Middle Class Initiative

0The Middle Class Member Initiative

On The Street Where You Live

•John. 4:35 - Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (NIV)

•Matt. 9:37 - Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (NIV)



•The Truth About The Black Community

Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize winning author of the book, Disintegration, and MSNBC TV

Commentator, says the largest single group in the very diverse Black American Community is

the

“Mainstream Middle Class Majority.”


On The Street Where You LiveTruth About The Black American Community

Robinson also says that there are three additional groups:

2. A large, Abandoned Minority – Inner City Poor

3. A small Transcendent Elite – Oprah Winfrey, etc.

4. Two newly Emergent Groups – people of Mixed Race heritage and communities of recent Black Immigrants


On The Street Where You LiveThe Truth About Black Adventist Congregations

The largest single group in Black

Adventist American congregations,

especially in large metropolitan

areas, is our Middle Class

membership.


On The Street Where You LiveThe Truth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts

• In recent times we have over-professionalized our evangelistic efforts.

• In recent times “Big-event” Evangelistic successes are in decline among Black and White American Adventist congregations.



• In recent times hired Bible Workers

have become the major source of our

baptismal successes



• Over recent decades we have taken

our members out of direct soul

winning efforts by hiring Bible

Workers almost exclusively.


On the Street Where You LiveThe Truth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts

• Hired Bible Worker’s “knocking-on-doors”

are largely unwelcomed in all Middle

Class neighborhoods including Black

ones.


On The Street Where You LiveThe Truth About The Task Ahead

Question?

• Should we abandon the use of Bible

Workers in our evangelistic efforts?

Answer? No!

Why? Because it is the most effective, if not

the only method, currently leading to

baptisms and church growth.


On The Street Where You LiveThe Truth About The Task Ahead

• But it should not and cannot remain

the major or only source of baptisms

into the American Seventh-day

Adventist Church---

if we are going to “finish the work”

in these United States.


On The Street Where You LiveThe Truth About the Task Ahead

• We must expand our reach into the largest community of Black people in the United States – The Black Middle Class!


On The Street Where You LiveThe Times Demand Change

• While it is true that Middle Class

neighborhoods, black or white, are not

welcoming to strangers ringing their bells

or knocking on their doors,

• It is also true that they will open their

doors to their neighbors whom they know

by name or by sight


On The Street Where You LiveThe Times Demand Change


On The Street Where You LiveAsk Them

• Ask them to join in an all out effort to

reach their middle class neighbors

with spiritual things

• An effort that will change the

conversation with their neighbors

from home improvement to spiritual

enrichment


On The Street Where you LiveAsk Them

• So let us begin with spiritual things.

• Lets all join in tithing our time! “The

Stewardship of Time!”

• There are 168 hours in a week

(112 of these are waking hours).


On The Street Where You LiveRebuilding the Family Altar

• Think of what can happen in our homes and churches if our members joined in a serious and faithful commitment of time using the following formula:


On the Street Where You LiveThe Stewardship of Time

a. Hours for sleep 56

b. Hours for work 40

c. Hours for commuting 14

d. Hours for chores 10

e. Hours for meals 14

f. Hours for daily devotions 07Rebuilding “The Family Altar”

- 30 minutes morning (Devotional Book)

- 30 minutes evening (SS Lesson)


On The Street Where You LiveStewardship of Time Con’t

g. Christian Outreach 03 - Prayer with neighbors

- Simple better living ministries

h. Prayer Meeting 01

Total

145 hrs.

Hours Remaining

23 hrs.

168 hrs.18The Middle Class Member Initiative

On The Street Where You Live Stewardship of Time Con’t

• Sabbath Hours 24 hrs.

• Worship Services 5 hrs.– Sabbath School 1 ½ hrs.

– Divine Worship 2 ½ hrs.

– AY. 1 hr.

Miscellaneous: 7 hrs.Church Prep 1 ½ hrs.

Meal time 2 hrs.

Travel time 1 ½ hr.

Outreach/Study 2 hrs.

• Rest 8 hrs.

• Other things/activities 4 hrs.


