GROW TRAINING
SESSION 3 MAKING A VISIT

 

For the outreach program to succeed and maintain its integrity in the church and community, All G.R.O.W team members must be trained to be sensitive to the people they are attempting to reach. Session 3 is devoted entirely to the circumstances surrounding the visit. This preparation will not only equip visitation teams but will also build confidence in their ability to accomplish the mission.
Preparing to Visit
Preparing to make the visit focuses on three areas: learning principles for visiting, establishing protocol for visiting, and making the visit.

Learning Principles for Visiting
Consider these five steps.

1. Set the time to go. Obviously, the G.R.0.W. program employs this principle by allowing an organized time of outreach. The mission of visitation, if not planned, usually never happens.
2. Don't be pushy. Leave the door open for future visit. Ask the person if he or she would allow you to come inside for a brief time of discussion about your church. Allow the prospect to make that decision. Too much aggression may intimidate or irritate the prospect.
3. Don't embarrass the prospect. I heard about a minister who recognized a non-Christian in a restaurant. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to witness, the minister interrupted the prospect's business lunch with questions that embarrassed the man. Needless to say, the encounter was not a "divine appointment." As a rule, if the prospect is embarrassed by your conversation, you have not handled the encounter appropriately.
4. Understand your authority base. The visitation team does not go out under the authority of their church. G.R.O.W participants speak under the authority of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Jesus Christ has already earned the right for His story to be told!
5. Understand the principle of harvest. You cannot expect harvest to occur unless sowing and cultivation have already taken place. One visit may sow; a letter may cultivate; and the harvest may not occur for weeks or months. The success of the visit should not be measured by immediate harvest.

Establishing Protocol for Visiting
Simple reminders can enhance your visit.

1. Be clean and neat. Visitors should dress casually. Being over- dressed could make the prospect uncomfortable, but being under- dressed might result in the church's being embarrassed. Dress should communicate that the visit is informal but important.
2. Go "two by two." In Luke 1:10, Jesus sent the disciples out two by two. While more visits could be made with the participants going out individually, this practice should be avoided. Participants, like the first disciples, need the fellowship of another laborer. Also, certain circumstances of the visit are easier when there are two. If children are in the home, one of the team members may be needed to occupy the children while the other directs conversation to the adults.
3. Be courteous. If the prospect has company or is in the middle of an evening meal, the visitation team should graciously agree to come at another time. Your courteous response to an inappropriate time for the visit will reflect well on you, your church, and you’re Lord!
4. Don't be surprised by non-Christian behavior. If prospects are not expecting your visit, they may not be prepared for you. Don't get bug-eyed by something in the home that you personally find offensive. Remember, a change of heart will result in a change of behavior. Don't expect the change of behavior to occur first.
5. Avoid verbal overkill. Don't use language the prospect will not understand. Use terminology that communicates easily the nature of your visit. Using a word like sanctification may leave the prospect thinking you are referring to some type of medical procedure.
6. Be complimentary. Find something about the person, home, or children that you can compliment honestly. This will help keep the visit from becoming confrontational.

Making the Visit
Think about these ideas before the visit.

1. Know prospect’s names and family information. The visitation assignment form should be detailed enough for the team to be familiar with prospects. This allows the visit to be more informal.
2. Decide who will lead. Just as in dancing, someone must lead! A designated leader of the team for conversation will allow the time of the visit to be used more efficiently.
3. Go to the front door. Contrary to popular opinion, back-door guests are not always the best kind! Don't assume the prospect will expect guests at the back door. Sticking by this rule will seldom place the visitor in an embarrassing situation.
4. Pray for the person you are visiting. Before leaving the parking lot of the church, pause and pray for the visitation encounter. If our authority base is Jesus Christ, then we want to confess our dependence on Him for the success of the visit.
5. Prepare introductory remarks. Without sounding as if the introduction is canned, state your name, your partner's name, and the church you represent. Ask for permission to enter the home for a brief visit. Returning for a second visit is better than attempting to cover additional information at the door.
6. Show genuine interest in the prospect. You cannot convey genuine interest without listening to the prospect. Ask prospects questions they would enjoy answering. Family and jobs are generally good topics. And all grandparents enjoy talking about their grandchildren!
7. Have a conversation plan. Our G.R.O.W participants are trained to use the acrostic FORM as a conversation plan.
1. F stands for questions you may ask about family.
2. O represents conversation about occupation or work.
3. R is for the prospect's involvement in religion or church.
4. M stands for your message or the reason for your visit.

When visitors begin to discuss religion, they should ask prospects if they are members of any church. If they say yes, visitors should ask about their relationship with that church and the status of their present relationship with Jesus Christ. If prospects respond with no to the question of church membership, the visitor should then ask the prospects if they are Christians. Answers to these questions dictate your message or purpose for the visit. At this point visitors should be prepared to move down the path to one of two kinds of visits.
Two Kinds of Visits

1. Church-Centered Visit
1. If prospects seem confident about their saving relationship with Jesus Christ, then the visitor should begin to share relevant information about the church. Material containing information about the church should be used and left with the prospect. Here are some important guiding principles for this type of visit.

1. Love your church. The prospect will be impressed by your genuine love and excitement about your church. Needless to say, visitors who do not love their local church or are not excited about its ministry should not be involved in this type of visit.
2. Ask for specific commitment. Ask the prospect, "Can you visit with us this Sunday?" Visitors should offer to meet prospects at a designated location to make them more comfortable during their first visit to your church. Offer whatever help that maybe needed to assist prospects in finding your church. Failure to ask for a specific commitment from the prospect lessens the success and impact of the visit.
3. Keep the visit brief. The church-centered visit should not exceed 15-20 minutes. This is why the conversation plan is important. Except in unusual circumstances in which prospects express a need for additional help, they will appreciate your consideration of their time.

