Well-organized work must be done in the church, that its members may understand how to impart the light to others, and thus strengthen their own faith and increase their knowledge. As they impart that which they have received from God, they will be confirmed in the faith. A working church is a living church."—Christian Service, p. 73. (Italics supplied.)
Any pastor who needs more time for soul-saving work must first take time to organize his church into a "working church." This will pay good dividends when he begins to summarize his soul-winning results for the year.
First let me suggest some methods for soul-winning work to the pastor who is working in a district with a number of small churches, but who has no Bible worker or assistant. My suggestions come from my own experience in pastoring a district of three churches with three separate church schools, in assisting with the establishment of a self-supporting sanitarium, and in being the contractor for a new church building in one of the cities. Where would I find time for soul winning? I had only the usual twenty-four-hour day, and spent much time going "to and fro" from church to church attending committees, school board meetings, church board meetings, sanitarium board meetings, visiting, preparing sermons, and all the other duties that pastors are well acquainted with in a district. However, I was anxious to see newborn souls brought into the churches, so I took time out to organize myself and my church members for soulsaving.
- Your sermons should be geared to the saving of souls, such as "Why do we have churches?" "What is our purpose as a church in this community?" "What does God expect of each member?" Every department of the church should be made conscious of your desire to win souls and that their help is needed and expected.
- Pastor-Evangelism. Whenever I found an interested person I would make an appointment for Bible studies. I would go to the home and take with me one of the church members (usually starting with the elder). He would take with him a simple set of Bible Study Outlines, and I would use the same set. I would give the study for the first two or three weeks, then tell the person (or family) that I could not be present the following week, but that Brother __________ would be with them and study with them the following week. After being with me for two or three weeks and seeing the simplicity with which the study was handled, the church member had gained confidence and felt acquainted with the people. He could carry on from there. As often as I could thereafter I would spend an evening with the church member and his "prospect." If there were any questions or problems, we could take care of them during my visit.
As soon as I had another person lined up for studies, I would choose another church member (or a man and his wife) and take him with me for the first two or three studies, then leave him on his own.
In this manner I was able to have a good number of Bible studies conducted by church members, and I would visit the groups as often as possible. When the time came to present testing points of doctrine and handle personal problems, I would step in and assist the church member, and also be present at the time of decision.
When I began on this program I asked the Lord for twenty-five souls that year. When the year was over and I was preparing for my final baptism, there were twenty-four new converts. This was a keen disappointment, as I had planned, worked hard, set a goal, and hadn't quite reached it. On that last Sabbath morning I went to church where the baptism was to be held, and just before the morning service began a man approached me. He lived in the town where my third church was. He was a former member and I had visited him in the hope of having him return to the church, but with no apparent success. However, there he was, and he asked if he could be rebaptized. Could he! That made my goal for the year! This experience taught me that it pays to have goals for souls.
From that time—nearly thirteen years ago—I have never failed to set a goal for souls, and with God's help we have always reached the goal. The next year we doubled our goal, and each year since more than fifty new members have joined the remnant church. We baptized seventy-two in 1962.
In a larger church there needs to be a different type of organization for soul winning. You usually have a Bible instructor to care for a good share of the Bible studies, but there is always a need for laymen to assist. The pastor and Bible instructor may follow the same procedure of helping laymen give studies as we have suggested.
"If there is a large number in the church, Jet the members be formed into small companies." "The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who cannot err." —Ibid., p. 72.
I have used the method of organizing the church members into bands, or "small companies," for the past ten years and find that it works very effectively. This gives a great many members of the church a necessary and important work in which to engage, and it also helps the pastor gain a better understanding of his members, their spiritual condition, and their needs.
Here is a suggested plan:
- Appoint ten men (we use elders), each as the head of a division.
- Under each division we have seven bands with leaders.
- Each band has five to seven members. Therefore, each division leader has seven persons with whom he works—band leaders. Each of these seven band leaders has from five to seven members in his care.
- Also have a youth and children's band with a leader in charge. Under this group list all youth in academy, public high school, and college. Church school students and those in public grade school should also be listed.
- On the next chart list a special band. In this group are out-of-town members and shut-ins. The pastor keeps in touch with these folks by mail and visits.
Using this plan of organization among the church members keeps a large number actively working. Each band leader is given a typewritten sheet of instructions as to his duties. Here are a few:
- Visit those in your band at least once each month. If there are any problems, discuss them with your division leader, who in turn will report to the pastor if necessary.
- Pray with the family.
- Encourage them to subscribe to the church paper, the Review and Herald.
- Encourage attendance at all church services and help provide transportation if necessary.
- Endeavor to make arrangements to have all the children in church school.
- Make arrangements for Bible studies for any members of the family who are not members of the church. Each band should endeavor to win one soul during the year.
- Ingathering. Each band leader is responsible for helping those in his group to reach their Silver Vanguard Goal. If they have tried and cannot do so, report to the pastor.
As soon as people are baptized they are placed in a band; thus they immediately become a part of the church organization, and someone will be caring for them.
The division leader and band leaders meet once each quarter to discuss the organization and any problems that have arisen, and to lay plans for the quarter's work. This group is also one of the largest prayer bands in the church.
As you can readily see, this type of membership organization gives the pastor more time to work with non-Adventists, to hold evangelistic meetings, or to assist in efforts. The members of the church are not neglected—in fact, they are well cared for.
It is also interesting to note that within a few hours every member can be reached. The pastor has only to call the ten division leaders. Each division leader will call the seven band leaders, who in turn will call their five to seven members.
"The greatest help that can be given our people is to teach them to work for God, and to depend on Him, not on the ministers."—Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 19.
"Many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin."—The Ministry of Healing, p. 149.
Our members really appreciate having missionary work assigned to them, and if we recognize their efforts with genuine love and appreciation, our burdens will become lighter and our ministry a real joy.
