Church of God LifeBuilders

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16, KJV)  (In the Amplified Version…The earnest (heart-felt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available––dynamic in its working.

Prayer Brings His Power

There is no secret to prayer.  Some would have you believe that prayer is complicated.  I believe prayer is simply a conversation between a person and God.  It’s the key to God’s throne room.  The most difficult thing about prayer is having the discipline to carry it out.

This lack of discipline is why the average Christian, I read recently, prays only 4 minutes a day and reads their Bible an average of twice monthly.  Lack of time is the primary excuse, but I have never known anyone not to have time for the things that are really important to them.  If you aren’t praying regularly, what does this say to you, your family, and to others about the importance of prayer in your life?  But most of all, what does it say to God when one of his children won’t take the time to talk with Him.

Consistent prayer is a way of grabbing the hand of God and not letting go.  It’s hard to get lost while holding the hand of someone who knows the way.  (Ex. Little girl crying in the grocery store because she couldn’t find her mom.)  This scene would have never been possible had she been holding her mom’s hand.

Many Christians want to treat prayer like God’s rescue mission program.  No need to pray unless there is a crisis.  Then they expect God to dole out immediately what it is they want without first having a meaningful daily relationship with God.  If no other point sinks in remember that consistent daily prayer is the key to living a consistent Christian life.  If you miss one day of prayer, you’re one day farther away from God.  Prayer keeps us in tune and in close proximity to God.  He will never leave us, but by failing to pray as we ought, we drift away from God.

Prayer keeps the clutter out of our lives.  When my boys were growing up, they didn’t do a very good job of keeping their room clean.  It would become so cluttered you could hardly find a place to move through the debris, but after only a brief talk with the father they would understand the necessity of a clean room.  It works the same in our lives.  Things get cluttered, confused, but a talk with the Father removes the clutter and leaves room for Him to operate in our lives.

It is time we used the weapon God has give us to combat the forces of evil.  There is no more powerful weapon than prayer.  Only as Christians pray will we see God move in the way we desire, and the way He desires.  Because the more we pray, the closer we come to God, the closer we come to God, the more we desire what God wants and our foolish attempts to program and chart our own course fades away.  Then, according to John 15:7, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” When we want the same thing God wants, we can ask and get what we ask for every time.  What a tremendous promise this is!

The Bible says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” (Eph. 6:18) and “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12) To combat spiritual wickedness we must learn to pray in the Spirit and let the Holy Spirit fight for us.  This is a fight we can’t accomplish through the flesh.  In James 4:7, we are told to “Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. How do we submit ourselves?  We do it through prayer.

Satan the ruler of darkness and of this world is hard at work influencing the hearts of people.  Some time ago, former Vice President Al Gore praised Ellen deGeneres and her lesbian lover as being courageous and admired them for coming out.  Compromise and political correctness is the order of the day.  Only prayer gives us the power to come against these forces.  Only through prayer can we expect to take America back for God.

Not only does prayer produce power . . . it brings us into the presence of God.

Prayer Brings His Presence

We invite his presence into our lives through praise.  Psalm 100 invites us to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.

Private praising and worshipping God is something special, precious and personal between you and God. According to Isa. 43:7 and Rev. 4:11, we were created for His glory and pleasure.” Are we giving God what he created us for?  What did you do today to bring pleasure and glory to God?

Praise creates a habitat for God in our lives.  It opens up our lives to be occupied by God.  Ps. 22:3 says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”

If we cease to praise, we cut off the spiritual flow, the conduit through which God flows to man and man flows to God.  We become spiritual deserts.  Our experience with God erodes, and eventually, if not reclaimed, our walk with God is interrupted.

We must learn to develop good prayer habits.  We must learn to discipline ourselves to become diligent seekers of God.  Prayer should be the most enjoyable part of our day—not something we dread; because this is the time we visit our Heavenly Father.  Just being in his presence changes us.  You can’t be with God and not be changed.  Prayer may not always change your circumstances, but earnest prayer will change your attitude toward the circumstances.

I love spending time with my earthly father.  We love to golf, fish, play scrabble, together.  How much more should we enjoy our time with the Heavenly Father.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you….”  (James 4:8, KJV) Every Christian needs to develop a regular time to visit God if possible.  That way you will be sure not to miss your prayer time.  Again, this is the key to a victorious life.

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” (Acts 3:1, KJV)  They had a set time to pray.

As you develop an attitude of praise and worship, you will grow in grace and as a result develop a spirit of prayer.  You will then be able to hear from God for your life, and feel his presence.  When you can feel his presence in your life, this is when the Holy Spirit will begin to use you; when he wants you to pray for someone—He will actually break in on your prayer.  You will be available because you will be in the process of exercising your God given gift.  When you become available to be used by God he will then begin to unfold his purpose in your life.

