e-ISSN 2715-0798 https://ejournal.sttgalileaindonesia.ac.id/index.php/ginosko Volume 1, No 2, Mei 2020 (98-106) Evangelism Program as the Main Strategy of Church Growth in Grace Bible Church of Mamasa, West Sulawesi Agus Marulitua Marpaung Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Manado [email protected] Abstraksi: Evangelism is one of God’s programs to His People. Church as the gathering of God’s People should put attention for this matter. This research through qualitative research methodology describes how far the evangelism program may effect church growth in Grace Bible church of Mamasa. The church should consider Geographical, Social and cultural aspects of Mamasa regency in order to plan and making strategy of evangelism. Within ten years Grace Bible Church of Mamasa has growth as an established church where evangelism is the main strategy for Church Growing. Keywords: church; church growth; evangelism; Grace Bible Church INTRODUCTION Research Background Church is the gathering of people whom called from the darkness unto God’s Light. John Stott said that,” Church is believer, the gathering of people, who show the existence, solidarity, and their difference with another gathering only with one thing, God’s calling.1 Evangelism is one of God’s calling to the church.2 Proclaiming God’s love to the world that God has manifested His love through the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has died on the cross to pay the penalty of Sin, then He has risen from the dead to fulfill all God’s planning for the salvation of the World. It is the true Gospel that should be proclaimed to the world. Basically, evangelism is starting point of church growth where there is believer who share his belief to another then formed a fellowship of believer. It was happened during the time of the apostles. But the question is do all the churches now are formed through evangelism? And Do all evangelisms that churches are doing really proclaiming the true Gospel? Grace Bible Church (GBC) Mamasa Indonesia realizes that evangelism program should be strengthen in order to have a healthy church growth. God has blessed the church since the beginning of this church at 2010 through Evangelism, Bible study and evangelistic 1John Stott, Satu Umat – Menuntun Gereja Menjadi Komunitas Yang Melayani (Malang: Literatur SAAT, 1990), 8. 2Halim Wiryadinata, “Mission And Evangelism : African Context,” KURIOS (Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen) 3, no. 1 (2015): 1–11, http://www.sttpb.ac.id/e-journal/index.php/kurios. Cf. Susanto Dwiraharjo, “Kajian Eksegetikal Amanat Agung Menurut Matius 28 : 18-20,” Jurnal Teologi Gracia Deo 1, no. 2 (2019): 56–73, http://sttbaptisjkt.ac.id/e-journal/index.php/graciadeo. Copyright© 2020, GINOSKO: Jurnal Teologi Praktika| 98 Evangelism Program as the Main Strategy of Church Growth…(Agus M. Marpaung) meeting. Thus, GBC Mamasa committed that Evangelism Program the main strategy for church growth. METHODS This research uses qualitative research methodology by using library research to explore the theories of church and its commission in dealing with evangelism, And also using hermeneutics study to exegese biblical text which is the foundation of the church deals the evangelism. The purpose of qualitative research is to search the relation and explore the reasons of changes in social facts which can be measured.3 Researcher made an observation when assigned as a Supervisor minister of Grace Bible Church in South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi for 3 (three) years. Involved in some evangelism programs in this church. DISCUSSION Theoretical Background Church and Evangelism George W. Peters explained that Mission is "totally the Job of the Church of Jesus Christ"4. In Mission, church prepares people whom is trusted and sent to preach the Gospel. Those are evangelism process. Michael Green said that The only people who can make Christ known are those who already know Him, He relies on us, We are ambassadors for Christ,” wrote Paul, “God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God ( 2 Cor. 5:20).5 The British Preacher and evangelist illustrate about evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread.6 It means that eternal life is a Gift of God, we do nothing to earn it, we only open our hand and receive it from God, then God wants us to tell it to others. It is very clear that between Church and evangelism have an intimate relation that can not be separated. Church are the people who believe and the people are sent to do evangelism. In other word Church can’t be existed without evangelism and evangelism can’t be done without the church. James Kennedy describes that the church that commits in evangelism, spiritually will experience: