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to achieve even that percentage.? Planning. The Personal MinisTime Commitment -Two Eveningstries leader is the key person in helpa WeekThis is a major responsibility in the ing other leaders of the congregationchurch and requires significant time. develop outreach and soul-winningA Personal Ministries leader should plans. It is the leader’s responsibilityplan to devote two evenings a week or to get the key people together early toone evening and a Sabbath afternoon set goals. Get ownership for the goalsto personal Ministry activities. One from the church leadership, and theytime period is probably devoted to plan- will help meet them. Remember thatning and meeting with committees, the too many goals are confusing to the conother to active soul winning activities. gregation and more difficult to reach.Experience demonstrates that mostcongregations can only handle one, two,Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe duties and responsibilities of or three outreach goals at a time, andthe Personal Ministries leader include: this “time” usually spans two or threeyears.? Education and Communica? Working with Volunteers.The personnel for outreach in the local tion. The Personal Ministries leader’schurch are volunteers, and much of the first goal is to help every church member become aware thatleader’s work is the rehe or she is witnessingcruiting, training, andin his or her own way.What Today’soverseeing of this volunEvery believer is aVolunteers Wantteer workforce. Supervismissionary to the faming volunteers is not theSpecific tasks with ily members, work as?same as working withclearly defined limits. sociates, neighbors andemployees. VolunteersShort terms in office. others that they touchwill do what they enjoy or ? Plenty of people power every day, whetherare convicted to do, notto use in attaining the goal. they intend it or not.necessarily what needs to? Simple, direct feedback It is a surprisingbe done. Pleading withabout how they are doing. thought to many of ourthem from the pulpit orLots of affirmation. members who “hatetrying to make them feel ?witnessing” that theyguilty will not succeed.witnessanyway,whether they realizePersonal contacts are more effectivethan public appeals. Building a support it or not. The Personal Ministriesteam is essential for long-term success. leader’s task is to help church memThe leader will be working with a mi- bers use the unique opportunities andnority of the congregation. Church spiritual gifts that God has given togrowth specialists say that 10% of the each to accomplish His will.You can make use of the time alchurch should be involved in directlottedeach Sabbath. This time may beevangelism. That is a worthy objective,but it will take great persuasiveness called “King’s Business” or “personalministries time” or something else, andPersonal Ministries Handbook, page 8

it is essential that the Personal Ministries leader communicate regularlywith the church members regularlyabout their witness and opportunitiesfor service. This is a “non-negotiable”part of what it means to be an Adventist church. It is equally important tomake this time interesting and relevant to the members, and not a timeof haranguing, selling books or ritualistic readings.? Program Management. ThePersonal Ministries leader will be themanager of a number of programssponsored by the congregation. Someare denomination-wide, internationalcampaigns. Some are local ideas thata small group of members have developed. Each requires careful preparation, adequate supplies and peoplepower, and steady attention to detail.Check lists and work sheets to helpmanage these projects are published inmany different program manuals,handbooks and “how-to” volumes. Every project is a process, not a goal. Remember this, and no one will feel defeated if a project fails. The goal is tosave men and women for heaven. If onething does not work, another will.Inspired Thoughts onLeadership QualitiesPeople of Prayer. “Nothing is more needed in ourwork than the practical results of communion with God.We should show by our daily lives that we have peaceand rest in the Saviour. His peace in the heart willshine forth in the countenance. It will give to the voicea persuasive power. Communion with God will ennoblethe character and the life. Men will take knowledge ofus, as of the first disciples, that we have been withJesus. This will impart to the worker a power that nothing else can give. Of this power he must not allowhimself to be deprived.” - The Ministry of Healing, p.512People of Faith. “God’s workers need faith in God.He is not unmindful of their labors. He values theirwork. Divine agencies are appointed to co-operate withthose who are laborers together with God. When wethink that God will not do as He has said, and that Hehas no time to notice His workers, we dishonor ourMaker.” Christian Service, pp. 233, 234People of Courage. “Hope and courage are essential to perfect service for God. These are the fruit offaith. Despondency is sinful and unreasonable.”Prophets and Kings, p. 164. “Courage, energy, andperseverance they must possess.”- Gospel Workers,p. 39People of Action. “The cause of God demands menwho can see quickly and act instantaneously at theright time and with power. If you wait to measure every difficulty and balance every perplexity you meetyou will do but little. . . It is even more excusable tomake a wrong decision sometimes than to be continually in a wavering position, to be hesitating, sometimes inclined in one direction, then in another.”- Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 497Personal Ministries Handbook, page 9