Prayer Brings Purpose

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (I Cor. 1:9)

God is faithful.  If we do our part, he will always do his.  One of the exciting things about prayers is we never know where they will lead us or just how God will answer, but we always know that he does answer as he begins to work his purpose in us.

• “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5, KJV)
• “Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Matt. 5:14)
• “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

As we let our light shine and allow God to use us, we can become intercessors for Him and he can begin to accomplish His work through us.

When we reach this level of prayer with God, we are ready to engage in intercessory prayer. What is it?  It’s standing in the gap or taking the place of another.

When we intercede we must lean heavily on the Holy Spirit.  We must learn to depend on him to direct our prayers.  He is a person.  He lives in you and has been sent by God to help you even as you pray.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)  He will cause you to have a hunger for his word and a desire to share him with others.

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)  The Holy Spirit wants to bring a continuous flow of the life of God through you.  Think about it!  A river can flow through you to others.  It will bring the power of God alive in your life and set people free.  Whatever your full of will come out.  I have never seen anything that wasn’t full overflow.  For the Spirit to flow through you, you must be full and overflowing with the Spirit.

Suddenly you will feel a God kind of love—agape—flowing through us to others.  For when we pray in intercession, we must pray in love.  Because God is love (John 4:8) and love never fails (I Cor. 13:8). And because love never fails He laid down His life for us (John 3:16).

That love that he gives to us if we accept it comes with a responsibility.  We all know and can quote John 3:16 but what about 1 John 3:16?  “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  (1 John 3:16)  Jesus paid an awful price.  He gave his life.  What will we give in return?  I like the Willis Canada song where he says, “I just want to be certain He gets what He paid for.” Is Jesus getting from you what He paid for?

This means that if we really buy into this thing called prayer and worship and interceding for one another and calling ourselves Christians, then we need to set our own interest aside and take on ourselves the needs of others in prayer.  This is a God kind of Love in action.  When this love for others is applied in your life in intercession you will be brought to a place of compassion where the Holy Spirit will use you.

Unless we are willing to intercede, there are those who will never be saved. Someone must stand in the gap or some will never be healed. We must intercede for all nations and all people so that all may hear. We must allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us to the father.  Often, we don’t even know or understand what the Spirit is saying.

• “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26-27)
• “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Once in a service at Lee University, we had a well-known preacher make fun of people who groan when they pray.  He groaned into the microphone and laughed and said, “What is that supposed to mean?”  It obviously meant nothing to him, but I know what it meant to me growing up in my home.  It meant:

• Don’t let one of my children stray and go to hell
• Build a hedge of protection around our home
• Bring all of our relatives and friends to a saving knowledge of Christ
• Bless our pastor and church members
• Birth new souls into the Kingdom of God.

When the need is so deep and so expansive, the Spirit takes over and pleads in yearnings that there are no known words to express it.  The Spirit prays for us and makes our hearts cry known to God.

The Spirit will intercede for people to be born into the Kingdom of God.  Intercede for New Christians for proper growth and discipleship.

Interceding for our pastors

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18 to pray in the Spirit and to persevere for the saints.  But in the next verse he says, pray for me, “ …that God will let me know what to say, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.”

Paul is letting us know here that praying for those in ministry is essential.  So that they can boldly spread the gospel and make it clear to those who hear.

We have designed a program we call the Pastor’s Prayer Partners which covers every aspect of a pastors life to free him through prayer to go forth in full power and authority for God.

Pastors are human.  In many ways they’re just like us.  They need our prayers to stand and boldly proclaim the Gospel.  At one time I was very critical of ministers who failed, Now I have to ask, “who forgot to pray?”

Ray H. Hughes Jr.

I was recently listening to a Willis Canada tape when a song came on about a man who was visiting a church for the first time. The gist of the song was that things were slow getting started and the visitor became impatient. Whereupon he stood to his feet and politely inquired, “When does the service begin?” Everyone waited in silence while the preacher contemplated his answer. When he finally spoke the congregation was shocked to hear him say, “When you turn out the lights and leave this place, that’s when the service begins.”

Too often we as Christians spend much of our time gathering together for worship and praise or some other function of the church. We then leave the meeting and do nothing positive for God until the next time we come together. James Garlow writes that, “Perhaps the greatest threat to the Christian Church today is that of `ingrownness,’ so focusing on itself and its own needs that it fails to remember the purpose for which it was called into existence.”

