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Door Knocking? C vs A

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Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
In another thread, Dr. Bob stated

We found the old door-to-door VERY ineffective. Families are scattered with a gajillion activities for kids; often when adults come home from work, they look for down time, NOT uninvited visits.

Have you found door knocking to be effective?
What evangelism methods do you use to evangelize?
 

KenH

Well-Known Member
What evangelism methods do you use to evangelize?

Preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ. We use the services at the church building, Facebook, YouTube, Sermon Audio. Personally, I post on Facebook, Twitter, and on this message board.
 
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Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ. We use the services at the church building, Facebook, YouTube, Sermon Audio. Personally, I post on Facebook, Twitter, and on this message board.

I agree we need to do preach and teach
and FB YT, ec are good -
But the question is (as I re-phrase)
what else should we do to get people to initially come to church
 

KenH

Well-Known Member
I agree we need to do preach and teach
and FB YT, ec are good -
But the question is (as I re-phrase)
what else should we do to get people to initially come to church

Spread the gospel of Christ wherever one can. God always draws His elect according to His timing and purposes.
 

xlsdraw

Active Member
Our church remains Old School.

Door knocking, handing out tracts, running buses, sending and supporting missionaries, planting churches.

We've still got faithful members willing to do the work that the Lord called them to do.

And the Lord continues to add to His Church faithfully.
 

Alan Gross

Well-Known Member
I agree we need to do preach and teach
and FB YT, ec are good -
But the question is (as I re-phrase)
what else should we do to get people to initially come to church

Mailing out a consistent newsletter-like preaching of the WORD, in a plan, informative format, is "KNOWN" way to build church attendance.

Teachings, like these, have been very profitable.

The Online Books Page

Online Books by

Claude Duval Cole
...

...

Index of ./John Gill/

...

http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF Books II/Simmons - A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine.pdf

...

I ride to church with our "Expert Track Missionary"
who conducts our "Track Ministry".

He mails out 500 to 1000 a month, now, I think.

For 2 or 3 different churches.

He mails 2 or 3 'Tracks' or articles in each mail.

I'll ask him about it.

Of course BB has these resources:

Free Gospel Tracts
 

37818

Well-Known Member
Faith Baptist Church of Canoga Park California, when I was a member [1970-1978] had what was called the Acts 20 20 Vision. Acts of the Apostles 20:20, ". . . And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, . . ."
 

Dr. Bob

Administrator
Administrator
One lady (member of the church) asked me not to come by, even with a phone call "warning" that I would be coming by. She was embarrassed to tell me why but privately told my wife.

She told Teresa that when she finally gets home from a long day (job as teacher, then activities, shoppng, etc) she dressed down and does not want ANY visitors. "Once I take off my pantyhose, I do not want to see anyone or be seen by anyone." Not sure that is still true today; not EVER asking about pantyhose :) .
 

Dr. Bob

Administrator
Administrator
As for sharing the Gospel or inviting city people to church, we encouraged each person to do this one-to-one. We also took "requests" (like a singspiration). If someone had a friend, co-worker, neighbor, in need, they would ask them if "the pastor" could visit. Same with anyone who visited our church - they would get a letter or email thanking them and availability of someone to call and stop for a visit to talk/answer questions. About half of those who came asked for that. One of our elders would do that (guess I "scare" people away as the "big gun" at church as the teaching elder and "voice" of the church)

Cold canvas (flyer in door, knock to tell them of special event/services) brought little result. I ran for office (State Assembly) and did more glad-handing than I liked and that was just to let people know who I was and typical brochure on my positions. Got 600 votes in Republican primary (wife of car dealership got 1200; thus ended my state-office career. One-on-one mutual time to seriously talk worked best.

Example: young boy hanging around church building, so I chatted him up. Found he was single-mother family on the next block and saw lots of activity at the church. So invited him and his mother in to show them around and answer questions. Led both to the Lord, then they told friend a couple doors down and lady came to watch the mother/son be baptized. And a year later we baptized that lady.
 

AVL1984

<img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>
As for sharing the Gospel or inviting city people to church, we encouraged each person to do this one-to-one. We also took "requests" (like a singspiration). If someone had a friend, co-worker, neighbor, in need, they would ask them if "the pastor" could visit. Same with anyone who visited our church - they would get a letter or email thanking them and availability of someone to call and stop for a visit to talk/answer questions. About half of those who came asked for that. One of our elders would do that (guess I "scare" people away as the "big gun" at church as the teaching elder and "voice" of the church)

Cold canvas (flyer in door, knock to tell them of special event/services) brought little result. I ran for office (State Assembly) and did more glad-handing than I liked and that was just to let people know who I was and typical brochure on my positions. Got 600 votes in Republican primary (wife of car dealership got 1200; thus ended my state-office career. One-on-one mutual time to seriously talk worked best.

