This past July 3, was a bright sunny day. I was slaving in my yard waging a hopeless battle with crabgrass. Everything needed to be groomed so I could enjoy the Fourth of July holiday without guilt. A family of robins was bobbing for worms on the front lawn, a gentle breeze was blowing, and all seemed pleasant and peaceful. I was thinking what a great day it was to be alive.
Then suddenly, right in front of me, a hawk swooped down out of nowhere and plucked an unsuspecting young robin off the lawn. Clutching its prey in its razor sharp talons, it swiftly streaked skyward. This turned my yard from a peaceful scene into one of universal commotion. The prey was squealing, and the hawk was wildly flapping its wings. The other birds, now recognizing the danger, raised a chorus of protest and began in unison attacking and chasing after the hawk. But it was too late. The stronger, more agile hawk prevailed and soon left the others far behind. The unfortunate little squealing bird could still be heard as the hawk with it’s prey, disappeared into the distant sky. Only a fleeting moment had past, yet a robin, that failed to watch, became the hawk’s next meal.
When we are with our church family we feel safe; everything is beautiful and serene. We let our guard down; we drift along, Sunday after Sunday, week after week, enjoying the safety of our church and friends, hanging out with our own little flock. We forget to watch. Suddenly our world is shattered. A thief enters the flock and a life is destroyed, often with no chance of recovery. We respond as best we can, but it is often too late. It is much better that we remain at all times alert and watchful so that there is no chance for the thief to steal, kill and destroy. Christ also likens this to his coming: “…that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up . . . for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:42-44). Watch!
Covenant Group Evangelism is a method to help the local church reach out to the community with the Gospel. It is based around the formation and activity of small groups. We believe that small groups and team ministry is an effective way to grow the local church. For more information, download our Covenant Group Evangelism Overview, a more detailed look at Covenant Team Evangelism.
Power of small groups and team ministry.
Robert Wuthnow, a social scientist at Princeton, has written that the small group’s movement is “the biggest social revolution of our day.” Carl George, noted church growth leader defines what he calls a “span of care.” This principle ensures that everybody is cared for, but no one cares for too many people. Each part must take responsibility so that Christ’s body can do its work in the world. Only when everyone works together will each life be transformed. In our plan each group has only about 12-15 members, and each of the four teams within the group has only three to four members
Foundation of groups. There are some key foundational or core components of small groups. These help create community and accountability in the church among the members. There are four blessings of small group ministry.
Small groups are built on authentic relationships.
Small groups are places where truth meets life.
Small groups experience healthy conflict.
Small groups provide well-balanced shepherding, so that people are both cared for and discipled.
Quick-start steps for success in initiating Covenant Group Evangelism and Ministry Teams in the local church.
Pastoral backing. The pastor must first cast the vision of evangelism outreach from the church to the congregation through either a message or through a time of motivational teaching to the members. (We have prepared a special PowerPoint presentation to help cast this vision.) The message in this presentation contains a comprehensive overview of the Covenant Group Evangelism concept with adequate detail provided to insure that the congregation understands that they will be empowered to serve in the area of their calling rather than be forced to participate in areas of evangelism for which they have no calling. We have prepared a second PowerPoint to assist in recruiting participants as well. It is titled CGE PowerPoint for Recruiting Participants. Our message is that each member of the local church is a valuable member of the body who needs to be functional in the area they are called and gifted and not to feel inferior because they cannot accomplish what some other member of the body is called to do.
Order teaching materials. Contact Church of God Lay Ministries to order our nine week Communicating the Gospel ministries kit and other books, tracts and forms we have for training on small group theory, formation and implementation, and witnessing materials.
Schedule initial planning meeting. Hold a planning meeting with a core group of individuals who, following the motivational message have exhibited a serious interest in the Covenant Group Evangelism outreach concept. This meeting will be utilized to determine the overall goals and objectives of the outreach ministry, with input from the core participants, and will also help to determine specific geographical locations for outreach as well as specific types of ministry which will occur during the progress of the outreach.