The church should be a place where each member is encouraged to discover their spiritual gifts and learn to put them into practice. When this happens, the church is “scattered” and ministry to the needy actually takes place. The “gathered” church then serves as an equipping and refreshing station so the saints can continuously minister in the community.

One church, which recognized its obligation to serve, responded by placing a large sign above the sanctuary exit which read, “Servants Entrance.” If the church is to continue to be effective into the next century we must all become servant ministers for Him. When does the service begin? When the members are scattered throughout the community serving those in need.

The term laity is a word derived from laos, a Greek word meaning people. In the biblical sense, it includes all people who believe in and are committed to Jesus as Savior and Lord. The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is a fundamental belief among our clergy and laity. In recent years this doctrine has been a topic of major importance as we seek to evangelize the world. This belief presents a paradox to all thinking leaders in the Church of God: we acknowledge the “priesthood” but still it is a sacred few who actually do the work of ministry. The laity are needed. The doctrine of the laity is so important, that if adequately understood and properly expressed in the life of God’s people, it could bring about a spiritual awakening that would revolutionize the life and ministry of the church.

Church of God Laity and the Present

The Church of God has been a trendsetter in the arena of lay ministry. Consider the following:

• We are among a handful of denominations that partially fund and staff a full Department of Lay Ministries.
• There is a general acceptance of laity as ministers and sincere attempt to understand the vital role of the laity.
• Many lay people are involved in meaningful ministry in our local churches.

However, there remains a lot of work to do in this area of preparing God’s people for ministry. The words of the late Rev. Richard C. Halverson strike a responsive cord when we consider the plight of the laity. He said, “The church has succeeded in pulling Christian men and women out of the world, out of society, and out of community and civic affairs. It has become a little island of irrelevant piety surrounded by an ocean of secular need.” The present status of our laity seems to be introspective as we tend to look at ministry only within the confines of the church. There are two key areas that are responsible for this situation:

1. Our callingOften, the role of the laity seems to be gauged only by finance and attendance. We serve as council members, trustees, clerks, teachers , advisors and board members. It appears that still only a “sacred few” do the real work of the ministry. The Church of God has wrestled long with the problem of Christian vocation and partnership in ministry. Are laity “called” (the word “calling” comes from the Latin vocatio meaning “vocation”), or are only clergymen? It appears that the laity chose what they are to do, but the clergy are the ones who receive a divine call into ministry. The issue here is not the clergy but clericalism which results in the exclusivism of God’s work. One leading laymen in our church put it this way, “I believe our present status [referring to lay ministry in the Church of God] is considered a “perk” of the church and not a recognized source of ministry. A ‘perk’ is something you can use or take advantage of but it’s not vital.”
2. Our ministryWhen we think of “full time ministers” we tend to think of only those who are ordained as clergy. Ministry is a station for a few rather than the function for all. The concept of “pray, pay and obey” is painfully evident as the primary function of lay people. The laity are valuable because of who they and what they can do. The laity are not used to reach the goal of the church…they are the goal! We must see that
   1. laity can receive a “call from God” in their daily work,
   2. the vocation of lay people is a stewardship opportunity and,
   3. the work of the laity is the will of God in the life of the believer. The secular work of the laity must be viewed as both a “calling” and a “ministry.”

Church of God Laity and the Future

We have to be concerned with the future of our church, the only future which cannot and must not anticipate retirement. To be wedded to today is to be a widower tomorrow. We live a new fast-paced, technological society that calls for dramatic change in thinking and action. The program structure of the our denomination is built on a model that is at least one hundred years old. That is, most our present boards, agencies, commissions, associations and departments arose from our early history. The change that has come has been within the structures, not in new structures. Dramatic change is needed in these areas:

Conclusion

The future awaits us, a future which will not tolerate yesterday’s Church in today’s world, let alone the world of tomorrow. The future is in the hands of the leaders in the Church of God. This is an hour of challenge. And of promise. The choice before the church as we face the future is continue with our present pattern and style of ministry or to allow for a “second reformation” — a reformation of the released power of the laity-God’s people-in the world today. We truly need holy boldness.

By Leonard C. Albert

After Pentecost, Peter was a premier preacher. He preached and 3,000 people got saved in one service. Now that’s preaching! Do you remember Stephen in Acts 7? He was a layman and when he preached, they stoned him! “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59). Why am I scared? It’s a big world out there and when I realize that God has called me, as a layman, to preach and minister it is frightening. Let’s talk about that call.

We are all called.

