INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION PERSONAL MINISTRIES/SABBATH SCHOOL

October 17, 2011 No Comments »

INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION
PERSONAL MINISTRIES/SABBATH SCHOOL

That the World May Know through Vision One Million
Emphasizing:

Spiritual Connection
And
Addressing Social Needs

1,000,000 consecrated Disciples of the church in Inter American Division, participating as:
Consecrated Disciples

• Conducting lay preachers evangelistic campaigns
• Functioning as bible instructors
• Leading small groups
• Participating as lay instructors
• Executing other departmental functions

Accessing Training in the areas of:

- How to prepare Sermons
-How to conduct effective evangelistic campaigns
-How to give Bible Studies
-How to manage small groups effectively
- How to be effective Lay Instructors
-Adventist Theology and Mission

Empowered by the Holy Spirit Consecrated Disciples in Action:

- Functioning within the Church

-Functioning within the Community

A Program of Revival and Reformation in the Inter-American Division

IAD SHORT EVANGELISTIC SERIES

February 4-11, 2012

Nights

Subject

Topic

Promotion

Decisions

Remarks
Friday Repentance The amazing secrets of a New Life Attendance Stand for a new life in Christ
Saturday Calvary Amazing Grace that will not let you go Promote a family life topic Call to the alter to accept Christ
Sunday Sabbath How to live longer and stay younger Promote the social topic X on a card to show obedience
Monday Family Life The secrets of a happy marriage Promote attendance Call family to the alter
Tuesday Baptism The beginning of a new Life in Christ Baptism one of these days Stand to understand of Bap.
Wednes. Signs Ride on King Jesus! Are you ready? Baptism one of these days Stand to indicate readiness
Thurs. Heb. Boys Fire proof men in hell Baptism on Sabbath Call to the alter for baptism
Friday Prodigal Having fu non slippery slope Baptism on Sabbath Call to the alter for baptism
Saturday Naamán The joy of a new life in Christ Baptismal Celebrate Call for baptism

The Inter America Division Evangelistic Movement

The theoretic assumption: Leaders who model the evangelistic change they want see will earn the right to be advocators and innovators of change.

The IAD Head Quarters Evangelistic Movement

  1. Administrators
  2. Vice Presidents
  3. Directors
  4. Staff

Union Conference Evangelistic Movement

  1. Administrators
  2. Directors
  3. Evangelism

Conference/Mission Evangelistic Movement

  1. Administrator
  2. Directors
  3. Pastors
  4. Evangelist

Local Churches

  1. Lay evangelists
  2. First elders

 

Inter America Division

Vision One Million

 

 Guidelines for Organizing and Leading

 

Vision One Million Campaigns

 

Motto:

Model the Change You Want to See

 

 Samuel Telemaque

Associate Personal Ministries Director

 

ORANGANIZING THE ZONES/ DISTRICTS FOR  EVANGELISM

 

                 Intercessory Prayer Ministry Committee

  1. Identify and select a cadre of intercessors for the campaign
  2. Organize for specialized training for the intercessors
  3. Identify and select a comfortable tent or room for the intercessors
  4. Organize a forty days of prayer and fasting.
  5. Organize for families to pray for the campaign at family worship
  6. Design innovative Wednesday night prayer services in each church

 

              Personal Ministry Council

  1. Determine the territorial boundaries for field work
  2. Organize the church for field work
  3. Design a field preparation strategy to enable every member to work with seven prospects for baptism. This is of top priority to the Evangelist.
  4. Design a count-down for the campaign for the field
  5. Determine the ethnicity to be targeted
  6. Hold the Personal Ministry Leaders accountable
  7. Plan, organize, lead, monitor and implement the evangelistic strategy
  8. Seek Church Board approval for the plans of the council
  9. Utilize the first Sabbath each month to inform, organize, promote and lead the church into frontline evangelism
  10. Convene bi- monthly meetings of the Personal Ministries’ council

 

            Field Preparation Committee.  

  1. Formation of Bible study small groups
  2. Social ministries activities in the communities of the campaign
  3. Sabbath school community guest day celebration in the local church
  4. Systematic visitation in the field by Bible workers.
  5. Enrollment in a short Bible lesson series
  6. Systematic distribution of priority magazine to targeted persons
  7. Forty days prayer for the Holy Spirit to increase receptivity to the gospel

 

             Ministry of Music committee

  1. Design culturally relevant music and songs
  2. Ascertain song service persons availability and reliability
  3. Determine dress code and appearance
  4. Design approaches to create the atmosphere for the preaching of the Word
  5. Schedule all your special musical items three weeks in advance

 

            Musician Committee

  1. Ascertain musical instruments relevant for ethnic contexts
  2. Determine the cadre of musicians for the campaign
  3. Secure musicians’ commitment to the campaign
  4. Schedule rehearsal for the musicians

 

           Ushers’ Committee

  1. Ascertain the cadre of ushers required for the campaign
  2. Ascertain the age range and ethnic composition of the ushers
  3. Organize for specialized training for the ushers two months before campaign.
  4. Assess the appropriate dress code for the ushers.
  5. Determine the duties of the ushers.

