Adult Ministries Department : Ministry Description—Lay Evangelist

The lay evangelist dates to the time when Jesus sent out the seventy to minister in areas that He and the disciples would be unable to reach during His brief ministry. (Luke 10:1-17) Just as these lay evangelists went out preaching the gospel of Jesus at His first coming, you are called to go and preach the gospel of His second coming. In the modern setting the lay evangelist reaches areas where the pastor or conference evangelist may never have the opportunity or budget to set foot. As a volunteer you can establish a work there

The church serves the Lord in praise, serves one another in love, and serves the world in humility. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10)

Jesus, in His last words before ascending to Heaven, gave the commission to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…" (Matthew 28:19) For the lay evangelist the target audience is the world, beginning at the doorstep of his or her home.

Duties of the Lay Evangelist

The work of the lay evangelist is varied, but some of the specific functions include the following:

1. Hold Public Evangelistic Meetings. Meetings could be in your town or in a nearby town where no formal Seventh-day Adventist work has been started. You could do all the preaching yourself, or organize a team to share the preaching duties. Don't overlook the possibilities of holding meetings for individuals in retirement centers, or for structuring your outreach to a specific ethnic group in your community. A series of meetings for the hearing impaired or other handicapped individuals who have special needs that are often times overlooked by regular outreach events could be very rewarding.
2. Conduct Revelation Seminars. This form of public evangelism has been particularly effective in recent years with church members leading out. There is also material available to hold Daniel seminars which open up even more Bible prophecy to your hearers.
3. Assist the Pastor. The lay evangelist can assist the pastor in evangelistic meetings or by preaching. Especially in a district with more than one church, the pastor needs the help of a lay minister to fill speaking appointments for Sabbath worship services and mid-week meetings from time to time. The pastor may also seek your assistance for visiting individuals who have shown an interest in learning more about Adventists.
4. Organize Neighborhood Outreach. In cooperation with your church ministries leader, help plan outreach activities for your community, especially when laying the groundwork for evangelistic meetings with entry events, such as stop-smoking seminars, cooking and nutrition classes, etc.
5. Recruit Volunteers. You will have the opportunity in your projects to minister to others in your church family by giving them the opportunity to become involved in active witnessing. Build a network of persons around you who also have the burden for soul-winning. Help train them for outreach ministry and encourage them to stay actively involved in witnessing.
6. Small Group Evangelism. Once called "cottage meetings," this form of outreach provides opportunities to teach the gospel to two, three or a dozen individuals in a less formal situation. You may find this a good way to begin.

Resource Materials

• Evangelism. This book by Ellen G. White discusses principles that will guide you in all aspects of your evangelistic outreach. Though written many years ago, the principles still are valid today.
• Lay Evangelists' Handbook. This is available from your ABC and was produced to provide a how-to book for church members who volunteer to conduct public evangelism. Subjects covered include organization, preparing the field, budget, finances, publicity and follow-up.
• Winning-Lay Bible Ministry Handbook. This is another handbook available from the ABC. It was written by Dan E. Caslow and also contains the basic how-to information of planning public meetings.
• How To Win A Soul. This practical guide by R. A. White gives guidelines for sharing the gospel by telling you what to say, why to say it, when to say it, and how to say it.
• Decisions. The object of all evangelism is to help individuals make decisions for Christ. This book by Mark Finley and published by the Ministerial Association discusses the delicate art of leading men and women to Christ. It gives direction on how to impart conviction, how to increase desire, and how to help people over habits. Call Seminars Unlimited at 1-800-982-3344.
• Church Growth Resources for the Local Church, is the North American Division resource catalog. It has materials listed for outreach and soul winning for every age group and also many audio-visual aids to help enliven and enrich your presentations. You can obtain a personal copy from AdventSource by calling 1-800-328-0525.
• Adventist Witness is a new, quarterly magazine designed for local church leaders who focus on soul-winning and outreach. It includes up-to-date information and creative ideas for evangelism and service in your community. Published by the Review & Herald Publishing Association and available through your Adventist Book Center at (800) 765-6955.
• Information about additional resources and answers to your questions can be obtained through the denomination's "help desk" by calling (800) SDA-PLUS. A number of helpful fact sheets can also be obtained on the Adventist Forum on CompuServe or through the Fax Plus automated fax-back system. Dial (800) 474-4SDA.