# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S312 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 310 EVANGELISM couragement from the Evangelism Department of the Synod. Four annual conferences have been held: Nov. 28—30, 1969, Camp Walcamp, IIl., Attendance 50. Oct. 23—25, 1970, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Attendance 400. Oct. 29-31, 1971, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Attendance 600. Oct. 27—29, 1972, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Attendance 600, In 1972 nine synodical colleges and both seminaries were represented with students in attendance: six of these schools had faculty representatives. A special meeting was held with these faculty representatives to discuss evangelism on the campus and their involvement in Key 73. A paper called The Ambassador was initiated by students in 1970 and dis- tributed regularly on the synodical campuses. Academic training in evangelism at synodical schools has come through its inclusion in other courses and has been largely theoretical. In recent years, elective credit courses in evangelism have been developed at the following schools, according to a survey conducted by the Board for Evan- gelism: Concordia Seminary, Springfield; Concordia Semi- nary, St. Louis; Concordia Teachers College, Seward; Con- cordia College, Milwaukee; Concordia Lutheran College, Ann Arbor; St. John’s College, Winfield (for the Parish Worker program). Concordia College, River Forest, has had a stu- dent-taught evening course, and Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, an evening course taught by a local pastor. No school of the Synod requires a course in evangelism for future pastors or teachers, or DCEs. Some of the schools in the last several years have involved students in an ex- posure to the Kennedy method of evangelism through clinics or in a local congregational Kennedy training program. Unique has been the arrangements in the Missouri District whereby twice a year 15 students from each of the semi- naries are enrolled in a 3-day Kennedy clinic conducted by the Director of Stewardship and Evangelism of the Missouri District, the Rev, Leroy Biesenthal, with the cost covered by a grant from the Aid Association for Lutherans. The Board for Evangelism makes the following recom- mendations: Recommendation 6— Evangelism at Synodical Schools a) that we commend the Missouri District and the Aid Association for Lutherans for making Kennedy-type evan- gelism training possible for seminary students b) that we commend those who developed and made possible the annual Concordia Evangelism Conference and the paper The Ambassador c) that we encourage students to continue to develop voluntary programs for evangelism training and experience d) that we encourage the synodical schools to assign a faculty advisor to the evangelism programs on their cam- puses, a person who has experience and interest in evan- gelism, and give him load weight hours for this assignment. e) that we encourage our synodical schools to continue to develop elective courses in evangelism f) that we urge our terminal schools to comply with Res. 8-09 of the Milwaukee convention, “to do whatever may be necessary, through both required and elective courses, to assure that the candidates for pastoral and teach- ing ministry in our Synod are equipped with both knowledge and skills, to assist the congregations of our Synod in evan- gelistic outreach,” and direct them to establish required courses in evangelism. 7. Confrontation Evangelism “Confrontation evangelism" means a method by which a clear presentation of sin and grace is presented in direct conversation followed by a request for a response such as: belief, further consideration, or rejection. A number of methods and tools for training people to witness in this way have been developed and congregations that have pursued one of these methods have shown remarkable results in changed lives and Christian growth. In the Missouri Synod almost all of the Districts have Some congregations using the “Kennedy method” and have clinics available to train pastors in its use or are planning such clinics. Again the congregations of the Synod who have used the “Kennedy method" over a period of some time have demonstrated its effectiveness by the results that are visible in lives of the callers as they attain a new level of commitment to Christ, in pastors as they make more evangelism calls than ever in their ministry, in congrega- tions as they become more conscious of their commission to “make disciples of all nations,” and in the number of people who are won for Christ and the church. The features of these methods of confrontation evan- gelism that seem to be the chief elements of its success today, under the power of the Holy Spirit are: a) commitment to a discipline of calling each week b) training by observing someone else until one is ready to solo c) direct systematic presentation of Law and Gospel d) request for a response to the Gospel presentation The Board for Evangelism recommends: Recommendation 7 — Confrontation Evangelism We recommend: a) that congregations be encouraged to systematically train members to make evangelism calls using the four chief elements of confrontation evangelism. a discipline of calling, training by observation, systematic presentation of Law and Gospel, request for a response b) that the Synod commend the individuals and Districts, who provide leadership training in confrontation evangelism for pastors and teachers and encourage others to follow their example c) that the Board for Evangelism provide guidelines for training pastors and lay people in confrontation evangelism. 8. Open House Services In the 1950s the “Preaching-Teaching-Reaching” program motivated many of our pastors and congregations to examine their outreach program as they worked together in such activities as: canvassing their community; establishing a prospect or responsibility file; recruiting and training callers: organizing to send out callers and receiving specific reports: conducting a series of special nightly services. and a daily study period for the clergy. While for some this experience was only a short spurt away from normal activity to pass in a short while, yet for many it was the stimulation needed to develop a more effective ongoing program. And the re- sults did show in the statistics, in that the years following saw the Missouri Synod reach its highest point of adults and children received into membership from outside the church. Several variations followed, such as the “Spiritual Life Mission” and the “Families for Christ” programs. Some con- gregations have followed the tradition of these three pro- grams and periodically conduct a series of “Open House Services.” In the fall of 1972 the Iron Mountain Circuit of the Mis- souri District (9 congregations) conducted a P-T-R Mission according to the traditional format. using some of the original materials which Synod still had available. It was closely observed by the District and synodical evangelism leaders as a “pilot” to test the validity of the P-T-R as a viable approach in evangelism today. The results were extremely encouraging: The total com- municant membership of the nine congregations was 2,511. The nightly services had an average of 768 in attendance with an average of 104 visiting nonmembers, Other statistics indicate: 442 calls completed, 58 enrolled in instruction classes; 33 desired transfer: 9 reaffirmation; 54 children en- rolled in Sunday school; 19 desired baptism. The pastors, both the host and the guest missioners, were enthusiastic. Comments were made such as: “It was one of the most stimulating experiences I have enjoved"; "The P-T-R, re- vised, has great potential... .” “Still a good, viable pro- gram for building the Kingdom.” Many minor variations or “improvements” were suggested, and others will no doubt grow out of the experience of the Michigan District where a Districtwide week of Open House services are planned for October as part of their Key 73 program.