Going Door To Door...It Still Works
If you come here often you know that I talk a lot about Evangelism and the changes that have taken place in our world. I have spoken often about how that most folks today are not converted through door knocking, home Bible studies (cottage meetings we used to call them), and that most will be won for Christ in a context of community and relationships. This is at least the emphasis that is being taught and accepted today from a missional emphasis. But I learned a long time ago that just as sure as you try and set something in concrete the exception to your rule will arise. It never pays to be to dogmatic about any view we hold.
I linked to a bloger from their comment on another site and I want to share the article with you. Door knocking may not be in vogue, but it still does work, and here is proof.
"Last week, several level-one students, Sunset instructors, and many more went on a local campaign. They spent most of the week knocking doors in hopes to set up some Bible studies.
I was helping some classmates move and my week also required a doctors appointment, yet looking back, I wish I had put all of that on hold and participated in the campaign.
Door-knocking has long been regarded as an ineffective outreach. Yet it’s amazing what happens when we step out on faith.
Here are the results:
1138 doors were knocked
645 were not home
326 Were not interested
53 Home Bible studies were set up
35 Requested Bible Correspondence Courses
2 wanted to be in a small group Bible Study
53 people were interested enough to be called back
Perhaps the dislike we largely have for such outreach methods are lies from the adversary that we have believed and responded by not only disregarding that particular method, but all others as well.
One of the groups that went door-knocking reported that out of 12 doors they knocked, 5 Bible studies were set up! I wasn't a math major but even I know that’s 42% of the people they reached in that time wanted to study the Bible.
Believe it or not, there actually are people out there who are willing to study the Word with us.
We just have to find them. One way or another, we must boldly step out on faith and share the Good News with this dying world.
In Christ Jesus, we have the cure and the remedy and the antidote to all the problems and empty lives in this world.
The question is…will we share it with them? Will we show it to them?
Or will we selfishly keep it to ourselves?" From: “Up The Creek” by David Creek
I know of other groups, one in Minnesota, that go door to door offer the “Does God Exist” course by John Clayton, and have reach numbers of folks and started many congregations through this approach.
Regardless of the method we may choose, we must reach out with the message of the Good News of Jesus.
Like you, I think community and relationships is the way to show and share Jesus. But I'd love to hear of any effective way of getting the message out there.
Ben (Comment this)
Thanks for posting this. I need to post on a similar topic involving some of those very door knockers. And like Ben, I too have concerns about the door-knocking drive at Sunset, but I suggest we give it a chance before we criticize it. I am a bit surprised by the results too, but if they are pointing people to Jesus, count me a supporter.
I do a lot of jail/prison ministry. I am only 38 years old, and the only time in my life that I ever saw people line up for baptism was summer camp - that is until I went to jail. And, "in the end" we lose more than we keep. Far more guys on the inside return to drugs and alcohol and crime upon release than those who go to church and start life afresh. But that is no excuse to stop the effort. I know of about 8 guys out of all the hundreds I have met in this ministry who are preachers and evangelists in the freeworld, some of whom have MDiv degrees to go with it. Those few were drawn in the same ministry as all those we lost again along the way.
I like your thought about not being too dogmatic about what we set in concrete. It is a good caution.
Pray for those guys at Sunset. They are of a different cut of the cloth from many of us. But if they are servants of Jesus..., well so am I.
Many blessings... (Comment this)
Mike one of the fastest growing churches in the Madison area is pastored by an ex-con who spent time in jail for murder. I know the odds are not good for those with this type of background, but we are not in the odds business, our business is to tell the story.
Ben and Mike keep up the great work you are both involved in. (Comment this)