Evangelistic meetings involve many relationships. There are the relationships between the visitors and the evangelist, between the visitors and the church members, between the evangelist and the church members, between the pastor and the church members, and the relationship that develops between the pastor and the evangelist. The relationships that are formed during this time often last throughout the lives of those involved—and even into eternity.
Perhaps the greatest camaraderie is that between the pastor and the evangelist. Some of my best friends are those with whom I conducted evangelistic meetings. The expectations that the pastor and the evangelist have of each other in regard to the evangelistic series—and how these expectations are fulfilled—determine to a large degree both the nature of their relationship and the success of the campaign.
Before the campaign
One of the prime expectations that I have of a pastor is commitment. The pastor must believe that I as the evangelist am the right person for that particular church at that time. Without this commitment the pastor and the evange list cannot work with the unity necessary for the series to be fully successful. If the pastor or the evangelist has doubts, they should be explored and prayed about until God has impressed both that this series is indeed God's will.
If an evangelistic series is to be successful, pastors must think, speak, and preach in a positive manner. They must always speak in terms of the success that God is going to bring during this special time of preaching the Word and praying for the Holy Spirit's divine unction. Ellen White says: "Workers for Christ are never to think, much less to speak, of failure in their work. The Lord Jesus is our efficiency in all things; His Spirit is to be our inspiration; and as we place ourselves in His hands, to be channels of light, our means of doing good will never be exhausted. We may draw upon His fullness, and receive of that grace which has no limit" (Gospel Workers, p. 19).
Before I agree to conduct a campaign in a church, I want the church board and the church as a whole to indicate their willingness to support it financially and with their attendance and work. (Their participation in this way encourages them to be diligent in inviting their friends and relatives the most fruitful prospects for baptism.) And the pastor's attitude sets the tone for that of the members.
Because I am also a conference ministerial director, I do not have as much time to attend to some of the logistical details an evangelistic series involves as I did when I was a full-time conference evangelist. So I expect the pastor to take care of most of these details. Arrangements must be made for such items as securing the hall for the evangelistic meetings, and organizing the various committees (the ushering, greeting, music, projection, records, baby-sitting, mailing, lay activities, flower, sign painting, and prayer committees). And the church building must be brought into top shape for the visitors who will be coming. All of these details take a great deal of time and test the organizational skills of the church pastor; yet they are extremely important in mobilizing the church toward making the meetings successful.
Our church's media programs, magazines, and community education pro grams are of little use unless we move those who have been in touch with them into an arena where they can be influenced by the Holy Spirit to make decisions for Jesus Christ and unite with His church. To enable us to do this, the pastor must develop an accurate interest file. This file should include the names available from the Adventist Media Center (from the Breath of Life, Faith for Today, It Is Written, and Voice of Prophecy broadcasts) and those from the Home Health Education Service, Signs magazine, Five-Day Plans, and other community service programs. Pastors can determine whether they have correct addresses for those in this file by mailing a Bible course offer prior to the evangelistic series.
If it is feasible, I like pastors to begin an intense Bible study training and visiting program approximately three months prior to the evangelistic meetings. It is becoming difficult to bring people to an intelligent decision about joining the church in just a few weeks. Those who come to the meetings after having been through a program of this type are better prepared to grasp the prophetic truths that make up a good portion of our message.
I also like each pastor to form an Operation Andrew program. This simply means that each member lists at least 10 friends and relatives, prays for these people, and then either in person, by mail, or phone invites them to the meetings just prior to their opening. This program becomes a powerful tool to develop a good spirit and to bring many people to the meetings. (Those who have friends or relatives in the Adventist Church not only find it easier to join the church than those who don't, but also are less likely to leave when their faith is tested. This makes it all the more essential that pastors do their best to reach this group.)
During the campaign
When the evangelistic series begins, the meetings must be given priority. Ellen White says, "The saving of human souls is an interest infinitely above any other line of work in our world" (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 293). Pastors must always make soul winning a priority in their ministry; but during these special times of reaping, soul winning must be the all-consuming object of their activity. .
In practical terms this means that pastors should not schedule pastoral activities during the evangelistic meetings or the hours set aside for visitation. And if there is a church school, they should coordinate with it so that no school activities conflict with the meetings.
During the evangelistic series I expect that the pastor and the evangelist take one full day off each week for rest and family. They should endeavor to schedule themselves so that they have this time to rest their minds and prepare for the rest of the week's intensive activities. There will come times, though, when precious souls are on the line. Always at such times, we must follow the example of Jesus, who considered the salvation of the woman at the well and her fellow people more important than eating or drinking.
During an evangelistic series the evangelist needs the total support of the pastor. But the evangelist also needs to have the pastor carefully watch the program and make constructive comments that will help enrich it. The pastor should feel free to ask the evangelist about what is going on in the meetings; they must communicate openly. I like a daily meeting during which we discuss exactly what is happening and the reasons why I'm doing certain things.
A pastor can greatly help an evangelist by being especially sensitive to the evangelist's needs during the series. Evangelism can be tremendously exhilarating, and it can sometimes be very frustrating. When the crowd is large and the people are enthusiastic in accepting the message, there is nothing greater; but when testing and trials come, as they do, the evangelist needs the pastor's encouragement. The wise pastor will know when to buoy up the evangelist's spirits and when to share judiciously ideas for improving the program.
One of the key expectations any evangelist has of the pastor is that the latter be ready to spend a lot of time visiting those attending the meetings. This can be tremendously demanding upon one's physical and emotional energy, but people won't accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord unless they are visited in their homes, their confidence is won, and they are brought to a decision. Ellen White states, "The greatest work to which human beings can aspire is the work of winning men from sin to holiness" (The Ministry of Healing, p. 398). That work is done during evangelistic visiting. Throughout the meetings I expect the pastor to be prepared to visit at any time and in any place.