Personal Ministries SecretaryLine of AuthorityThe Personal Ministries secretaryworks under the direction of the churchThe RoleThe work of the Personal Ministries pastor and the Personal Ministries disecretary is behind the scenes, but it is rector, and in close cooperation withvery important. Duties include serving the Sabbath School leadership team.as the business agent by ordering supplies from the Adventist Book Center, Time Commitment -Two hours aconference office and/or other distribu- weekThis can be a time-consuming retion facilities regularly used by thechurch; caring for the records, supplies sponsibility. Certain details must beand clerical details of church activities attended to every week.Committeesuch as Sabbath School, community meetings must be attended eachoutreach, soul-winning, family life pro- month.Even in the smallest church, a minigrams, children’s and youth ministries,mum of one hour a week will be neededstewardship education, etc.The Personal Ministries secretary just to sort the mail, stock supplies,serves as the secretary of the church type and copy minutes of meetings, andPersonal Ministries Council. Duties read and respond to correspondence. Ifinclude keeping the minutes and, with- your local church has more than 200out fail, handling correspondence. He members, it may take up to two hoursor she may also be a member of the a week for the paperwork.If the congregation is a larger one,Church board and various other comsome duties can be delegated to assismittees.It is important to see that one or tants. Assistants can cover meetings,more assistant secretaries are ap- but some of the sessions will requirepointed, because it is vital that some- the regular involvement of the Perone function in this role every Sabbath sonal Ministries secretary to knowand at every meeting of the related what is planned by the church leadersand provide the support they will need.committees.In some places, especially if thechurch membership is small and the Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Personal Ministries secretarychurch finds it difficult to fill all theoffices, it may be better to combine the is elected by the church and serves aspositions of Sabbath School and Per- the representative of the Adventistsonal Ministries secretaries into a Book Center for all departments of thesingle position. This combination also church. The secretary works closelyprovides a single contact point for the with the Personal Ministries leader inSababth School and Personal Minis- developing the outreach (missionary)tries Department at the conference/ programs of the church.—Church Manual,mission office when sending informa- p. 94tion and materials to the church.Personal Ministries Handbook, page 10

Specific responsibilities. Thespecific duties of the Personal Ministries secretary are:? To serve as secretary of the Personal Ministries Council, recording theminutes of Personal Ministries’ meetings and taking an active part in implementing departmental plans. The secretary should record reports of outreach(missionary) work done by churchmembers and complete and send allrequired reports and other informationabout such activities to the conference/mission/field Personal Ministries Department promptly each quarter.? To give a report of Personal Ministries activities to the church duringthe monthly Sabbath Personal Ministries service and during church business meetings.? To be responsible for all localchurch transactions with the AdventistBook Center or other suppliers. Thesecretary will maintain careful accounts with the suppliers, using a duplicate order at all times and, in cooperation with the church treasurer, willsee that accounts are settled speedily,with clearance of outstanding items ona monthly basis.? To call the attention of thechurch to resources that are availablefor use.? To plan periodic offerings to provide Personal Ministries supplies forthe members when such are not provided for through the church budget orthe conference/mission/field approvedoffering schedule. A church PersonalMinistries offering for this purpose maybe received on the first Sabbath of themonth. If this offering does not providesufficient funds, offerings may be takenat the weekly Personal Ministriesmeeting. The disposition of such Personal Ministries funds shall be madeby action of the Personal MinistriesCouncil.? To record details of services andreports of work done by church members, and to be prompt in sending asummary to the Personal Ministriesdirector of the conference/mission/fieldat the appointed time. Church Manual,p. 124.General responsibilities. Thepastor and elders, Sabbath School leaders, coordinators of outreach, soul-winning, youth and children’s ministries,family life, stewardship activities, andmany other local church leaders, willall depend on the Personal Ministriessecretary to routinely care for suppliesand detailed information. It is important to plan on certain routine activities as a regular cycle in your responsibilities:? Mail distribution. The mailmust be processed each week. It willcome to the church and possibly to thePersonal Ministries secretary’s home.In it will be items that must be handedor sent to the person in the congregation who needs the information. Because many different job titles are used,read carefully to be sure each letter orpublication gets into the right hands.Do not hold it until the date on the publication. Get it to them so they will haveas much time as possible to prepareand plan ahead.? Distribution of materials.Materials must be distributed eachweek to the Sabbath School classes anddivisions, as well as to church leaders,the literature rack or table in thePersonal Ministries Handbook, page 11

