The document discusses strategies for evangelism focused on reaching the middle class, including black middle class communities. It proposes having members pray with their neighbors as a simple first step, then potentially expanding to neighborhood prayer meetings. It also details establishing "Defenders" from the church to mentor and support new members through their first year after baptism through visits and study groups in the new members' homes. The goal is to better integrate and retain new members in the church through nurturing relationships.

1. 0The Middle Class Member Initiative

2. 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)
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3. On The Street Where You Live
•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.”
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4. On The Street Where You Live
Truth 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
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5. On The Street Where You Live
The Truth About Black Adventist Congregations
The largest single group in Black
Adventist American congregations,
especially in large metropolitan
areas, is our Middle Class
membership.
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6. On The Street Where You Live
The 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.
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7. On The Street Where You Live
The Truth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts
• In recent times hired Bible Workers
have become the major source of our
baptismal successes
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8. On The Street Where You Live
The Truth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts
• Over recent decades we have taken
our members out of direct soul
winning efforts by hiring Bible
Workers almost exclusively.
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9. On the Street Where You Live
The Truth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts
• Hired Bible Worker’s “knocking-on-doors”
are largely unwelcomed in all Middle
Class neighborhoods including Black
ones.
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10. On The Street Where You Live
The 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.
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11. On The Street Where You Live
The 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.
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12. On The Street Where You Live
The 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!
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13. On The Street Where You Live
The 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
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14. On The Street Where You Live
The Times Demand Change
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15. On The Street Where You Live
Ask 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
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16. On The Street Where you Live
Ask 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).
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17. On The Street Where You Live
Rebuilding 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:
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18. On the Street Where You Live
The 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 07
Rebuilding “The Family Altar”
- 30 minutes morning (Devotional Book)
- 30 minutes evening (SS Lesson)
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19. On The Street Where You Live
Stewardship 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.
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20. 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.
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21. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• Our success in future soul
winning efforts in this highly
technological, convenience
oriented, religion-on-demand age,
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22. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• 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.
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23. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• 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.
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24. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• We begin with a simple personal non-
threatening entry-level spiritual
neighborhood activity.
• Praying with your neighbor!
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25. The Territory
A 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).
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26. On The Street Where You Live
Simple 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
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27. On The Street Where You Live
Simple Things
• Solicitation permits are unnecessary
• Refreshments are unnecessary
• Babysitting service at the church is
unnecessary
• Opening and closing the church is
unnecessary
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28. On The Street Where You Live
Simple 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
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29. On The Street Where You Live
A 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
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30. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• 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 church
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31. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• Check back the next week, or as
the Holy Spirit leads, to see HOW,
not if, the Lord is answering your
prayers of faith
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32. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• 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.
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33. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• 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
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34. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• 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.
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35. On The Street Where You Live
Faith 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.
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36. On The Street Where You Live
The Lord wants you
and
Your church needs
you!
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37. PREPARATION FOR
HOLDING
NEW
MEMBERS!
The Lord wants you and your church
needs you!
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38. 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
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39. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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.
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40. “THE DEFENDERS!”
2. In November before year of
implementation, choose the oldest
Adventist members who know the Truth
from 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.
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41. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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.
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42. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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.
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43. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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.
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44. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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.
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45. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
BACK DOOR
In March let THE DEFENDERS
know that their assignment is to
work with newly baptized members.
They will attend the meetings to observe
those guests who are attending the meetings
They will divide the names on the list of newly
baptized members among themselves as the
baptism is in progress.
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46. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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
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47. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
BACK DOOR
•The Defenders must make an
appointment with the newly
baptized members on their list, to
arrange a meeting in the newly
baptized member’s home during the
week immediately following their
baptism.
•(Preferably the Tuesday evening
following the Sabbath baptism)
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48. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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
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49. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
BACK DOOR
•The Defenders assignment is to help
the newly baptized member defend
themselves in their new found faith
before family and friends.
•We all know that immediately after
baptism, relatives, friends, the un
churched and even former pastors,
pounce on the newly baptized
member with all available feet.
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50. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
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.
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51. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
BACK DOOR
• Unable to explain all of the Truths in
one night, The Defender and the newly
baptized member, extend an invitation
to family and friends to continue the
explanations on the next Tuesday
evening
* Out of those meetings in the new
members homes may come additional
Bible studies that lead to acceptance
of these wonderful Truths by others.
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52. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
BACK DOOR
• The meetings in the new
member’s home should continue
until we are sure the new
member’s roots are securely
planted.
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53. 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.
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54. THE DEFENDERS: CLOSING THE
BACK DOOR
Remember, the Truth needs no
defense from human agencies.
However human agents need the
ability to defend themselves in the
Truth.
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55. 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
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56. Nurturing All Newly Baptized
Members
• Nurture all newly baptized
members with three, six, nine, and
twelve month celebrations
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57. Nurturing All Newly Baptized
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
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58. Nurturing All Newly Baptized
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
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59. Nurturing All Newly Baptized
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
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60. Nurturing All Newly Baptized
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
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61. 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)
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62. We End Where We Began
We cannot witness, win, and nurture
best 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)
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63. 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…
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64. 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.”
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