Outdated Outreach?

[taco_harvell]

Something I have been hearing is "door knocking is outdated and no longer works". I have also been told the same about home Bible studies. Now, given most who I have heard say this are just lazy and dumb, but I do find it harder to get people to answer doors or agree to a bible study.

I still feel both are useful and will work. Does your church still use these methods and if so what is helping it work? If you aren't using these methods what are you using?

[Melody]

Are we connected on FB?  I will connect you on FB with some evangelists I know that will stoke your fire, brother.

I think the disconnect, besides carnality, is being discipled ourselves so that we can be effective.  Also, a plan to not just WIN them but disciple really helps. Folks get discouraged of a revolving door of new babies falling away. 

I know you'll all find this hard to believe but I'm learning I am lacking in some social skills that have hindered effectiveness. Though I've still had some success!  By the grace of God!  Hahaha

Hush.  

Seriously though, those things still work but methods of HOW have needed great improvement.

I'm getting ready to start another bible study and Nathan and I were asked by another apostolic if we'd show him how to teach one.   Being equipped with wisdom and resources goes a long way.

All of that on the foundation of the evangelists having a steady solid walk with God. 

[taco_harvell]

Thanks! Really trying to amp up my personal outreach.

Hopefully others will follow!

[Scott]

There really are no outdated techniques. Just people not doing it.

[clark thompson]

Something I have been hearing is "door knocking is outdated and no longer works". I have also been told the same about home Bible studies. Now, given most who I have heard say this are just lazy and dumb, but I do find it harder to get people to answer doors or agree to a bible study.

I still feel both are useful and will work. Does your church still use these methods and if so what is helping it work? If you aren't using these methods what are you using?

My church never did this but me and some friends have went to do door to door and still do we did have a bible study in the home of a lady but it came to an end and now we study the scriptures together before we go door to door.

[Backseat Radio]

Something I have been hearing is "door knocking is outdated and no longer works". I have also been told the same about home Bible studies. Now, given most who I have heard say this are just lazy and dumb, but I do find it harder to get people to answer doors or agree to a bible study.

I still feel both are useful and will work. Does your church still use these methods and if so what is helping it work? If you aren't using these methods what are you using?

How effective door knocking and home Bible studies are might depend on the area you're working in and how you're perceived.  If folks think you're another group like the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or a pesky door to door salesman, I can see why they'd be leery of opening the door.  In my neighborhood the only ones that ever bother going door to door is the Jehovah's Witnesses and their materials are immediately fed to my paper shredder.

For someone like me access to Bible studies would be more effective although I wouldn't necessarily want them in my home because of being uncomfortable with strangers in my home.  I would be willing to have a few studies in a public place like a restaurant or coffee shop.  What a few Bible studies would tell me is whether your church was actually interested in what the Bible has to say or if you were calling it a "bible study" to get me to listen to religious propaganda.

[Melody]

Good post Tia!  Mormons have a HQ here and people are wore out with them.

[The Purple Fuzzy]

I think door knocking is outdated. I don't want to open the door to some stranger and I don't want to go knock on some stranger's door.  I think that can be dangerous any more.  I guess if you feel the unction from God to knock on a particular door, that would be one thing but just randomly going from door to door just isn't very effective.

I think the best evangelism is friendship evangelism.  Make friends with folks and get to know them.  Feed them, talk to them, and then they might be open to hear more about what you believe.

[Lynx]

Tia how do you get them to come to your house? I have seen them come down my road, avoid my house, and knock on every door except mine. I don't know why, they have never come to my house, so I have never even had the opportunity to talk to them, so they should have no reason to avoid it...

[Backseat Radio]

Tia how do you get them to come to your house? I have seen them come down my road, avoid my house, and knock on every door except mine. I don't know why, they have never come to my house, so I have never even had the opportunity to talk to them, so they should have no reason to avoid it...

I assume my house has never been put on their "don't visit here" list cause I've never asked for them to visit my house. I just come home to find JW material stuffed in one of my doors.  Or the one time I happened to be home and awake when they came thru the guy at the door explained that they were giving out material answering the question of "can the dead live again" and handed me a pamphlet on it.  I did the friendly smile and treat them kindly but as soon as I closed the door the pamphlet went into the shredder.