All laity are called and this calling includes preaching. Probably the greatest coup d’état that the devil ever pulled upon the church could be titled, “But I’m just a layman.” When we look at the first century church we find that the laity preached. Stephen preached in Acts 7. Acts 8:4 says, “they [the laity] that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Philip (a layman) in Acts 8:35 ” … opened his mouth, and … preached unto him Jesus.” In the early church everyone was a minister. In just 300 years the church accomplished the most amazing results. The whole Roman Empire was undercut and overthrown by the power of the Gospel of Christ. In fact, the pagan Celsus wrote a book against Christians in the second century and admitted that it was the “wool-workers, cobblers, laundry workers and the most illiterate and bucolic yokels” who carried the gospel. Who was he referring to? The laity! The devil would make us believe that only preachers are called. But I would like to sink a dagger into that lie because our pulpits are everywhere—coffee tables, work tables, gas pumps, office desks. Every Christian occupies some kind of pulpit and preaches some kind of sermon every day. Someone asked one of our laymen if he was called and he replied, “Certainly, I’m an ordained plumber!”

We are ministers.

We are never told that Stephen ever did one thing his position as deacon demanded, but he did extremely well in what his mission demanded. Long before Stephen had a position, he had a mission. In fact, the word “minister” is the translation of the Greek word diakonia, which means “servant.” Thus, a minister can be a deacon who is a servant. Ananias (a layman) was a servant like this. He laid hands on Saul in Acts 9 both healing and commissioning him. Aquila and Priscilla were lay missionaries in Acts 18. The Bible clearly indicates that the work of the church is not solely the responsibility of the pastor—it is for all believers. Originally, the word “minister” was a function of the church. It was a verb—something we did. It was the assignment of all believers and each follower had his own ministry or ministries. Slowly, through the centuries, it has moved from being a function of the church to become a station in the church. Ministry is a function for all, not a station for a few.

We are gifted.

In Acts 6:8 we read, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” For many years I have pondered this scripture. What were those “wonders and miracles” that he performed? Here is a layman performing “wonders and miracles.” I have asked God to help me do the same. I believe that every Christian is called of God as a minister and gifted for ministry. Peter says it best in 1 Peter 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Stewards of His grace? Have you ever thought of that? Think it through. We (all of God’s people) have received a gift (or gifts) and we are to minister that gift! How do we find our gift? Ask these simple questions:

• What do you see? So many people are waiting for a mystical call from God while all around them work is to be done. If no call seems obvious, then do the obvious! Is there a class with no teacher, a jail with no volunteers a nursing home with no church service? Get busy!
• What do you do? Can you teach, sing, or play a musical instrument? If you are good at it, do it!
• What do you enjoy? There was a time when we thought that if we enjoyed doing something, it was wrong. What you love to do is a clue to your anointing.
• What do you feel? What burdens you? What hurts you when you see it? Help heal those hurts.
• What you do hear? What do others say about you? You can expect affirmation from the body of Christ as to the reality of the gift of God within you.

God has called us to do more than pray, pay and obey. There’s a new reformation coming. It is a second reformation: a reforming of the priesthood of all believers. This second reformation will take place when the ministry is in the hand of all of God’s people. If we understand, accept, and act on the doctrine of the laity, it will bring about a reformation such as the world has not seen since Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg. My prayer is that the laity and clergy can become true partners in ministry.

Jack M. Bailey

This almost seems a question not worth asking. Why do I witness? Well, let’s turn that around. Why would I not witness? Jesus Christ is my Savior and the Lord of my life. He commanded me to witness. His last words on earth were, “. . . but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NASB). Jesus didn’t instruct us to witness “if it is convenient” or if we “feel like it.” He was very emphatic in commanding us to witness everywhere. I want to follow His instructions because I love Him.

There are so many people who need Jesus! Ordinary people going through life in their homes, on the streets, in their businesses and in shopping centers are hungry to know about Jesus Christ. Matthew 9:37-38 says, “He [Jesus] said to His disciples. `The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest’” (NASB). This has never been more true than it is today. People are searching desperately for real meaning in their lives.

Almost every time the Evangelism Breakthrough class participants go out into the community to witness, people pray to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. A lot is said in our society today about people being hostile and rejecting the gospel message, but only a very small percentage of the people we have approached have reacted in a negative way. In fact, the opposite is true. They are quite anxious to hear the Truth and to invite Jesus into their hearts.

There are a few situations that stand out in my mind as “miracle moments.” One of these happened on a cold January night at the Jimmie Hale Mission. God had orchestrated a divine appointment as I sat down at the dinner table across from a young man. I’ll call him Dale. When I asked if I could share with him he agreed.

“Do you know for sure that if you were to die tonight that you would spend eternity in heaven?” I asked.

“No,” he replied. “In fact, I’d go straight to hell.”

