Second Friend Day - Elmer Towns

More documents

Recommendations

Info

is a dynamic speaker, the visitors will be disappointed the next week if the pastor is not an even better speaker. � When evaluating the effectiveness of Friend Day, count attendance in the church, as well as the Sunday School, because the majority of the first-time visitors will attend the worship service. Keep records for comparison with past and future attendance levels. Keep records on attendance for several months after Friend Day to determine if the program contributed to lasting growth. So You Won't Be Surprised For your peace of mind, here are some things to expect that research and experience have proven to be true: � The larger and older the church, the smaller the percentage of attendance growth on Friend Day. A 25 percent increase is average for larger churches. Smaller churches could experience as much as a 100 percent increase in attendance when compared to other Sundays. However, many churches have reported as much as a 300 percent increase. � Few people will join the church or receive Christ on Friend Day. This is because most people need to hear the Gospel three times or be contacted seven times before they will make a commitment. This principle is called The Law of Three Hearings and Seven Touches. � The Sunday School rolls will not swell instantly as a result of Friend Day. Though a major part of the effort came from the Sunday School, most of the visitors will join the church first and then must be worked back into the Sunday School. SUCCESSFUL IDEAS FROM CHURCHES Many churches that used the original Friend Day program wrote to tell us about preparatory steps they took or additional activities they used to complement the program. Below is a list of those steps and activities; credit is given to the submitting church(es). The result of all the activities is that they either created more enthusiasm among the members or made Friend Day more enjoyable for the visitors. Especially where food was served, there was a greater opportunity for the members and the pastor to get to know each other’s friends. We hope that some of these activities might be adaptable to your church. � Without announcing any theme, Central Advent Christian Church in Lenoir, NC (Marshall Tidwell, Pastor) challenged members to pray three times a day for the Sunday School to double the annual average. At the end of 6 weeks of fervent praying, Rev. Tidwell announced the Friend Day campaign and asked the people to “put arms and legs on their prayers (by inviting specific friends) and keep praying.” � Southside Baptist Church in Shelbyville, TN (Mike Gass, Pastor) advertised via a billboard.
� New Life Presbyterian Church in Frenchtown, NJ (Bill Slack, Pastor) had members car pool, and requested that those who drove park in the back of the lot to leave room for visitors. � Parma Heights Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH (Dr. John F. Thielenhaus, Senior Minister) printed the bookmark on colored paper, laminated it, punched a hole in the top, and inserted a purple tassel in the hole. They also gave children who turned in friendly contracts (“Yes” cards) a dove, cross, or anchor lapel pin. � Cumberland Church of God in Cumberland, NC (James W. Wilson, Pastor) and Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA (Jerry Falwell, Pastor) converted the friendly contract into a visitor card. Cumberland Church of God also held a Fellowship Breakfast before Sunday School on Friend Day. � Vicki Hubbard, a member of Woodlawn Free Will Baptist Church in Russellville, AR (Levan Hubbard, Pastor), wrote a Friend Day skit to stimulate members' thoughts on who to invite (see Skit). � Darlene Blackman wrote a poem on friends (see Poem). � Charles D. King, pastor of Riverside Tabernacle Church in Port Huron, MI, wrote a Friend Day song (see Song). � Elmo Parish, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lakeport, CA, wrote a Friend Day song (see Song 2). � Surprise Christian Church in Seymour, IN (Larry Morris, Pastor) had special singing from three church choirs and a drama presentation by its youth group. � For Children's Church, Pilgrim Baptist Church in Middleboro, MA (Gary Meadows, Pastor) had Smokey the Bear make an appearance. � Mayetta Community Church in Mayetta, KS (Jon Hanna, Minister) served potluck dinner on Friend Day with visitors as guests. � Spring Mill Baptist Church in Conshohocken, PA (Rogers Bowyer, Pastor) served