Seeker to Salvationist

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Ma$hew 28:18-‐‑20

Go = A$ract = Seeker Make = Disciple = Salvationist

SEEKER TO SALVATIONISTHARVEST INITIATIVE

USA WEST

Style may a$ract people to a church, but it won’t keep them in. The church needs something substantial;

Fortunately we have it!

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE


Style and Substance are both part of The Salvation Army’s DNA. This presentation represents a collaborative effort to frame these two essentials in a 21st Century con-‐‑text. Recognizing the demands and complexities of officership in this present age, its simple purpose is to refocus and give increased intentionality to these two critical components of Salvationism: Soul-‐‑winning and Disciple-‐‑making—this presentation dedicated to that end.

Lord bless and anoint this refocus for the present age!

SOUL-WINNING“Go straight for souls, and go for the worst. We must wake ourselves up!

Or somebody else will take our place, and bear our cross, and thereby rob us of our crown.”

~William Booth~

Today structured programming appears to drive soul-‐‑winning. For many, soul-‐‑winning has become a program rather than a lifestyle. One aim of this God-‐‑inspired initiative is to refocus on soul-‐‑winning as a lifestyle. “Just Walk Across the Room,” and “Becoming a Contagious Christian,” seem to be the “soul-‐‑winning” evangelism flavors of the day, driven by the success and popularity of Willow Creek. Following is how they describe it:

“We do not take people out into the community to show them how to witness. This is certainly a valid form of Evangelizing, but ‘Just Walk Across the Room Video Curriculum’ goes back to the heart… developing the heart for the lost so the passion and desire to share is fueled in a way that takes into consideration the person to which you are sharing your faith.”

This final paragraph speaks to the “lifestyle” part, therefore this or something similar should be considered as integral and core to every corps evangelistic outreach ministry. And MODELED at every level.

AS A LIFESTYLE

REFOCUS 1

SOUL-WINNING“You have one business on Earth – to save souls”

~John Wesley~

Willow Creek goes on to say…

“‘Becoming a Contagious Christian’ offers more practical and detailed training in how to share your faith. We are offering ‘Just Walk Across the Room Video Curriculum’ and then ‘Becoming a Contagious Christian’ right after that. We have found that this is a good progression since developing the heart must come before the work.”

First developing the heart (passion), then the work—(practical) and detailed training in how to share your faith. Again, this or something similar should be considered as integral and core to every corps evangelistic outreach ministry. And MODELED at every level.

It is recognized that this curriculum (or something similar) is presented at the National Seminar on Evangelism. To be pervasively effective, it MUST go much deeper, EVERY Salvationist given an opportunity, the emphasis ongoing 24/7, not just once a year for a selected few.

AS A LIFESTYLE

REFOCUS 1

SOUL-WINNING“Evangelism Explosion training transformed my life and ministry”

~Major Tom Petersen ~

Another possible resource combining soul-‐‑winning and disciple-‐‑making. Here’s Evangelism Explosion’s approach:

“Does the thought of "ʺdoing"ʺ evangelism make you uneasy? Is outreach primarily the responsibility of paid staff at your church? Let this Bible-‐‑based method of friendship evangelism and discipleship equip and encourage your entire church to accept Christ'ʹs Great Commission! Participants will learn how to naturally share the gospel.”

The thought of "ʺdoing"ʺ evangelism made Tom Petersen feel uneasy. He was CSM at the Santa Ana Corps when invited to a$end a training seminar. Here’s the result in his own words:

“Evangelism Explosion training improved my commitment to Christ. It became a priority for me to share my faith. I gained the ability to present the Gospel and train others to witness as well. This led me into full time ministry.”

Soul-‐‑winning became a lifestyle for many in that corps.

AS A LIFESTYLE

REFOCUS 1

SEEKER POOLS“God loves with a great love the man whose heart is bursting

with a passion for the impossible."ʺ ~William Booth~

In the various focus groups, the identification of seeker pools and bridging options varied greatly, depending upon ones giftedness and passions. For example, if it was music, focusing in on those passion pools seemed to be most productive. Likewise, sports, computers, seniors, children, camp, LOM, CCM, social services, hobbies (golf, photography, kni$ing, etc.)—Identify yours here.

