AEA evangelist Leo Schreven smiled really big as he watched Shawn and Jean Boonstra lowered in the waters of baptism during his crusade in Victoria, British Columbia. What an act of victory and faith! Shawn was stepping out to join the Adventist church without the complete understanding of his devoted Presbyterian parents. He was trusting God with his whole future. What vigor and potential this young man had!
That was two years ago. Schreven's smiling even bigger now (is that possible?), as he tells "the rest of the story!" Since his baptism, Boonstra has displayed much interest and zeal in helping his pastor, Don Stoyanowski, that the British Columbia Conference officially decided to hire him as an associate pastor. Stoyanowski, one of the conference's top pastor-evangelists, has skillfully poured himself into this young man. "Shawn is eager, teachable, and called to the ministry," Stoyanowksi reflected.
When the Victoria church recently prepared for another evangelist series, this time by AEA evangelist Dan Bentzinger, Boonstra was in the thick of it. Opening night came and Boonstra could hardly contain his excitement as he welcomed an overflow crowd.
During the days and weeks that followed, Boonstra was out visiting the interested people. Bentzinger, who has taught many field schools of evangelism, realized the potential of the ministry of
Boonstra. "Shawn is one of the most teachable, promising young men I've had the privilege of working with," Bentzinger commented.
Boonstra is now in an internship training plan with several different evangelists, and is scheduled to hold his first crusade in Victoria in the near future. Ron Watts, president of the British Columbia Conference, com mented, "We are very appreciative of the attitude of the members in Victoria. They didn't hold him at arms length after his baptism. The acceptance and affirmation they gave was remarkable and powerful!" Watts indicated that when Boonstra is finished with his training he's expecting him to do evangelism for the British Columbia Conference.
So Schreven isn't the only one smiling real big these days. Many have been blest by his ministry. And Boonstra's smile? Right now he s literally glowing. You see, his parents have been blessed by his spiritual
influence too. They were just baptized!
"We Can't Find Half of Our New Members"
by C. Lloyd Wyman, Coordinator Adventist Evangelistic Association
These were the words mat greeted Jim, wken, as a new pastor of the church, he asked about the evangelistic crusade that had been held
two years before.
"Well, what do you suppose me problem was?" Pastor Jim inquired, "Don't Know," the head eider said, "but right now we can't find half of those who were baptized."
At the next church board meeting, Pastor Jim probed the members with a few questions.
1. "Did the evangelist present Bible truth clearly?"
"Yes."
2. "Was he thorough in his visitation of interested visitors?
"Yes." .
3. "Were they well prepared to join the church?"
"They seemed to be."
Now , the pastor followed with four other questions:
4. "Did the former pastor with the church board, set up a, Spiritual Friends' program with the newly baptized people?"
5. "Did the officers of the church or our members invite these new people home for a meal?"
6. "Was there an intentional program to surround these babes-in-the-faith' with a support system of the longer, established members?"
(Experience shows that if newly-baptized members have not gained new friends to take the place of those they left in the old church within six weeks after joining, they will probably go back to the old church, or reinvest their time elsewhere.)
7. "Were follow-up' services started at the church--such as the Pastor's Bible Class for new members or Revelation Seminars one night per week, at least."
The church board answered negatively to the last four questions. So now, who was it that did not do a thorough job? You can answer the question.
Remember: The job of SEEKING, WOOING, and WINNING new members belongs, to the evangelist, along with the pastor and the entire church. But the job of RETAINING the newly baptized members is the sincere, loving and care-giving work of the pastor and his established members.
Feeding the Flock from a Satellite Dish
Inspiration saw a time when people would nave a ravenous appetite for spiritual food. That time may nave arrived even in North America. The inauguration of the church's satellite system comes just in time to help deliver "the food. " Satellites and technology are great "get acquainted tools. Real live and loving Christians are needed to deepen the friendship replaced by video tape and transponders.
In the following pages are stories about our Adventist Media Center evangelists from places as geographically diverse as North Pole, Alaska and Washington, D.C. The thread that ties them together is a hunger for spiritual things and the way that hunger was satisfied with a touch by the Spirit. God's use of these experiences gives us courage to plan for a crusade that reaches several continents of the world field in a dozen languages.