On The Street Where You LiveStarting with simple things

• Our success in future soul

winning efforts in this highly

technological, convenience

oriented, religion-on-demand age,



• is inextricably tied to reigniting the

passion for witnessing in all

members, but especially Middle

Class members,

because they are the largest

single group in our membership.



• So let us begin this reigniting of

passion for direct witnessing, with

you and with your middle class

neighbors, next door and across the

street.



• We begin with a simple personal non-

threatening entry-level spiritual

neighborhood activity.

• Praying with your neighbor!


The TerritoryA safe and familiar place

Both Sides of the block or cul-de-sac on the Street Where You Live!

(Don’t do as the song says; Don’t ask the Lord to “Enlarge Your Territory” just yet. You have a few things to do).


On The Street Where You LiveSimple Things in your neighborhood

• You know your neighbors and they know you - by name or by sight

• Does not need a group to meet at the church

• Does not need a group leader

• Does not require gasoline or transportation


On The Street Where You LiveSimple Things

• Solicitation permits are unnecessary

• Refreshments are unnecessary

• Babysitting service at the church is unnecessary

• Opening and closing the church is unnecessary


On The Street Where You LiveSimple Things

• Gated community? No problem. You already live there and have the entry code

• Does require interest in the spiritual well-being of others

• Does require courage and commitment


On The Street Where You LiveA Simple Thing to do

• Knock on a neighbor’s door with an invitation to pray with them; for family, neighborhood, city, nation, etc.

–In the doorway with everybody at home invited to join in

–Do not go inside and do not accept food or drink



• Ask them for any special prayer

requests that they may have (take a note card with you to record special requests)

• Requests are to be given to prayer

groups previously prepared to receive

them at your church29The Middle Class Member Initiative


• Check back the next week, or as

the Holy Spirit leads, to see HOW,

not if, the Lord is answering your

prayers of faith



• Do not get pushy or “overly Adventist”

by seeking to give Bible studies, etc.

• Wait for your neighbors to ask for

more of what you have to offer as

their prayers are being answered.

The Middle Class Member Initiative 31


• Be patient!

• After a time but only as the Holy Spirit

leads, you may want to begin a 10

Minute prayer ministry on your

block/cul-de-sac with all your neighbors together



• You may want to do it on a home

rotation basis once or twice a month

• Again be patient as the Holy Spirit

gives you wisdom and patience.


On The Street Where You LiveFaith and Confidence!

I John 5: 14-) 15 (NIV)

14. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

15. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we ask of Him.



The Lord wants you

and

Your church needs you!


PREPARATION FOR

HOLDING

NEW

MEMBERS!The Lord wants you and your church

needs you!


THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE

BACK DOOR

Here is a suggestion:

1. In October of the year before a

public reaping meeting is planned,

let the members know that the church

will begin training a post-evangelism

team



BACK DOOR

Let them know that the responsibility

of the post-evangelism team will be to

ensure that newly baptized members

remain faithful in the Truth, and in the

church, for at least their first 365 days

of SDA membership.


“THE DEFENDERS!”

2. In November before year of implementation, choose the oldest Adventist members who know the Truthfrom top to bottom (“The Defenders” of The Faith), and that you are reasonably sure will not go out to knock on doors.

In fact ask them privately to tell you if they think door-to-door work is something they can or will do.



BACK DOOR

THE KINDNESS CRUSADE

• On Sabbath afternoons before AY and Wednesday nights before prayer meeting, teach them to be kind and patient. Spend huge amounts of time emphasizing kindness and patience.



BACK DOOR

• In fact you may want to find a sociologist/psychologist from nearby colleges/healthcare institutions who will partner with you to teach these vital skills to your members in this class in workshops or special guest presentations.



BACK DOOR

• On Sabbath afternoons before AY and Wednesday nights before prayer meetings or any other time that may be convenient, rehearse with them the doctrines and the history of the SDA church.



BACK DOOR

• They should also study the book “The Art of Gaining Decisions”which may still be available in some Regional Conference PM Depts.

• Let them know they have three months to master the material.



BACK DOOR

In March let THE DEFENDERSknow that their assignment is towork with newly baptized members.

