Reaping God’s Harvest (2004 & Beyond)

1. Reaping God’s Harvest(2004 & Beyond) The Triple-S Plan (Gideon’s Army Battle Project)

2. Jesus speaks to us: • “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world”.

3. The Plan is a Three-fold Plan!Who is involved? • The Triple-S Plan involves: • Seeking • Sharing • Saving • It is for everyone (who desires for God to use him/her in the saving of souls!)

4. Aren’t you happy that Jesus has a plan that is a triple-sided plan? • The plan He has is triple-sided because it involves the Father, Son & Holy Spirit! • If we are going to baptize in the names we have to plan with the Father, Son & Holy Spirit and go in the names!

5. Before we move a muscle! • The church must go down into a very serious & sustained period of prayer (which is to continue through the prayer group – but all members are to pray continually for the project / the salvation of souls). • We all need the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit! This is a battle / it is God’s work (…we have had many messages, much revival; time to move out! In faith!).

6. Preparation (cont’d.) … So, • Fasting and Prayer is KEY Also, • Studying the Bible (Especially The Life of Jesus - WWJD) • Receive Education & Training (How to do the work.) • Receive Motivation and Inspiration to work.

7. 1. So, We Begin by Seeking:“Go” • There are many persons to be reached … they are out there! We must go and get them … they are (for the most part) NOT coming … we must search them out (in every nook and cranny). • The only time some people will come to church might be when they are dead … or when someone for them dies … we can’t wait for that! We must take the church to them.

8. What does Seeking involve? • An investment of our / your / my time • An investment in the good use of your health • Commitment (to work for God) • *A burning desire to see souls saved in the Kingdom of God (driving force!) • Individual Planning (plan with your spouse; time management, etc.) • Making plans to “go” / seek

9. Seeking (cont’d.) … • Find out the needs of the people: -Health needs -Social needs (financial, schooling, etc.) -Spiritual needs • Find out problems in the area (obstacles to the work, etc.) • Find out what resources are present: • in the community (eg. Playing field, community council, projects, etc.) and (b) in the church (eg. Bible School, Battle Cry Ministry, specially trained/skilled individuals, etc.)

10. The Spring Village Community(Where? Up to the hills!) • In the Hills • There are many persons to be reached. • There was a presence in the area before … through Branch Sabbath Schools! • Many persons have been talking about evangelizing the area … time to act!

11. Strategies in “Scouting out the Land” • Seek a possible area for an eventual church site … place of meeting for various activities … including worship. • Feasibility “study” to be done to discover best place (questionnaire to the community, etc.) • Personnel from Church Departments ascertain existing needs in the community (health needs, welfare/ social needs, spiritual needs, etc.)

12. Strategies in Seeking:(How?) • Sabbath School Units • Two by Two (prayer partners) • Youth Forum Group • Adventist Youths Family Units • Bible Workers • Small Groups • Reading Club Pairs • Members of Departmental Committees

13. Seeking Strategy: • Specially Targeted Groups in the Project: • Backslidden members: - those not attending (compile list) - those attending church (periodically / regularly) • Interested Persons (those who responded to altar calls / appeals, etc.)

14. Seeking Strategy (cont’d.): • Comment: on Persons in need • Social Mental • Physical Spiritual • This is ongoing – have some contacts from last year & other years (Bible Courses, Revelation Seminars, health emphases, etc.) / Since 2004 - started already with launch of “Reclaiming God’s Property” Crusade on Jan. 4, etc.

15. 2. Sharing(teaching) This involves a total “bombardment” of the area, involving all church Departments and groups. It will be an explosion of love, an outpouring of sharing and caring in the community never before experienced!

16. 2. Sharing • Every Department in the church should be involved / have some strategy to share / care / reach out to the community • (mental, social, physical, spiritual). • NOTE WELL: • The key is to sustain our efforts for a targeted period of time … just keep it coming!

17. Special Sharing Strategies: • Meeting needs ascertained (as best as possible) • Prayer - walking & • Prayer – sharing • **Two Bible workers permanently in the field!

18. Some Ideas for Sharing • Health Department: • (Persons go into the community / ascertain the needs of persons & the persons in need … from the health perspective) • A community cook-out (exposure to vegetarian / healthier way of eating / a great “taste-out” (token contribution from “participants”). • Health Clinics (…the entire works! Great job done in 2003 to launch from!)

19. Some Ideas for Sharing: • Health Department (cont’d.): • Health Lectures • Adopt-a-shut-in (fill prescription, clean up house / yard…Pathfinder / Master Guides assist) • Lectures targeting: (a) boys & (b) girls (from a health perspective! Great job done in 2003!) • **Special Event – Get Curtis and Paula Aikens to come and do a “Great Jamaican Meat-out” Program (Camp Verley Style!)

