You will never hit a target you do not aim for. Training a congregation to create an evangelistic target list is one of the first steps in setting up a successful strategy. We cannot reach the lost if we do not know who they are, where they live, and how to approach them. Some congregations go through HTHSOE training and never set this up correctly. As with all HTHSOE evangelism tools, the contact list has been field tested to achieve results. The following ten questions will troubleshoot your list to improve overall effectiveness.
- Do you have a weekly printed list? Using scrap paper, a notebook, or a digital-only option will diminish your results.
- Are you using the free, professionally designed contact list that HTHSOE sends as part of the curriculum?
- Are you soliciting names from the congregation and using all other contact tools to populate a prospect list?
- Use HTHSOE bookmarks regularly to gather names.
- Use HTH and New Movers contacts to gather names.
- Use Visitors bags to gather names.
- Is your prospect list composed of sinners? Is your compassion card list primarily of sinners? If your list is more about comforting saints than converting sinners, you will not hit the target.
- Do you have contact cards to use for recording names and details available on your evangelism table?
- Is a central person responsible for populating, updating, and printing the list each week?
- Is the list handed out each Sunday to members with actionable instructions like sending cards, providing meals, or other acts of kindness?
- Is each contact being tracked on a spreadsheet to know what actions are being taken and for what length of time?
- Are personal visits being made after four weeks to sow the seed?
- Are you working the ministry, or is it on autopilot?
Congregational Reports
Coldwater church of Christ, Kentucky: Please welcome the Coldwater church of Christ to HTHSOE. We were impressed with every aspect of this congregation. The attendance was extremely good, and they are committed to moving forward and focusing on soul winning. Luke Puckett (preacher) reports, “Thank you, brother. You have really help us this week, and we look forward to implementing several things. We are looking forward to getting started. We have our first prospect, and we are starting on cards this week. It is one of our member’s sons who is not a member of the church. He is having surgery to remove blood clots. Our team leaders are working with their teams to send cards to him. I will them follow up with a personal visit in a few weeks.”
Warner’s Chapel church of Christ, Clemmons, North Carolina: Kevin Rutherford (preacher) reports, “Two Bible Studies. Lois Allen also has one. Also, crew the who is working on our evangelism station for us said they would like to do a little more work before I send a photo. Thanks for all your hard work. Glad you can get a break. You worked like a machine for us when you were here.”
Peninsula church of Christ, Hampton, Virginia: Ben Phillips reports, “I also wanted to share just how impactful the seminar has already been. So many conversations I have overheard have been about evangelism. The members are talking about it and praying for it. The Men’s Bible Study concluded with a 30-minute discussion of using Back to the Bible and how we could use our study as a time to encourage evangelism. One of our members, who is 91-years-old, told me that in all his years of being in the church, he had never heard anything like the HTHSOE Seminar and that every congregation needs it. I can see the culture changing. God bless your family for this good work!”
“Everything is off to a good start. The members have bookmarks in hand and have written down names of people they know need to hear the gospel. We made plans to start the compassion card work next week. Tonight, we went over the materials available on the evangelism table and how to use them. Folks are excited. Some studies are ongoing. New studies are starting. The leadership and members are all engaged. I can see the potential!”
Wewoka church of Christ, Oklahoma: Gage Coldwater (preacher) reports, “We continue to have Bible studies! We had one baptism this week as Brooklyn Azlin obeyed the gospel on Tuesday night. Her husband Dex had obeyed the gospel three weeks ago, and Dex’s father obeyed the gospel last week. We are currently studying with her brother Garrett, and he is very interested in learning the truth! God is good!”
East Ridge church of Christ, Chattanooga Tennessee: Charles Cochran (preacher) reports, “We are looking forward to the door knocking Saturday. Luke Griffin and our youth minister Alan Pitchford are planning it. My wife and I are happy to announce that our granddaughter and grandson were baptized yesterday. Their names are Ava and Jackson. The parents are Drew and Julie Kizer. Drew preaches at Ashville Road in Leeds, Alabama. We continue to send Bible Correspondence Courses each week. Allen Womack and his wife hope to visit Panama in October, if possible.”
Chase Park church of Christ, Huntsville, Alabama: Pat Cowden (preacher) reports, “I do not have an update of significance. Covid affected all of our studies again last week, either with the host of the studies or the prospects. We are trying to make alternate plans on holding studies at different places with those who are not sick. I will be speaking again this Sunday morning and will stress the evangelistic efforts.
“One of our members of our New Converts class who has been a Christian for about a year is going to teach my New Convert class while we are out of town November 8. All four of our compassion care groups have now met and are organized. We have a new mover program going into place and the visitor bags are being put together and given. Sorry there is not more; lots of people sick up here. Studies with five people are going well. I am not sure how the other studies are going to end up.”
Beattie Road church of Christ, New Albany, Georgia: Charles Harris (preacher) reports, “New Compassion Cards list being taken care of. Two separate BTTB 1 studies have begun this week, with lesson 2 studies scheduled. A BTTB 3 study will be taking place later in the week. Follow up visits of those who have been receiving cards have been going well. Doors are opened for more visits and setting up of Bible studies.”