 

             Site Committee

  1. Ascertain the logistical issues involved in site selection
  2. Determine the site three months before the campaign begins
  3. Assess the requirements to have the site ready for the campaign
  4. Assess the relevance of the site to the special targeted ethnicity
  5. Organize a focus group to test relevance of site selection

 

             Technology Committee

  1. Ascertain the technological requirements for the campaign
  2. Explore the possibility for live streaming each night
  3. Explore the possibility of spontaneous feedback via email, text messages, MSN chat room, my space, and U- tube.
  4. Arrange for the recording and reproduction of the sermons
  5. Explore the possibility of placing daily updates on the IAD website

 

           Budget Committee

  1. Assess the financial contribution from each church, conference and Union, IAD
  2. Assess the budgetary requirements of each committee
  3. Identify and select persons to form a finance committee
  4. Design a budget for Union and Conference approval for November 15, 2011
  5. Arrange for weekly accounting of all monies disbursed
  6. Determine a system for fund disbursement.

 

              Transportation Committee

  1. Ascertain transportation requirements for the campaign
  2. Engage in early negotiations for the best possible prizes
  3. Arrange for coordinators for each bus to monitor visitors’ attendance, pick up time and provide feedback to transportation manager
  4. Arrange for special and selective transportation-e.g. large family
  5. Arrange for visitors to be transported as a family
  6. Encourage members to transport their friends for the purpose of bonding
  7. Give priority to early arrival of visitors and swift departure of visitors

 

             Security Committee

  1. Arrange for a secured, designated parking for the evangelist
  2. Arrange for a disciplined watchmen for the site of the campaign
  3. Arrange for the supervision of parked vehicles
  4. Arrange for nightly escort of the evangelist to his/her vehicle

 

                  Secretariat Committee

  1. Ascertain the number of  visitors in attendance at the meeting each night
  2. Make a list of names, addresses and telephone number of every visitor
  3. Provide the evangelist with feedback on nightly visitors’ attendance
  4. Make a summary of nightly sermons to give to visitors the following night
  5. Design a record  sheet to track the frequency of visitors’ attendance

 

                 Food Committee

  1. Explore the feasibility of providing visitors with a hot soup upon arrival to the meeting
  2. Design a menu and budget for meals on baptism day
  3. Identify and select a cadre of volunteers to assist with meal preparation

 

 

                    Communication Committee

  1. Assess the communication requirement of the campaign
  2. Design a communication network for effective and quick dissemination of information to each church
  3. Keep the church focused on the countdown requirement each week
  4. Design posters, countdown, sound bites, and advertisements to market the campaign
  5. Design a culturally relevant logo for the campaign
  6. Design sticker “……………. is coming soon.”

 

                        Decoration Committee

  1. Ascertain the decoration requirements for the campaign
  2. Consult with the evangelist on the nature of his back drop
  3. 3.     Design a budget for the required decoration

 

  1. 4.     Bible Workers Committee
  2. Identify and select a cadre of lay Bible Workers for the campaign
  3. Arrange for all lay Bible Workers to receive advanced training by November 30th 2011. This is very important to the evangelist.
  4. Establish the territorial boundaries for deployment of the Bible Workers.
  5. Each Bible Worker is required to compile an interest list of fifty  prospects by December 15, 2011
  6. Plan for Bible Workers’ deployment in their territories by October 15, 2011

 

                  Campaign Manager/Leader

  1. Convene monthly meetings with the Steering Committee
  2. Consult with the evangelist to have problems clarified and to provide update on the campaign’s progress
  3. Work with the designated committee to prepare a countdown for the campaign by October 15, 2011
  4. Monitor and provide leadership for all aspects of the campaign.

 

              Health and Safety Committee

  1. Visit campaign site to assess safety requirements
  2. Design an exit strategy for emergency
  3. Identify a cadre of nurses whom you can contact in case of an emergency
  4. Arrange to have a first aid kit available at the campaign site
  5. Secure all electrical wirings
  6. Arrange for adequate toilet facilities and monitor their sanction
  7. Arrange for ten minutes health lecture every night

Everything God does is Evangelism

Topic: Everything God does is Evangelism

Aim:    To inspire every member to participate in the church’s mission in world

Base Chapter:  Isaiah 54: 1-17

Action:            Invitation to the altar to demonstrate partnership with God to save the lost

Introduction

Everything the church does is not evangelism. However, everything God does is evangelism. He positioned Israel at the center of the Promised Land so that she could be in a strategic position to evangelize the heathen nations. Everything God does is evangelism even in the geographical location of His church. Israel’s mission was to make known to the heathen nations “The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6: 4” NIV). This was because the heathen nations believed and practiced polytheism. They worshipped many gods. God’s vision for the heathen nations included a steady conversion to monotheism- belief in one God. This vision became Israel’s mission to the heathen nations. Israel was to evangelize the heathen people with the message “The Lord our God, the Lord is one” so that they would accept and worship Israel’s God.