church lobby, etc. Leader’s guides,teacher’s quarterlies, magazines andother bulletins for leaders must be distributed the very next Sabbath afterthey arrive.? Supply cabinets. Supply cabinets should be established where youcan sort and store materials. Thesemust be organized and labeled so others can find what they need when youare not there. You may want to set upa notebook or clipboard where itemscan be “signed out” when they are removed, but it is not your place to prohibit other church officers from gettingto the materials. Your role is a ministry of service, not one of control andauthority.? The weekly Sabbath Schoolofferings. The weekly Sabbath Schoolofferings as well as offerings taken inmissionary meetings, special rallies,and small groups must be collected,counted and given to the church treasurer. The church treasurer should provide you with a receipt for the fundsyou turn in and monthly statements ofthe accounts you work with.? Standing orders. If your area ofthe world church uses a system of standing orders, each quarter’s standing order blanks for Sabbath School suppliesand other materials will arrive automatically. Carefully review these withthe leaders in charge of each divisionand program, and make any changesthat are needed in the order. If theyare not mailed back promptly, thechurch will receive the same items andamounts as indicated in the print-outfor another quarter.? Purchase of materials forPersonal Ministries Handbook, page 12church members. One of the tasks ofthe Personal Ministries secretary in local churches is taking orders and purchasing literature and books for individual church members from the Adventist Book Center or local Adventistsupply source. Whether the PersonalMinistries secretary will carry this responsibility depends on how the purchasing system works in your part ofthe world. The local conference/missionwill decide this and inform localchurches.

5Motivating Members to WitnessIntroductionThe Great Commission to go to allthe world with the gospel is beyond ourability to accomplish on our own. Howcan we fulfill God’s challenging mandate?unless all church members work together with ministers and church officers. The army of active lay preachers is growing rapidly, and with it isthe need for more effective trainingand guidance.Ellen White writes: “There shouldbe no delay in this well-planned effortto educate the church members.” —Testimonies, Volume 9, p. 119The New Testament ChurchThe church grew rapidly during thetime of the New Testament. Accordingto Acts 1:15, 120 disciples gathered inthe upper room. Acts 2:41,42 tells us Why Are People Not Involved?There are many reasons why peoplethere were 3,000 new converts. According to verse 47, God added to that num- do not participate in soul winning, butber daily. Acts 4:4 mentions another six basic reasons stand out:? Lack of self-confidence5,000 men as new converts. If only half? Unrecognized potentialof those men were married and had? Have never been askedchildren, the church membership could? No traininghave been over 10,000 by that time.? Limited understanding of roleAnd it continued to grow. Acts 21:20? No motivationsays many thousands (the Greek wordmeans myriads, multiples of ten thou?Never been asked. Some passand) of Jews believed.tors prefer to do all of the work themWhy Did the Church Grow So Fast? selves and are not used to delegatingIt was because everyone was in- responsibility to others. There arevolved in witnessing. Through the many people who would be involved ifpromises of God, the Lord will bring a they were asked to participate.harvest of souls as lay members become? No training. “Many would beinvolved. “The work of God in this earth willing to work if they were taught howcan never be finished until the men to begin.”—Christian Service, p. 59and women comprising our church Training is vitally important so peoplemembership rally to the work, and may be equipped to participate in witunite their efforts with those of minis- nessing activities.ters and church officers. . . .” —GospelWorkers, p. 352.This statement clearly indicatesthat the work will never be finishedPersonal Ministries Handbook, page 13

