PAS:Side car Evangelism  by Randall Hillebrand

   I believe heavily in what some today label sidecar evangelism. This
is where you have various social functions where the unbeliever
participates. Such things as road rallies, films, sweetheart banquets,
seminars, private community counseling, etc. are used to attract the
unsaved, and then a gospel presentation is given in a form that fits
the occasion. To reach the unsaved for Christ, you have to have
something that they want before they will come and listen. It may be a
fun evening or a specific topic in a seminar such as how to raise a
strong-willed child, on how to fix lawn mower engines or do oil
painting. The local church is usually used only a few nights during the
week, and even at that, only certain parts of it. Why not have the
whole building in use every night of the week by meeting the needs of
the church's community. A women's weekly aerobic class or a weekly
class on how to lose weight is a great way to meet the needs of the
unsaved as well as the saved.

   The first thing that needs to be done before any sidecar evangelism
can be effective is the training of the congregation. If this is not
done, these different events will turn into social gatherings of the
saved, and the word will never get out. The congregation needs to
understand the purpose and importance of the great commission. This can
be done through specific Sunday school training, Sunday morning
sermons, and through the regular Sunday and Wednesday evening bible
studies on things like the great commission in Matthew 28, a study of
the early church in Acts 2, a study on Philippians 1 on the attributes
of an involved and active church, etc. Writing a series of articles on
II Timothy 4:1-8 for the church newsletter on the Christian's
responsibility in evangelism would also be a useful tool. The
newsletter would also be a good place to promote the up coming events
and to explain the program in general. But for the sake of this paper,
I am going to assume that the church where this will be implemented is
an evangelistic-minded church.

   GENERAL STATEMENT OF MINISTRY

   Ministry: Different types of sidecar evangelism

   Objective: To use the church in such a way that it meets the needs
of the surrounding community, that of families and individuals, in such
a way that their real need, that of Jesus Christ, can be met.

   Standards: 1) To have weekly and monthly ministries that meet
specific needs. 2) To lead three people to Christ per month. 3) To
follow-up on all of the visitors who come to these functions. 4) To
present Christ at each function. 5) To make sure that these functions
are done in professional way and are meeting needs. 6) To make sure
that at these functions people are enjoying themselves.

   SPECIFIC STATEMENT OF MINISTRY (GOALS)

   The strategies of this ministry are to bring people into the church
for various functions and to present Christ to them. The strategies are
planned as follows:

   WEEKLY ACTIVITIES (From October 1 - November 30 and January 15 - May
31)

   WEEK DAY TIME ACTIVITY

   Monday 7:00 - 8:00 PM "Free To Be Thin Weight Program" 8:30 - 9:30
PM Women's Aerobic Exercise Class

   Tuesday 6:00 - 8:00 PM AWANA and Teen Night

   Wednesday 10:00 - 11:30 AM Women's Bible Study and Craft Hour 6:30 -
7:30 PM Prayer Meeting and Bible Study

   Thursday 7:00 - 8:30 PM Seminar (Various topics scheduled)

   (Note: Seminars will focus around families and singles' needs)

   Friday evenings and Saturdays will be used for the monthly
activities or special church functions, also for seasonal classes such
as a bike repair and a safety course in the spring, etc.

   MONTHLY ACTIVITIES

   MONTH ACTIVITY

   January New Year's Party (including a film, refreshments, game time,
message)

   February Cross Country Skiing Party (including a bonfire, food, bus
transportation, song and message)

   March Roller Skating Party (rent a rink for the night, time of
devotions)

   April Easter Weekend - Saturday evening children's play (music,
message and song)

   May Mother's Day Banquet (message)

   June Father's Day Banquet (message)

   July Road Rally (including pizza and soft drinks afterwards around a
bonfire - People will be given a copy of Romans' Road)

   August Sight seeing tour on air-conditioned coaches

   September Labor Day Picnic at a beach (games, singing with a short
devotional)

   October Harvest Party on October 31 (games for the kids, goodies,
film, and tracks)

   November Game Night for the family (various games set up all over
the church building, concluding with the adults playing charades. No
message given, but each visitor is given a complete packet which
explains the church and its ministries)

   December Christmas Party (including refreshments, singing of
Christmas carols, children's play, message)

   (Note: Gospel presentations will be done in such a way as to meet
the occasion)

   Each of the events above will be used to build rapport with the
surrounding community. As friendships are made and needs are met,
people will come to faith in Jesus Christ.

   SPECIFIC STANDARDS:

   1) That there must be at least a one to two ratio of unsaved to
saved people at each function.

   2) That the gospel is presented in some way at each function, either
by word, song or printed material.

   3) That we get a positive response from the unsaved people involved.

   4) That we get the names and addresses of all of the visitors so
that follow-up can be made.

   5) That three people are saved per month through these functions.

   COMMENTS: Also, if the church can afford it, a full time counselor
to handle not only church members and their problems, but also those of
people outside of the church (unsaved, not members from other churches
unless so requested by the pastor of that church). Possibly one or two
days a week could be set aside for this.

   What has been laid out above I feel will meet needs in the church's
community. I feel that adding a counselor would be ideal, but not all
churches have the budget for such an addition. But as stated
previously, sidecar evangelism will only work if the people in the pew
are behind it 100 percent.

   This article originated on The Salvation Online Network