Instead of the heathen people accepting and worshipping Israel’s God, Israel accepted and worship the gods of the heathen nations. God was then faced with the problems of a barren church and desolate nations or people. Israel became like the heathen nations in her practices, beliefs and worship.

In Isaiah 54:1-17, the Lord describes His problems with Israel and the heathen nations.  He, however, challenged Israel to return to her God given mission to the nations because He still remains faithful to her and will bless her if she carries the mission to the heathen nations. Evangelism is at the center of God’s dealing with Israel in this chapter. Let us examine how God inspired His church to return to frontline evangelization of the heathen nations.

God called Israel’s attention to her spiritual problem.  In verse 1, He likened her idolatry to a barren woman or barren tree. The imageries convey the idea of stagnation, unfruitfulness, unproductiveness, and laziness. In Revelation 3: 17 the Lord describes the spiritual condition of Laodiceans to be “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (NIV). The sin of idolatry led Israel to abandon her mission to the nations. The sin of self deception makes Laodiceans complacent with their spiritual condition before God. When our lives are affected by sin, our relation with God is affected and we become spiritually barren, miserable, poor, blind and naked. If we are lost within the church, we will have no zeal to labor for the lost in the world. A barren church needs to re-examine her beliefs, values, worship practices and personal devotion in context of the mission mandate to the world.  God invited Israel to examine her spiritual condition of “barrenness” so she might be awakened to her mission in the world.

In the later part of verse 1 the Lord describes the mission challenges among the heathen nations. He states it simple “for more are the children of desolate than the children of the married woman.”  The Lord indicates clearly to Israel that there are more people who are lost among the heathen nations than those who are saved. This is the mission challenge for the Seventh day Adventist church today. The Inter America Division territory has a population of approximately 200,000, 000 people. It is estimated 3,000,000 of these people are Seventh day Adventists. There are approximately 6 billion people living on the planet. The Seventh day Adventist church membership worldwide is estimated at 16 million members.  The mission challenge is obvious.  The Lord states “for more are the children of desolate than the children of the married woman.” Paul argues in Ephesians 2: 12 the children of the desolate are “without God in this world, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and having no hope” (NIV).

The Lord addresses in Isaiah 54: 1 two mission problems.  They are a barren church and a desolate world. The world has corrupted the church. Conversely, the church has abandoned her mission to the world.

However, God has not forgotten the church. He commands the church to move from a state of barrenness to active engagement in evangelism. In verses I and 2 He used powerful evangelistic symbols to inspire to Israel to return to her mission evangelization the nations. These symbols convey clearly the Lord’s will for Israel. They expressed His will for Israel in symbols such as: “sing and cry” ”tent” “cords” “stakes”. These are beautiful imageries of mass evangelistic campaign. The Lord wishes to convey to Israel that she has been given a unique message “The Lord our God, the Lord is one” for all the nations. The Lord placed Israel in a strategic geographical position for the purpose of evangelizing the nations. It was Israel’s responsibility to proclaim by words and deeds “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

Today it is the every member’s responsibility to proclaim by words and deeds the “everlasting gospel” to every nation, tongue, tribe and people. Every member is a messenger entrusted with the message to carry a specific mission in the world. The mission is “seek and save the lost.”  The church exists to carry out God’s mission in world.

Today the Inter America Division launches its evangelistic initiative called Vision One Million in every church in its territory. Vision One Million seeks to galvanize, inspire, equip and deploy one million consecrated members into direct, active and persuasive proclamation of the gospel in every territory of the Inter America Division.  These members include field administrators, pastors, Lay Preachers, small group leaders, Lay Bible Workers, field directors, Lay Witnesses, children, youth- really every member. The mission of Vision One Million evangelistic initiative is reaping a harvest of one million baptized members by 2014. This is the largest mobilization for evangelism in the history of Inter America Division. We believe that Vision One Million will result in unprecedented church growth.

The Lord assured Israel of unprecedented church growth.  “For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make desolate cities inhabited” (Isaiah 54: 3). What an assurance of success. The Lord says “you shall expand” because I am your “Maker”, I am your “Redeemer”, I am your “Husband” and I am your “Teacher.”  It is the Lord who makes the mission successful. All church growth comes from the Lord. He gives the increase. Israel’s task is simply to carry the mission.

Our God is bigger than the mission task. We are not to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of Vision One Million, but rather we are to be energized by the greatness of the God who has called us to participate in Vision One Million evangelistic movement. It is God who makes our mission possible.