? Limited understanding of ers, and thus strengthen their own faithand increase their knowledge. As theyroles.Some members feel that preaching impart that which they have receivedfrom God, they will be confirmed in theand teaching are the responsibility of the pastor. They feelthey only need to come toUnrecognized Potential:church and give an offering.The Story of Yate’s Pool“The dissemination of the A man named Yates was a well-to-do farmer whotruth of God is not confined to had a very large field. He tried to plant variousa few ordained ministers. The plantations, but was unable to grow good crops.idea that the minister must He tried again and again, but failed each time. Socarry all the burdens and do after trying many times, he finally gave up. Heall the work is a great mis- became very poor and had to live on aid from thetake.”—Christian Service, p. 68 government. One day someone came to see Yatessaid he would like to test his soil. Yates said,?No motivation. Know- and“Yes, you can do anything with my field.” So theing that lay persons are pow- soil was tested and yielded 90,000 barrels of oil inerful forces for finishing God’s one day! Now, 30 years have passed, and thatwork, it is important that all land is still producing 150,000 barrels of oil per day.churches become training centers. Ideas for motivatingchurch members to do witnessing will faith. A working church is a livingchurch. We are built up as living stones,be discussed in further detail below.“Every church should be a training and every stone is to emit light. Everyschool for Christian workers. Its mem- Christian is compared to a preciousbers should be taught how to give Bible stone that catches the glory of God andreadings, how to conduct and teach reflects it.” —Christian Service, pp. 72,Sabbath School classes, how best to 73The church is an army. “Thehelp the poor and to care for the sick,how to work for the unconverted. church of Christ may be fitly comparedThere should not only be teaching but to an army. The life of every soldier isactual work under experienced instruc- one of toil, hardship, and danger. Onevery hand are vigilant foes, led on bytors.”—Christian Service, p. 59the prince of the powers of darkness,who never slumbers and never desertsOrganization of Christian Forceshis post. Whenever a Christian is off hisIs Essential“The church is God’s appointed guard, this powerful adversary makesagency for the salvation of man. It was a sudden and violent attack. Unless theorganized for service, and its mission members of the church are active andis to carry the gospel to the world.”— vigilant, they will be overcome by hisdevices.Acts of the Apostles, p. 9“What if half of the soldiers in an“Well-organized work must be donearmywere idling or asleep when orin the church, that its members may understand how to impart the light to oth- dered to be on duty; the result would bedefeat, captivity, or death. Should anyescape from the hands of the enemy,Personal Ministries Handbook, page 14

would they be thought worthy of theirreward? No; they would speedily receive the sentence of death. And if thechurch of Christ is careless or unfaithful, far more important consequencesare involved. A sleeping army of Christian soldiers—what could be more terrible! What advance could be madeagainst the world, who are under thecontrol of the prince of darkness? Thosewho stand back indifferently in the dayof battle, as though they had no interest and felt no responsibility as to theissue of the contest, might betterchange their course or leave the ranksat once”—Testimonies, Volume 5, p. 394Responsibility for providingtraining. “Those who have the spiritual oversight of the church should devise ways and means by which an opportunity may be given to every member of the church to act some part inGod’s work. Too often in the past thishas not been done. Plans have not beenclearly laid and fully carried out,whereby the talents of all might beemployed in active ser

Personal Ministries Handbook, page 1 This Handbook is a guide for Per- . tist Church Manual, “The Personal Ministries leader is elected by the church to lead in training and direct-ing the church in ac