1 Assimilating and Retaining New Members in the Church

2 Two Phases Conversion Phase Discipleship Phase

3 The Conversion Process

4 Now What? The Discipleship Process Continues . . .

5 New Convert . . .

6 What it is and How it WorksDiscipleship What it is and How it Works

7 Discipleship The concept of discipleship means that the process of church membership involves the entire experience of the member. The process does not stop at the moment of baptism, as is all too often the case. Local churches and districts need to develop ways and means of including full discipleship processes in their regular “church life.” This process is called by various names: “body life,” “Christian living,” “responsible church membership,” etc.

8 The Importance of DiscipleshipDiscipleship is a word that describes a “churched” convert. “Churched” means a Christian who is actively involved in the life of a local congregation by attendance, financial support, and participation in ministry, and who is growing spiritually. The ultimate goal of any retention program is the on-going development of discipleship in the lifestyle of the church member.

9 The Framework for Discipleship2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

10 The Framework for DiscipleshipTeaching “All that Jesus taught” “All Scripture” Rebuking Showing the true values of Christian behavior and its various components Correcting in Righteousness Correcting world views and behavioral patterns of the old life and showing the “new creation” (Eph. 4:1, 20-24) believes, lives and acts. Training in Righteousness Learning the essence of the gospel and how to share it with others.

11 Discipleship and the Great CommissionMatt. 28:16-20 Mark 16:14-20 Luke 24:44-49 John 20:19-23

12 Discipleship and the Great Commission - MatthewMatthew 28: indicates the teaching aspects of the Great Commission using the formula: Go-Make Disciples-Teach them. The original language of the New Testament indicates that this is a circular process. Confirming new converts in the faith must include a Christian education program in the local church where they can learn “all that Jesus taught.”

13 Go Make Disciples Teach them All one process

14 Discipleship and the Great Commission- MarkMark 16: indicates that as the Great Commission is put into practice, miraculous things happen. So new converts can expect to see in-depth changes in their lives as a result. Church membership should produce dynamic changes in lifestyle, attitude, understanding and commitment to the cause of the Lord.

15 Discipleship and the Great Commission- MarkThe Great Commission in Mark also forms the basis for a regular revival system in the church, involving forgiveness, rehabilitation, and recommissioning of all church members.

16 Discipleship and the Great Commission- LukeLuke 24: indicates the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the discipleship process and the dedication of the new member to service to humanity.

17 Discipleship and the Great Commission- JohnJohn 20: The evangelistic “sending.” All disciples are called to share their faith and pass the gospel on to others. This “sending” involves modeling in our personal lives the various elements of discipleship.

18 Discipleship, New Members and Your Church’s Personality

19 New Members and Your Church’s PersonalityThe personality of your congregation marks your new members for better or for worse!

20 Is Your Church Here?

21 What Are the Biblical Signs of a Church Personality?Allelon {al-lay'-lone}: one another, reciprocally, mutually

22 Allelon: The "One Another“ CommandsInter-Relationships Mutual Edification Mutual Service Negative “One Another's”

23 Inter-Relationships Love one another Receive one anotherGreet one another Have the same care for one another Submit to one another Forebear one another Confess your sins to one another Forgive one another

24 Mutual Edification Build up one another Teach one anotherExhort one another Admonish one another Speak to one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

25 Mutual Service Be servants to one another Bear one another's burdensUse hospitality to one another Be kind to one another Pray for one another

26 Negative “One Another's”Do not judge one another Do not speak evil of one another Do not murmur against one another Do not devour one another Do not provoke one another Do not envy one another Do not lie to one another

27 Basic Elements of a Discipleship SystemDefinitions How to measure discipleship? Why do people drop out? What do new members not understand? What do new converts not know? What happens when a person visits the church for the first time? What do new converts need to know?

28 Definitions Evangelism: “To evangelize is so to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men and women shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their Lord in the fellowship of His Church.”

29 Definitions Unchurched. An individual who does not participate in the spiritual life of any congregation except possibly by rare attendance at events such as weddings, funerals, etc.

30 Definitions Accession: To add a member to the membership rolls of the Seventh­-day Adventist church by baptism, profession of faith, or transfer. New member: A recently accessioned member who is within the first months of church fellowship.

31 Definitions Baptism: The event which marks the new believers entrance into the church and the local congregation

32 Definitions Profession of faith: A term that describes how a person may enter membership other than by baptism. Since Adventists affirm baptism by immersion, this term is reserved for those who have been baptized by immersion in another denomination and now choose to join the Adventist church by professing their faith, thus indicating they have accepted the Adventist beliefs and lifestyle.

33 Definitions Transfer: A new member to a local congregation whose membership has come from another local church.

34 Definitions Assimilate: To incorporate new believers and/or newly transferred members into the life of the congregation Assimilation process: This phrase includes the whole process by which an individual moves through the various phases of the Engel Scale.

35 Definitions Churched: A Christian who is actively involved in the life of a local congregation by attendance, financial support, and participation in ministry.