The Lord is faithful toward us, in spite of our unfaithfulness to Him. “For the mountains shall depart and the hill be removed but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed says the Lord” (Isaiah 54: 10). In Mathew 28: 19 Jesus said lo I am with you always… The assurance of divine presence gives us the courage, zeal and holy boldness to attempt big things for God. He will be with us in all circumstances such as loneness, failures, rejections, anxieties, uncertainties, hostility, persecution and oppositions. Jesus declares “I am with you always.” The Lord’s presence with us will inspire and sustain our involvement in Vision One Million for the next few years. Therefore, He says “fear not little folk for it is the Father’s pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”

God rewards faithful laborers in evangelism. In Isaiah 54: 11-17, the Lord identifies some of the blessings we shall receive from participating with Him in Vision One Million evangelistic movement. “ I will lay your foundations with sapphires; all your children will be taught by the Lord; great shall be the peace of your children;  in righteousness  you shall be established ; and no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper. We receive the blessings from the moment we decide to be enlisted into God’s mission in the world. He blesses us so that we might work. We are willing to participate in Vision One Million because we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Working for Jesus is an expression of gratitude to our Lord for “all His benefits” toward us. There is joy in the service of the Lord. (Illustration- give your personal testimonies of God’s blessings toward you).   

Today Jesus invites you to partner with Him in saving the lost at any cost

Today Jesus promises that all your children will be taught of the Lord

Hear the voice Jesus calling-Who will go and work today!!! Will you answer:-

  1. Lord send me where  people are perishing without hope
  2. Lord send me into ………………………………………
  3. Lord send me into …………………………………………………

How many are willing to say, Lord send me wherever you want me to go. Please raise right your hand.

How many are willing to say, Lord choose me to do whatever you want me to do. Please stand.

Today the Lord wants to enlist you in His army of one million soldiers (Vision One Million).

Begin to sing an appeal song (select the song in advance). While singing call to the altar:-

  1. Lay preachers: adult, children, youth, women
  2. Small group leaders
  3. Bible workers
  4. Literature evangelistic
  5. Lay witnesses

Today you have come to the altar to indicate to Jesus your decision to participate in Vision One Million evangelistic movement. You are jointing thousands of members around the Inter America Division who have been enlisted into the Vision One Million evangelistic movement. One March 24, 2012, one million members will invite one million visitors to the Seventh day Adventists churches around the entire Inter America Division territory. Begin to prepare your friends or visitors for this grand celebration. It is expected that thousands of our visitors will get baptized on March 24, 2012. How many will begin to work from today to prepare visitors to attend this local church on March 24, 2012? Please raise your right hand. Blessings!

Special prayer of consecration for:

  1. All the members at the altar
  2. Vision One Million evangelistic movement.
  3. March 24, 2012 visitors’ celebration

Closing song: “Sowing in the Morning” or “Vamos a Sembrar”

Samuel Telemaque

    Holy Zeal for Vision One Million

September 3, 2011

Sabbath School

Samuel Telemaque

The Webster New World College Dictionary defines the word igniting to mean: to set fire to; cause to burn; to heat to a great degree; make glow with heat; to arouse the feelings of; excite;  bake and be ablaze,

Luke uses the symbol fire to communicate the energizing and illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. He also used the symbol of the wind to convey the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit. The wind preceded the fire. Let us read Acts 2: 2-3

The Holy Spirit is portrayed as God’s breath, this divine, life giving wind, blew across the water in the beginning. In Genesis 2:7, God breathed His Spirit into Adam. Only then Adam became a living being. John 3: 3:7, Jesus conveyed the idea that the new birth is analogous to God’s creation of Adam. Just as life came to Adam from God so also a new life comes to a person as God breaths the Holy Spirit into the person.

The symbol of fire also has meaning. It means spiritual illumination. This means the Holy Spirit can help us to see our spiritual condition without Christ and what we can become in Christ. There are many references to fire in the Bible. Jesus says He has come to bring fire on earth(Luke 12:49). John testifies “He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matt 3: 11). The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost led to the spread of the gospel to the uttermost parts of earth. The Holy Spirit gave the church Holy zeal to proclaim gospel.

The infilling and baptism of the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the fitness/ qualification for their global mission. There is a distinction between the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. James Montgomery Boice in his book Acts argues that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is associated with the “new birth”, while being filled the Holy Spirit is associated with an “eagerness” to testify of Jesus. Ellen G. White argues differently. She contends that the baptism of Holy is a “heavenly wisdom… to know how to plan and execute wisely” (Acts p.50). She purports further that baptism of the Holy Spirit “qualities” the laborer for ministry (Act of the Apostles 283).

Under the Spirit’s teaching they received the final qualification and went forth to do their life work. They were of one accord, of one heart, one soul, Christ filled their thoughts and advancement of His kingdom was their aim. Men took notice that they had been with Jesus.

The Sabbath School Department in every church in the Inter America Division should collaborate with other ministries to enlist, recruit, equip and deploy one million or more lay members into a direct, active, informative and persuasive proclamation of the gospel through the entire Inter-American Division territory. These lay members will be frontline preachers of hope in Jesus.

