Church of God LifeBuilders

Some of our featured resources for laity and men’s ministry can be found on amazon.com.  They are as follows:

• LifeBuilders Essentials
• Excellence for the Rest of Us
• Apologetics for the Rest of Us
• Celebrating Pastor Appreciation: Ideas for a Successful Pastor Appreciation
• Reaching the Children of Ishmael

Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in bad lands. (From The Message)

I love to hear the innocent comments from children that reveal deep spiritual truth. Recently I read the comments of a little girl during the end of the year holiday season. She said, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New You!” Of course we know that she meant “year” instead of “you” but that doesn’t sound too bad does it? Wouldn’t it be great if 2010 could be the year of a “Happy New You?”

We get the word “January” from the pagan Roman god “Janus.” He was depicted with gates and doors and with two faces pointed in the opposite direction: one looking forward and the other backwards. This concept is still very appropriate for us today because January is a “hinge” month. We look backward over the past year and forward to the new year.

We have to glance back but only briefly; we cannot live our lives looking into a rear view mirror! Someone said, “We must take our hats off to the past but our coats off to the future.” Let me suggest five simple steps for a new START in 2010 that will make possible a “Happy New You.” (Click below “for more information” to see these.)

Five Steps for a New S.T.A.R.T. in 2010

1) S — Stop Making Excuses

Some people spend their entire lives just making excuses for hurtful or wrongful behavior. Consider this example. It is the story of a young man arrested for stealing a car. When confronted by the police and asked for an explanation for his actions he had the year’s most novel excuse. He said, “I found the automobile in front of a cemetery and thought the owner was dead.”

There is an old saying that there is an I in every accident and a U in every excuse. Proverbs 28:13 says it this way: A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance. TLB

The next time you feel like making an excuse for any inconsistency in your life consider some of the great heroes of the Bible. Here are some of the “excuses” they could have used for not being all that God wanted them to become.

Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
Elijah was suicidal
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer…
AND
Lazarus was dead!

What do you have that’s worse than that? So no more excuses!

2) T — Take stock

Perhaps your present circumstances do not reflect the true purpose of God for your life. We have to be prepared to go onward and upward for Christ. Sometimes the biggest miracle can be in the smallest opportunity. God’s best blessings sometimes come in “surprise” packages.

In Galatians 3:4 Paul says, Did all your experience mean nothing at all? Surely it meant something! (TEV). At the beginning of this new year, perhaps you should ask some questions about where you have come from, where you are and where you are going. Here are some examples:

o What have I learned?
o What are my assets?
o Who can help me?
o What is God doing in and around my life?

3) A — Act in faith

Matthew 9:29 According to your faith will it be done to you. We get what we expect. Our expectations affect our future. If we act in faith, we must do something. We must make preparations for the new year but trust God to do His work in our lives. Proverbs 16:9 says, We should make plans counting on God to direct us. (LB). Here are some examples of goals that we can set for 2006.: personal (physical, mental, spiritual), relational (family, marriage, children, friends), professional, church and personal ministry, and financial.

4) R — Refocus

As you set and reach new goals for 2006, you will notice that your mind as well as your behavior will change. Let the Word of God renew your mind this year. Proverbs 4:23 says, Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.(GN). In Romans 12:2 Paul says, Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is. (NLT).

Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can see where it’s going. Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between steps in order to refocus. This is the way it walks: head forward, stop; head back, stop.

In our spiritual walk with the Lord we have the same problem as the pigeon. We have a hard time seeing while we’re moving. We also need to stop between steps — to refocus on where we are in relation to the World and the will of God. Our walk with the Lord needs to have built into it a pattern of “stops,” which enable us to see more clearly before moving on.

5) T — Trust God

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was leaving the room after paying a visit to the patient’s home, and said, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.” Very quietly the doctor said, “I don’t know.” “You don’t know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is after death?”

The doctor was holding the handle of the door, and from the other side of door came a sound of scratching and whining, and, as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my dog? He had never been in this room before. He did not know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough.”

We may not know what is “behind the door of 2010″ but we know that God is there and that is enough.

Here are 10 things you can count on in this new year:

10. Bible will have the answers you need.
9. Prayer will still change things
8. Holy Spirit will still be active in our lives.
7. God’s praises will still abound
6. The anointing of God will still be available.
5. Church will still continue to grow.
4. Blessings of God will still be abundant.
3. They will still be room at the cross for you.
2. Jesus Christ will always love us.
1. God will give anybody a new START.