36 Definitions Active membership: Members who attend church services regularly and reflect a lifestyle consistent with church beliefs and standards. An individual moves through the various phases of the Engel Scale.

37 Definitions Inactive: An individual who once was churched but who has voluntarily chosen, for whatever reason, to cease participation in congregational activities. Dropout: Interchangeable with inactive. The term usually connotes that the individual has made a conscious choice to leave, and the congregation has given up hope of reclaiming the individual to active membership.

38 Definitions Casually churched: An individual who claims to be a Christian and may even hold membership in a local congregation, but whose attendance is limited to special occasions or unique events, and whose participation or financial support is minimal to nonexistent.

39 Definitions Apostasy: Abandonment of Christian doctrines or lifestyle.Apostasy rate: The percentage of apostasies as compared to baptisms.

40 Definitions Disfellowship: The removal of a member from church membership for disciplinary reasons. The Church Manual now uses the term “remove from membership.”

41 Awareness/little knowledgePage 41 Engel Scale God’s Role Our Role -8 -7 -3 -6 -5 -4 -2 -1 People’s Response Reveal Proclaim -8 Awareness/little knowledge Conviction First awareness More understanding Grasp implications Persuasion Positive attitude to gospel Growth in knowledge Decide to act Repentance & faith

42 Engel Scale +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 Page 41 God’s Role Our RolePeople’s Response Regeneration New Creature Sanctification +1 Evaluation Follow Up +2 Incorporation +3 Growth in knowledge & behavior Cultivation +4 Communion with God +5 Stewardship, witnessing

43 Why do People Drop Out? Call of the world Lack of fellowshipPersonality clashes Force of habit and lifestyle issues

44 Problem 1- The call of the worldFriends, relatives, former lifestyle habits, examples of inconsistency in church members. Sabbath problems at work.

45 Problem 2- Lack of FellowshipFunction Ratio Explanation Friendship 1:7 Each new member should have a minimum of seven new friends in the church within the first six months. Member/group involvement 75:100 75 of every 100 church members should be involved in a group. New member group involvement 9:10 Nine of every ten new members should be involved in a small group.

46 Problem 3- Personality clashes with people in the church

47 Problem 3- Personality clashes with people in the church“Old guard” “gatekeeper” traditionalists who do not really want new members in the church because it disturbs the power structure.

48 Problem 3- Personality clashes with people in the churchChurch members who “lock out” new members and don’t even know they are doing it. They unconsciously want to “protect” their “church home” from “outside” influences, and they see this as a perfectly legitimate attitude in line with Christian “standards.

49 Problem 3- Personality clashes with people in the churchIntolerant church members who insist that new members must immediately meet their personal standards.

50 Problem 3- Personality clashes with people in the churchImpatience of church members with new member’s unfamiliarity with Adventist church practices.

51 Problem 3- Personality clashes with people in the churchUnfortunate use of Adventist “vocabulary” and lack of common sense in dealing with new members.

52 Problem 3- Personality clashes with people in the churchInability of the new member to find a social “home” in the church. “Locked out” new members is one of the most common reasons why people leave.

53 Problem 4- Force of HabitPeople's lifestyle cause them to form habits that keep them from church. Tired, too much to do, etc. If someone is absent three Sabbaths in a row, and no one knows where they are, it is a sign that something is wrong!

54 What New Members Do Not UnderstandNew members come from many different backgrounds and usually do not understand many Adventist ways of doing things.

55 A New World Church Right now only about 20% of world church members have any Adventist heritage. The rest are all new By 2020 only about 12% will have any Adventist “heritage.”

56 Worship Practices Other Protestants have a variety of schedules.Roman Catholics can go to mass at different times. Other Protestants have a variety of schedules. Roman Catholics have communion available at all kinds of times. Adventists have communion once a quarter. Muslims pray five times a day. Adventists pray whenever they feel like it. Pentecostals all pray at the same time. Adventist pray one by one.

57 The Concept of “Studying”Sabbath School lesson EGW books Adventist literature Missionary magazines Bible studies

58 Clean and Unclean Foods, Entertainment, etc.

59 Adventist Social Structure

60 Adventist Social Structure

61 Adventist Vocabulary “Spirit” of Prophecy “Great Controversy”Union and Division The “mark of the beast”

62 Adventist Vocabulary “The pen of inspiration”

63 Adventist Vocabulary “Spirit” of Prophecy

64 Adventist Vocabulary “Great Controversy”

65 Adventist Vocabulary “Union” “Division”

66 Adventist Vocabulary “Mark of the beast”

67 Building a Retention Program in Your Local ChurchWhat to Include and How to Organize the System

68 Iceberg Principle Programs Relationships

69 The Key – Friendship EvangelismSmall Groups Sabbath School Action Units

70 Visitors to the Church

71 Sabbath School Action UnitsCare Coordinator Teacher Social system

72 Small Groups Fellowship Learning Social system

73 Building the Social SystemGo – Make Disciples - Teach

74 Building the Social System

75 Building a Retention Program in Your Local ChurchSome things need to be learned in a more formal educational setting.

76 What New Members Need to LearnAdventist Lifestyle Review the doctrines of the church Adventist history Church Involvement

77 New Member Training ClassesNew Members Class Baptismal Class

78 New Member Training ClassesIt is also beneficial for church members to circulate through these classes on a rotating basis. It allows church members to fellowship with the new converts. It is beneficial for church members to review what is presented in the class for their own spiritual progress.