1. ____________________ 2. ____________________ 3. ____________________ 4. ____________________

Seeker pools and bridging (discipling) options leading to membership, while separate entities also sometimes blend together. For example, music and sports programs may represent seeker pools, whereby involvement in those programs can lead to a decision for Christ. They may also be the bridging program that holds them as they progress from seeker to Salvationist. For the purposes of this presentation, the two, seeker pools/bridging options, will be addressed together.

AS A PASSION

REFOCUS 2

BRIDGING OPTIONSAS A CHOICE

SEEKER POOLS“If I thought I could win one more soul to the Lord by walking on my head

and playing the tambourine with my toes, I'ʹd learn how!"ʺ ~William Booth~

Over the years, seeker pools/bridging programs have proliferated, statistically, this being a normal and natural occurrence with the passing of time, many of them no longer contemporary. There are also cultural changes i.e. the street corner once-‐‑upon-‐‑a-‐‑time being a major seeker pool and brass banding a cultural bridging option.

With this proliferation, institutional expectations multiply, statistically, causing frustrations to mount (the feeling of being spread too thin), sometimes negatively affecting performance and creative focus. Therefore, the following seeker pool/bridging idea was presented to caucus groups with positive reception and feedback, suggesting a refocus—creating optional “passion” lines and categories on the statistical form.

Note: The following refocus recommendation was previously initiated in one division with excellent results.

AS A PASSION

REFOCUS 2


REFOCUS

SEEKER POOLS“Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability

for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation.” ~William Booth~

Recommended for prayerful consideration territory wide:

At every corps review, in consultation with the corps officers, select from the long statistical form, those specific lines (pools, bridging options) that the corps we'ʹll be held accountable for, thereby narrowing and customizing expectations.

First, agree upon and clarify the nonnegotiable lines i.e. Sunday School/worship services (not necessarily on Sunday), soul winning and soldier making, etc. Second, negotiate the additional pool/bridging lines that will best compliment the officer/local officer’s passion/gifts (the number will vary with the size of the corps, number of locals, etc.).

These are the mutually agreed upon lines for which all will be held accountable. Sign an informal accountability le$er of agreement to be monitored quarterly. C.O.’s, in preparation for the review, to go through same exercise with staff and Local Officers as well. Keep personal biases out of the equation.

AS A PASSION

REFOCUS 2


REFOCUS

CAMPER POOLS“I am for the world'ʹs salvation, I will quarrel with no means that promises help..”

~William Booth~

In the Creative Caucus focus groups, the significance of camping as a primary and productive seeker pool became immediately apparent, worthy of a priority refocus territory wide. For this reason, we offer it as a paramount recommendation (an extension of the “Camp to Corps Harvest Initiative”). Included with the residential are day camps and VBS because they are so intricately entwined together conceptually and programatically. And they represent fertile ground for reaching the ENTIRE family.

Consider the size and magnitude of these pools. 8-‐‑10 thousand residential campers annually (guesstimate). Multiply this by day camp and VBS a$endance (263 corps/outposts, 307 institutions), including extended family members. Goal: In every corps a day camp/VBS, many institutions as well—VBS in day care centers, etc. Because of its magnitude and potential, a separate presentation has been prepared:

h5p://www.slideshare.net/SeekerSally/seeker-‐‑to-‐‑salvationist-‐‑camp-‐‑refocus

In this presentation you will find an all-‐‑inclusive template covering the full gamut from…

SEEKER TO SALVATIONIST “Therefore go and make disciples…”

AS A PRIORTY

REFOCUS 3

PRIORITY

http://www.slideshare.net/SeekerSally/seeker-to-salvationist-camp-refocus

Ma$hew 28:18-‐‑20


SEEKER TO SALVATIONISTHARVEST INITIATIVE

USA WEST

Lord bless and anoint this refocus for the present age!

Spiritual

Seeker to Salvationist