By Leonard C. Albert

My friend of many years, Pat Morley, says “Give men what they want in the context of what they need.”  Our minds immediately ask two questions: (1) “what do men want?” and (2) “what do men need?”  Men want adventure—they want a challenge.  They need a structure, a system to make number one work.   John Eldredge in his now famous book titled Wild at Heart says it this way, “Life is not a problem to be solved, it is an adventure to be lived.  A man just won’t be happy until he’s got adventure in his work, in his love and in his spiritual life.”  Where can a man find this “adventure” in his spiritual life?  Most of the time in church, he is required to just come and sit and listen to teachings or sermons.  What men really want is a church that will call them to action and they are attracted to churches that offer opportunities to really make a difference in this life.

What is “Matthew 25 Men?”

The LifeBuilders Men’s Ministry discipleship model has three elements:

1. Walk with Christ (know Him as Savior);
2. Live like Christ (know Him as Lord and Master;) and
3. Work for Christ (find a personal ministry).

Matthew 25 Men speaks to this third area: work for Christ.  This is a “servant” type ministry that helps people in the church family, the community and beyond.  It involves Church Projects such as “Workday at Church” where men volunteer for repair, painting, and maintenance work at the church.  The men of the church can meet periodically on a Saturday to trim shrubs, pull vines, spread pine straw or mulch, paint, make repairs, and do whatever else needs attention.  These church projects can include reaching out to the less fortunate of the church family by doing small repair work on homes like adding a wheel chair ramp, or repairing the steps, etc.  It involves Ministry Projects such as visiting shut-ins, people in hospitals, nursing homes, jails and prisons.  It involves being salt and light by sharing the gospel through personal testimony and showing kindness.  It involves doing good deeds both inside and outside the church such as snow removal, leaf raking or lawn mowing.  It involves Community Service Projects such as “Car Care Saturday” to help widows and single moms.  It could be a project like installing smoke detectors in low-income homes, or washing cars for free, or giving away coffee and water at a sporting event.  Your local chapter of LifeBuilders Men’s Ministry can plan a monthly service project lasting a half or a full day for most months of the year.

Matthew 25 Men is the outreach that helps a man find the adventure he is looking for, and at the same time reach out to hurting people in the church and community.  Matthew 25 Men challenges men to become active in a “feel good about helping others” outreach.  Our goal for men is to help them grow in Christ by moving toward the center of God’s will.  We do not aim to change a man’s behavior—we want God to change the core affections of his heart.  When a man works for Christ he discovers his own personal ministry using his unique spiritual giftedness.  Usually three things will happen.  (1) He will serve others in need in the church and community through special projects, (2) He will help family and friends grow in Christ and (3) He will win the lost to Christ.

As I travel and speak to thousands of men I feel they are sick and tired of not being challenged and offered some type of ministry adventure.  They are weary of just talking about sports, the weather, and the stock market.  This exciting outreach ministry of LifeBuilders helps fuel their competitive drive.  It helps them find adventure, change, competition, and expansion—all within the mission of Jesus to seek and save the lost.  Once a man has been in the real presence of Jesus, he will never be happy until he finds a way to express his gratitude through love and good deeds.  We believe that men have a passion in their lives that will make a difference in the world.  This ministry helps them find that passion.

Who are the men of Matthew 25 Men?

Matthew 25 Men are men who are being discipled in their local churches.  They work out of the existing men’s ministry group as this effort is always under the sponsorship of the local chapter of men’s ministries.  Matthew 25 Men are men who take seriously the challenge to us in Matthew 25: 35-36 where Jesus said, For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. We need more men in local churches to reach out to others with a servant’s heart.  Church of God LifeBuilders has thousands of men who are ready to put their skills and personal ministry to work in the local church and beyond.  It can be a great adventure to feed the hungry, give to the thirsty, help the stranger, clothe the needy, visit the sick and reach men in prison.

Steve Sonderman is a great men’s leader.  His book on How To Build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry is sold here in our bookstore.  Here’s what he says about challenging men:

Men want to be involved in a cause greater than themselves. If I have learned one thing during my years of ministry to men, it’s that men want to be involved in something driven by a compelling vision. They want to be involved in something bigger and grander than themselves.  Men want to know what hill the church is climbing, where we are going, what we are about. Men are not going to give you their time, money, and energy to move papers around and attend committee meetings. They want to be about the work of Kingdom Expansion. They want to see a discernible difference in the world in which they live?

We believe Matthew 25 Men can make that difference in a man’s life.  Why not get started today?!