Example: young boy hanging around church building, so I chatted him up. Found he was single-mother family on the next block and saw lots of activity at the church. So invited him and his mother in to show them around and answer questions. Led both to the Lord, then they told friend a couple doors down and lady came to watch the mother/son be baptized. And a year later we baptized that lady.

Glad you're not totally against this method of reaching others. This is how my mother was led to Christ in 1971. It's also how many of my friends were led to the Lord. Some don't like this method because it involves time and work...but I know from talking with you in the past that you're not that type of person.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Glad you're not totally against this method of reaching others. This is how my mother was led to Christ in 1971. It's also how many of my friends were led to the Lord. Some don't like this method because it involves time and work...but I know from talking with you in the past that you're not that type of person.

Yes, in 1971 - it was effective - BUT is it effective today?
People just are not willing to open the door to a stranger.
and then of course - with the onset of Ch Virus - people don't want to be within 6 ft of youl In fact, if you are not wearing a mask - they dont want you anywhere near you.

I'm not saying it will never work anymore - but the question - is cold door knocking still an effective means. IMHO - NO it is not. Granted - it does take a lot of hard work - but there may be more effective ways.
IN fact, when is the last time a door-to-door salesman has even knocked on your door?

The Bible message will never change - but the methods may have to.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Since people insist on breaking simple requests -
I am re-opening this thread
and thus my last post here


re-directed from another thread

Okay.
Paul tells us that he became all things that by all means he might win some.
There is a C&A side to this since the question is primarily about Soteriology and the means by which we go out to all nations and make disciples, but I will try to ignore that and focus in on sharing the gospel.
God has opened up conversations for me even while I was waiting for food at a bar countertop. The bar was empty when a man came in and sat right beside me rather than down the row. I thought it odd until we struck up a conversation and I ended up sharing the gospel with him. I got my food and went on my way (I was traveling). God uses any situation to get his word out. We just need to be aware.
 

Martin Marprelate

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
This chap is out poster boy for door knocking.
Door-to-door work is hard work but we have seen some results. It also gets us known in the area. Our church is buried away on a housing estate and a lot of people don't know we exist.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Anytime we reach out to others with the gospel it is a good thing. Some methods may be more effective than others.

I believe the best method is to simply share the gospel with others as we encounter them in our lives. The thing is to encounter people.

Door to door may not be the most effective method, definitely not as effective as it was when I was growing up (when the norm was to invite people in). But you do encounter people.

We sow seeds. God makes those seeds to grow.
 

Silverhair

Well-Known Member
Spread the gospel of Christ wherever one can. God always draws His elect according to His timing and purposes.

So in other words you just sit back and do nothing as God is going to do the evangelizing for you. That's not what the bible told us to do.
 

Silverhair

Well-Known Member
Speak to the people when you meet them where you meet them. I have had many chats with people while my wife gets her hair done. People seem to be more open to talk one on one when in a neutral place.
 

AVL1984

<img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>
Yes, in 1971 - it was effective - BUT is it effective today?
People just are not willing to open the door to a stranger.
and then of course - with the onset of Ch Virus - people don't want to be within 6 ft of youl In fact, if you are not wearing a mask - they dont want you anywhere near you.

I'm not saying it will never work anymore - but the question - is cold door knocking still an effective means. IMHO - NO it is not. Granted - it does take a lot of hard work - but there may be more effective ways.
IN fact, when is the last time a door-to-door salesman has even knocked on your door?

The Bible message will never change - but the methods may have to.

There are some churches that are still using it quite effectively. It's true that many people won't open their doors to a stranger, but, this was common even back in the 1970s, especially in the town I grew up in. I see churches here still using this technique, and especially when it comes to going out on bus visitation or Thursday night soul-winning. It's not an uncommon practice, especially amongst IFB churches. Door-to-door salesmen don't usually come this far out into the "boondocks" to sell their wares. They do, however, still do so in town if they have a permit. Not very many, but enough of them do.this, but they do.
 

AustinC

Well-Known Member
Since people insist on breaking simple requests -
I am re-opening this thread
and thus my last post here


re-directed from another thread
I didn't break any rule in a thread. I clarified to you as to why C&A answer the door knocking differently. It seems to irritate you that the way one understands the work of God in salvation may also determine whether one thinks door knocking is effective. My view is simple. If a person comes to believing faith because I knocked on their door and told them the gospel, then God has used that door knock as His function to make that person alive with Christ. If people refuse to open a door or to repent when they open a door for dialogue, then that person is not (at least presently) called into the Kingdom. They are in a similar state as Esau was. No amount of persuasion will undo what their master (Sin) has bound them to. Only God can break those chains.
 
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