Suggestions For Prospects

Many times the struggle faced by the EE semester/clinic coordinator is to get enough suitable prospects for the On-The-Job Training (OJT). EEM compiled some suggestions & tips from different EE active churches and we trust you will find them helpful.

» To always intentionally form relationships and cultivate friendship. We can organise gatherings and dinners and invite our pre believer friends for fellowship and discussions on topics of common interest. For example our cell group recently organised two dinners and had discussions on two topics which are education and investment. Cell Group members invited their pre believer friends. We can continue to keep in touch with them in future & identify them as OJT prospects later.

» To go out to visit the church neighbourhood and to tell them about the church and the activities/ programmes in the church. There is a small visitation team in our church which does that on Saturday afternoons. The team does not do it regularly and it is very flexible so it does not become a burden to the team members. Nevertheless it is an effort to establish contacts. From those who are open and receptive, the relationship can lead to the possibility of visiting them during OJTs.

» Community projects and activities will bring people into the church environment. For example our church runs an early intervention programme for children with learning disabilities. Ping pong games in the evenings four times a week attracted many people from the community. This is again another great way to establish contacts and if opportunity arises, we can even do OJTs within the church compound.

» Keep a contact book with phone numbers of potential contacts. The listing of these pre-believers can be endless, they can be your family, relatives, friends/ acquaintances, colleagues/ ex-colleagues, neighbours, barber/ hairdresser, mechanic, insurance agent, gardener, etc. Do not be shy to call those with potential. Be persistent & keep calling. Sometimes it takes a few phone calls before you get the response. Eventually some will respond positively to your invitation. This may sound old fashion but it works wonders.

» Do not be discouraged you get appointments cancelled at the last minute. It always happens. It is ok because the team without a fixed appointment can always do street evangelism. Expect the unexpected!

» Announce in the church the commencement date of the EE training programme. Encourage and request members to start providing details of friends or contacts that they would like the EE teams to visit during the OJTs. To benefit from the existing relationship, those providing the contact should go along with the EE teams.

» For churches with cell groups, contact from members of the same cell can be very handy. The cell member who provides contacts can also join the EE team for the OJTs. Existing relationship provides the bridge to build further friendship.

» We should never stop reminding ourselves that it is not our doing but God who provides the right prospects. We need to pray and the prayer partners are so vital in this ministry. We are always thankful for the prayer warriors who are behind us praying for us weeks before the semester/clinic and always encouraging us with their notes and gifts of encouragement.

» At all times, there should be a team of two or three persons to work together in this area of identifying and booking the contacts (prospects for OJTs) during the running of the EE training programme. A team is always better than someone working alone, not only it can avoid being stressful and overwhelming, a team of workers enable brainstorming where more creative ideas and action plans can be put in place.

» At times, the team may not be convenient to meet up with the prospect during the OJT. We can always arrange for another day/time. Go the extra mile of using another day/time to meet the prospect .

» In terms of logistic, it is not necessary to meet the prospect at home. We can meet for a drink or a meal in café, “kopitiam”, mamak stall, etc.

» As part of the learning process, trainees students should be taught how to contribute personal friends, family, colleagues for prospects. In this way, EE is discipleship making as

trainees (students) become fishers-of-men. Otherwise, the trainee will not share the gospel on his/her own after the semester has been completed.

» It is always advisable to show courtesy by informing the prospect(s) that you are meeting the prospect(s) with 2 other friends. No need to specify what kind of friends. If the prospect should ask, be honest to say that they are church friends. It is alright if the prospect decides not to meet just because you are coming with church friends. Look out for opportunity to bring him/her to some church functions so that you get a chance to introduce other church friends to him/her. Hopefully he/she can be at ease if you suggest meeting (OJT) next time.

» Willingness to just walk into public places and talk to strangers during OJTs can be very fulfilling. Explore the possibility of old folks’ homes, hospitals, shopping malls, fast food outlets, cafeterias, etc.

--------

Some additional suggestions:

• Do not trick your prospect into an appointment.  The gospel of truth cannot be preached in deception. Be open and exercise faith in God to give you an appointment with the person that you have been praying for.  

• Do not focus on the person as a "target" but focus on you and your team "sharing" the good news of Jesus Christ with boldness and as an act of obedience to the Lord.  Do not place "emphasis" on that person, as if he/she was the target, e.g. "Could my friends and I visit YOU?"  But do it gently and the conversation may go like this:  

"Hi, my church friends and I visit members of our community every week just to know people and their needs so that we can pray for them.  We have a church prayer meeting every Friday night and we can then pray for these items.  You see, God has called us to impact our community with our prayers.  May we visit with you sometime?"

• Create "fishing ponds" -- community spaces that are neutral (not religious) so that people can participate comfortably.  Some of these activities include sports, social events, exercise routines like line dancing, language-learning tuition classs, etc. Find out the needs in your community and try to meet those needs as a church.  Also, you might like to find out some of the talents and skills that your church members possess and ask them if they would be willing to use those skills to create "fishing ponds" so that EE teams can attend those activities as well and make friends to share.  Some "skills" might be, school teachers - retired and active who can teach tuition classes in the church for free or subsidised rates, musicians who can teach how to play musical instruments, IT guys who can teach computer knowledge, etc.  These can be taught at  basic levels so that high level skills are not necessary.  Also think of adults who may like to learn, not only young people.

• Fish in other people's ponds -- You might find other committed Christian groups who do social work and do not share the gospel with those they are helping.  They want to share and reach out but many just don't do so either because they are too busy or too not know how to do it.  If you approach them to partner with them on this outreach effort, they are only too happy that they can minister to the whole person; body, soul and spirit!  They are many Christian groups involved in education, poverty eradication, feeding the hungry, drug rehabilitation, nursing care, etc.