Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1987 Towards A Model Of Congregational Evangelistic Campaigns In The Seventh-day Adventist Churches In West Germany Ekkehardt Muller Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Muller, Ekkehardt, "Towards A Model Of Congregational Evangelistic Campaigns In The Seventh-day Adventist Churches In West Germany" (1987). Dissertation Projects DMin. 466. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/466 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT TOWARDS A MODEL OF CONGREGATIONAL EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCHES IN WEST GERMANY by Ekkehardt Muller Chairman: Garth Thompson ABSTRACT A Project Report Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: TOWARDS A MODEL FOR CONGREGATIONAL EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCHES IN WEST GERMANY Name of researcher: Ekkehardt Muller Name and degree of faculty adviser: Garth Thompson, Ph.D. Date completed: July 1987 In the Western world it is a great challenge for churches to reach secular persons. This is true especial­ ly for West Germany where only an almost insignificant percentage of the population attends church regularly. Traditional methods to win people for Christ usually focus on this small percentage of people instead of on the vast majority of the unchurched people. Reaching the unchurched is a situation in which the laymen of the church are of special importance, for they are able to be in touch with persons clergymen will almost never 1 2 reach. Thus laymen need to have a larger sphere of influence in the proclamation of the gospel. They need opportunities to use their gifts. Moreover, new approaches must be developed to meet the needs of the secular mind. One approach is the congregational evangelistic campaign, a campaign prepared and implemented by the lay congregation including the public proclamation by groups of laymen. An analysis of the practice of this type of approach in the Seventh-day Adventist churches in West Germany, by means of twenty-two completed questionnaires and several personal interviews, reveals the following facts: (1) Although there are some weaknesses, pastors and churches are generally enthusiastic about this type of approach. (2) The open style and the focus on every-day problems are attractive to the secular mind. (3) An important factor is the building of relationships among church members and visitors. (4) As a side effect the church is activated. (5) The gifts of laymen are enhanced. Although congregational evangelistic campaigns were already being held in West Germany, it seemed significant to study the method more thoroughly and to develop a model. This model describes the preparation, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation of this kind of campaign. Variables affecting outcomes, the role of the 3 pastor, and combinations of congregational evangelism with other programs are discussed. The model gives special emphasis to the preparation phase, which contains a training program for selected laymen. The stress on preparation is necessary to guarantee an effective implementation and follow-up. Although these campaigns use a somewhat uncommon approach, they are based on the biblical concept of evangelism. The advantages they have recommend them to be used more extensively. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary TOWARDS A MODEL OF CONGREGATIONAL EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCHES IN WEST GERMANY A Project Report Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Ekkehardt Muller July 1987 TOWARDS A MODEL OF CONGREGATIONAL EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCHES IN WEST GERMANY A project report presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Ekkehardt Muller TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................... 1 Chapter I. AN EXAMINATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONGREGATIONAL EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS .... 4 The Importance of Evangelism in General . 4 Linguistic Roots of Evangelism ............. 5 In the Old Testament and in Palestinian Judaism ........ ; . 5 In the New T e s t a m e n t ................ 8 S u m m a r y ............................. 15 "Evangelist" in the New Testament.... 16 A spiritual g i f t ................... 16 Timothy as evangelist ................. 21 Philip as evangelist ..................... 24 S u m m a r y ............................. 27 Evangelism in Church History ............. 31 The Apostolic t i m e .................. 31 The first centuries A.D.............. 32 Middle Ages, Reformation, and Pietism . 33 Modern times and the 20th century . 35 E. G. White and evangelism.......... 39 Implications ................................ 41 Evangelistic methods ..................... 44 Laity versus Clergy in Reaching the U n r e a c h e d ......................... 46 Definitions ........................... 46 Laity and clergy .................... 46 The unchurched..................... .. 51 The Clergyman— His Problems and Opportunities .................. 56 Clergyman's problems ..... .......... 56 Clergyman's opportunities ............... 61 The Layman— His Problems and Opportunities .................. 62 Layman's problems ....................... 62 Layman's opportunities ................. 68 The Unchurched— Reaching Them for Christ . 71 S u m m a r y ............................... 77 iii Conclusions for Congregational Evangelistic Campaigns ..................... 79 Results of the Previous S t u d y ..... 79 Problems with the Concept of Lay E v a n g e l i s m ................ 79 P r e s e n c e ........................... 80 Proclamation .............................. 80 Persuasion........................ 81 S u m m a r y ........................... 85 Suggestions for Lay Evangelism..... 86 II. A STUDY OF PREVIOUS CONGREGATIONAL EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS IN WEST GERMANY .... 89 Report on Previous Congregational Evangelistic Campaigns as Described in the Questionnaires and Interviews .............. 89 Report on the First Questionnaire .... 89 Report on the Second Questionnaire .... 90 Analysis of the Reported Campaigns .... 91 Question 1 ............................ 91 Question 2 ................... 92 Question 3 ............................ 92 Question 4 ............................ 93 Question 5 ............................ 93 Question 6 ............................ 95 Question 7 ............................ 96 Question 8 ............................ 97 Question 9 ...............................102 Question 1 0 ...............................105 Question 1 1 ...............................106 Question 1 2 ...............................110 Question 1 3 ...............................113 Question 1 4 ...............................113 Question 1 5 ...............................114 Questions 16 and 1 7 ............... 115 Question 18 116 Question 1 9 ...............................117 Question 2 0 ...............................119 Report on the Interviews.................... 120 Conclusions ............ 125 Strengths of congregational evangelistic campaigns ............... 125 Weaknesses of congregational evangelistic campaigns ................ 126 III. A MODEL FOR CONGREGATIONAL EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS IN WEST G E R M A N Y .............. 128 Variables in Congregational Evangelistic C a m p a i g n s ............................128 iv Roles of Congregation and Pastor ...........13 3 Preparation ................................ 136 The Long-Range Preparation ............... 138 Preparing the church ................... 138 Preparing a special group of people . 140 The preparation of prospective guests . 166 The Middle-Range Preparation ............. 167 The decision to have a congregational evangelistic campaign ............... 167 The establishing of an evangelism c o m m i t t e e .............. 170 The work of the evangelism committee . 171 The involvement of the c h u r c h ....... 173 The Short-Range Preparation ............. 175 Preparing the presentations ........... 175 Providing the materials ............... 177 Instructing the groups of helpers . 177 Taking care of the advertising.......177 Motivating the church ................. 178 Implementation .............................. 179 The Time before the Meeting Starts .... 179 The Opening of the Meeting ............. 180 [ The Presentation of the M e s s a g e .........181 The Discussion Groups ................... 183 The Time after the Meeting ............. 186 F o l l o w - u p .................................. 187 Definition of Follow-up ................. 187 Kinds of Follo w - u p ......................189 The Actual Follow-up ..................... 191 Local Evaluation............................ 194 Combination with Other Programs ........... 196 IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............. 198 Benefits of Congregational Evangelistic C a m p a i g n s .............................. 198 Benefits for the C h u r c h ............... 198 Benefits for the Guests .................... 199 Benefits for the Team M e m b e r s .........200 Recommendations