They will attend the meetings to observethose guests who are attending the meetings

They will divide the names on the list of newlybaptized members among themselves as thebaptism is in progress.



BACK DOOR

• They will introduce themselves to those

just baptized, if they are not known to

the new members, and begin

immediately developing a friendship.

• Their kindness and patience training

will begin to show value from the very

beginning



BACK DOOR

• The Defenders must make anappointment with the newlybaptized members on their list, toarrange a meeting in the newlybaptized member’s home during theweek immediately following theirbaptism.

• (Preferably the Tuesday eveningfollowing the Sabbath baptism)



BACK DOOR

• Have the newly baptized member invite

to that meeting, in the new member’s

own home, members of their own

families, and friends who are interested in

knowing why they have joined the SDA

church



BACK DOOR

• The Defenders assignment is to helpthe newly baptized member defendthemselves in their new found faithbefore family and friends.

• We all know that immediately afterbaptism, relatives, friends, the unchurched and even former pastors,pounce on the newly baptizedmember with all available feet.



BACK DOOR

• The new member is sure they have

made the right decision for Christ

but they maybe unable to adequately

and confidently explain their new

found faith in Jesus.

• Our well-trained prayed-up

seasoned Defenders will be there to

help them stand like the brave.



BACK DOOR

• Unable to explain all of the Truths inone night, The Defender and the newlybaptized member, extend an invitationto family and friends to continue theexplanations on the next Tuesdayevening

* Out of those meetings in the newmembers homes may come additionalBible studies that lead to acceptanceof these wonderful Truths by others.



BACK DOOR

• The meetings in the new

member’s home should continue

until we are sure the new

member’s roots are securely

planted.


THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING

THE BACK DOOR

• The frequency should decrease as the new member grows in confidence or they indicate that the meetings have been sufficient.

• At all costs, do not allow the meetings and your presence to become a nuisance. In other words, do not wear out your welcome.



BACK DOOR

Remember, the Truth needs no defense from human agencies.

However human agents need the ability to defend themselves in the

Truth.


The Final Section

Nurturing All Newly Baptized Members

A vital part of holding new members is nurturing them. Historically we have not done well in this arena. So here are a few suggestions to reverse the trend. We begin with a definition.

Nurture:

1. care given to the young;

2. encourage somebody or something to flourish


Nurturing All Newly Baptized

Members

• Nurture all newly baptized members with three, six, nine, and twelve month celebrations



Members

• Provide all newly baptized members with books and periodicals that deepen their Adventist Roots

Example: Worship Book for the year, Adventist Review, Message Magazine, Church Manual, Selected Spirit of Prophecy books

Suggestion: Fund it from the annual Personal

Ministries Department budget of the church



Members

The Program Specifics• Baptismal Anniversaries

– 3 month - One book in the Conflict of the Ages Series

» Add to that a Sabbath School attendance award

– 6 months - Second book in the Conflict Series.

» Add to that an AY attendance award

– 9 months - Third book in the Conflict Series

» Add friends and family attendance award

– 12 month - Remaining books in the Conflict Series



Members

Call the program “Countdown 365”

The objective is to hold the newly

baptized members in faithful church

membership for at least 365 days of

sustained spiritual growth and Christian

fellowship



Members

Design a special one-year new membership

pin (“Countdown 365”) by your church to present to

the new members on the anniversary of their

baptism or on the Sabbath closest to it

• Look for other books and materials to

recommend to the new members to continue

the nurturing process


We End Where We Began

• John. 4:35 - Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (NIV)

• Matt. 9:37 - Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (NIV)


We End Where We Began

We cannot witness, win, and nurturebest without our reignited, reinvigorated, recommitted Middle Class membership.

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12 (KJV)


We Close With A Simple Prayer

“Lord, please give me the faith and

courage to do these simple activities.

By your Spirit please prepare my

neighbors and my church to receive

these simple acts of faith and

fellowship and do them…


We Close With A Simple Prayer

…Help me to speak and pray with my

neighbors and my fellow church

members with words that lift their

spirits, not self-righteously nor

condescendingly, but as one also

standing in the need of prayer. Amen.”


Education

Middle Class Initiative