Deerfoot church of Christ, Birmingham, Alabama: Richard Harp (preacher) reports, “We went to a limited meeting for the last two weeks because of a big spike in cases with our members so our cards team meeting was canceled this month (I was planning to get pictures). We plan to resume next week. We have one ongoing Bible study with one of our elders and his niece and her husband. Please pray for the Pratt family and their willingness to apply the Scriptures to their lives. We completed the first book with the congregation during the sermon and started the second book successfully. We are getting comments of thanksgiving for the simplicity of this study. Personal evangelism is frequently the topic of conversation. We are also getting ready for the door knocking day coming up. The ship is turning.”
Suitland Road church of Christ, Maryland: Eric Sykes (preacher) reports, “I know you’re getting all geared up for the brotherhood wide door knocking campaign next week. We are getting ready also. Just writing to give you an update on how things are going here in Suitland. We had four baptisms in August and two so far in September—all via Back to the Bible (three adults and three youth).”
Oak Hill church of Christ, Rome Georgia: Steve Murdock (elder) reports, “The Oak Hill Church of Christ continues to work hard for the Lord in Rome, Georgia. Various members conducted three Bible studies, the minister trained 137 from the pulpit, 80 compassion cards were sent, our compassion card ministry now has 15 teams, and the visitation ministry has 10 teams. Many members are ready to go door knocking this Saturday. We are planting seeds here and looking to God for the increase.”
Siwell Roach church of Christ, Mississippi: Derek Broome (preacher) reports, “Had a great week here at Siwell Road. The elders and ministers had our three-month meeting with Rob this past week. We are continually trying to improve our evangelistic efforts. We had numerous visitors here Sunday. We have already reached out to them again with cards and phone calls. We also had a meeting with our greeters this past week. It is great watching people get so excited about serving.”
Subligna church of Christ, Georgia: Tommy O’Kelley (preacher) reports, “We will begin training the congregation on October 10, for anyone in our auditorium. On October 2, we will participate in the annual door knocking day. We have some Bible studies going on, so things are really looking up. We also have some additional emails to provide to ensure all the congregation is receiving Reaching the Lost.”
Covington church of Christ, Tennessee: Wayne Dalrymple (elder) reports, “This has been another good week. We are in the process of fully implementing the New Movers program by compiling welcome baskets and recruiting two couples to be the organizers for the program. We had a second study with Jasmine and Matthew going through Back to the Bible book 2. We hope to do book 3 Sunday night. We will begin our new converts class in December. I will be teaching it. We have about eight new Christians that will be a part of it. We will be having our Family Day October 31. We are encouraging members to invite their friends and family to attend our worship service that day. B.J. Clarke will be speaking on the home and family. Although we will not be able to go door knocking as a group this Saturday because many of us will be gone on a youth retreat, we will be knocking on doors later. Please pray for our efforts.”
Cowetta church of Christ, Oklahoma: Keno Shrum (preacher) reports, “We had several visitors this morning and are in hopes of sitting down with them for Bible studies. We also are sending out compassion cards to a non-Christian who lost his wife this weekend to colon cancer. He is an employee of Jamie and myself, so I am hoping during this time, he will be receptive to hearing the word of God and see the need for comfort that only God can provide.”
Forestburg church of Christ, Texas: Mark Lindsey (preacher) reports, “We finished up our gospel meeting today. Attendance was good and the theme was “What Christ Demands.” We have a couple of members talking to their neighbor about a Bible study and hope to see that come about soon. As always we continue to send cards and check in on people.”
Hillsboro church of Christ, Tennessee: Shelby Moorman (preacher) reports, “We are ready for door knocking day on 10/02. We still have two studies going on. In all honesty, the cards need some more attention as they lagged while we were going through B2B material. I am hopeful the door knocking will help us kick off another round of prospects.”
Caddo Mills church of Christ, Texas: Jason Sparks (preacher) reports, “The Caddo Mills congregation continues to send cards with the number growing weekly. We had our first new mover visit and the church is beginning to respond even more to the opportunities available.”
Lafollette church of Christ, Tennessee: Ben Shaffer (preacher) reports, “Our members have been doing a great job of bringing visitors. Some of the visitors have already been involved in Bible studies. We have a few ongoing studies that we are hopeful will result in conversions. I started a study with a couple of elders in the Mormon Church last week. I did my best to strictly stick to the Back to the Bible study and not travel down different rabbit holes. As we got to the section dealing with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:3, the truth hit them. There was a good bit of uncomfortable silence as they tried to answer the questions of that section. We have our second study scheduled for Wednesday. Please pray, I have been told that the Mormon Church is notorious for shipping out their missionaries if they begin to question things.”
Oxford church of Christ, Alabama: Mike Benson (preacher) reports, “Louis and Sandy Higgins, one of our elders and his wife, has been studying the Scriptures with James Causey for the past few weeks. James obeyed the gospel Monday evening.”
Honolulu Church of Christ, Hawaii: Tagiilima Esene (preacher) reports, “The Lord added another soul to the church on September 22, 2021. Reuben Ahfook, one of our college students, made the decision to put on Christ in baptism. Praise God.”
Recent Comments