Does mass evangelism really work?

[JimB]

Yes, for the general person in the Western church I agree with you. But ministers can be more effective in one mass meeting (even in the US) than they can in one-on-one contact for a whole year.

I just wish that those who are "one-one-one" only minded would not neglect the overwhelming need in the third world. Funding has been cut due to this change in people's ideas.

My brother is a missionary in Malawi, East Africa, now into his fifteenth year. Malawi is the poorest per capita nation on the continent. Missionaries there are not that thrilled about mass crusades, which have caused zero growth in Malawan churches. They prefer church planting by indigenous pastors. Through these local outposts in the bush people come to know Christ and are nurtured in the faith, then go out and plant churches themselves where many come to know Christ then go out themselves and ………… on and on it goes. This is the NT pattern. And it always boils down to one-on-one evangelism by new converts to Christ winning their families and neighbors. Mass crusades may rally entertainment-starved people by the thousands who see crusades as they would a circus, a break from their hopeless, monotonous lives.

According to my borther, African culture requires them to do the polite thing and respond to an preacher’s invitation to come forward (especially when a free booklet or Bible is involved in the appeal) and so tallies of “converts” are inflated. The real truth is if churches grow after these mass rallies … and they don’t.

~Jim

​

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[Always in His Presence]

This missionary to Africa might disagree...

http://www.cfan.org/

CfaN Crusades / Conferences "Africa is Being Saved!"

For over 30 years, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke has been conducting crusades in the continent of Africa. Here, you can read detailed accounts of each CfaN crusade! You will see people coming to Christ by the masses! You can experience first-hand reports and testimonies from Evangelist Bonnke and Christ for all Nations Crusade Team! Finally, you can witness what the Lord is doing around the world and be encouraged to believe Him for the miracle you need in your life, today!

 

[jesusfreak4888]

I think a lot depends on how good follow up is. Some people may get radically saved and start attending a church, but many fall away after a week. Follow up is good, because it shows them that christians really care for them, and want the best!

 

[Eila]

My brother is a missionary in Malawi, East Africa, now into his fifteenth year. Malawi is the poorest per capita nation on the continent. Missionaries there are not that thrilled about mass crusades, which have caused zero growth in Malawan churches.

Who has gone there and done crusades and has had zero growth?

They prefer church planting by indigenous pastors. Through these local outposts in the bush people come to know Christ and are nurtured in the faith, then go out and plant churches themselves where many come to know Christ then go out themselves and ………… on and on it goes. This is the NT pattern.

The mass crusade pattern also has churches planted by indigenous pastors where people are nurtured in the faith. The NT pattern is not one-on-one, but both mass and one-on-one. Jesus spoke to the multitudes. Are you saying that the apostles only ministered one-on-one and let their light shine or did they open their mouth?

And it always boils down to one-on-one evangelism by new converts to Christ winning their families and neighbors. Mass crusades may rally entertainment-starved people by the thousands who see crusades as they would a circus, a break from their hopeless, monotonous lives.

Is it better for someone to remain in their hopeless, monotonous life or go to a meeting where they will hear the Good News?

According to my borther, African culture requires them to do the polite thing and respond to an preacher’s invitation to come forward (especially when a free booklet or Bible is involved in the appeal) and so tallies of “converts” are inflated. The real truth is if churches grow after these mass rallies … and they don’t.

~Jim

I am master of my unspoken words.​

Mass crusades with plenty of churches around are usually filled with "church-folk" so you may not see much growth. Crusades where there are no churches grow because a church is started as a result of the crusade. No church to a church is growth.

 

[JeCrois]

That my Brothers and Sisters is perhaps one of the most eloquent/civil displays of Godly wisdom I have ever seen on this forum.

I agree.

~Jim

I have noticed this before in other post he has made ... this young man is going to go far.

He's even humble ... we could all learn from him.

JeCrois is only 18 people ... keep your eyes on this one ...

Oh...ya'll flatter me!!...

In everything I do and say in these forums I stop and ask myself, "Will this glorify God?" Whether or not that is wisdom is in the eyes of the reader of my responses. I have seen where a rotten post can wonder astray and start WWIII, so I pray over all of my posts in hopes that they come across in a way God intended for them to.


Now I'm going to take another stab at this...

I think we can all agree that Jesus and other prophets in the NT did indeed speak at large gatherings to multitudes of people in one place. Their intentions when speaking to those crowds were no different than they were if they were speaking to a person one-on-one. With that in mind, we should stop and think if any of today's mass crusades intend to anything different than what Jesus did.

Do they?...Well...the fact of the matter is we don't honestly know. There is no way of knowing just how much time Jesus spent in prayer and preparation before he busted up into assemblies and meetings. The Bible never aludes to that. All we know is that he did awesome and great things which lead to the salvation thousands of people.