Dale listened patiently and attentively while I presented the gospel message to him. During the presentation I noticed that he kept taking a picture out of his shirt pocket and looking at it.

Before I finished the presentation Dale interrupted to tell me his heart-wrenching story. He used to be a happy man. He had a beautiful wife, a young daughter, a new mobile home, a brand new pick-up truck, and a good job. One day he stopped off at the local bar after work and had too many drinks. He called his wife to tell her he was on the way home.

“You wait there for me. You’re in no condition to drive,” she insisted.

But as she drove to get him at the bar, a collision with an 18-wheeler took her life.

Devastated by the burden of guilt that he felt, this young man left his five-year-old daughter with his mother and hit the road. For months he wandered from place to place, trying to drown his sorrows in a bottle of booze. He said that he had been drunk every day for the past six months, but he had been unable to take a drink for the last 24 hours. He wondered why.

When I finished the gospel presentation, Dale tearfully asked Jesus to come into his life, forgive his sins, give him a new life, and be the Lord of his life. On that night he passed from death into life. He no longer has to face death and hell. He can look forward to spending eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ . . . and you wonder why I witness!

Through the Jimmie Hale Mission, transportation was provided so that Dale could return to his hometown. At last report, he was successfully dealing with his grief. He had a good job and was making a home for his little daughter.

Examples like this are what make me want to witness for Jesus. And I could tell many more stories of life-changing witnessing encounters.

Lastly, I witness because of God’s great love for me and for all mankind. God does not wish for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b). How will they know that God loves them unless I tell them?

Don C. Warrington

“They don’t care what you know until they know that you care” is the motto of many pastors and evangelism directors, but it also describes well the ministry of Mr. Joey Blake, Local Church Lay Coordinator of the Harvest Temple Church of God in Montgomery, Alabama. Brother Blake is the “Pastor’s Partner” for Pastor Rich Deem, and together they have seen normal Sunday morning attendance double.

Part of this success can be attributed to the new “Care Ministry Team” program which Brother Blake heads up. Started at the beginning of 1998, the program has its Biblical basis in Matthew 25:42-45 and Matthew 28:19-20. Its object is to minister to new people in the church from the time they first step in the door. It accomplishes this with a four part program:

1. Greeters
2. Ushers
3. Visitation
4. Altar Workers

The first group of people to swing into action are the greeters. There are about twenty of them; they staff every entrance of the church during the Sunday morning and night services and during Wednesday night as well. Their task is to welcome everyone into the house of the Lord. Brother Blake uses the Lord’s guidance in recruiting the greeters. He wants to make sure that those who are chosen are faithful, and he seeks the approval of the Pastor for every appointment. He also trains them in their task and organizes their rotation schedule to prevent burnout. He began the whole “Care Ministry Team” with the greeters before organizing the rest of the program.

At an appropriate point in the service, the greeters seek visitors, and hand them a packet which includes: a brochure describing the ministry of the church, a tape, a letter from the Pastor, and a visitor’s card. The ushers—who help the visitors find a seat—collect the completed cards and pass them along to the visitation teams.

As with the greeters, there are about twenty people at this time involved with visitation, and Brother Blake provides them with training and organization. Once a visitor’s card is received, the visitor is ministered to with a seven step process:

1. A phone call from the Pastor.
2. The visitation team visits their home and brings them baked goods.
3. A visit from the Pastor.
4. For the men, a contact from a LifeBuilders^® Men’s Ministry representative.
5. For the women, a contact from the Ladies Ministry representative.
6. Contacts from the appropriate Sunday School classes.
7. An invitation out for a meal.

In this way visitors have no doubt they are wanted by the church.

The altar workers are trained to minister to people at the altar and to help them receive what they are seeking from God.

With such a program in place, visitors (and present members) are not only wanted by the church; they are needed too.

In speaking of the Care Ministry Team program, Brother Blake emphasizes that one of the main benefits is that it involves people in the life of the church, and in doing so, ministers to them. In the past, lay people had the idea that unless they taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, ushered, or served on the Church and Pastor’s Council, there was really nothing for them to do. Now they can get involved in vital ministries of the church, and in doing so, their attitudes–and indeed the attitude of the church in general–change, from a group of spectators to a team of participants.

Brother Blake never forgets that without the Lord behind him, his ministry wouldn’t amount to anything. With the Bible as his guide he depends on Jesus Christ who ultimately saves, calls and equips all of us to the advancement of His kingdom and the salvation of souls.

