Submitted by: Dennis Millburn
The Logansville, Ga., Church members wanted to get more members involved in the easiest witnessing opportunity there is. “Christ’s method alone will bring success”: they started mingling!
They decided to involve members in interesting seminars where they could bring neighbors, friends, and family who aren’t church members. They used no “hooks.” They did not ask visitors for names, phone numbers, or addresses. They only used “bait,” free literature available in the lobby.
They wanted people to feel free to return for future seminars and realize that Adventists are welcoming people concerned about their lives.
The church members first survyered the interest of their fellow members with a comprehensive list of presentation possibilities from all known acquaintances. This assures that members will come to their personal interest, and hopefully invite others.
After the interests were obtained, a seminar schedule and suggested presenters were shared with the church board for date and content approval. Once approved, contacts were made and time slots were filled. Fortunately, the Atlanta area has many qualified professional presenters, some church members and some not.
A banner was created and installed above the fellowship hall, temporarily renaming it the “Community Center, Free How-to Seminars.”
The seminars are scheduled on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m., to allow Sunday church members to attend. A cookie and juice break between each one hour seminar also enables mingling. There was also a music concert as a kickoff. The monthly seminars included the following:
- Personal Finance
- Golfing Basics
- Exercising for Life
- Family History 101
- Waldensian Valley Travelogue
- Sketching
- Fire and Personal Safety
- Identity Theft and Safeguarding Online Use
- Holy Land Travelogue
- Gardening
- Reversing Diabetes with Diet
- Free Plant-based Meal
Two to four weeks prior to each seminar, colorful handouts were placed in the bulletin with extras in the lobby for members to distribute.
Overall, each seminar had at least one visitor. Medical and health seminars were popular. Presentations were excellent, and people were glad they came. It may take a few years for all to understand Christ’s method as the best way to reach others, so the members will keep mingling.
Georgia-Cumberland | January 2019
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