This meeting will also assist in identifying the group and team leaders and will provide initial training as to their job descriptions and the overall organization, operation and function of the covenant group. It is not necessary that the group leader be a member of or leader of the evangelism team going door-to-door, but it is necessary that the group leader be a leader, organizer and motivator.
Call a meeting of the four team leaders. You and [hopefully] the pastor will share the vision of Covenant Group Evangelism in this meeting. We have prepared a special handout explaining valuable information concerning team ministry for you to distribute in this session. It is titled: Overview of Ministry Teams. Please take the time to first read it, then reproduce it and give a copy to each team leader and other team members. You will need to make about 25 copies in order to have enough for everyone.
Teach relational evangelism. Begin the nine-week Communicating the Gospel evangelism training seminar. This can be done as a Wednesday night class in order to not require another weeknight. All of the members of all teams should be involved in this training program [especially the Personal Evangelism team], even though they may not be a member of the evangelism team. The result of the group outreach activities over time will be that every member will experience an increase in their desire and burden to share the gospel of Jesus in their “Jerusalem” (their job, school, etc.). This training seminar will give them the tools they need to be able to effectively share the gospel. The nine-week seminar will be an ongoing training of group members from the start of the Saturday outreach. If schedules are tight, these nine weekly sessions can be taught in one weekend with our new Evangelism Impact Weekend Seminar. Contact Leonard C. Albert in the Department of Lay Ministries for more details!
Prepare for outreach. First, have a small meeting of the pastor, group leader and team leader. They will discuss and determine the location and route for the prayer walk team, determine the location and route for the church introduction team and determine the initial group of 12 homes that the evangelism team is to visit. The servant evangelism activities are often easily identified through discussion with church members. They may have an unsaved neighbor or co-worker that has a physical need that can be addressed by the team that will demonstrate the love of Jesus in practical ways (please see the book Conspiracy of Kindness by Steve Sjogren for more ideas.
Conduct the Saturday outreach. You could call this “Friendship Saturday.” We have found this name a better fit than what we used to call “knocking on door!” As the teams meet (each team can choose their own weekend) we recommend that they first gather for a time of intercessory prayer for this effort. This is essential to provide the prayer covering that is necessary for effective evangelism activities by the group for the day. Each team will then be given written instructions regarding the work they are to accomplish for the visitation period (two to three hours). The materials provided should include a map to the location, church promotional materials (brochures, etc.). New Testaments, tracts, contact report cards (spiritual survey cards) and other witnessing materials should be provided for the evangelism team. The servant evangelism team should have provided whatever materials and equipment they will require to accomplish their task for the day. The servant evangelism team leader should have already contacted the individuals where the work will be done to make sure they are expected, unless the work is outside and requires no prior notice. (Note: It is often beneficial for the evangelism team to begin the first Saturday outreach by visiting individuals who have visited their church, or who have been referred as potential salvation prospects by a church member. This will assist team members in getting started and give them some experience before visiting individuals who are completely unknown to them). The prayer walk team will walk and pray their area. It is usually a good idea to have the prayer walk team walking in an area ahead of the evangelism team.
Report back session. At the end of the outreach effort, all of the team members should return to the church for a brief (30) minute testimony and reporting period. It would be great if the pastor, evangelism director, or group leader could be at this meeting to share in the testimony time and to affirm and encourage the work of the group. This is usually a time of great encouragement for the group since there are usually successes to report that will encourage everyone. The spiritual survey cards with contact information should be turned in to the group leader and any pertinent comments regarding contacts should be shared in order to facilitate the determination by the group leader and the pastor of the nature and extent of follow-up which should be done. We recommend using the “Top Sales Basic” software program. It is a great way to tract people visited or ministered to by the teams. The group leader will oversee the data entry of all contacts. (Perhaps the work can be done by a church secretary.) The pastor and group leader should meet as soon as possible during the following week to determine the desired follow-up procedures. Some needs may be identified as very urgent which may require immediate action by the pastor or assignment to a team leader and members for immediate follow-up. Follow-up may, based upon the circumstances, take the form of any number of contacts, either telephone calls, letters, cards, or personal visits. This cycle is repeated for each outreach Saturday with interim ministry conducted by the pastor, group leader and other members as necessary to address immediate needs that have been identified.