At the very end of the John's account of the Gospel it says: "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." We don't exactly know how many crowds Jesus might have spoken to or what happened every time he did. But I'm sure that God leads today's evalgelists the same way he lead the originals.

So when people say that one-on-one is the best way to reach someone, is it an honest statement? I don't think we ought to have a preference for one method over another because Jesus never really had a preference did he? He didn't belittle one did he? He just yapped away the Good News to anyone he could through any means he could even in his dying moments on the cross.

The numbers in the OP should be looked at in a different light.

One figure I read this week (and I can’t locate where I found it online) was that the average retention rate of “first-time converts” at mass crusades was around 1%. Billy Graham only claimed, at best, less than 10%.

· The next year, the team found only thirty continuing in their faith. That’s a retention rate of 1.2 percent.​

· Six months later, the follow-up committee could only find thirty continuing in their faith.​

· Retained only 22,983 in fellowship. That’s a 6% retention rate

· They could find only 14,337 in fellowship. ​

​

This is how it should have read.

That's 1% of human lives not going to hell...that's 10% of human lives not going to hell...that's 1.2% of human lives not going to hell...that's 30 human lives not going to hell...that's 22,983 human lives not going to hell...that's 14,337 human lives not going to hell...etc.

HALLELUJAH!!!

This should be a good thing. I'm sure God is smiling down with pride in His eyes for His faithful servants who didn't care what retention rate they managed as long as they were obeying what He told them to do in the first place.

Reaching 14,337 souls is probably more than you or I could ever do individually on a one-on-one basis. Those 14,337 managed to find true faith without a one-on-one conversation (before follow-up of course). And who's to say that one of those 14,337 people won't lead a mass crusade one day and reach another 14,337 people? The expotential factor is endless.

There is no easy way out to win a soul for the Kingdom of God.

 

[TasManOfGod]

Didn't the Church begin with a big crusade in Jerusalem?

 

[DiscipleWhomJesusLoves]

"No where else in the NT do we find the Apostles organizing mass crusades to win the lost... "

Isn't that like saying they didn't use TV, radio, PA systems and the Internet, so we shouldn't either.

 

[JimB]

Didn't the Church begin with a big crusade in Jerusalem?

Taz, are you comparing a High Holy Jewish Festival (Pentecost), ordained by God in the Law, with a Benny Hinn (or other) Crusade (Circus) inspired by P. T. Barnum?

~Jim

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[JimB]

"No where else in the NT do we find the Apostles organizing mass crusades to win the lost... "

Isn't that like saying they didn't use TV, radio, PA systems and the Internet, so we shouldn't either.

Yes.

Even those things you mentioned, if while helpful in preaching the Gospel, when used the wrong way can and do harm souls in the process of doing an imagined good, should then be reconsidered. Heck, “TV, radio, PA systems and the Internet” are all used to harm souls and defraud people. It is not what you use but how you use what you use thant makes them an evil.

Modern mass crusades as an organized evangelistic tool is a relatively new phenomenon, dating back only to D.L. Moody and the late 1800’s. Crowds have always attended religious events but never in the organized way they do now and there is something good to be said about gathering thousands of Christians but if, in the process we raise the hopes of prebelievers then dash them by not properly following up on their commitment to follwo Christ (which has yet to be done in an effective way), it’s like fishing with dynamite—we may land some fish but the residual/collateral damage makes it unlawful. We have perfected our crowd-gathering art to a science—we have just not done as good a job on our soul-retaining skills. And in the process, we have offended those very ones we have organized to help and ... It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones (Luke 17.2).

It’s not the tools you use, it’s how you use/misuse them that make them dangerous. As an old veteran of more than a dozen citywide crusades (including four Graham Crusades), I can tell you that the way they are being done souls are harmed in the process (for all the reasons expressed in previous posts) no matter how exhilarating gathering a crowd may be.

~Jim

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[DiscipleWhomJesusLoves]

Like Reinhardt Bonke, Peter Youngren in Canada would disagree too. This man has so much favour in Indonesia. The Islamic leaders there actually want him to come.

[FONT=&quot]http://www.mycelebrationministries.com/mycm/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=28

http://www.mycelebrationministries.com/mycm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=165&Itemid=145


[/FONT]

 

[JimB]

Oh...ya'll flatter me!!...

In everything I do and say in these forums I stop and ask myself, "Will this glorify God?" Whether or not that is wisdom is in the eyes of the reader of my responses. I have seen where a rotten post can wonder astray and start WWIII, so I pray over all of my posts in hopes that they come across in a way God intended for them to.


Now I'm going to take another stab at this...

I think we can all agree that Jesus and other prophets in the NT did indeed speak at large gatherings to multitudes of people in one place. Their intentions when speaking to those crowds were no different than they were if they were speaking to a person one-on-one. With that in mind, we should stop and think if any of today's mass crusades intend to anything different than what Jesus did.