You and your church can spread the joy through:
- a video crusade if you missed NET '95
- an evangelistic effort or seminar
- an active part in NET 'Q6
God has created the food and the appetite. I want a part in helping to set the table.
--GLENN AUFDERHAR
President, Adventist Media Center
The Drop-Out Dilemma (Its Causes and Cures)
by Richard Halversen, Evangelist Adventist Evangelistic Association, Adventist Media Center
CHILD NEGLECT AND CHILD ABUSE! The words echo throughout the Justice Building in Washington, and the courts of our cities. Senators, lawyers, churches and concerned parents are
horrified and shocked, with the child neglect and the child abuse in our land!
However, what is being done to prevent child abuse and child neglect of the newborn babes that are brought into the Adventist Church? Those precious babies who have recently joined the
wonderful Adventist Church Family through personal Bible studies and evangelistic meetings need special care.
Let me share with you from a pastor-evangelist viewpoint the causes or this child neglect and abuse--the drop-out dilemma in the Adventist Church. God has a fantastic remedy for the layman, pastor, and evangelist in the area or retention and follow-up!
Notice what Paul the Apostle tells us in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-11: "But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel or God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God... Just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children." Did you catch the prescription for taking care of the newborn babes? Gentle, caring like a nursing mother, tenderness, exhorting, encouraging, like a father, affectionate, dear! God gives us the perfect remedy for child abuse and child neglect in these verses of scripture.
SEVEN WAYS TO ABORT THE NEW BABY (New converts)
1. Express a negative, careless word or sly remark to the motives, and the knowledge and conversion of a new convert! It can hurt, damage, and abort the new baby in Christ. And maybe lose them for eternity!!
2. Making pop visits without prior notice.
3. Criticizing new converts for the way they dress, eat and worship the Lord. Remember it is not a check-list religion!
4. Overload the new convert with a list of do's and don'ts. (Maybe pushing your own individual set of standards).
5. Making negative comments about the new convert's last church, what they have in their home or what they don't have!
6. Unfriendliness. (Never speaking to them. Never including them. Treating them as if they don't belong.)
7. Self-righteousness. (Making them feel that you are a better Christian and they will never be able to measure up.)
TEN REMEDIES FOR THE DROP-OUT DILEMMA
1. Be friendly!! Always introduce the new converts to other members of the church family. It is good to get them acquainted with as many church members as possible. Invite them to
dinner.
2. Assign spiritual friends. Plan a sit-down dinner for all the new converts shortly after their baptism- Introduce the new convert to their "Spiritual Friend" at this special dinner. The spiritual friend must be willing to stay very close to the new convert. Be a friend and not a detective! Be an encourager and not a discourager! At the banquet share Mission Spotlight, give short history of the church and its various organizations: General Conference, Union, Conference, the Adventist Media Center and its services, evangelistic teams, television and radio programs, etc. Go over the tithe envelope and what the various offerings
are for.
Give a special gift package! It should include a church directory and ministries offered by the church and conference.
It is important to have the banquet decorated nicely. Perhaps hang a big banner saying: "WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD."
3. Set up small group ministries (Friendship Circles) and place the new converts in the Friendship Circles.
4. Start a class on Sabbath morning for the new converts only!
5. Make sure all new converts are given a list of various areas in the church which they may have an interest working in: Sabbath School, children's departments, youth, Pathfinders, music, repairs, etc.
6. Put new converts to work right away! Give them a job! Repairs at church, community service, Pathfinders, greeters, special music, church newsletter, social committee, etc. It is vital the new converts feel needed!
7. Train the new converts on "how to share their faith" (discipling).
8. Visitation! It is important for the church family to visit the new converts on a regular basis! Always call on the telephone before you visit.
9. Plan to have a mid-week service on the power of prayer; have a series on prayer and witnessing.
10. Plan to have various social functions for the new members to interact with the church at large.
We must get to know these newborn babies, love them, care for them, and pray for them, if the pressure of the world is not equaled by the love of the church family, the new babies will be aborted they will die! It is our responsibility to be kind, courteous, and tender-hearted to these new converts.
