Traditionally evangelistic meetings are in the evenings and biblical truths are presented for two to three weeks with one night off each week. But what do you do when your church congregation, composed of senior members, find it difficult to attend services at night? You use the old methods and put a new spin on them to meet the current situation.
James Norman, pastor of the Hillsview Church in Birmingham, Ala., resolved to do the unusual. He decided to have evangelistic meetings on Saturdays for a series of seven Sabbaths. His thought was that if prospective members would take off work and attend on Sabbaths, half the battle was won.
Norman used the name “Frangelism” by Emil D. Peeler, D.Min., senior pastor of the Capitol Hill Church in Washington, D.C. FRAN is the acronym for Family, Relatives, Acquaintances, and Neighbors. Norman expounded on the concept and educated his members on ways to connect and build relationships with their FRAN to invite them to the evangelistic meetings at the church.
Next, Norman transformed the church service into an evangelistic atmosphere for seven consecutive Sabbaths. Instead of teaching the Sabbath School Quarterly lesson study, the Amazing Facts lessons were taught. Each lesson was a sneak preview of the divine worship sermon.
Finally, Norman preached doctrines during the divine worship service. Some might wonder how one can sufficiently cover all the doctrines within seven Sabbaths. His method was to use the traditional question and answer (Q&A) period strategically. The subjects not covered in a sermon were presented in the Q&A period. Additionally, the sermons contained more than one subject. For example, the sermon entitled “Misery Loves Company,” included the origin of sin, the second coming of Christ, the state of the dead, the millennium, and hell fire.
God blessed the efforts of Norman and two members, Elaine Jackson and Chance Hall, who were part-time Bible workers, to witness 16 individuals baptized on August 31, 2024, the final Sabbath of the evangelistic meetings. The baptisms were assisted by two elders, Carl Akers and Lloyd Balfour Sr.
Hillsview members stated this was the largest baptismal group ever witnessed at Hillsview Church. Norman wholeheartedly depended on Zechariah 4:6, which says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
South Central | December 2024
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