Leonard C. Albert

Elton Trueblood said, “The church is intended as a concrete answer to the prayer that laborers be sent forth to the harvest. The company of Jesus is not people streaming to a shrine; and it is not people making up an audience for a speaker; it is laborers engaged in the harvesting task of reaching their perplexed and seeking brethren with something so vital that, if received, it will change their lives.” During the past 26 years I have visited hundreds of churches of all types and sizes. The ones I remember as being truly powerful, successful congregations are those who used the talents and abilities of the lay members to minister to the lost through weekly, ongoing, consistent outreaches. A healthy church will always be involved in at least five ministries:

• Edification—the members worship and pray together
• Fellowship—the people of God build up and encourage one another
• Service—the church develops ministries to touch human needs in the community
• Evangelism—the members find and reach the lost with the message of salvation
• Outreach—the people conduct church services outside the sanctuary on a regular basis

Here’s how your church can begin.

See the Need

Jesus looked upon this old world as a vast harvest field that needed to be reaped. He said in John 4:35 (NIV), “. . . Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” In Matthew 25 He gives the church a clear mandate to establish ministry outside the four walls of the building. In just two verses (35 & 36), He tells us to feed and clothe the needy, visit the hospitals and nursing homes, minister to strangers (outreach chapels) and set up a jail and prison outreaches. In Acts 2:41-47 (read this passage!) the believers became better Christians (v. 42), they were committed to each other in the Body (v. 44), they remained in touch with the lost around them (v. 47a), and new people being saved was a normal thing (v. 47b).

Find the Places

To begin with, check out the population demographics. Look carefully into the characteristics of the community in which the church is located. What is the ethnic mix of the area? What is the income base? The average income? The professional and educational level of the people. Next, take a good look around your church community. Look at the many places that outreach ministries are needed. Begin by checking out the nursing homes in the area and see if a Sunday morning Bible study could be organized (usually other churches go in the afternoon). Find out about public housing. Is there a community room where a Sunday morning outreach could be conducted? Try to first begin a non-denominational class and then progress to a worship service in these types of outreaches. City and county jails are excellent places to minister on a weekly schedule. Unchurched neighborhoods are good places to begin outreaches. Look for a vacant home or office building that would be suitable for worship services. Begin with a children’s ministry, then expand to a Bible study and then to a worship service. One church has started four other church congregations this way. Retirement homes, senior adult housing, and convalescent centers are also great places for outreaches.

If you’re in the wrong place, the right place is empty!

Select the Workers

Jesus prayed all night before He called the disciples into full-time service. Begin by praying for God to send laborers. Look for those who might be capable but are not yet involved in the church. Some congregations are small and there are “slim pickings” as far as workers are concerned but when they are given the right circumstances, they have the potential for ministry. Look for faithful people, not just those who seem to have ability. God will give the ability if we are faithful to Him (1 Corinthians 4:2). Recruit the people privately and on a one-on-one basis. When Jesus called His disciples He did not go to the temple and publicly call people on a random basis. How many would have answered His call if He said, “We’re going to have something called disciples. If you would like to be one meet me at the base of the mount tomorrow at 9 a.m.”? He went to where the workers were living and working and recruited them personally.

Robert Schuller once said, “Find a hurt and heal it.” That is what outreach services are all about—going out and finding needs, and, through the power of God’s Word and the Holy Ghost, filling those needs.

by John Campbell

I remember my first game experience in the National Football League. My children say it was during the Old Testament period, but I remember it as though it happened yesterday. I was a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings, and we were in Chicago playing the Chicago Bears. As we were standing in the tunnel waiting to go out onto the field, the Chicago fans took the liberty to express their feelings toward us. To say there was a bit of disrespect involved would be an understatement. I don’t know how long we stood there but it seemed like hours, just standing there listening to the fans vent their feelings. Suddenly, one of them yelled, “You guys look like a bunch of Easter eggs!” After a short pause, someone on our team said, “You know, we do look like Easter eggs!” The purple, light gold and white did give us a unique look.

We must have performed like a bunch of Easter eggs because we lost the game, and I remember some of the veterans informing me, “That’s the way it is when you’re on the road. Nobody likes you and you’re always outnumbered.” It did not seem to matter what city we were in, the reception and the challenge always seemed the same. It was not long before I, too, was accepting the belief that it is indeed “tough to win on the road.” When they talk about home field advantage, it is a real factor. In sports, the winning advantage for home teams over visiting teams is substantial.

What brought this to mind was a seminar I attended in Cleveland, Tennessee, that dealt with issues facing the church having to do with the law, the court system and liability issues. The first presentation dealt with children who have been exploited and abused. This was like an ice cold shower for many of us. The next session also dealt with children, but looked at them not as the victims, but as the perpetrators of crimes—young people committing violent acts thought only done by hardened adults. This session did nothing to calm the shocking information presented in the preceding presentation.

