Pastor

What is a Successful Pastorate? Public Relations in Our Churches.

Pastor-Evangelist, Southeastern California Conference

Many times we hear the expressions: "He is a real success," or, "He has been most successful." What is a successful pastorate? By what standards do men measure success? What does God say in His Word about success?

A minister's success, as measured by some of the commercial standards, is as follows: How many souls were baptized last year? Is he a good money raiser? Does he "put over" his campaigns?

Let us consider first the number of souls baptized. As we observe the methods of other denominational groups, we too become impressed by the crowd. If a servant of Christ adds a large number to the faith, he is looked upon as being successful. The question today seems to be not so much quality but quantity. How many people have been, as we are apt to say, "railroaded" into the church in order to reach a goal or make a record! This is doubtless the exception rather than the rule, however.

Some pastors in our own ranks may baptize fifty souls a year. That is considered very good. Now, if the same pastor should hold a large evangelistic campaign, spending thousands of dollars and baptizing eighty-five to one hundred, he may be considered most successful.

Money Raising and Other Campaigns

Has the worker who raises large sums of money for the cause also attained? This is our next question. We must admit that there is in the person who is a capable fund raiser a quality that helps him toward success. Money is indeed needed, but, frankly, should the minister be judged by his ability to bring wealth into the coffers of the church?

Sad to say, the New Testament money-raising plan, which was originally placed in the hands of the deacons, has in many cases passed into the hands of the clergy. So the tendency of congregations today is to "let the preacher do it. He can get more than anyone else."

For example: A few months ago it was suggested that about two thousand dollars be raised for some lay evangelistic equipment. It was almost unanimous that the pastor should do it. In order to escape the responsibility the laymen offered to do the pastor's work so that he could have time to raise the money. The minister suggested that he had a funeral the next day, and that he felt it impractical for the laymen to step into this role. How much better a plan it was when at the close of the meeting the list of names to be solicited was divided among the laity, with the pastor as supervisor and foreman! Surely six men of average ability can do more than one minister. Sadly we realize that spiritual power in the ministry today is lacking. Could it be partially due to the heavy financial burdens that have been heaped upon the ministry, so that time and energy have been consumed that should have been devoted to study, prayer, and spiritual ministry to the flock?

The third standard of a pastor's success is often his ability to conduct church campaigns. How many times the holy church of God is cluttered up with all kinds of devices and charts intended to "enthuse" the members, stirring up a competitive spirit to make the campaign successful! Can we judge a person's success as an ambassador for God because he is able to "put over" a campaign? Even if the campaign is completed without the "sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal," is that the way God measures success? Someone may say, "Then how are we to determine whether a pastorate is successful?" We cannot determine it; that is God's prerogative. Only He can decide who and what is successful. In fact, the word "success" is mentioned only once in the entire Bible. You will find it in Joshua 1:8. God is more concerned about faith fulness than success. A minister should ask him self: "Am I faithful to God faithful in the use of time, in Bible study, in prayer, in meeting humanity's needs; faithful in church administration, although business details are not to my taste?" Finance, records, property upkeep, committee meetings, annual reports all these may be drudgery, but he must faithfully master them as a part of his work. Is he faithful in upholding the aims and programs of the denomination? If indeed he is faithful, then God will crown his efforts with true success. Therefore it is basic that a minister be found faithful.

True Criteria Again, what is a successful pastorate?

We will now suggest some other factors that will give us an index to a successful pastorate.

What is the general spiritual condition of the people? Is the church active? What is the attendance at prayer meeting? What is the attendance at the opening of Sabbath school? How many really read the Review? How many in their homes have morning and evening worship? Does the congregation dress and talk like worldlings? Is there reverence in the house of God? Is there a deep interest in the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy? What is the percentage of tithe-payers in the membership of the church?

If a pastorate is successful, the church will be well organized, supervised, and deputized. The services will be dignified and spiritual, meeting the needs of the people. The church will be a training school instead of a hitching post, or a railroad station where everyone is looking after his own baggage.

Each year, under normal conditions, there will be an increase of souls and finances, and the members will be growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. Campaigns and goals will be reached in a quiet, smooth, dignified way, with most of the machinery operated by church members behind the scenes. In a successful pastorate the minister will not be merely a good visitor or a well-liked pastor-evangelist, but he will endeavor to give each one something to do for Christ. We have been divinely counseled that this is the best work a minister can do for his flock.

Lastly, but not unimportant, a successful pastorate will have a church building with a pleasing appearance, the edifice in good repair and well painted inside and out, the lawn and shrubbery neat and trim, and a dignified sign to let people know what church worships there.

In conclusion, our aim should be to be faithful, and success will follow. "God regards more with how much love one worketh, than the amount he doeth." Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 135. "In proportion to the enthusiasm and perseverance with which the work is carried forward, will be the success given." Prophets and Kings, p. 263.

Public Relations in Our Churches

WARREN L. JOHNS, Minister, Michigan Conference

If we are to conduct a successful soul-winning program, it is vital to incorporate a positive system of public relations between the church and the neighboring community.

