Witness Team Challenge 2010
The following is a letter written by Harry Denman in 1949
Dear Friend:
This letter is to ask every pastor not to observe Pentecost on June 5, but to meet the conditions so that every church will have a Pentecost on that day. It can be done if we will organize our church to witness to the fact that Jesus is Christ and that he is alive and can save persons from sin and death.
Easter to Pentecost
Fifty Golden Days of Evangelism
EASTER, We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer. We have a living Christ. This is the beginning of evangelism. Why shouldn’t every church organize visitation teams to visit one night each week during this period and secure thousands of first commitments for Christ and his church, to be received on Pentecost Sunday, June 5?
FAMILY WEEK. May 1-8, This is a splendid time to visit young families and secure their first commitment for Christ and his church and establish a Christian home. What holy days they are, Easter to Pentecost, Including Family Week!
There were One-hundred-twenty in the Upper Room. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Three thousand were baptized that first Pentecost. How many will be baptized in our churches on Pentecost Sunday 1949?
Let us pray and work daily that every church will have a Pentecost.
Your Friend, Harry Denman
Shepherds, May 1949
Source: The Prophetic Evangelist
In memory of Evangelist Harry Denman, the Witness Team is presenting a challenge to all United Methodist Churches in the Holston Conference.
Easter Sunday is April 4th, 2010 and Pentecost Sunday is May 23. There are 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. We are presenting the challenge to each church to organize visitation teams to visit and knock on doors in your community one night each week during these 50 days with the intentional purpose of inviting people to church.
In his book “The Unchurched Next Door”, Thom Rainer and his group conducted a scientific survey and found the following results.
- 82 percent of the unchurched are at least “somewhat likely” to attend church if they are invited.
- 8 out of 10 unchurched persons said they would come to church if they were invited.
- Only 21 percent of active churchgoers invite anyone to church in the course of a year.
- Only 2 percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church.
- Very few of the unchurched have had someone share with them how to become a Christian.
- The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
“For years I have been asked how churches can grow. I have consulted with hundreds of church leaders across America, leaders who sincerely desire that their churches reach people. “Why aren’t we reaching people?” I am often asked. “Why is our society so resistant to the gospel?” many inquire.
“After nearly a decade of research and almost fifteen years of consulting with churches, I am becoming more and more convinced that the answers to most of these questions can be found in the mirror. Nearly 130 million people in the United States alone would come to church if they were invited. And if they came, many would hear about the Savior who offers the only way of salvation.”
Thom S. Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
When is the last time you invited an unchurched person to church?
The Witness Team will offer suggestions for the teams of people in your church who will be visiting the homes in your community.
We will provide you with computer models of door knockers to leave at the homes where no one is available, post cards to make follow-up contacts and many other tools for reaching your community for Christ. We will make these tools available on the Holston Conference web site in the near future.
There will be a reporting tool on the web site as well as a phone number that you can call to report the number of visits made by your church as well as the visitors who attend your services.
Please e-mail us to let us know that your church will participate in “50 Golden Days of Evangelism 2010”. Someone will then contact you with further information.
Let us pray and work daily that each of our churches will have a Pentecost Sunday on May 23, 2010.
If you have questions, please contact Rev. Ronnie Collins of The Holston Conference Witness Team 276-728-2434 or ronnie24317@yahoo.com