a fellowship meal after the morning service. � First Advent Christian Church in Concord, NC (Louis Dodd, Pastor) served dinner on the grounds after the morning service. They ended the day with a songfest featuring special music by the adult choir and church trio. � First General Baptist Church in Piggott, AK (Michael Sutton, Pastor) prepared for extra people, but did not change their style of worship. They said, “We were ourselves because our friends needed to see us as we are.” � First Baptist Church of West Hollywood in Hollywood, FL (V. S. Ackerman, Pastor) printed week-by-week instructions from the master calendar for its Sunday School teachers. � Heritage Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA (Dr. Gerald Kroll, Pastor) held a room decorating contest (children's dolls and bears were placed on shelves in the classrooms). � Calvary Baptist Church in Uniontown, PA (Dave Brown, Pastor) gave each family the opportunity to have a free portrait made by a photographic studio.
Page 1 and 2: Elmer Towns Larry Gilbert Contribut
Page 3 and 4: Lesson 3 - Andrew Brings Peter to J
Page 5 and 6: OVERVIEW OF SECOND FRIEND DAY The S
Page 7 and 8: � Complete the planning with the
Page 9 and 10: � Hand out “Who Are My Friends?
Page 11 and 12: � Post all members’ “Yes” c
Page 13 and 14: serve a continental breakfast of Da
Page 15 and 16: � Members who did not attend the
Page 17 and 18: LETTER OF COMMITMENT TO BE SIGNED B
Page 19 and 20: TEACHER’S LETTER TO A CHILD OR TE
Page 21 and 22: STAIRSTEPPING YOUR FRIENDS TO CHRIS
Page 23 and 24: RIGHT ATTITUDES FOR STAIRSTEPPING Y
Page 25 and 26: EFFECTIVE STAIRSTEPPING METHODS 1.
Page 27 and 28: HOW TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO CHURC
Page 29 and 30: LESSON 2 - A FRIEND PROTECTS YOU Le
Page 31 and 32: 3:9). LESSON 4 - CORNELIUS BRINGS H
Page 33 and 34: HOW TO USE THE SERMON OUTLINES The
Page 35 and 36: SERMON THREE Christians Help Their
Page 37 and 38: SERMON FIVE What It Means To Have J
Page 39: A. HOW TO USE THE APPENDIXES As we
Page 43 and 44: OOPS! The phone is ringing now. It'
Page 47 and 48: Coloring Book for use with the chil
Page 50: A FRIEND PROTECTS YOU Write True or
Page 54: CORNELIUS BRINGS HIS FAMILY AND FRI
Page 58 and 59: CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 WHY CHRISTIANS S
Page 60 and 61: was a lonely man. He put his priori
Page 62 and 63: GOD'S FRIENDSHIP God's friendship i
Page 64 and 65: CHAPTER THREE CHRISTIANS HELP THEIR
Page 66 and 67: CHAPTER FOUR FRIENDS WHO HELP US Fo
Page 68 and 69: who helps us with our singing techn
Page 70 and 71: CHAPTER FIVE WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE
Page 72 and 73: Are we weak and heavy laden, cumber
Page 74 and 75: PREFACE People like fresh things .
Page 76 and 77: In college, my friends and I became
Page 78 and 79: Chapter 1 ACCEPTING THE SAVIOUR Dur
Page 80 and 81: (Rom. 6:23). Because you have sinne
Page 82 and 83: A young man was dealing for the fir
Page 84 and 85: God's will. However, after you rece
Page 86 and 87: Love of the brethren is a proof of
Page 88 and 89: The will of God cannot be forced on
Page 90 and 91:
f. The principle of adaptability (I
Page 92 and 93:
Reference Bible when she could repe
Page 94 and 95:
Begin your study by reading a passa
Page 96 and 97:
Chapter 5 GETTING ANSWERS TO PRAYER
Page 98 and 99:
does not mean to hang onto God. Whe
Page 100 and 101:
After salvation, a boy immediately
Page 102 and 103:
Chapter 6 USING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT
Page 104 and 105:
Faithfulness in a small capacity le
Page 106 and 107:
Chapter 7 DEALING WITH SIN After yo
Page 108 and 109:
5. You must not defile your body. S
Page 110 and 111:
espect for him. The following rule
Page 112 and 113:
sinner." The Scofield Reference Bib
Page 114 and 115:
First, God reminded Elijah of His p
Page 116 and 117:
Sometimes resisting the devil means
Page 118 and 119:
1. The Holy Spirit indwells every b
Page 120 and 121:
are going so poorly that God has fo
Page 122 and 123:
Chapter 10 BECOMING FAITHFUL One of
Page 124 and 125:
Faithfulness is doing what needs to
Page 126 and 127:
There were many dusty bushes in the
Page 128 and 129:
enemies. On the cross He uttered, "
Page 130 and 131:
There were two thieves on the cross
Page 132 and 133:
advancement. But those who are lock
Page 134:
"My Sunday School teacher said Jesu
show all

Second Friend Day - Elmer Towns

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?