During the evangelistic series the evangelist does most of the talking. He talks during in the meetings, for the Sabbath morning preaching services, and while visiting the interests in their homes. This can be hard on the ego of the pastor, who is used to being in charge of the church's services. Pastors should remember that when the evangelist leaves, they will once again assume the primary preaching and leadership role in their congregations.
Until we develop a rapport that allows us to integrate our speaking effectively, I expect the pastor to let me do most of the talking while we are visiting the interests. I have found many pastors with whom I've been able to integrate in the visiting very quickly; they know when to speak and when to keep quiet. This is a tremendous advantage when it comes naturally, but if it doesn't, the pastor and the evangelist need to coordinate their speaking so that the decision process is made as simple and comfortable as possible for those who are attending the meetings.
During the evangelistic series I believe that pastors should baptize most of the candidates (this seems to tie them more securely to the local church). I expect the pastor to help me instruct the candidates thoroughly before baptism so that they will be aware of what they are getting into when they become a part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
And I want pastors to be comfortable with the baptism of every candidate. I do not ever want them to feel that these are my candidates, but that they are, in fact, their candidates—those whom they have helped prepare to be a part of God's kingdom.
After the campaign
When the evangelistic meetings are completed, I expect pastors to work in four major areas. The first of these is continuing Bible-centered meetings at least twice a week. When we come to the end of an evangelistic series, most of the nonmembers who have been attending wonder what they are going to do with their time at night. They enjoyed the meetings so much that they wish they could continue. This, I feel, is one of the key reasons why pastors should conduct a Revelation Seminar, a Daniel Seminar, or another evangelistic-type meeting twice a week for two months after the evangelistic series. This helps firm up the new people in their decision to become Seventh-day Adventists. It helps to integrate them socially with the members of the church. It also helps smooth the transition between the evangelist and the pastor. I usually spend the last week and a half of the series promoting the pastor's seminar. Those who regularly" attend these follow-up meetings usually become stable and active members of the church.
I also want pastors to preach two particular sermons after my evangelistic meetings. The first week after the series, I like them to preach a sermon with the theme "Why I Became a Seventh-day Adventist." The second week, I like pastors to preach from Hebrews on "A Better Choice." Many people go through a period of regret after they become Adventists. Positive sermons on these topics reinforce their decision.
It is imperative, once the evangelistic series is over, to begin a pastor's Bible class that reviews the beautiful teachings of God's Word in a systematic way. Often the pastor conducts this, but in some multichurch districts this is impossible, so a layman does it. In New Brunswick, New Jersey, Glenn Hoffman, a local church elder, has done an excellent job of following up evangelistic meetings with a pastor's Bible class. The people who have regularly attended this class have become solid, active members of the church and have been tremendously blessed.
The pastor's Bible class is really important because (1) it reviews the doctrinal teachings, (2) it allows the new members to ask questions about the Bible and about the practice of being Seventh-day Adventists, (3) it helps ensure that they will be in church on Sabbath morning, and (4) it integrates them into the fellowship of the church.
That last statement brings me to another important point. In order to have a successful evangelistic follow-up, the laymen of the church must befriend the new members. New members often give up their entire lifestyle, including their former friends and sometimes even their jobs, to join the church. Unless they get the active support pf the laity on a social basis, the chances of their staying in the church are very low. In those churches that have an active social program, that love and take care of the new people and actively integrate them into leadership positions, I find the converts become strong members and leaders.
Individual follow-up
So I expect pastors to carry out an extensive follow-up program that includes visits by the pastor and laymen and personal biweekly follow-up letters. A systematic approach helps the laity to be diligent in their follow-up activities, but their efforts should not be motivated by a sense of duty. They must really love these new members; duty soon loses its motivating power. And the new members will sense whether it is love or duty that underlies the visitation program. I expect pastors to ensure that there is an organized lay follow-up program that stems from the heart of a church that is converted and enthusiastic.
For approximately three months after the evangelistic meetings, the converts need an uninterrupted program of pastoral nurture. They need their pastor to call them, to visit their homes, to answer their questions, and to give them that loving kindness a new baby needs when he is growing up. I consider the first month of pastoral ministry the equivalent of raising a child from birth to 9 years old. During this time they need a lot of loving care and attention, and almost continual contact. The second period, the next two months, takes the converts through spiritual adolescence. During this time they are maturing. They don't need quite as much contact as during the first month, but the pastor should stay readily available and continue to give them extra attention. It takes a full year for the new members to develop a rudimentary Adventist life- Style.
Finally, I expect the pastor to expect great things. Ellen G. White wrote: "The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate upon themselves. He desires His chosen heritage to value themselves according to the price He has placed upon them. God wanted them, else He would not have sent His Son on such an expensive errand to redeem them. He has a use for them, and He is well pleased when they make the very highest demands upon Him, that they may glorify His name. They may expect large things if they have faith in His promises" (The Desire of Ages, p. 668). And again, "He longs to have you reach after Him by faith. He longs to have you expect great things from Him" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 146).
What do I expect of pastors when I conduct evangelistic meetings? I expect great things. I expect great things from them in terms of work, organizing, using their talents to the best of their ability. I expect great things of their churches in sacrifice, commitment, in giving every thing they have for the advancement of the gospel in the evangelistic effort. I expect great things of myself in stretching my mind, my talents, my abilities, and in laying everything on the altar for Jesus to use in whatever way He wishes. And, in the end, I expect great things from God, for we have a God on whom we can depend. When He adds His divine blessings, every one of us can expect great things.
