NOW we are to consider how the interests in the prospect file can be most effectively followed up. Just having scores or even hundreds of names in a file will avail nothing of itself. What, then, should be done with them?
First, as has already been emphasized, this soul-winning work of the church, centering around the file, is to be a cooperative effort, involving both pastor and lay man. The program must be arrived at through prayerful discussion involving every department of the church. This being so, the lay activities committee, including representatives from the various departments, becomes the logical focal point for such plans. The program that evolves thus becomes one of genuine coordinated evangelism.
Following are some of the methods of follow-up which might well form the basis for the planning that is done. Notice the variety of possibilities open for the nurture of the interests:
A. Utilizing the Postman
1. Appropriate tracts.
2. Invitation to meetings.
3. Church newsletter.
4. Bible correspondence course.
5. Appropriate cards birthday, get well, sympathy, seasonal.
6. Special letter or card in case of trial, tragedy, or depression.
B. Utilizing Literature
1. Sending appropriate tracts through the mail.
2. Leaving appropriate books or tracts when calling in the home.
3. Supplementing the evangelistic sermon with appropriate book or tract or printed sermon.
4. Missionary journals These Times, Signs o/ the Times, The Message.
5. Gift books at Christmas time, etc.
C. The Personal Contact
1. Invitation to attend services.
2. Offer of gift Bible.
3. Presentation of select book.
4. In time of illness, bereavement, or tragedy.
5. At birth of new child.
6. When some special good fortune has come to the family a promotion, graduation, citation, etc.
Note: The personal call, by way of the telephone, may prove equally effective when the regular avenue is closed up.
D. Meetings to Which Interested People Can Be Invited
1. Evangelistic.
2. Pastor's Bible class.
3. Visitation Day.
4. Regular Sabbath Services.
5. Church socials.
6. Couples' club.
7. Special programs of church or school.
As noted, there are many avenues by which contacts can be maintained. The interests will not all be subject to the same plan, but every name must receive some type of follow-up. As stated on the prospect card, "Every Name a Sacred Trust."
Let us consider the follow-up according to priority.
"Excellent" Interests
The degree of interest will determine the nature of the contact and the priority the name should receive. According to the recommended plan, the interests are to be tabbed as Excellent (yellow), Average (orange), and Casual (red). The Excellent prospects will take top priority. Interests of this nature can quickly dissipate if neglected. They must receive personal attention, and without delay. Much of the pastor's visitation program will focus on such names. In order that these names will not be overlooked or neglected it is suggested that they be filed in the Visible Notebook, according to geographical areas (green cards). In this notebook they will be with the pastor at all times, for ready reference and attention.
The calls on these names, made frequently, will be to encourage attendance at meetings evangelistic, pastor's Bible class, Sabbath services, et cetera, and to answer questions about the church and its teachings. They will often involve Bible studies designed to bind off the interests and prepare the prospect for baptism.
If the visit is to achieve maximum results, it will include the leaving of appropriate literature. The manner in which the book or tract is presented may determine whether or not it is read. It must be "sold" to the extent that the person will be eager to read it. Reading is an important supplement to the nurturing process. Often through thoughtlessness or neglect it is not utilized as it should be.
"Average" Interests
The Average interests have second priority. Here personal attention is still important. But with these the laymen can be used very effectively. Key laymen may be chosen to act as follow-up persons for contacting interests in certain geographical areas. Whenever such an interest shows special promise, the name may be transferred to the pastor to be placed in the Visible Notebook for special attention. If it shows definite promise, the classification will be changed to "Excellent."
The nature of the personal calls made by the laymen will vary. Among the most important ones, yet those easiest to make, are simply brief stops to urge attendance at meetings. The meetings may be evangelistic services, the pastor's Bible class, Sabbath services, et cetera. Keep in mind that once an interested person has begun coming to the church a major hurdle toward getting the final decision has been overcome.
"Casual" Interests
What about the Casual interests? Too often these are discarded prematurely. They, too, must be cultivated with the prayer that they may develop into good interests. With the personal attention of the church devoted to the better prospects, here the postman becomes the principal partner in soul winning. This is not to in fer that he has not been used also with the better interests.
It is suggested that under normal circumstances some mailing should go into the home directly from the church once a month. It may be a select series of tracts. It may be inexpensive paperback books. The subject matter should be carefully chosen. Frequently it may be accompanied with a personal letter from the pastor in which an invitation is also extended to the church services. It may be also that the individual should be on the mailing list for the monthly church newsletter. A special invitation should be extended through the mail each time the pastor's Bible class be gins a new series of studies. All names in the file should be receiving the church missionary journal.
With this regular contact maintained, the person's knowledge of the church, and interest in it, may well increase. Then when a special series of meetings is conducted, and a personal invitation to attend is extended, the response is more likely to be favorable.
Public Meetings
The holding of special meetings offers an opportunity for an all-out effort on the part of all members to assist in inviting the people to attend. The pastor will have his top priority names to invite personally. The key laymen will have a list of those on whom they have been calling. But now other members must be requested to make personal calls on all other names in the file. This will be in addition to the invitations that all should receive through the mail.
The green prospect cards are already arranged geographically in the file. Now they can be divided into small groups, ordinarily not more than five or six addresses to a group, placed in envelopes along with mimeographed instructions as to how to make the contact, and prepared for distribution to the members, perhaps during the lay activities period on Sabbath morning. The geographical area and number of names in the envelope should be written on the outside. The lay activities secretary should record the names of those who take an envelope, and should double check to make sure every card is returned after the contact. The calls should be made that afternoon or evening. Emphasize the importance of call-backs until each person has been contacted.
These personal calls offer an opportunity also to determine the degree of interest. Appropriate comments should be made on the card for future reference.
Experience has shown that a concentrated effort personally to invite those whose names have been in the file and faithfully nurtured will produce greater results than the mass distribution of hand bills. After the file names have been as signed, the remaining members should be called upon for door-to-door handbill distribution. However, the file names should receive priority, and should be contacted both by mail and personally.
Even though few of these Casual interests may respond to the invitation to attend the meetings, another contact has been made, the nurturing process has thus been furthered, and perhaps the next time they will respond, or the next, or the next. During this time the postman continues his work. If no interest develops, the name will eventually be discarded. But this would ordinarily not be until every effort has been made both by mail and personal contacts over a period of years.
Other means of nurturing, via the post man, telephone, with cards, in times of illness, bereavement, tragedy, et cetera, are suggested in the earlier part of this article. Others will come to mind. A worthy plan of follow-up can be effected for each one whose name is in the file. Here the layman can be actively involved.
It is well to plan for an all-out every-interest visitation program at least twice each year. Once each quarter would be better still. The laymen should understand that sometimes the nurturing process takes a long time. However, if this plan is faith fully followed there will always be some that will respond. "Casual" interests will show promise. "Average" interests will be come "excellent." The pastor will be kept busy holding meetings, making calls, binding off the interests, while the entire church is actively engaged in seeking for and nurturing the interests toward this grand objective. During the nurturing process the laymen will, of course, be encouraged to give Bible studies as well.
One final word should be said in behalf of the public meetings. It is indeed fortunate if, when interests are found or calls are made, there are meetings going on, or planned, to which the prospects can be invited. This is one of the many reasons some have regular Sunday night meetings or Bible classes going most of the year. Others plan for at least two special intensive series of meetings each year. A file full of names, properly nurtured, constitutes a demand for meetings. The planning for such meetings should be a part of the over-all program. With this plan in operation, the support of the church for the meetings, as well as the attendance of nonmembers, will be assured. The result will be increasing numbers of souls baptized and made ready for the coming of the Lord.
