Need-oriented evangelism

       It seems obvious that every church that does evangelism will grow, but the fact is that not all evangelism leads to growth.

     My early steps in evangelism only alienated my Dad as I tried to help him understand why I had become a Christian. Things improved as I matured. I was able to discuss things in a more sensible manner as I learned that my Dad had other needs that had to be addressed first Then the possibility of growth arose.

     The relevant issue in this section is ‘need-oriented’. Evangelism with no need may well have no point.

     People respond to needs. The key is finding those needs in the local community, finding out how to address those needs and then find a way to help the needy person so that they are helped, hear the Gospel sensitively and appropriately—and so that those people come into contact with the local church.

     Churches which do that grow because they are involved in ‘need-oriented’ evangelism.

     In Nottingham recently three students had a need. They needed information to pass an exam so they came to our office and were given the information they needed.

     Other churches provided information, but the only church that addressed the need as ‘need-oriented evangelism’ was the Seventh-day Adventist church.

     They had their need addressed, they heard the Gospel message and were brought into friendly contact with the church.

     A dramatic example of this process is provided in John 8:1-11. The woman was caught in adultery. Her need was safety. Jesus was in ‘need-based evangelism mode’ and so He gave her a refuge. That refuge also gave her access to the Gospel and a safe place within the church.

     Read some very important words from Ellen White.

     “The work of gathering in the needy, the oppressed, the suffering, the destitute, is the very work which every church that believes the truth for this time should long since have been doing.

     We are to show the tender sympathy of the Samaritan in supplying physical necessities, feeding the hungry, bringing the poor that are cast out to our homes, gathering from God every day grace and strength that will enable us to reach to the very depths of human misery and help those who cannot possibly help themselves.

     In doing this work we have a favourable opportunity to set forth Christ the crucified One”

         Testimonies, volume 6, page 276

     The Church growth experts said that Seventh-day Adventists are good at this kind of thing. We should be. We have prophetic guidance to encourage us to meet the needs of people.

     How do we apply this at Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church?

     “Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”

    Ministry of Healing p.143

     One of the stories that our sister church in Netherfield, Nottingham, holds dear is the report that they were told that they are a church that reveals the love of Jesus.

     We need to develop a similiar approach to our community so that they recognise we really are a loving community. We will have to put that love into action as we mingle with men and women with needs