Importance of the Ministry of Visitation

It is true that the minister is busily engaged in the functions of the church and in seeking to win new converts, but never should he neglect one of the lambs of the flock who has begun to stray. When the Chief Shepherd learned that one lamb was missing, He left the ninety and nine safe in the fold and went out and searched for that lamb till He found it. He didn't say that it would be cheaper or easier to buy an­other lamb, nor did He scold or condemn the lamb when He found it, but gently He held it to His breast and carried it back to the fold. There He tenderly bathed its wounds and loved it back into the fold. So the minister must care for the lambs of the spiritual flock. Too often he feels that his sole work is preaching beautiful sermons, but he will never really win the hearts of his people so long as be has a pulpit between him and them. It is granted that he might be considered a good preacher or lecturer, but never a shepherd.

In order for a minister to be truly successful he must make his parishioners his best friends, and he should be their best friend. "This rela­tionship can exist in every church. The minister can kindle a spiritual warmth in his member­ship by preparing a calling list and then visiting all his church members. In talking to them about their home, their children, and their relationship to God he will gain their confi­dence and love. By praying with them he can make the family feel that they have been drawn closer to God and man."

We do well to heed this valuable counsel on this point:

Those who labor for God have but just begun the work when they have given a discourse in the desk. After this comes the real labor, the visiting from house to house, conversing with members of families, praying with them, and coming close in sympathy to those whom we wish to benefit. It will not detract from the dignity of a minister of Christ to be awake to see and realize the temporal bur­dens and cares of the family he visits.

So the importance of the personal ministry of visitation can never be overemphasized. Jesus went out and talked with the people in their homes. Men today, who are seeking public office, make it a point to go out and meet the man on the street to demonstrate that they have a personal interest in him. Surely the minister of the gospel can do no less in his important work of seeking to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." "

Qualifying as a Visitor

Any person who has a personal acquaintance with Jesus Christ and who has a sincere love for his fellow men has the basic qualities needed to become a good visitor. But there are still other qualities that are essential in order to be a suc­cessful visitor. Dale Carnegie once said, "If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the bee­hive." Many ministers are guilty of that very thing because of certain qualities in their dis­position and character that ought not to be there. It is granted that talents for various types of ministry are given by the Spirit, but everyone who wants to be a success in all phases of the ministry must seek to eliminate those qualities that are objectionable in his personality, so as to develop those most needed for this most delicate work. " No one can hope to conquer the world for Christ by alienating the ones he is seeking to conquer. Yet too often this is the case because of the minister's lack of knowledge in the field of human relationships. Carroll Pike must have been thinking of this when he wrote: "A little reflection will reveal the fact that most of the difficulties between individuals are caused by personality con­flicts." ²²

Without doubt the most important aspect to consider in the preparation for effective visiting is one's mental attitude. The success of any en­deavor hinges on the mental attitude of the one undertaking it. It is a fundamental qualifying factor. This is so because one's attitude deter­mines his thinking, feeling, and acting. One could not possibly be a successful visitor if he looks on this work as drudgery or as an inciden­tal thing that has to be done.

John Sisemore believes that Dr. Robert G. Lee had mental attitude in mind when he said, "'Look on visitation as a business, not an inci­dental matter; as work, not play; as time well spent, not wasted; as a privilege, not a bore-some duty.' "

The true shepherd of the flock will look after each person in his congregation with such in­terest that the parishioner will feel that he is as important as if he were the only member in the congregation. He must feel that the minis­ter considers his problem as if it were his own. It is always the personal touch that wins.

Another quality to consider is that of tact. It seems that some persons have a special ability to always say the wrong thing at the right time. This is a very unfortunate handicap and cannot be a part of the working equipment of the suc­cessful minister. Tact could be defined as the peculiar skill of saying or doing the right thing required by the circumstances. In the minister it could be called a spiritual intelligence. Sise­more says that "knowing how to tackle success­fully any problem begins with knowing what to say and how to say it." " The minister must have a good understanding of what constitutes tact, and he must know how to apply it twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Whatever line of work he is pursuing, he will find prob­lems and circumstances that will require as much tact in their handling as the surgeon needs skill in performing a delicate operation. One wrong act or one inadvertent slip of the tongue can spell the difference between success or failure in human relationships.

The story is told of the absent-minded profes­sor, who, feeling anxious about his wife, visited the hospital where she was awaiting the birth of their child. Armed with a book he ensconced himself comfortably in the waiting room arm­chair. He was completely absorbed in his reading when a smiling nurse entered the room. "It's a boy!" she announced. Annoyed at the interruption, the professor gruffly exclaimed, "Ask him what he wants!"

We might laugh at the professional absent­mindedness of this man, but the minister can­not afford to be absent-minded in dealing with people and their problems. He must constantly be alert and know what he is going to say before he opens his mouth.