It is intended that Vision One Million will rekindle, recapture and restore the passion for the proclamation of the gospel. This is designed to galvanize one million lay members into                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the direct preaching of the gospel within the Inter-American Division territory during 2012-13. This Vision One Million seeks to foster high energy but limited focus of the direct proclamation of the gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is your response to God’s call? This is your opportunity to shine for Christ. Today, there are millions of people in “gross darkness.” These people are in our neighborhood, work place and even churches. God is on a rescue mission to save the lost. How many want to join the rescue mission of Vision 1,000,000  to witnesses for Christ?

 

 FASES DEL CRECIMIENTO

El crecimiento saludable y duradero de la iglesia es multidimensional.  Mi definición de lo que es el crecimiento de la iglesia tiene cinco fases: Cada iglesia necesita crecer en amor a través del compañerismo, en profundidad a través del discipulado, en fuerza a través de la adoración, en amplitud a través del ministerio, y en tamaño a través del evangelismo.

En Hechos 2:42-47 se describen estas cinco fases de crecimiento en la primera iglesia de Jerusalén.  La iglesia primitiva experimentaba comunión, se edificaban los unos a los otros, adoraban ministraban y evangelizaban.  Como resultado de esto el versículo 47 dice: AY el Señor añadía cada día a la iglesia los que habían de ser salvos@.  Que fantástico!, esa era una iglesia que tenía bien claro su misión, que sabía que lo primero es la evangelización antes que la estructura, no que esta última no sea necesaria, sino que lo que la iglesia primitiva establece es que la tarea de evangelizar tiene prioridades que necesitamos tomar en cuenta.

Cada vez que miro este cuadro en la misión de la iglesia más me convenzo que no hay otra manera de alcanzar este ideal si no es solamente a través de los grupos pequeños, es allí donde encontramos el equilibrio correcto para crecer.

 Las cinco fases del crecimiento de la iglesia

Las iglesias necesitan crecer en amor a través del compañerismo.

Las iglesias necesitan crecer en profundidad a través del discipulado.

Las iglesias necesitan crecer en fuerza a través de la adoración.

Las iglesias necesitan crecer en amplitud a través del ministerio.

Las iglesias necesitan crecer en tamaño a través del evangelismo.

 

Este modelo de crecimiento sólo es posible si organizamos a nuestras iglesias en grupos pequeños, es allí donde podemos encontrar estas fases de la iglesia primitiva combinadas y reflejadas claramente.


La salud de una iglesia puede tener lugar sólo cuando su  mensaje es bíblico y su  misión es equilibrada;  Cada uno de los cinco propósitos del Nuevo Testamento para la iglesia debe verse reflejado en los grupos pequeños. El equilibrio en una iglesia no llega por casualidad es la consecuencia de organizarla en  grupos pequeños. Pero por otro lado quiero que recordemos que la cita que por años ha inspirado a la Iglesia en la organización de los pequeños grupos tiene una doble dimensión., E.G. de White dijo: ALa formación de los grupos pequeños como labase  del esfuerzo  cristiano me fue mostrado por uno que no puede errar@  SC  pág.   92 (el énfasis es nuestro), muchas veces hemos sólo enfatizado la palabra formación, olvidando  la palabra base, creo firmemente, que es esta la palabra clave en los grupos pequeños. Los grupos pequeños se constituyen en la base del crecimiento de la iglesia, en la base para que estas cinco fases de la iglesia primitiva sean una realidad en Inter América. Para el próximo quinquenio nos hemos propuesto que los grupos pequeños sean la base de la VISION UN MILLON y así alcanzar un triple crecimiento: Crecimiento espiritual, financiero y numérico.

Por favor ora y pide a Dios que te conceda sabiduría para orientar a la Iglesia hacía el cumplimiento de su Misión y la terminación de la obra en nuestro territorio. Invitamos a toda la iglesia, distrito o Campo local a comprometerse en esta Visión.

Melchor Ferreyra

 

Seeking the Lost

Topic: Seeking the Lost

Aim:    To identify the three (3) conditions of being lost as identified in Luke 15: 1-31.

Know: That God goes in search of sinners regardless of the condition/s in which they may find themselves.

Feel:    The steadfastness of God’s love for ‘the lost’ in the world.

Action:  To call youth to the altar in commitment to ‘Vision One Million’.

Introduction

Narrator:

It is likely that you have seen the fear of abandonment on the tear- streaked face of a child frantically screaming or quietly sobbing because he/she is separated from his/her parent in a huge shopping center. The Bible uses the word “lost” to describe an even more terrible condition. Those who are away from the Father’s house and have not found their way back home to Him are described as “lost.”

There are many theories concerning who will be saved and who will be lost. Jonathan Lewis in his book World Mission: The Biblical/Historical Foundation (1994) identified three (3) theories regarding how people will be saved or lost.

From about the third century the doctrine of universalism advocated that “all will be saved because God is good.” The problem with this theory is that it undermines belief in the atoning death of Christ; for if all sin will ultimately be overlooked by a gracious deity, Christ never should have died. The atonement is a central truth of scripture. The doctrine of universalism minimizes the importance of the salvation of the lost.

