
fest or excuses are offered, deal with them in the
spirit of Christ. If they say that their knowledge of
spiritual truth is wholly inadequate to make such a
decision, invite them to the pastor's instruction class.
Make absolutely clear the steps necesary for mem
bership in your local church.
In bringing your visit to a close, express your ap
preciation and thanks for the visit. If a decision has
been made, give expression to your joy and satisfac
tion. In any event, offer to pray briefly with them,
giving thanks for blessings received and interceding
294
for needs revealed in the interview. If no decision has
been made, ask that the matter be given earnest,
prayerful consideration and indicate your willingness
to return. Invite all the members of the household to
the ministry of your church. Make clear that, if de
sired, your pastor will be happy to call and explain
more fully what it means to be a Christian.
Avoid : Controversial questions, if possible (you
are there as a witness to Christ, to give expression
to and to seek to obtain affirmations of faith in Him
and His Word) ; "holier than thou" attitude ; dis
couragement (remember seed sown today does not
immediately take root and come to fruition) ; preach
ing (you are not sent to preach but to present Christ
in your own words) ; arguments (you are not sent
as a lawyer but as a witness) ; being sidetracked;
keep directing the conversation toward Christ ; mak
ing mere goodwill visits; merely getting people to
join your church.
Believe: That you have a Christ to share who
save unto the uttermost all that
can really
come unto the Father by him." that there are
people waiting for an invitation to come in
to the joy of salvation and into the fellowship
of His Church ; that the Holy Spirit can do for and to
others what He has done for and to you; that the
Lord can and will use you to bring others to faith in
Him.
Be: Patient, pleasant, prayerful, expectant; "ac
cording to thy faith be it unto thee." Be on the look
out for all you may commend. Be eager to lead men
to want to do what you are inviting them to do. Be
prepared to report your results and to share your
experiences with others sent out on similar missions.
Be sure always to please Him by your conduct and
conversation.
Resource Material
Instructions For Evangelistic Visitors
Preparations For Evangelistic Visiting
Order from Division of Evangelism of
The Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
The Prebyterian Church, U. S.
The United Presbyterian Church
Laymen Visit for Christ and His Church
They Went Forth Two By Two
Order from Tidings
1908 Grand Avenue
Nashville 5, Tennessee
BOOK REVIEWS
The Christian Sabbath. Arthur W. Pink
@2c
@2c
@2c
@10c
In a day when the Sabbath is so largely neg
lected or misused, this pamphlet ought to be widely
read.
Mr. Pink speaks of the purpose of God in giv
and how it was emphasized in the
ing the Sabbath,
Ten Commandments, how kept by Christ and how it
ought to be kept in the Christian church.
Sabbath breaking is a common sin. It is wise
and right for us all to take time enough to think
about the Sabbath, our need of it, and how we
should keep it. This book is Biblical and needed.
It sells for 30c a copy and can be had from The
Bible Truth Depot, Mr. I. C. Herendeen, of Swengel,
Union County, Penna.
R.C.F.
COVENANTER WITNESS