From here:

A total of 55 men from the New York metropolitan area, including men from Connecticut and Rhode Island, were treated to both the insight and humor of Leonard Albert during the Discipling Strong Men Seminar held at Solid Rock on Saturday, October 10.

Leonard Albert is the International Director of Church of God Laity Ministries. He is an enthusiastic motivational speaker specializing in training and equipping people to reach their full potential in ministry. Leonard Albert is a firm believer that you can’t share the gospel or your faith with others unless you have been taught on how to do so. So what does that mean exactly? Well for starters, telling someone that they must “turn or burn” or “sanctify or fry” is not an effective way to reach others for Christ.

So how did Christ impact so many? During his time on earth, Christ used stories (parables) to explain spiritual principles in a way they could be understood. He also established relationships to build disciples. “Discipleship is not just Christian education, Saturday morning breakfasts at the church, or memorizing scripture,” Leonard explained, “Discipleship is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), it is multiplication through reproduction (2 Timothy 2:2), and apprenticeship (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

The goals of this seminar were clear: Learn a strategy, leave with a plan of action, and acquire resources. Leonard shared statistics on men in the church and why it is hard to keep them engaged. For the most part, understanding the needs of men and what they are looking for is key to maintaining or establishing a successful men’s ministry. Leonard shared several examples, acquired during his travels, of different creative methods that churches are using to reach men. “There is no one way that works for every church. You have to get to know the needs and types of the men in your community before you can be effective.” However, regardless of the method, he emphasized that we must identify a strategy that best fits their needs, create a plan of action to execute it, and acquire the resources to keep the momentum going.

In keeping with the strategy for Discipling Strong Men, seven more men just completed the “LifeBuilders Essentials” study with Don Stedge. Jose Pena, Terrance White, Ray Gonzalez, Leland Parkinson, Wilson Ortiz, Rick White and Sheldon Scott-Bonnick received their certificates of completion after finishing the 12 week study. This makes a total of 38 men from Solid Rock who have taken this first step to becoming a disciple.

Currently, Bim Nathaniel is leading another four men through the Kingdom Calling study and Mike Anson, Sr. is beginning the “10 Questions That Trouble Every Thinking Man” small group starting this Tuesday. As you can see, Armorbearers Men’s Ministry is on the forefront of “Discipling Strong Men”!

If you would like to hear this entire seminar for yourself, the Solid Rock Bookstore is selling a 4 CD set recorded live on October 10 for $10.

Leonard C. Albert

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…”You can’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!”

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.

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 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.”

By Leonard C. Albert

In another article we looked at the process of writing a lay ministry purpose statement. Here is the one that was suggested: We, the people of the [insert church name] endeavour to encourage all believers to reach the lost people in our community with a credible offer of the gospel and teach them the doctrine that every believer is a minister and then strengthen the family by helping raise up godly men.

Now we need an action plan—we’ve got to get the ball rolling. Here are some simple steps to consider.

Find the will of God. The best way to begin is to get with a few people who want the laity to be trained and mobilized and begin to pray. You could have a prayer summit or just a few evenings together to really pray about the direction of ministry in your church. You will become kindred spirits with these people who want a vision, strategy, and plan for ministry. Ask God for a plan to create momentum among laity and how to sustain this momentum for the long haul.

Look at where you are now. Take a hard look at where your church is spiritually. What outreach ministries are taking place in the church? How many members? How many workers are in lay ministry? How are they gifted? Conduct a spiritual gifts survey. You will realize that there are different groups in the church. Some are uninvolved and plan to stay that way. Some are on the “fringe.” They know about God but are only “Sunday Christians.” They are either barely inside or just outside the door of the church. Lay ministry author Os Guiness calls these people “the undiscipled disciples.” What would it take to get these people involved? Don’t be upset with people because they are not more spiritually mature. Isn’t this the very purpose for your being a lay coordinator?

Determine where you want to go. Your vision statement says, “Our members are ministers and we are to reach the lost.” All right, but how do we do it? What will it take to make lay ministry a reality in our church? Set some realistic goals for ministry. What would you like to do? Think about “inside” and “outside.” Think about what you want to do inside the church. Maybe you could begin a greeters ministry, train altar workers or teach an evangelism class. You could begin a LifeBuilders men’s ministry. Then consider what you would like to do outside the church. You will need a visitation program. We now have the WIN 2000 Challenge which involves starting “Lighthouses,” where two or three are asked to map their neighbourhood and begin to pray for and minister to each home in their immediate area. (For more details, see our Let’s Do It action page in this issue.) Write down some realistic goals and get started. Remember: If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you always got!