2. Christ-Centered Visit

• The Christ-centered visit requires more time. Information in session 4 will train participants to share the plan of salvation. Here are some brief guidelines to initiate this conversation.
• Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. While prospects may not be Christians, they also may not be prepared to make a commitment to Christ on your visit. Plant seeds the Holy Spirit can use later, even if the prospect is not prepared to make a commitment to Christ during your visit.
• Do not try to enter an 'unopened door. Don't push prospects to Christ; lead them to Christ! If prospects are not willing to commit their life to Christ, the best thing you can do is to leave a positive impression regarding your own relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Ask permission to share your personal testimony. Developing in advance a presentation of your personal testimony will help you share your faith quickly and clearly. Initially the prospect will be more impressed by a personal account of someone who has met Christ than anything else you might share. This will open the door for questions from prospects and further discussion about their need for Christ. The next session will equip the participant with a gospel presentation that can be used from this point.
• Report details of the visit. If the prospect does not make a decision for Christ, you may not be the next person to visit in that home. Your detailed record with information about the conversation and your visit will help the next visiting team. An adequate report of your visit could determine the effectiveness of the next visit made with this prospect.

 

 



GROW RESOURCES FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL



SHARE JESUS WITHOUT FEAR


Start with the spiritual Quiz, Answer the following Questions.


1. Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?

2. To you who is Jesus?

3. Do you believe there is a heaven and a hell?

4. If you died right now , where would you go? If heaven, why? (If Heaven, ask Why would God let you in Heaven?)

5. If what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?
Read the verses below. After each bible verse ask yourself what does this say to me?

click on the verses to go there in the web bible

6—”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except though me.”

5. Romans 10:9-11—”That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

6. 2 Corinthians 5:15—He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

7. Revelation 3:28 “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him”

Other Questions.
1. Are you a sinner?
2. Do you want forgiveness for your sins?
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
4. Are you willing to surrender your life to Jesus Christ?
5. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and into your heart?

If you answered yes, then pray the prayer below.

Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You. I want forgiveness for all my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again. Father, I give you my life to do with as You wish. I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.

 



THE WAY OF THE MASTER!

 

Here at Forest Heights we are concerned about your salvation. Everyone thinks they are a good person. The Question you should be asking is, am I good enough to go to Heaven?

Here are 4 questions that can Determine if your are.


1. Have you ever lied?
2. Have you ever taken anything?
3. Have you ever dishonored your parents?
4. Have you ever used God’s name as a curse word?


If you truthfully answered the 4 questions above then you have broken 4 of God’s Laws. Who of us can say that we are not guilty of breaking these commandments. To God you are a lying, disrespectful thief who uses His name cursing. This is what the Bible mean’s when it says, “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”. Can you see your predicament? You are Guilty of sinning against God Himself. Also, because you have a conscience, you have sinned, “With Knowledge”. Isn’t it true that every time you lied, stole, or used God’s name wrong you knew it was wrong? Does the fact that you have sinned against God Scare you? It Should. You have actually angered Him by your sin. The Bible says His wrath abides on you, that you are an “enemy of God in your mind through wicked works”. Perhaps you think God is Good and in His Goodness He will overlook your sins. No, God could never be a corrupt Judge. He is going to punish all the Liars, Adulterers, and Blasphemers. The place of eternal punishment is Hell. God Does not want you to perish. He is rich in mercy and compassion and has provided a way for you to be forgiven. He has invited you to come to Him for a full pardon and receive the free gift of Eternal Life. You cannot earn it, and you do not deserve it. God is offering it to you as proof of His love for you. Imagine you are found guilty of a traffic ticket that you do not have the money for. Just as they are about to throw you in jail a stranger comes in and pays it for you in full and you are set free, the stranger sacrificed for you. This happened 2000 years ago exactly for you. The Bible says that God became man, Jesus Christ, and suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine so that we could be set free. It’s simple as this, we broke the Law, and Jesus paid our fine. “God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us.” Galatians 3:13
Do you see God’s greatest love for you? Do you see your need for His forgiveness? Do what he commands and “Repent...that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) You must turn away from sin and turn to God. Desire to have nothing to do with sin, and surrender your life to the one who can save you. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 If you confess and forsake you sins (repent) and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. God will forgive you and you will pass from death to life.
Today with all your heart, turn away from sin and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. You can Pray this prayer. “Dear God, today I turn from all my sins (name them), and I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me, and grant me your gift of everlasting life, Amen.”




If you want to read more see this below.

The Roman Road

The Roman Road is a collection of verses in Paul's Epistle to the Romans that offers a simple and structured path to Jesus Christ. Although many people believe they will go to heaven because they have lived a good life, done charity work, been baptized as a child, attended church, or treated others fairly, the Bible declares that none of us can live up to God's standards of righteousness, or no one can be as good as God. Therefore, we need a road to God that doesn't rely on anything we do, but rather, relies on the gift of His grace alone, or because of his gift of God's Son Jesus Christ and only thru Him can we go to Heaven.

CLICK ON THE BIBLE VERSES BELOW AND GO THERE IN OUR ONLINE WEB BIBLE

1. We must realize that we are sinners and that we need forgiveness. None of us are worthy under God's standards.

Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

2. God gave us the way to be forgiven of our sins. He showed us His love by giving us the potential for Eternal Life in Heaven through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

3. If we remain sinners, we will die. However, if we repent of our sins, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will have eternal life.


Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."