04. Harvest: Evangelistic Meetings
Harvest Decisions for Christ and Baptism
After cultivating interests with Bible studies, it is time to reap a HARVEST of spiritual decisions that culminate in baptism. Full-grown wheat is only a blessing when someone gathers the harvest. In the same way, we are counseled to make appeals to those studying Bible truth, urging them to follow Christ and the light revealed to them. While this can and should be done in personal settings, one of the most proven means of gaining decisions has also been public evangelistic meetings conducted in traditional or small group formats.
ESTABLISH REGULAR EVANGELISTIC REAPING MEETINGS:
- APPOINT an evangelism coordinator and other necessary team members* annually for your harvest event(s).
- Budget annually for public evangelistic efforts.
- Schedule one evangelistic reaping series (traditional, seminar, or small group) each year with an emphasis on gaining decisions for Christ and baptism.
- Combine personal effort with public meetings-prayer, friendship, guidance, invitations, visitation/contact, Bible studies, appeals, baptismal preparation, etc.
- Provide leadership support—prayer, promotion, financial support, and participation.
* Public evangelism teams may include speakers and study leaders, as well as coordinators for prayer, visitation, advertising, registration, greeting, children's program, platform host, music, audio/visual, materials, refreshments, etc.
“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).
“‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord’” (Acts 22:16).
"When persons who are under conviction are not brought to make a decision at the earliest period possible, there is danger that the conviction will gradually wear away" (Evangelism, p. 229).
"If there is not a decided application of the truth to their hearts, if words are not spoken at the right moment, calling for decision from the weight of evidence already presented, the convicted ones pass on without identifying themselves with Christ, the golden opportunity passes, and they have not yielded, and they go farther and farther away from the truth, farther away from Jesus and never take their stand on the Lord's side" (Evangelism, p. 283).
"The test of discipleship is not brought to bear as closely as it should be upon those who present themselves for baptism.... Before baptism, there should be a thorough inquiry as to the experience of the candidates. Let this inquiry be made, not in a cold and distant way, but kindly, tenderly, pointing the new converts to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Bring the requirements of the gospel to bear upon the candidates for baptism" (Evangelism, p. 311).
"Too much hasty work is done in adding names to the church roll.... Those who admit them say, 'We will first get them into the church, and then reform them. But this is a mistake" (The Review and Herald, May 21, 1901).