The minister must also know how to be human. He must not appear as if he were a god transcendent where he cannot be reached by mortal man. He must know how to sym­pathize with people in happiness, in joy, or in sorrow. He will understand the meaning and the application of the term empathy. Harold C. Phillips says that no minister should be so un­worthy as to have the following epitaph in­scribed upon his tombstone: "Here lies the body of the Reverend Mr. Blank, who was born a man and died an ecclesiastic." " The person with a troubled heart must feel that his pastor is a man whom he can consult without any qualms, or even a feeling of inferiority because of his problem. A cold, austere worker can never reach hearts. Some fear that by being friendly they will lose their dignity, but true dignity is not of this sort. Dignity is not auster­ity. It is possible to be friendly, kind, and cour­teous without becoming too familiar.

With these virtues it would be well to add one more—a sense of humor. "A smile and a pleasant reply to a sharp word or a thoughtless remark will help to avoid many an unpleasant situation." " Remember that a smile is "worth a million dollars, but it doesn't cost a cent."

Practical Application of Visitation Technique

The first thing to be considered in the visi­tation plan is the time element. A definite, systematic method should be incorporated into the minister's work program so that all of the members might be visited.

Often a visit by the pastor is delayed until it is too late to be effective, as in the case of the discouraged girl mentioned earlier. This is one of the "unpardonable" sins that is so easy for the district pastor to commit. When given the information that someone has grown weak and is slipping away, nothing should be so impor­tant that it will keep the minister from visiting that person for twelve months. Why let him go until he is completely discouraged and despondent? Why let the devil in to take his merciless toll before giving the Lord a chance?

The minister does not always find it easy to visit a wayward son or a backslidden husband at a convenient time. One should, if at all pos­sible, talk to such a one when his family or friends are not present. He no doubt feels guilty and self-conscious enough without having these people around to add to his embarrass­ment. Call him out onto the front porch or into the garage. Meet him out by the barn when he is just coming in from his day's work. Then he will be more willing to respond and make a favorable decision. Working with individuals is the surest way to convert individuals. Clay Trumbull, in referring to his experience in the Civil War, said that "the thunder of the artillery was likely to be most impressive, but that the rifles of the sharpshooters brought down more men." " Perhaps the minister can thunder like a cannon from the pulpit, but when he goes out to win souls to Christ, he must then be a skillful sharpshooter.

Disraeli once said, "Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours." This is good counsel for anyone who is at all concerned with good human relationships. The minister will do well to be a good listener and to en­courage people to talk about their occupations and interests, and especially about their chil­dren. He will usually find a ready response to this type of inquiry.

Another way to get people to respond is to remember the little things. "How are the kit­tens?" "Is the sick daughter-in-law feeling bet­ter?" "I'm certainly glad Willie is over the measles." The little experiences of life are the important things to the individual. While one is generally affected by the world at large, he still lives in a world of his own. The wise pastor, who comes into this little world and then remembers something about it on a repeat visit, is usually considered to be more personally interested in the welfare of his people.

When the pastor goes to make a call, he must have a definite objective in mind. He should not go just to see the people, nor should he go just to joke or chat. He is there on the King's busi­ness: to pray, to comfort, to encourage, and to win to Christ. If the pastor is visiting one of his members of good standing, he should have some words of encouragement.

"The most effective way in which to give people insights into their problems is to ask them questions. These will not be random ques­tions undirected to any goal, but will be care­fully thought out." "

There is less resentment to a pastor's question than to his assertion, and the person's attempt to answer it may give him a better insight into his problem, and lead him toward its solution.

In calling upon people who are not members of his congregation, the pastor must be pre­pared to meet frankly many different kinds of excuses and objections. Of course this must be done in a diplomatic way. The minister must assume that his prospect is sincere, regardless of how flimsy or weak his excuse may sound. One can easily distinguish alibis and excuses from reasons. Most of these can be dissolved by tactful, friendly guidance. Generally speaking, there is "one crucial factor" that is the key to the entire situation. Once this is discovered and an adequate reply or solution proposed, suc­cess is not too far distant. Do not argue or spend an undue amount of time on such a situation just for the sake of winning an argument. One might win an argument but lose a friend."

The most effective way to meet and solve ob­jections is to be prepared to meet them before they arise. Try to avoid being caught in a cor­ner, but don't just filibuster if you can't give the right answer. Be honest and admit that you are unprepared to meet that objection. Most large business concerns that specialize in house­to-house selling have certain stock excuses and their answers, which the salesmen must memo­rize before they go to work. Thus, the clever salesman is prepared not only to anticipate and answer the excuse but to use the excuse as part of his sales talk. This type of approach frequently brings the desired response."

It is, of course, impossible to list all of the ways in which the true servant of God may ren­der service. However, in the ministry of visita­tion he most nearly approaches the work and methods employed by Christ Himself. It is in personal visitation that the Christian minister should find himself, lose himself, and use him­self in the most unselfish way, remembering that the "pastor-counselor not only seeks to break the habit patterns which enslave the consultant and make his life a misery but, what is more important, endeavors to reconcile him—spirit, mind, and body—to God." "