Equipping The Church For Mission Through Evangelism
Emphasis: The Congregants of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
by
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CHAPTER I
The Context AND PURPOSE of the Project
Statement of the Problem
The ministry focus for this project addresses how St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church struggles with how to practice evangelism. What can be done in the area of motivation to equip the congregation to become as evangelistically minded as it is effective in the implementation of evangelism?
The church regularly has between two to five individuals and families, which visit during the worship experiences during each month. These individuals understandably search for a church home. Why earnestly in search of a church home, only a few become a part of the St. Paul Baptist Church family.
After a lengthy discussion, it was determined by the leadership of the church as well as me that the church needed focus training on evangelism.
Discussions led to a primary question. Can we develop a workshop with the inclusion of Bible study classes? The purpose of those classes would be to make the church more welcoming and hospitable while simultaneously introducing evangelism to the entire congregation. The incorporation of an evangelistic training ministry would be used as an attractive tool for on-going training in the church.
- Personal Setting
Evangelism is something that has been engrained in me since childhood, and it continues in my life at the age of fifty-six. I have often wondered why my mother would visit the neighbors throughout the week. She would always have her Bible in hand, singing the Songs of Zion.
This was a familiar routine that my mother enjoyed. Then, when Sunday came, there would be an entire group of individuals going into the neighborhoods, elderly homes, and into the hospitals to talk about God’s goodness. Consequently, when I grew up, I wanted to do the same thing: spread the Good News about Jesus.
Fifty- six years later, I still feel the same as I did as a child. That is, the church is the vehicle that moves all people to divine liberation. The church must confront the world on issues that comprise the gospel. It should share in the struggle of the liberation of all people. The voice of the gospel can be heard, and its presence can be felt. It is also important that the gospel addresses the social, political, and economic needs of the people.
The mission of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, which was adopted by the congregation in April 2004, is meant to provide an atmosphere for he
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About the Book
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, like many other churches, is struggling with an understanding of evangelism and how to go about doing evangelism. There is also confusion about who should evangelize and when evangelism should take place. The congregation needs to gain practical knowledge of how conversion and discipleship relate to evangelism. What is the realtionship between discipleship and evangelism? How should the pastor equip the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church congregation to rise from a sedentary position to become active witnesses beyond the church walls?
This book has four chapters. Chapter One introduces the project by stating the problem, discussing the ecclesiastical setting and the church's ministries. Chapter Two contains the review of biblical literature, the theological foundations for evangelism, and the role of evangelism in the African American Church. Chapter Three deals with the methodology as well as the execution of the Project.Chapter Four contains the findings. Chapter Four has the conclusion, evaluation, and recommendations.
About the Author
Rev. Dr. Walter Butler is a native of Saluda, South Carolina. Rev. Dr. Walter Butler is the pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church located in Lexington, South Carolina. His many accolades and achievements include being a former member of the Orangeburg Ministerial Alliance, a Vice- Moderator of the Orangeburg & Calhoun Missionary Baptist Association, a former Moderator of the Orangeburg & Calhoun Missionary Baptist Association, a Vice- Moderator of the Andrew Chapter Missionary Union, a member of the South Carolina Education and Missionary Convention, a treasurer of the Baptist Education & Missionary Convention and presently serves on the Trustee board at Morris College. He is the father of four girls and lives with his wife, Clara Butler in Orangeburg, South Carolina where he enjoys cooking family dinners and reading. His work on this book earned him his Doctorate in Ministry from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, NC in 2008.