SHORT OUTLINE TO HELP PREPARE FOR
AN EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN
By Evangelist Ken Lynch
I. PRAYING FOR THE MEETINGS
- Public Prayer Meetings
- Mid-week prayer meetings
- Cottage prayer meetings
- Personal Prayer
- Prayer clock
- Prayer at meal time for the meetings
- Private prayer in devotions
II. PROMOTING THE MEETINGS
- Before the meetings
- Read (and reread) ALL the material your evangelist makes available to you.
- Prayerfully consider the suggestions made and do your best to implement as many as you can. Most evangelists do not make demands, but do make some suggestions as to what has worked well for them.
- Announce the meetings as early as possible (even on the first Sunday of the year) followed by frequent announcements as the meeting time approaches.
- Encourage your people to set the entire week aside for the meetings and plan to attend all the services.
- Make sure all special music is prepared ahead of time and is well done. Some evangelists do their own music, so you will want to plan accordingly.
- Plan several counselor-training sessions before the meetings begin.
- Have a cheerful, well-staffed nursery for every
- Ushers should be polite and neatly dressed, and should make every visitor feel welcome.
- Plan to have a good supply of visitor’s cards and make sure that every visitor receives one. This will provide follow-up leads after the meetings are over.
- Always prepare for every meeting as though it was the first one you ever had. Preparations for last year’s meetings will not do for this year’s meeting. The field needs to be plowed for this year’s harvest.
III. During the Meeting
- Start each service on time. NEVER be late.
- Follow a planned schedule for the service so that things are not done “spur of the moment.” Make sure each participant knows what he or she is doing and when it is to be done.
- Depending on how much special music you have, plan a lively song service being careful to not have too much singing.
- Have trained counselors ready to respond as soon as the invitation is given.
IV. After the Meeting
- Make sure every visitor receives a letter from the church and a visit from a member of the church. Hopefully, these visits will yield even further fruit.
- Make arrangements for follow-up on every person who made a decision during the meeting. Assign someone to disciple them and talk with them about the importance of believer’s baptism.
- Be sure to write a “Thank You” note to your evangelist for giving of his time and pouring his life into your people. You will probably receive a similar note from him.
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PREACHING PRIOR TO THE MEETINGS
- The preaching ministry of the pastor during the weeks prior to the meetings can really help to set the tone for the meetings once they begin
- Pastoral preaching should include sermons on such subjects as sin, revival, repentance, prayer, bitterness, forgiving one another, soul-winning, etc. Such preaching can do much to prepare the hearts of the people.
V. PROVIDING FOR THE MEETINGS
A. Hospitality
- Housing (RV, motel, prophet’s chamber, private home, etc.)
- Meals
- Find out any particular needs and/or dietary restrictions the evangelist may have.
- The general rule of thumb is no more than one meal per day out. Since every person is different check with your evangelist.
B. Finances
- Travel Expenses
- Find out what the expenses are.
- Try to raise as many of the expenses as you can before the meetings begin.
- Placing funds for meetings in the annual church budget will greatly help with the financial needs of the meeting and will lessen the pressure on your people.
- Expenses should not be considered as part of the Love-Offering.
- Love-Offering
- Keep in mind that the evangelist does not receive 52 weeks of income per year.
- Apply the principle of II Corinthians 9.
- Remember, God honors generosity (Mal. 3; II Cor. 9; Luke 6).