In our hearts we all want to do what God has challenged us to do, but in our minds, we have relegated the criminal-type issues to that other “criminal-type” world. Our mindset is one of a Christian “no-fly zone” when it come to dealing with these types of matters. In short, if it’s in the court it’s out of the church. Because we are not comfortable in that setting, we choose not to get involved. To put it in sports language, it’s like playing on the road and we all know, it’s “tough to win on the road.”

That night, in my motel room, I tuned in to view that “other” world on the 6 o’clock news. The first five stories dealt with the same type issues we had been introduced to earlier that day. The only difference was that this night, the newscaster presented the proof of what the seminar speakers referred to. I concluded, if we wanted to get involved, we may have to leave the air-conditioned atmosphere of mutual respect, concern, and desire for a resolution to the problem (which is the usual home-field setting for Christian conflict), and go out “on the road” where we may not feel as confident.

The disciples went out on the road and came back with wonderful reports. Jesus had told them that they would be going out with His power and that was the reason for their success. Will He not do the same for us? The Bible tells us of the ultimate road trip, in Philippians 2: 6-8 “Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross” (NIV).

From the throne in heaven to a stable in Bethlehem. You can’t get any further away from home than that! For 33 years, the Creator became the created, culminating with His standing in front of a large crowd and hearing that crowd yell “Release Barabbas to us. We have no king but Caesar.” and “Let his blood be on us and our children!”

Hearing these accusations coming from the voices He had created, pierced Him every bit as much as the crown of thorns, nails, and spear. Three days later, the empty grave told us all we needed to know. Because He came down and won “on the road” we now can do the same. The challenge was given, power is available, now the choice is ours.

Ray H. Hughes, Jr.

In the Mediterranean Sea west of Lydia and east of Crete is a tiny island in whose northeast corner is the city of Rhodes. At the entrance to the city’s harbor once stood the famous Colossus of Rhodes, a huge bronze statue of the sun-god Apollo measuring 105 feet tall placed there in 280 B.C. So imposing was the towering statue that it was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Thirty-six years after the statue’s completion it was thrown into the sea by a powerful earthquake. No longer were people influenced by this gigantic pagan image upon entering the harbor. It was submerged forever and forgotten.

Perhaps as a lay coordinator there are things that loom large before you that become stumbling blocks or hinder you from doing your best for God. Like the Colossus of Rhodes they seem bigger than life and unmovable. Such obstacles as the “fear of failure” (the overpowering sense that you may not be qualified) or “indifference,” (let the pastor do it) can rob you of being all God intends for you to be. We have nothing to fear, for Jesus assures us in Luke 12:32 “Fear not . . . for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Also, in Isaiah 45:2, God says, “I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.” With God preparing the way, no obstacle is too big—not even mountains!

God has empowered all believers to work in His kingdom. Prayerfully choose the areas of ministry best suited for you and your congregation. Remember, don’t be afraid, for He has prepared the way for you. Then, in the vernacular of my youngest son, “Go for it.”

By Leonard C. Albert

A visit to a Kingdom Hall

The title to this article is from a song that I heard sung at a Kingdom Hall, the name of a local congregation for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. It went like this:

From house-to-house and door-to-door
We separate the sheep from goats.

The music was from an old audio turntable and not even in stereo. It was not melodious or cheerful; rather, it was more like a funeral dirge. The people sang the words in a mournful tone. As I stood there along with the other attendees, I realized that the “goats” referred to anyone who was not a member of the Jehovah’s Witness organization (namely me!) and that the “sheep” were those who had converted to the real “truth” of their JW organization. I prefer to call them JW’s because they certainly are not Christian and they certainly are not true witnesses for Jehovah. But they sure do witness don’t they? They seem to be on every street corner and in every home in America!

Where are the Christians? Over the years I have asked many JW’s if anyone has ever truly sat down with them and discussed the Bible. Most say “never!” I think the real problem is that the members of the Evangelical church have become “Jehovah’s bystanders!” We simply do not take the time to study and learn about this amazing cult, and we do not witness to them and try to win them for Jesus. That’s the reason I was in that Kingdom Hall the night I heard the song—I wanted to learn what they believed and be able to better share the real Jesus with them. I learned a lot that night. I learned that they now start five new Kingdom Hall congregations every 24 hours. I learned that someone, somewhere in the world becomes a convert to the movement every 2 1/2 minutes! I learned that there are at least 100,000 dedicated “pioneers” that commit to go door-to-door for at least three hours each day. That’s over 1,000 hours each year. That’s 300,000 man-hours each year! No wonder we see them so often. I also learned that they do not study the Bible—they study books. These books have the questions and the answers right in them so the people do not have to think. The Watchtower takes care of that for them. They just check their brains in at the door to the Kingdom Hall.

