New Hope CP Church
Proclaiming Christ in Paducah, Kentucky
Steps to Ministry
1. Introduce and identify yourself and ask their name (repeat it) and write it down. Build rapport by frequently using their name and letting them know how glad you are they have responded. Eye contact is very critical.
2. Discover with the person what their need is (first time acceptance, renewal/rededication, assurance of salvation, deeper spiritual life, help with a personal problem, and help with damaged emotions that prevent them from experiencing God's grace). A possible opening question is Why have you come forward at this moment?"
3. Use Scriptures that are most comfortable for you:
Salvation/First time commitment
Romans Road: 3:10-12, 3:23 Answers who has sin
6:23 The Penalty of sin
10:9-13 How to escape the penalty
See also John 1:12, John 3:16-18 and Romans 5:1-2, 8:1-4
6 Steps to New Life
I. I need God 3. 1 decide for God 5. 1 will obey God
2. I want God 4. I surrender to God 6. I will share God
Assurance of Salvation
Luke 18:9-14, Romans 8:16, 1 Timothy 1:15
4. Don't be afraid to hear/absolve. You may be acting as a priest for someone who may need to hear that they are forgiven. God has heard their prayers - you may need to assure them of that. You man even need to say ~God forgives you."
5. Read Scripture with them if you find it fits naturally into the session.
6. Ask them to pray out loud - find out first if they’ve ever even prayed. They may need a simple prayer from you which they can repeat after you. (They may want to pray silently, which is fine - but it will help them feel more assured if they pray out loud.) The following is a sample ~sinners prayer" you can modify'' to suit you. Dear Jesus Jam a sinner. I believe you are the son of God and died on the cross for my sins. Forgive all my sins. Remove all my doubts. Jesus, I ask you to come into my life. Help me to follow and obey Your commandments and to live for you. 'Jesus, I give you my
7. Help them make some level of decision. What next?"
8. Encourage them to share what has happened to them with a friend, pastor, or youth worker. The more people, the better.
9. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving and affirmation before you go.
Prepare Yourself for being an Altar Minster by:
1. Being relaxed in the Spirit: Take care of your own needs/worries to the degree that you are able to, and confess your need of God's Grace.
2. Surrendering a “Messiah Complex" your eagerness/desire for success and perfection, and your fear of failure to God.
3. Remembering you are a part of the process of sowing, tilling, reaping and cultivating;" you are stepping into a person's spiritual pilgrimage you are a temporary assistant to the Holy Spirit.
4. Remembering beforehand to extend courtesy, wisdom and tact toward the person to whom you are ministering. This is a critical time for persons seeking the Lord. Be sensitive to how you approach them. Try to be flexible - we are all very different. A fresh reading of I Corinthians 13 will surely help here.
DO
1. Prepare yourself through prayer and devotions.
2. Trust in the Lord.
3. Recognize that God uses a yielding vessel.
4. Be flexible, allowing the Spirit to guide you.
5. Believe that God will work through you for His purpose.
6. Be concerned about the person.
7. Listen carefully for the person's most important need.
8. Encourage 2-way conversation.
9. Appreciate honest searching before making a commitment.
10. Speak their language.
11. Keep on Track.
12. End the session with prayer and your commitment to follow up with prayer and contact.
DONT
1. Minimize your personal relationship with God.
2. Trust in gimmicks.
3. Witness only ~hen you feel like it.
4. Be rigid in the use of materials.
5. Worry about numbers.
6. Set your own agenda.
7. Lecture or argue with the seeker.
8. Manipulate or force a commitment.
9. Use God-talk or clichés.
10. Get off on tangents.
11. Think you are finished after the session.
New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church
www.newhopecpchurch .org