Firts, Deeper knowledge about evangelism will encourage people to be involved in world mission., Second, More gratitude for what God has done for us. Third, Realizing the importance of evangelism to the unsaved. Fourth, Achieving the Crown of Glory That God has prepared to those who preach the gospel.7 Those are motivation for the church to encourage people to be committed in evangelism. The more church is committed in evangelism will give more impact in church growth. Michael Hamilton said “If The church want to see the picture of church growth, Let us see our special work is evangelism”.8 Therefore Church, evangelism, and Church Growing have a causal relation each other. Apostle Paul said in I Thesalonians 1: 8-9, “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread 3Stevri Indra Lumintang, Danik Astuti Lumintang, Theologia Penelitian dan Penelitian Theologis – Science-Ascience serta Metodologinya (Jakarta: Ganeva Insani Indonesia, 2016), 98. 4George Peters, A Biblical Theology of Missions (Chicago:Moody Press, 1979), 11 5Michael Green, Evangelism Through Local Church ( Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 2012),20 6Ibid., 8 7James Kennedy, Evangelism Explosion ( USA:EE International,2002),h.8 8Michael Hamilton, God’s Plan for the Church Growth! (Springfield: Radiant Books, 1981), 51. Copyright© 2020, GINOSKO: Jurnal Teologi Praktika| 99 GINOSKO: Jurnal Teologi Praktika; Vol 1, No 2 (Mei 2020) abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” This is the appreciation of Paul for Thesalonians church that they did evangelism to the unbelief people surrounding them and more people came to worship God. Thesa- lonians church is an example of a healthy church. In Acts 17:3-4 recorded that they decided to believe God after listened the gospel from Paul and Silas. They were the result of evangelism, then through them another came to believe in God. Thesalonian church grew spiritually and also grew in number of believers because a lot of people surrounding turned from idol worshipper to God worshipper. Donald McGavran explain that there are Three kinds of church growth should be distinguished: biological, transfer, and conversion.9 In his explanation McGavran said that First, biological growth derives from those born into Christian families, Second, Transfer growth is meant the increase of certain congregations at the expense of others. The third kind is conversion growth, in which those outside the church come to rest their faith intelligently on Jesus Christ and are baptized and added to the Lord in his church.10 Church should consider these Three kinds of evangelism. These three kinds are ways of people come to the church, Though They was Born as a church member, transfer from another church and off course conversion, preaching the gospel should be the message should be taught to them so that they may know what they believe in God. Because that is the will of God. Apostle Paul said I Timothy 2:3-4, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” There are two God’s wills through this verse which are “be saved” (greek: σώζω/sōzō) and “to know the truth” (Greek: ἀλήθεια / alētheia). It means preaching the Gospel and teaching the truth should be the main focus of the church. Grace Bible Church (GBC) Mamasa Historical Background GBC Mamasa is located in Mamasa City, West Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is a mountainous place, takes approximately 10 (ten) hours travel by car from Makassar city (one of the big city in middle part of Indonesia). GBC Mamasa has started the ministry since 2010 through one family which is Tonglo Pasau family. Previously he was the elder of GBC in Makassar, then he was assigned as government officer in Mamasa Regency. Evangelist Desman was assigned to do church planting together with Tonglo Pasau Family. Through evangelism, Bible study and evangelistic meetings that have been done regularly together with GBC Makassar. This church has grown in quality and quantity growing within 8 years. On 2018 GBC Mamasa has 15 family members and some young people with church attender around 40-50 people every week. Environment Background Mamasa region is one of regions in West Sulawesi Province. This regency is the expansion Polewali Mamasa Regency (today Polewali Mandar Regency). Base on UU No. 11 year 9Donald A. McGavran, Understanding Church Growth (Grandrapids: William B Eerdmans, 1998), 89 10Ibid, 90-91 Copyright© 2020, GINOSKO: Jurnal Teologi Praktika| 100 Evangelism Program as the Main Strategy of Church Growth…(Agus M. Marpaung) 2002, together with another 22 regencies and cities in reformation era year 2002.11 Mamasa has a a lot of variations of its local culture such as traditions with its rituals or traditional ceremonies and physical artifacts.