The objectives associated with such a pro gram can be readily attained by harnessing the system of departmental organization al ready utilized by our churches. New vistas of evangelistic potentialities will then come into focus which are well within the grasp of regularly scheduled church activities. Here are a few suggestions.

I. THROUGH THE MISSIONARY VOLUNTEER SOCIETY.

A. The active operation of a weekly mailing band can be a constant source of constructive service in the church. This band can operate with the following sources of printed material:

1. Preprinted messages such as invitation cards announcing certain services and pro grams conducted by the church; welcome cards combined with a friendly message from the church, sent to newcomers in the community; congratulatory cards sent to newly married couples, graduates, etc.; and finally, condolence cards containing a comforting spiritual word sent to recently bereaved families. The conference press secretary will have suggestions relative to the wording of these messages.

2. Doctrinal tracts and magazines serve as welcome couriers of truth in the homes of the people in the community who, it is known, are interested.

B. With the assistance of the mailing band, a master mailing list should be compiled. It will prove of inestimable value to the pastor whenever special evangelistic meetings are planned, for here will be a convenient list of all contacts made in the city through any church missionary endeavor.

C. Literature racks that are strategically placed and scrupulously maintained from week to week will act as a dynamic boon to any church's evangelistic or public relations pro gram.

II. THROUGH THE SABBATH SCHOOL.

A. Plan a friendly welcome at the door for members and strangers alike attending the Sabbath services. First impressions are lasting ones, and a visitor will never forget a smiling  face or a cordial greeting, while at the same time a monotonous attempt at sermonizing might readily pass into the realm of dim obscurity.

B. The evangelistic-minded pastor will be quick to recognize the remarkable possibilities of soul winning through the Sabbath school class. [See "A Continuing Baptismal Class" by C. C. Weis on page 18 of the September, 1952, MINISTRY. EDITOR.] It will be to the definite advantage of the church if the pastor chooses to conduct personally a special Sabbath school class primarily designed to suit the needs of the non-church member. It is best that the subject matter presented consist of carefully planned doctrinal topics that encompass the essence of the Advent message rather than simply the regular Sabbath school lessons prepared for the church member.

III. THROUGH ADDITIONAL CHURCH CHANNELS.

A. The church bulletin is fundamentally much more than a printed order of service designed to facilitate congregational relationship and response. Although it is important that the worshiper possess an intelligent understanding of the church service, the key purpose of the bulletin is to provide a brief summary of Seventh-day Adventist teachings so that visitors and members alike might quickly recognize these vital truths. Announcements and the , order of service are secondary. The printed list of local, elected church officers is third in importance. Attention should be given to pleasing appearance and good taste in the bulletin. In larger churches it may be advisable to prepare a separate weekly church news page. All promotional material (such as Ingathering, periodical subscription campaigns, et cetera), announcements, and church news items can be included and thereby free the bulletin for a more specialized use.

B. Public signs are a valued aid in publicizing the location and activities of the church.

1. All main highways leading to the city should have simply worded signs attractively prepared in such a form as: WELCOME SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Third & Maple

2. Church information boards placed in local YMCA's and hotels are excellent advertising agencies for our churches.

3. Finally the church itself should be care fully labeled with a neat, legible sign, or prefer ably a bulletin board. If the latter is used, it should be placed in a prominent position, close to the street, lighted by night, and should announce the sermon subject from week to week.

C. Public news services are powerful media with an almost immeasurable force of communication in this twentieth-century world.

1. Most leading churches buy advertising space in local newspapers in order to place an announcement of their weekly services on the church calendar page. Despite the sometimes awkward relationship of the time of publication of this page to the time of our church services, a one- or two-column-inch announcement has more effect than no ad at all. Its weekly appearance is bound to lead some to think seriously of trying the idea of "going to church on Saturday."

2. It is the recognized duty of the local church press secretary to supply both feature and news articles to all neighboring news papers.

3. When a church is doubly blessed with both capable talent and financial ability, it is advisable to consider the possibility of producing a weekly religious radio broadcast.

Whether or not this is possible, the local press secretary might occasionally prepare special news bulletins for the station's periodic news broadcasts.

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS.

A. The early formation of a church-appointed public relations committee will con tribute much to the successful execution of these planned activities. It is further recommended that the local press secretary serve as committee chairman, with representatives from each of the church departments assisting him in this work. The size of the committee will be directly relative .to the size of the congregation. The pastor will, of course, give careful direction to this committee and will attend all its meetings.

B. A sustaining budget coincidental with the needs of the church and in proportion 'to the extent of the public relations program to be undertaken, should be allotted by the church board.

C. If this program is to be carried out to its ultimate conclusion, a threefold objective must be recognized. First, that the city will be made aware of the church and its work; second, that new outlets for missionary activity on the part of our church members will be offered; and finally and most important that in the process Bible truths will be presented and men will be brought to Christ.


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Pastor-Evangelist, Southeastern California Conference

September 1953

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