Do they?...Well...the fact of the matter is we don't honestly know. There is no way of knowing just how much time Jesus spent in prayer and preparation before he busted up into assemblies and meetings. The Bible never aludes to that. All we know is that he did awesome and great things which lead to the salvation thousands of people.

At the very end of the John's account of the Gospel it says: "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." We don't exactly know how many crowds Jesus might have spoken to or what happened every time he did. But I'm sure that God leads today's evalgelists the same way he lead the originals.

So when people say that one-on-one is the best way to reach someone, is it an honest statement? I don't think we ought to have a preference for one method over another because Jesus never really had a preference did he? He didn't belittle one did he? He just yapped away the Good News to anyone he could through any means he could even in his dying moments on the cross.

The numbers in the OP should be looked at in a different light.



[/indent]This is how it should have read.

That's 1% of human lives not going to hell...that's 10% of human lives not going to hell...that's 1.2% of human lives not going to hell...that's 30 human lives not going to hell...that's 22,983 human lives not going to hell...that's 14,337 human lives not going to hell...etc.

HALLELUJAH!!!

This should be a good thing. I'm sure God is smiling down with pride in His eyes for His faithful servants who didn't care what retention rate they managed as long as they were obeying what He told them to do in the first place.

Reaching 14,337 souls is probably more than you or I could ever do individually on a one-on-one basis. Those 14,337 managed to find true faith without a one-on-one conversation (before follow-up of course). And who's to say that one of those 14,337 people won't lead a mass crusade one day and reach another 14,337 people? The expotential factor is endless.

There is no easy way out to win a soul for the Kingdom of God.

Yes, there is an easy way--the NT way.

And yes, crowds followed Jesus but, if I read the Gospels correctly, He was always trying to escape from them, fleeing into the mountains, escaping to Phoenicia or Perea to more private regions, calling His disciples aside to a deserted place.

Jesus wasn’t as enamored by large crowds as we are possibly because He did not want to encourage that kind of evangelism. In fact, He seemed most effective in his personal encounters with smaller groups like His disciples and people like Jairus, Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, accounts, which occupy more space and importance in the NT than those pithy statements like “and great crowds followed him.”

As unscientific and foolish as it may seem to the natural mind, the NT is more dead-set on personal one-on-one — “I won one” — evangelism than on organized mass evangelism.

~Jim

​

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[JimB]

This missionary to Africa might disagree...

http://www.cfan.org/

CfaN Crusades / Conferences "Africa is Being Saved!"

For over 30 years, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke has been conducting crusades in the continent of Africa. Here, you can read detailed accounts of each CfaN crusade! You will see people coming to Christ by the masses! You can experience first-hand reports and testimonies from Evangelist Bonnke and Christ for all Nations Crusade Team! Finally, you can witness what the Lord is doing around the world and be encouraged to believe Him for the miracle you need in your life, today!

Yes, my brother has had personal experiences with Bonnke crusades in Malawi and Kenya and he is not as enamored by their successes as Bonnke seems to be with himself. Missionaries—real missionaries—who beat the bush for souls and who have been used to make Africa the largest Christian continent on earth have done it the old-fashioned, NT way. They will tell you the preparation for a mass crusade takes weeks but clean-up behind them may take years. Real missionaries hate to see the big tents coming because the hinder, not help, the cause of Christ. At least, that's what I hear from real missionaries.

~Jim

​

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[DiscipleWhomJesusLoves]

Jim, bottomline is that you just have something against ministries that are big and successful (and it all started with BH), and that are doing a lot more.

 

[JimB]

I think a lot depends on how good follow up is. Some people may get radically saved and start attending a church, but many fall away after a week. Follow up is good, because it shows them that christians really care for them, and want the best!

And we have not yet perfected follow-up as we have perfected our fine art at gathering crowds. We’re still fishing with dynamite.

~Jim

​

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[JimB]

Jim, bottomline is that you just have something against ministries that are big and successful (and it all started with BH), and that are doing a lot more.

Bottomline, “Disciple”, you are rude. Nice shot at a personal attack but, FYI, I wouldn’t trade what I am doing now for a dozen TV slots or headlining a hundred citywide crusades. I am doing and being what God has called me to do and be and I am very fulfilled and happy doing and being it, thankyaverymuch. It’s called contentment.

BTW, my ministry is “big and successful” (in God's economy) just, thankfully, not notorious. What would make you think it wasn’t?

~Jim

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[geetrue]

And we have not yet perfected follow-up as we have perfected our fine art at gathering crowds. We’re still fishing with dynamite.

~Jim

Just a Sunday morning thought ... Sometimes I don't think you think what you think, Jim.

Looks like almost every thread you start has a theme of provoking the rest of us to think.

I came to this conclusion while cleaning out my subscription threads yesterday.
Thread after thread of thought provoking questions with your name.