20. Some Ideas for Sharing: • Pastoral Department: - counseling sessions & lectures - mediation sessions & lectures • Family Life: - Marriage Seminars / films, etc. - Reconnecting the Family Presentations - Lectures targeting: (a) boys & (b) girls (… role in the family perspective!)

21. Youth Forum Group / Pathfinders / Master Guides: • Exercise classes (get fit emphasis … follow up with some kind of “competition” – as a possible target; work with health Department) • Sporting activities (six-a-side against the community side, etc.) • Socials (a great variety of … ) (…great “Make me Laugh” in 2003! etc.)

22. Youth Forum Group / Pathfinders / Master Guides: (cont’d.) • Craft classes / Marching Band (teach youth to play drums, trumpet, etc.) • Floral arrangement classes • Survival skills classes (incl. camping, knots, hiking, cooking, cooking - fire building, fire prevention, track & trail, etc.) • Presentations on birds, fish, poultry rearing, flowers, ants, etc. (bring out all your Pathfinder / Master Guide honors knowledge!)

23. The idea is to engage the community in a way that will showcase Christian living and good Christian attitude in everything that we do. Of course (for eg.) inviting the community football side to church services (not just preaching services!) should certainly be done – that’s one objective … we are in the business of saving souls! Serving God is the better way!

24. Take Pathfindering to the community! Up to another level! This can be viewed as a Pathfinder outreach project – the ultimate goal is to increase the Club membership & enthusiasm (by showing the youths in the community how to become true Pathfinders / disciples of Christ!). This is guaranteed to grow and revitalize the Club!

25. Communications Department: Encourage community members to: • Watch 3ABN (tape programs) • Listen to the various radio broadcasts by the S.D.A. Church • Use of various electronic media (Bible study CD’s, sermons on video and audio cassettes, Adventist Ministry Websites, movies / films on Jesus, etc.) • Sign Language Classes • Church Web Site

26. Publishing Department: • Literature and Book Distribution – swamping the community with reading materials / monitored (Sow 1 billion tracks, other tracks, pocket books, etc.) • *** Explore the possibility of getting materials (Bible study helps, prophecy literature, general literature) from Light Bearers Ministry.

27. Education Department: • Computer Classes • Science Experiments / Learning Time • **JAMAL Classes • Schooling assistance project (the community already has an active organization that assists students – make a one time donation or other …)

28. Community Services / Women’s Ministry Departments: • **Start a viable economic community project: assist someone in the community to start or expand a project / help out someone with a project they are struggling with (farming, viable economic herbs, etc.) . • The idea is to do some “teach them how to fish” outreach. • **Supply needs as best as possible (targeted giving) … “Give a fish”.

29. Community Services / Women’s Ministry Departments: • Jesus said: “Give ye them to eat” • (Matt. 14:16, Mark 6:37, Luke 9:13) • … He used what was available! God honored Jesus’ faith and provided a miracle of “geometric proportions” to multiply the food! • **Establish a “soup kitchen” (many children might be hungry at school … and have no real prospect of anything to eat after school!). Many shut-ins may be hungry. Do informal survey. The food does not have to be totally FREE to the recipients!

30. Sharing / Saving (When?) • Beginning second quarter, 2004… specific to the area / this aspect … • Note: • All lay evangelistic efforts – youth, children, family life crusades, etc. – can be subsumed under this overall plan …. With a community / out of the church focus!

31. Saving:(baptizing) • A gospel explosion • (third / fourth quarter): • Lay Evangelistic and/or other Crusade/s (possibly different types of crusades at once or separately! eg. Family Life Crusade followed by “Regular” Crusade or vice versa; Youth Crusade, children’s crusade, etc.).

32. Saving:(baptizing) A gospel explosion ! (third / fourth quarter): • One or two full-time Bible Worker/s in the field … (church / members-sponsored) • Street Meetings (more than one location at a time… same day) – we have several persons who we just need to “bruk-out” to preach in these meetings! They are ready, willing and able! (coordinated by Departments or other Strategy groups)

33. All Soul-Saving Strategies & Programs: • Branch Sabbath Schools • Evangelistic Campaigns • Bible Seminars (people participation / engaging questions & discussion) • Bible Studies (house to house) • Small Group Evangelism • Media Ministry (films, videos, etc.) • Literature (“Project Autumn Leaves”) • Etc.

34. ”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”2 Chron. 7:14

35. The land (the people) needs healing! If we just get on board / catch the vision – and work together as a team, united under God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) … • GREAT and MARVELOUS things will happen! • What say you? • I say, PRAISE THE LORD!! • Let’s GO!!