A new universalism theory emerged in the 20century. Karl Barth, a prominent advocate of this theory, purports that “Christ died for sinners, and all will ultimately be saved on the basis of Christ’s provision”. This theory has no biblical basis. The theory suggests there is no need for the  preaching of the gospel or the church’s mission.  However, Jesus clearly taught that there are two possible destinies resulting from the great conflict between Christ and Satan (Matthew 7: 13-14).

There is another theory which uses ‘sincerity’ as the foundation for salvation. The theory is known as the “Wider Hope.” The theory argues “not all will be saved, but many who have not heard of Christ will be saved because God is just and will not condemn the sincere ‘seeker after truth’.” Of course one can be sincerely wrong; therefore, sincerity does not alter reality.

Jonathan Lewis classifies the final theory as The New Wider Hope Theory. The theory contends that ‘people, who lived by the light they received, may be saved on the merits of Christ’s death through general revelation. This theory suggests that it might be better to not hear the gospel than to hear and reject it’.

All these theories seem to minimize the significance of the sinner’s belief in Christ for salvation. “There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

In Luke 15, Jesus used three (3) parables to illustrate some possibilities of how one can be “lost.” Let us explore through the use of drama, the sinner’s awareness of his ‘lost condition’ in the world; God’s love toward the lost and the role of the church in preaching the gospel to the lost.

                                                                                                                                                            THE FIRST PARABLE:  The Lost Sheep: Unable to Get to the Sleep Pen Without Help.

The setting of the parable

The setting may consist of natural plants, the sound of flowing river, bleating of sheep and a video clip of sheep in the pasture.

The lost: The sheep appears in this setting walking on hands and feet. The sheep appears confused, tired and lonely. The person acting as the sheep may be dressed to reflect a sheep-like form. The sheep should be light enough to be placed on the shepherd’s shoulders when it is found.

Lost sheep exposed to danger: While the lost sheep demonstrates its inability to find its way home, use sound effects of the roaring of lions, barking of dogs, pouring rain and the rolling of thunder which threatens the sheep in its natural environment; at every threatening sound, the sheep should appear more confused and afraid by bleating louder. Finally the sheep may appear trapped among the plants in the natural environment on the stage.

The shepherd:  The shepherd appears on the stage dressed in a long a robe and staff with a curve at the top end of the staff. As the shepherd moves across the stage he hears the bleating of many sheep (sound effects) but the bleating of the lost sheep catch his attention.  He moves toward the lost sheep with thoughtfulness and care for the lost sheep.

The lost sheep: Aware of the approaching shepherd, the lost sheep attempts to get away from its trapped position in the vegetation.

The shepherd: He hurries toward the lost sheep, bends over the sheep, and gently removes it from its entanglement. He places the sheep around his shoulder or in his arms and moves towards the audience and says:

I left all my sheep in the pen, to go in search for the one sheep that was lost. Rejoice with me I have found my lost sheep.

 

Special Music: Quartet- “There were ninety and nine”

http://www.scriptureandmusic.com/Music/Text_Files/The_Ninety_And_Nine.html

THE SECOND PARABLE:   The Coin: It is lost and is unaware of its ‘lost’ state.

The settings: Chairs, pictures, plants, table, plates, glasses, food etc.

Woman: Sitting at her table counting her coins aloud from one to ten pieces. She then makes her grocery list to go shopping.  She reads the items out loud as she writes on her sheet of paper.  She gets up from the table to travel to the grocery store to purchase the items. Before leaving the house she makes many attempts to secure the ten pieces of coins in her head tie, purse or bosom.  Inadvertently, one of the coins drop to the floor without her noticing it; the coin is left on the floor. The woman leaves for the grocery shop: with basket, umbrella, money, and shopping list.

The grocery shop: create the settings of grocery store or shop. Arrange for the cashier and assistant to the cashier (who will retrieve the items from the shelves). Give the grocery shop a name e.g. The Ten Coins Store.

The woman arrives at the grocery shop: She greets the shop keeper and voices appreciation for the name of the grocery store. The store keeper accepts her compliments graciously. She reads the list of all the items she requires in the grocery store. The shop keeper provides all the items without exception.  The lady is told the cost of the items is ten coins.

The store keeper: “Lady the total cost of your grocery items is equivalent to ten coins”.

The woman: “I have exactly ten coins”. She then reaches confidently for her ten coins (in her head tie or purse), there she finds only nine coins. She exclaims “I had ten coins but now I have only nine coins. One coin is missing.”

The shop keeper: She/he says jokingly “The coin is probably lost but don’t know it is lost”

The woman:  OK! I will leave the grocery items here and go in search of the lost coin. “I am sorry for the embarrassment.  My coin is lost and it does not know that it is lost. I will find it at any cost. Without my help the coin will remain lost. I will seek diligently for the lost coin in my house”.

The woman walks home: While she walks home she says with sorrow in her voice “My coin is lost and is totally unaware it is lost.” She repeats this statement all the way home.

The search for the coin: Upon arriving home she goes in search of the lost coin.