If they avoid your house likely they've had bad dealings with someone that lived at your address or somehow they've been tipped off not to visit your house.  Would actually rather they not visit my house cause I have no interest in their teachings.

[Backseat Radio]

I think the best evangelism is friendship evangelism.  Make friends with folks and get to know them.  Feed them, talk to them, and then they might be open to hear more about what you believe.

I can see that.  Folks are more likely to listen if they know you're trustworthy and actually care about them and see something in you that's attractive to them.

I was pulled away from the Apostolic faith by means of internet evangelism.  I met the guy that played a major role in converting me out of the Apostolic faith in a chat room and discussion board program.  Got to know him online and he and a few others begin to teach me and give me answers to the questions I had and then referred me to a congregation in my area which baptized me into the Church of Christ.  The effect of his teaching is strong enough that I've never been able to fully go back to the Apostolic faith... tried a few times and I always end up going back to the Churches of Christ.

[Heather]

I scared JW's off from my old house before. I happened to have my bible right beside the door. Those old men went running [one with a cane] back down to the sidewalk. We don't get visitors out here in the country. Especially since we are so far off the road. We can rarely get the mail man to deliver packages to our house.

I think it's important in outreach to have a relationship with the community. Where we are currently going to church makes a big push to be relational. We hold VBS, block parties, and trunk or treats in local neighborhoods. Also we have a mentoring program at a nearby elementary school on mondays. These are the neighborhoods we knock doors in. People we've either been in contact with before or have heard of our church. Sometimes we'll go to different neighborhoods but usually just ones we've had some sort of connection with. We also help serve food on the campus of ETSU once a month to reach out to the university students.

[Melody]

I think door knocking is outdated. I don't want to open the door to some stranger and I don't want to go knock on some stranger's door.  I think that can be dangerous any more.  I guess if you feel the unction from God to knock on a particular door, that would be one thing but just randomly going from door to door just isn't very effective.

I think the best evangelism is friendship evangelism.  Make friends with folks and get to know them.  Feed them, talk to them, and then they might be open to hear more about what you believe.

There was a study just a few yrs ago saying the stats show 1% of door knocking recipients join a church. So, on one hand, basic general DK'ing doesn't render much success, on the other hand, isn't it worth that 1% to still do it?  I say do it but be Spirit led and follow thru with the intention of literally bringing someone new into your family for life.

I agree PF.  I for one cannot stand door knockers of any kind. I'm home, it is a refuge from commercialism. And no, stranger, I am not letting you into my home. What a rude question to even try. I don't care if you supposedly are going to clean a random patch of carpet for free!  Lol

[Scott]

The only success I've really had with door knocking is doing bus ministry. It was always best to show up with the bus so the neighborhood could see it.

[Backseat Radio]

When ever We Care Ministries goes out door knocking its clearly advertized in the area so folks know what congregation they're with and the 3 member teams are clearly marked too so folks know they're not from some wacky group.  They go out by 3's for safety and because known cultic groups tend to go out by 2's.  They're first mission is to provide natural help to the surrounding neighborhoods.  Then they offer studies to those interested in spiritual matters and their idea is always leave as a friend even if studies are turned down.

[taco_harvell]

Something I have recently noticed is the nicer area we go to the more likely we are to get the cops called on us. When we go to the projects the cops don't even want to go to we get better responses and many times people who ask us to stop and pray right then. Not many have come yet but seeds have been planted.

[Backseat Radio]

Same thing seemed to happen in Jesus day.... the elite of the day rejected and despised Christ but the outcasts of society were open to His message.

[The Purple Fuzzy]

I've read that folks are posing as church door knockers in some places to actually case the houses & rob them... So that doesn't help things.

[Melody]

In Ohio, there was child kidnapping/trafficking incident(s). 

Different things work for different cultures. Doesn't make one less hungry because they don't appreciate being approached without respect.  I find soliciting at my door at their convenience, extremely rude.