Nothing wrong with stiring up the gifts within us of course. Just sharing a thought on what I think you think.

Still love you, not because I have to, but because your Jim.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Yes, my brother has had personal experiences with Bonnke crusades in Malawi and Kenya and he is not as enamored by their successes as Bonnke seems to be with himself. Missionaries—Real missionaries missionaries—who beat the bush for souls and who have been used to make Africa the largest Christian continent on earth have done it the old-fashioned, NT way. They will tell you the preparation for a mass crusade takes weeks but clean-up behind them may take years. hate to see the big tents coming because the hinder, not help, the cause of Christ. At least, that's what I hear from real missionaries.

So...... someone who has been ministering in Africa for 30 years, has seen millions accept Christ and has the documented proof - is not a "REAL Missionary"

OK

Oshogbo, Nigeria

Written by: Reinhard Bonnke
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

​

Arrival: DAY 1

We just returned to the Governor’s Lodge from our first crusade-meeting in Oshogbo. I preached my heart out and we saw a very high percentage of the people receive Jesus as their personal Savior! “O what a Savior, o Hallelujah”. Miracles of healings also occurred. A paralyzed man walked and a dumb girl spoke. We are only at the beginning and expect a mighty increase in every way.

Your prayers and support continue to help bring in a marvelous harvest! Please continue to pray for us and the people of Oshogbo!

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist with the CfaN-Team.

​

Does this make him NOT a REAL missionary?

Or is it this?

Oshogbo, Nigeria

Written by: Reinhard Bonnke
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

​

DAY 2
Dear Mission Partners,

Today, the Fire Conference started and many church-workers have registered for it. “You shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you” Jesus said in Acts 1:8 and it is true for today. Humans are not meant to depend on human strength; we are meant to be power-assisted by the Holy Spirit.

Tonight was a great increase in attendance as well as a huge altar-call. And God TV was present with a team of over 20 to telecast this Gospel Crusade live in 200 countries across the world. This is almost too wonderful to be true. I trust you will be able to tune in and “be with us here” in Oshogbo,Nigeria. Their telecast will be every day until Sunday, as of 19.00 hours Central European Time. A big thank-you to Rory and Wendy Alec!

Also today, some wonderful miracles happened! A woman unable to walk for a long time stood up and walked perfectly, etc. We are rejoicing!

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist with the CfaN-Team.

​

Does this make him NOT a REAL missionary?

Ado Ekiti, Nigeria 2007

Written by: Reinhard Bonnke
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

​

DAY 3
Dear Mission-Partners,

What a glorious meeting! The Gospel landed, with mighty wings, in the hearts of the people like an eagle in a ready-made nest. Multitudes were changed and blessed. I felt so honored to be able to preach the eternal Gospel to these wonderful Nigerian people. Every one of them is precious in the eyes of the Lord.

Also the Fire Conference today had huge significance. One clergyman said "I have earned two doctorates in theology, but I never heard what I have learned today." That happens, of course, when Jesus opens our understanding.

We are looking forward to a mighty weekend and ask for your continuous prayer.

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke, with the CfaN-Team

​

I don't understand why it is so hard for you to see that the Body of Christ is made up of more than one element. Is personal witnessing important? Certainly Is mass evangelism just as important? Yes.

What the heck do you think these hundreds of thousands of people coming for? What draws them? Free ice cream?

IMO this sounds a whole lot like

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

By your definition I guess Phillip was not a real missionary either.

 

[Always in His Presence]

I read this on another thread and feel it fits here:

Instead of putting all of that effort into pointing out everyone's errors to try and make us think, why don't you make more suggestions that we can agree with you on? It would come across differently.

You have an incredible amount of experience in ministry - why not use it to build people up instead of tearing every ministry you disagree with down.

 

[JimB]

Just a Sunday morning thought ... Sometimes I don't think you think what you think, Jim.

Looks like almost every thread you start has a theme of provoking the rest of us to think.

I came to this conclusion while cleaning out my subscription threads yesterday.
Thread after thread of thought provoking questions with your name.

Nothing wrong with stiring up the gifts within us of course. Just sharing a thought on what I think you think.

Still love you, not because I have to, but because your Jim.

Yep, I do start a lot of threads that I hope do make you think. The alternative is to regurgitate only what you’ve been spoon-fed.

An old preacher once told me that if I were going to be in ministry I needed to know that if I made people think they think they would love me but if I made people think—really think—they would hate me. Jesus, he said, made people really think and they crucified Him.

So, I do not apologize for “provoking” people think outside the box. That’s where God is, you know.

And I love you, too.

~Jim

I am master of my unspoken words.​

 

[JimB]

I read this on another thread and feel it fits here:



You have an incredible amount of experience in ministry - why not use it to build people up instead of tearing every ministry you disagree with down.

see below

​