(First she asked her family members if they found a lost coin in the house).

 The woman: “Has anyone found a lost coin?  This one coin is lost but it does not know that it is lost”.

Family members:” We have not seen or found a lost coin in this house. It is terrible to be lost and don’t know one is lost.”

Methods of search:  The woman uses three (3) methods to search for the lost coin before she finds it.

The woman: Firstly she sweeps the house thoroughly with the broom but she does not find the lost coin. Secondly, she searches the floor with a torch light but still does not find the lost coin. Then she decides to prayer for divine guidance before continuing her search.  After a moment of intercessory prayer, she searches the floor of the house again with the broom and torch light. Suddenly a voice says to the woman, “Search between the chairs”. She finds the lost coin stuck between the chairs on which she sat before going to grocery shop.

The woman expresses her joy of finding the lost coin: She wipes the coins. She then turns to the audience and says “Rejoice with me, for I have found my piece which I lost”

Special music: “Seeking the Lost”

THE THIRD PARABLE: The Prodigal:  The Prodigal knows he is lost and knows the way back to his father’s house.

Settings: A pigpen, sound effects of pigs; prodigal son in rags sitting close to the pig pen, sins of the prodigal son stuck to the pig pen etc.

The Prodigal confess that he is lost: “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough to spare and I perish with hunger.”

Prodigal: I am lost! I know I am lost! I am a long, Long, Long, way from home! I am lost.

The Prodigal knows his way home: “I will arise and go back to my Father. I will say to him, father I have sinned, I am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

The Father: forgiveness, compassion, love and salvation.

The Father sees him coming from afar off! The father runs toward him, grabs hold of him, kisses him and says,” bring the fatted calf and kill it, let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found”; and they began to be merry.

Special Music: “Here I am Lord” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzp83SWRNZw

 

Samuel  Telemaque                                                                                                                             Associate Personal Ministries and Sabbath School Director Inter America Division.

 

The General Conference of Seventh day Adventists

Inter America Division

The Forces of Mobilization for Vision One Million

Samuel Telemaque

Associate Personal Ministries Director

 

The Divine Call and Mobilization for Vision One Million

  1. The invitation to participate in evangelism should have its appeal in the divine call to mission.
  2. The theological significance of the divine should be clearly articulated to every member.
  3. 3.      The divine call to mission should be the basis for intrinsic motivation for Vision One Million.
  4. The origin and significance of the divine call should be made relevant to each member.

The Hopelessness of Humanity and Mobilization for Vision One Million

  1. People are dying without the assurance of salvation
  2. Millions of people are lost without God in the world
  3. Millions of people are lost but are unaware they are lost
  4. God is now deciding the eternal destiny of the living and the dead

The Power of a Vision in Mobilization for Vision One Million

  1. The emergence of a new culture of being constant in prayer, giving heed to the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s mission in the world.
  1. A massive collaboration all ministries to enlist, recruit, equip and deploy one million or more lay members into a direct, active, informative and persuasive proclamation of the gospel through the entire Inter-American Division territory.
  2. Empowering one million passionate members of the Seventh-day Adventist church to participate in God’s mission to rescue the perishing.
  3. Grand celebration of God’s accomplishment through His people of one million baptisms by 2014.
  4. The emergence of a new culture of membership care through personal witnessing, nurture, fellowship and personal visitation to retrain 98% of the one million new members in the body of Christ.

The process of mobilization for Vision One Million

Call:                 This is an invitation to participate to the of Vision One Million evangelistic movement. All church services may be used to extend the invitation.

Enlisting:         This involves selecting and organizing people according to interest, skills and giftedness.

Scheduling:     Identifying and designing specific dates to training, and deployment.

Training:          This involves the art of equipping members with knowledge, new attitudes, skills and resources.

Deployment:   Guiding new members into unique evangelistic ministries with resources.

Mentoring:      This is the art of providing feedback and on the job training to sustain performance.

Celebration:     This is a time to celebrate God’s accomplishment through His people.

Call:                 This is an invitation to participate in the Vision One Million evangelistic movement.

The Ministry and Laity Training for Vision One Million

WHEREAS “The very life of the church depends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling the Lord’s commission” (The Desire of Ages, p. 825); and

WHEREAS “The Savior’s commission to the disciples . . . includes all believers in Christ to the end of time” (The Desire of Ages, p. 822); and

WHEREAS “The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising the church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those ministers and church officers” (Gospel Workers, p. 352); and

WHEREAS “The greatest help that can be given our people is to teach them to work for God, and to depend on Him, not on the ministers” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 19), and “the best help that ministers can give the members of our churches is not sermonizing, but planning work for them. Give them something to do for others. And let all be taught how to work.” (Counsels on Stewardship, p. 69); it is

RECOMMENDED that the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department—in consultation with administration and the Ministerial Association—train ministers to train members in evangelism, and that the following general scope and sequence of training be adopted:

 

 

 