Covenant Group Evangelism monthly meetings. Covenant group meetings are held each month in the home of the group leader. All of the team leaders and members should be in attendance. These meetings should last no more than an hour and will provide for a time of fellowship with light refreshments if possible. This will promote the growth of community within the group which will lead to bonding among the members. The meetings will also include a time for prayer, some training utilizing curriculum and subject matter approved by the pastor and group leader and a time for discussion of prior group activities and planning for the next Saturday outreach. This atmosphere produces accountability among the members as each member begins to understand the necessity of their position in the body and the importance of the work that they do to the overall success of the group. At the monthly meeting the group leader will advise the group of decisions of the pastor as to outreach and follow-up requirements for the next Saturday and will assign those responsibilities to the teams.
Ongoing involvement of the pastor. The pastor should remain involved with the group to the extent necessary that the members are encouraged and affirmed in their outreach activities and do not begin to feel that they are operating without the full support and backing of the pastor and the church. While it may not be necessary for the pastor to go out with the teams on outreach Saturdays, he or she should maintain contact with the groups and teams. This can be accomplished by attending some of the prayer times at the church before the teams depart or with occasional involvement in the monthly group leaders’ home meetings.
Involvement time. The time involvement of each team member will probably not exceed six to seven hours per month. This includes three to four hours on the once-monthly outreach Saturday and one to two hours each month at the group leaders’ home meetings. Some groups may desire to add a second monthly meeting for more time of fellowship and prayer. The training seminar can be held as a Wednesday night class so no additional time is added (or weekend seminar as previously mentioned).
It may be necessary to start a group without all of the teams intact. If this is the case, go ahead and start “Friendship Saturday” outreach activities with the teams you have and grow until you have recruited enough leaders and workers to have a full Covenant Evangelism Group.
How many times have you heard people say that? Or, “we don’t do altar work anymore.” Since the days of Charles Finney the altar has been a centerpiece of Evangelical and later Pentecostal churches, but many churches don’t even have altar calls in their service, let along altar workers.
Why is this? One reason is that, too many times, altar calls are pointless. People come down with needs that never really get prayed for. They may get saved, but who will know? No one asks! They come, they have some kind of experience, and they leave, with no follow up.
Ministering at the Altar was written to address this crying need in our churches. It is written to train your altar workers in the basics of proper procedure at the altar, how to interact Biblically with those who come, and to gather the information necessary to follow-up on those who come. It even helps you to qualify those who are gifted in altar work. It also can be read individually to inform and inspire those who prepare to do the crucial work of meeting people at the point of their greatest need.
We speak of filling up our altars. Ministering at the Altar will help you not only to fill up your altars, but fill up your church. God is not only calling people to the altars, he is calling them to pray with those who come. This little book will help the laity in your church make that a reality.
Recently, I heard the story of Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective. He went down to the local army surplus store one morning and bought 45 used weather balloons. That afternoon, he strapped himself into a lawn chair, to which several of his friends tied the now helium-filled balloons. He took along a six-pack of beer, a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, and a BB gun, figuring he could shoot the balloons one at a time when he was ready to land.
Walters, who assumed the balloons would lift him about 100 feet in the air, was caught off guard when the chair soared more than 11,000 feet into the sky—smack into the middle of the air traffic pattern at Los Angeles International Airport. Too frightened to shoot any of the balloons, he stayed airborne for more than two hours, forcing the airport to shut down its runways for much of the afternoon, causing long delays in flights from across the country.
Soon after he was safely grounded and cited by the police, reporters asked him three questions:
“Were you scared?” “Yes.” “Would you do it again?” “No.” “Why did you do it?” “Because,” he said, “you can’t just sit there.”
Eyes For the Harvest
His answer caught my interest. I have pondered his reply and its implications for some time…”Youcan’t just sit there!” One prevailing thought emerges in my mind: when it comes to God’s intervention in our lives, we can’t just sit there—we must act! His Word calls for a response—or a reaction—from us especially in the area of evangelism.