79 Rotating Members Do not ask questions that confuse new believersDo not criticize the church Do not raise controversial theological issues Do not bring up about in-depth prophetic interpretations Do not focus on Ellen White’s writings

80 New Member Training ClassesAn effective way to set up on-going training classes is on a 13 week cycle that parallels the Sabbath School.

81 New Member Training ClassesWeek 1 A person can enter here and go all the way around the cycle Week 13 Week 1 Week 12 Week 2 Week 11 Week 3 Week 10 Week 4 Week 9 Week 5 Week 8 Week 6 Week 7

82 Key Elements for New Member Training ClassesMake every class a unit in itself. The purpose is that people can enter at any time and leave when the cycle is over. Organize teaching teams for the classes. Don’t leave it to the pastor. Rotate church members through the classes for their benefit and for fellowship with new members. Have a carefully organized curriculum for the classes.

83 Three Keys to Success Some people in the church should be trained to run these classes. Do not leave it to the pastor, except as the pastor wishes to be involved. It is impossible for a pastor, especially of a large district, to even be physically present for all training classes. Classes do not have to be given every week of the year. Organize the system and then implement it as the need arises.

84 New Member Training Using Sabbath SchoolBaptismal Class Regular Sabbath School Classes New Member Class

85 What Should be Taught? Bible doctrines Adventist lifestyleConfirmation Class Bible doctrines Adventist lifestyle Adventist history Discipleship and church involvement

86 Bible Doctrines The 7th day Sabbath Non-immortality of the soulThe priesthood of Jesus (Sanctuary) Prophecies and the second coming The role of the remnant church The Spirit of Prophecy

87 Adventist Lifestyle Health principles Entertainment and recreationDress and adornment The Christian home Devotion, worship and prayer Stewardship

88 This knowledge builds an Adventist heritage into people’s thinking!Adventist History 1844 and the beginnings of the church Key people The beginnings of the church in your part of the world The international unity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church This knowledge builds an Adventist heritage into people’s thinking!

89 A New World Church Right now only about 20% of world church members have any Adventist heritage. The rest are all new By 2020 only about 12% will have any Adventist “heritage.”

90 Ellen White and the Spirit of ProphecyShow people how to read Ellen White books Conflict of the Ages series Compilations on different subjects

91 How the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Organized

92 World Adventist Church2% 8% 3% 18% 33% 33% 3%

93 Growth - 2002 Accessions 980,920 Per day 2685.61 Per hour 111.90Per minute New church organized every 3.63 hours Growth rate = 4.65% One Adventist for every 482 persons in the world.

94 Basic CharacteristicsOfficial language – English Most spoken language - Spanish Most Adventists per country: Brazil – 1,063,962 members.

95 Key Local Church ConceptsThe role of local church officials The election process The use of the Church Manual The various leadership positions The church financial system The role of the pastor

96 Local Church Concepts Iglesia Ni Cristo Pentecostal Roman CatholicAdventist Church Roman Catholic Pentecostal Iglesia Ni Cristo

97 Key World Church ConceptsWhat’s a Conference/Mission? What’s a Union? What’s a Division? What’s the General Conference? How does the election process work? What’s a “delegate?”

98 Seventh-day Adventist TeachingsCommunity and government involvement Multi-ethnicity and racial relations Wealth and poverty Occult practices The use of assault weapons Human rights War and peace Abortion and euthanasia Homosexuality The environment

99 Review and Summary

100 The Framework for DiscipleshipTeaching “All that Jesus taught” “All Scripture” Rebuking Showing the true values of Christian behavior and its various components Correcting in Righteousness Correcting world views and behavioral patterns of the old life and showing the “new creation” (Eph. 4:1, 20-24) believes, lives and acts. Training in Righteousness Learning the essence of the gospel and how to share it with others.

101 Is Your Church Here?

102 Allelon: The "One Another“ CommandsInter-Relationships Mutual Edification Mutual Service Negative “One Another's”

103 Basic Elements of a Discipleship SystemDefinitions How to measure discipleship? Why do people drop out? What do new members not understand? What do new converts not know? What happens when a person visits the church for the first time? What do new converts need to know?

104 What New Members Do Not UnderstandNew members come from many different backgrounds and usually do not understand many Adventist ways of doing things.

105 Adventist Vocabulary “Spirit” of Prophecy “Great Controversy”Union and Division The “mark of the beast”

106 The Key – Friendship EvangelismSmall Groups Sabbath School Action Units

107 New Member Training ClassesNew Members Class Baptismal Class