Create momentum for ministry. To get people in motion we need an event that creates “church-scale” momentum. We sometimes call these “catalytic events.” Consider hosting events such as:

• Lay Witness Week. Schedule a week of preaching and teaching on lay ministry opportunities.
• Lay Ministry Appreciation Sunday. Use this opportunity to share the testimonies of some of the great lay workers that are involved in your church.
• Parade Of Ministries. This would be during a main worship service. Use this opportunity to highlight the ministries that are currently working in the church. Let the different groups join you on the platform. Then let a few people who were saved share a testimony of how they were blessed by that ministry.
• A Lay Ministry Seminar. This would be a Friday night, Saturday teaching seminar and Sunday celebration on lay ministry issues and opportunities. Bring in a special speaker from outside the area.
• An Evangelism Festival. Call a one-day celebration to take a look at every kind of ministry and outreach program that is feasible for your church to adopt.

Momentum events are motivational. They create excitement, interest, converts and they get the message out. They will help you give people what they need in the context of what they want. They will give you a quantum leap forward. Plan to hold at least two each year.

Maintain the momentum. Remember it takes a long time to make a disciple. People will stay with your leadership if they really believe that you and the other leaders care about them personally. The question here is “How do you keep people involved after the novelty wears off?” Create a variety of opportunities for involvement. The most meaningful change takes place in the context of church-based relationships. One of the best ways to foster their relationship is to get people involved in small groups. They can be in Bible or book study groups, accountability groups, issue oriented study (divorce, grief, depression etc.) and prayer groups. Your ultimate goal is to keep people in the Word and in the work.

As you build the lay ministry action plan remember that truth flows through our heads to our hearts and out through our hands. People have to first understand what God wants to do in their lives, and then they need a change of heart and to make a fresh commitment to service for Christ and then put it into practice. Someone has well said: God moves mountains—people carry the stones. (Joshua 14:12). Begin your plan of involving laity today!

By Leonard Albert

Someone once said, “If you don’t know where you are going then any road will get you there.” All effective leaders ask themselves this question: “Why am I here and what am I to do?”

A dynamic local church lay ministry program begins with a clear understanding of the purpose of the laity. The first step in building the right strategy is to formulate your purpose. This purpose needs to be in line with Christ’s mission for us and the particular purpose of your church. God desires for the church to reach people with the gospel of Christ and help them grow to maturity. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus calls us to make disciples by sharing His message. In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul teaches that God gives some people special abilities to equip other for works of service. Leaders, then, are called to disciple and equip people so they can do the actual work of the ministry and mature to become all God is calling them to be.

There are two foundational principles to remember as you think about the purpose of your lay ministry program in the local church. First, it takes a long time to make a disciple. Have a long-term perspective. Richard Foster said, “Our tendency is to overestimate what we can accomplish in one year, but underestimate what we can accomplish in 10 years.” Don’t look for a quick fix in a few months. Instead, pray and plan for what God wants to do over the next several years. Second, most meaningful change takes place in the context of relationships. People change as they live in interaction with other believers. Your lay ministry program should help people develop meaningful relationships with each other.

The next step is to ask your fellow members some tough questions:

• If your church could do one thing for you, what would you want it to be?
• What is the most valuable experience you had at the church in the last year?
• What is the worst experience you’ve had at church in the last year?

Now, prayerfully combine the thoughts and ideas generated by this material into a purpose statement for the laity of your church. As a guideline, here is what a sample statement looks like:

We, the people of the [insert church name] endeavor to encourage all believers to reach the lost people in our community with a credible offer of the gospel, and to teach them the doctrine that every believer is a minister and then strengthen the family by helping raise up godly men.

Allow your ministry to be purpose-driven rather than event-driven. Every event that you schedule as a part of your program should serve your overall purpose. When you schedule events make sure to tell the participants the “big picture” of lay ministry and how this event helps achieve it. People want to be a part of something going somewhere.

As mentioned earlier, the ministry must be relationship-oriented rather than task-oriented.

Without real and deep relationships, people will feel no sense of community. If we only call the laity together to “do” there will be no glue to hold them together when the planned event is over. Events attract the people, relationships make them stick. The Bible calls us to make “disciples” and pray for “workers.” Our goal is to equip them to do the work of ministry. Here’s a key idea: If your church focuses on getting its people to do “works” rather than “make disciples” it will burn them out. The purpose of our ministry, then, is to make disciples, and true disciples will become workers out of the overflow of their growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Spend some time in pray and set a date and time to think about, create, and write your mission statement. Submit it to the pastor and other church leaders in order to secure their approval and acceptance.