Evangelism will become a priority in our lives when we have God’s perspective. All of us see people, but few of us see them with spiritual eyes. Early in Christ’s ministry, He challenged His disciples to see people as God sees them. Christ’s followers were devoted to Him, but they were blind to the task to which their Master had been called. They did not have His compassion for people who were alienated from God. The Lord used several encounters with needy people to help them open their spiritual eyes.
Do you have eyes for the harvest that is all around you, or are you still only seeing people from an earthly perspective?
You Can Win People to Christ
The most fertile ground for evangelism today is through personal relationships. One writer calls it “F R A N gelism,” that is, witness to your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors. This is more likely to happen if we see that friendship evangelism is a process, not a project. It begins with cultivation, an approach to the heart; then seed planting, an appeal to the mind; and finally, harvesting, an appeal to the will. There it is, the head, heart and feet! This is the approach. We tell the facts (head knowledge), the Holy Spirit takes it to the heart (sorrow for sin, an 18-inch conversion!), and then there is true repentance with the feet (a turning from sin).
Here is How to Do It
Know Someone. It takes a personal relationship with Christ. We cannot do a spiritual work for Christ unless we have had a spiritual encounter with Him. We must have a life-changing and genuine experience.
Be Someone. Our lives have to back up what we say. People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do! What you do will always speak louder than what you say. Jesus said, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me.” Have you ever heard anyone say, “Humph, well! If that’s what a Christian is like I don’t want any part of it.”
I’d rather see a sermon lived than hear one preached.
I’d rather see a conviction demonstrated than hear it defended.
You’ve got to be like Christ in order to tell of Christ.
You’ve got to let Jesus be Lord in you before you can say, Jesus is my Lord” to someone else.
Tell Something. Christ must be proclaimed, not defended. You cannot be a secret disciple. It must be a verbal communication. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). One cannot catch a good case of salvation any easier than he can catch a good case of algebra. There are facts that must be explained. God has commanded all of His children to go to those who have not heard and proclaim these facts.
To know Him, be like Him, and tell about Him—that is the secret! When we see people like Jesus saw them and feel for them like He did, we can win them to Christ.
If we have a better understanding of the world, we will know that the unbeliever is not our enemy, but is a victim of the enemy. According to an old legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius saw the man’s predicament and said, “It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this.” Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, “Let that man’s plight be a lesson to the rest of the world.” Then Mohammed came by and said to the sinking man, “Allah has willed it.” Finally Jesus appeared. “Take my hand, brother,” He said, “and I will save you!”
First we must realize that ministry is simply “service.” It literally means “to dispense the gospel.” Ephesians 4: 12 says, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Matthew Henry’s Commentary says, “The gifts of Christ were intended for the good of his church, and in order to advance his kingdom and interest among men.” All are for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, or for the work of dispensation; that is, that they might dispense the doctrines of the gospel.
Who is to do the work of the ministry?
From Paul’s passage in Ephesians we realize that the task of ministry is to be fulfilled by the people of God (the laity). The laity consists of all of God’s people. Look at the words of Christ in Matthew 28:19,20. We are to go, make disciples and teach. God’s pattern to do this is to use the laity. God’s method is working through people by the power of the Holy Spirit. We must remember that it is His power and His anointing which works through us. The ministries of a local church are usually divided into several different categories such as outreach, children, youth, men, etc. Laypersons are involved in all of these ministries. Elton Trueblood said, “The laity are not passengers on a ship, but members of the crew.”
Where does ministry begin?
Indeed, if the task of “doing the work of ministry” rests on the shoulders of the laity of the local church then how is it to be organized and promoted on the local level? The answer is through the ministry of the Local Church Lay Coordinator. The Lay Coordinator is the central person in the local church to bring together the lay ministers and to help guide all those involved in laboring together in harmony, effectiveness, fellowship and enrichment. The Lay Coordinator is a minister, a person who understands that, “If it is to be, it’s up to me and I must respond to God’s call to be a minister and do the work of the ministry.” Will you accept the challenge to become the lay minister that God called you to be?
“Were you scared?” “Yes.” “Would you do it again?” “No.” “Why did you do it?” “Because,” he said, “you can’t just sit there.”
Church of God
Division of Church Ministries
Man in the Mirror Ministries