Seminar Sponsors

Attendees

Presenters
Union Level Mission/Conference SS/PMMinisterial AssociationSelected pastorsSelected members Division/Union SS/PM and Ministerial personnel
Mission/Conference level Pastors and selected members Union/Mission SS/PM and Ministerial personnel
District level Church members Mission/Conference SS/PM and Ministerial personnel, district pastors
Local church Church members District/Church pastors and lay leaders

 

Local Church Structure and Mobilization for Vision One Million

  1. Personal Ministries Council: The Personal Ministries council should plan, organize, give leadership and monitor the implementation of Vision One Million evangelism initiative in the local church.
  2. The personal ministries leader and Sabbath School officers, in consultation with his pastor, should utilize the first Sabbath of every month to give emphasis to evangelism in the local church.
  3. 3.      Each local church should convene a special commission service for participants in Vision One Million.     
  4. Each participant involved in Vision One Million should receive a card of registration from the Inter America Division.
  5. Mid week service should be used to pray for a renewed passion for evangelism.
  6. All the ministries of the local church should design specific plan to involve the entire church in Vision One Million. The evangelistic plans for each ministry should be coordinated in the Personal Ministries Council of the local church.
  7. 7.      Each local church should use the first Sabbath of September 2011 to launch Vision One Million.
  8. All churches in the Inter America Division should plan and organize to invite a total of two million visitors on February 2012.

Resources and Mobilization

  1. Registration cards should be prepared to enroll participants by July 30, 2011.
  2. Series of Bible studies, sermons and small groups posters will be prepared for distribution by August 30th 2011.
  3. Resources for this year’s week of prayer will be made available on the Inter America Division website.
  4. Resources for revival and weeks of spiritual emphasis are prepared on the Holy Spirit and Jesus in the life of the church.
  5. The book The Great Controversy should be made available to members for mass distribution first Sabbath of January 2012.
  6. Each Union should submit to the IAD resources relevant to engaging Vision One Million members in pre-evangelism ministries and frontline proclamation of the gospel.

 

The Pastors and Mobilization

  1. 1.      Each pastor will receive a personal letter from Dr. Leito to enlist their support for Vision One Million.
  2. Each union will organize special mobilization and evangelistic training for pastors.
  3. Each conference/mission will request from pastors their Vision One Million evangelistic plan for each local church in his/her district.
  4. Each conference will establish an evangelism council to evaluate each pastor’s Vision One Million in the context of the conference’s Vision One Million strategy.
  5. The administrators of each union will convene a meeting with the conference/mission president to give guidance to their Vision of One Million strategy and to allow for prayer and spiritual renewal to launch Vision One Million.
  6. The ministerial council in each region will convene a spiritual retreat to coordinate a unique Vision One Million strategy.

 God’s Mission and Mobilization for Vision One Million

  1. The mission gives birth to the strategy.
  2. The mission provides the rallying center for all ministries’ activities.
  3. The mission changes the strategy and the strategy redefines the mission.
  4. The mission accommodates many perspectives but the perspectives are not the mission
  5. There is one mission but many ministries.
  6. The mission gives birth to revival and reformation and revival and reformation deepens commitment for mission.

Union’s Executives and Mobilization for Vision One Million should:

  1. Reaffirm the critical role of the Personal Ministries Department to enlist, recruit and equip the members for evangelism. This is the responsibility of the department at every level of the church organization.
  2. Cast a compelling Vision One Million strategic plan.
  3. Enlist the support of every executive member to participate and promote Vision One Million at the local church level.

 

Scheduling and Mobilization for Vision One Million

The union identify a:

  1. Specific date for launching Vision One Million.
  2. 2.      Specific date for launching the enlisting and recruitment of members for Vision One Million.
  3. Specific date for mass training in every local church.
  4. Specific date for deployment for various facets of evangelism at the local churches.
  5. Specific date for inviting one million visitors to our churches.
  6. Specific date for the celebration of the achievement of one million baptisms.
  7. Specific date for completion resources for Vision One Million for the local churches.
  8. Specific date for mass distribution of the Great Controversy.
  9. Specific date for mass planning for Vision One Million in the local church.

Organization Structures and Mobilization for Vision One Million

Union responsibilities:

The union will:

  1. Provide resource materials for pastors and laity in preparation for Vision One Million
  2. Assist fields in the integration of technology with evangelism.
  3. Identify and develop emerging lay and pastor evangelists through selective exposure.

Conference responsibilities:

The Conference will:

  1. Give focused attention to church preparation.
  2. Cast a compelling vision for evangelism to the pastors and laity.
  3. Give emphasis to intercessory prayer and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
  4. Design a strategy for church planning and consolidation.
  5. Source Vision One Million Material for the laity and pastors.

Church/District responsibilities:

The local church or district will provide:

  1. Intensive field preparation.
  2. Design and implement non-formal training for the laity.
  3. Convene lay rallies/conventions for church mobilization.
  4. Engage all age groups in Vision One Million activities.
  5. Explore the use of the social media to enlist and engage members in Vision One Million.

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