A visit to my home

Just a short time ago, two very polite JW’s knocked at our door. My wife, Pat, answered and invited them inside. They introduced themselves as simply Lillian and Virginia and said they had each been members of the “society” for 40 years. My dear wife explained that her husband [me] was not at home but if they would come back the following Tuesday it would be possible to have a nice chat about the message of the Watchtower. They both thought this was a good idea.

What neither one of them realized is that I have been studying this cult for at least 20 years. I have learned a wonderful way to share Christ with these people. I have discovered that they know very little about the Bible. As mentioned above, they only study books as they are not allowed to study and read any literature except that which is approved by the leadership. My mentor and the greatest cult expert that I know is Dr. Charles Beach. He says that the best way to witness to them is to focus solely on the deity of Christ. Some years ago he wrote a little booklet titled What Jehovah Wants His Witnesses to Know. This is a fantastic book because he uses only scriptures from their “mistranslated” version of the Bible titled The New World Translation. This translation is horribly incorrect, but Brother Beach found many passages in it where they forgot to change the meaning especially relating to Jesus being God with us.

During the one-week interval we fasted, prayed and studied in anticipation of their visit. I believe that the presence of the Holy Spirit was very real in our home when they entered into our living room. I could see that they were both very tense. Lillian was the spokesperson and she was literally sitting on the edge of our comfortable wingback chair. I asked her where she was from and she immediately went on the defensive. “What do you mean by that?” she replied. I said, “Well, are you from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama…you know what state are you from?” Well she was so nervous that she could barely utter that her home state was Georgia. I proceeded to explain that we would be talking about the deity of Christ. I told them that we would only use the JW bible (New World Translation) and that we would not argue. I told them that after studying their bible for 20 years, I was surprised to find out that it proved that Jesus was God, that there was a trinity and that hell was a literal place where people go and are not consumed or burned up as they teach. Were they ever surprised! They got even more upset as I opened up their bible and began to show them the scriptures (see companion article titled How to Witness to Jehovah’s Witnesses). They both became so nervous that they could hardly speak. They immediately got up to leave. I said, “No, please don’t go. We’ve only just begun.”

They went right out the door after only about 15 minutes in our home. Would you like to know why? I think it was because the power of truth was present. I think they both realized that I knew what I was talking about and they were scared to death that I was going to show them something in their own bible that the Watchtower had not taught them. It is pitiful that two JW’s, each with over 40 years in the movement, would be afraid of their own bible. The only reason is that they are like robots, only knowing a little about truth here and there but never knowing the real person of truth—Jesus Christ! Did not He say, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”? (John 8:32).

A “Witness for the Witnesses”

Why don’t you consider taking a little time to study our material on how to witness to JW’s? We have excellent resources. First, read the companion article below. Next, order the following: What Jehovah Wants His Witnesses to Know, Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Error (Vol. 1), Jehovah’s Witnesses: Who Are They and What Do They Believe? And a special new witnessing tract titled A Gospel Test for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Click on the bookstore to the left to order.

How to Witness to Jehovah’s Witnesses

A Simple Approach Using Their Bible

By Leonard C. Albert

Introduction

Greeting at the door: Give them a warm smile and invite them in
First comment: I have been reading your bibles.
Second comment: Agree with them! Like you, I believe Jesus was a man.
Third comment: Transition to talk about the deity of Christ. I also believe that Jesus was God.
Fourth comment: Let’s take a look at the New World Translation.

Witnessing Method: Explain the Deity of Christ

The use of the initials KIT refers to a Bible they use called the Kingdom Interlinear Translation. It would be a real asset to the witnessing encounter if the reader could obtain a copy. Your local Kingdom Hall should have a copy they will sell you if you have the courage to visit them!

Click here for the relevant scriptures and the real explanations for them.  Present all of this to them. Print it out if you need to!

Close:

Mention to the JW that there is a problem with the message of the Watchtower and the message of the Bible. They are in conflict! At this point (and probably well before) the JW will try to get you off the subject by talking about the Trinity, eternal torment or some other topic. Don’t be sidetracked. Just stick to the deity of Christ (more information on that here). Tell the JW that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has deceived them. Something is wrong. Get them to think! Tell them that if what they believe is not true then they should do something about it. Set up a time when you can meet again and study the Bible (KJV) together. Then do the most important thing: pray for the JW each day by name. Remember the words of 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”