Here are a few practical strategies that any church, organization or ministry may adopt for successful TMI campaigns:
Prayer: Prayer is absolutely essential. My wife, Kathy, likes to say, “Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power.”
“Extreme Praying” done by church members across conferences and unions will have a tremendous impact on outreach events and any upcoming meetings. Prayer events were held all across Rwanda. “At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan’s whole host trembles.”
1 Testimonies, p. 346.
A 10 Days of Prayer event may be done prior to any reaping event. TMI Prayer cards in English are available at the GC SSPM office and can be adapted to the local needs. They can be reprinted by local churches so that all members may have access to them. Each member should have an opportunity to write down names of people that they will do four things for:
- Pray daily for each person on the list.
- Make special contacts with each person weekly.
- Pray for an opportunity to invite them to a Bible study group or evangelistic meetings.
- Pray they will accept Jesus as their personal Savior.
Calendar-Driven Events: The concept of TMI is more than random acts of kindness. It is purpose-driven evangelism. Our global success as the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rwanda would never have happened without purposeful calendar-driven planning. Many times before, events had happened in Rwanda with mostly small results. But this time it was different because of prayer and a coordinated calendar-driven effort which was blessed by God as excitement and synergy were created across the country. It was a miracle!
It is important to first set a date for the major reaping evangelistic event. Once that date is fixed, then the other activities leading up to the pivotal event are calendared in. This will include prayer, sowing and preparation activities before the reaping event, and integration and retention activities after the event. Then repeat the process. New members will want to hear the message again and have an opportunity to share their new experience with Jesus! If done correctly, most new members will be retained. It takes planning and dedication, but God blesses any effort made for the salvation of others.
The key to keeping both new and old members active is to get them involved with TMI. In the Rwanda TMI event, each new person who made a decision to be baptized was asked to win someone else for Jesus. One lady in Gisenyi responded by saying, “No, I will win four,” as she had already been witnessing to four others. And she did. God rewarded her efforts. This lady’s decision to win someone for Jesus was a powerful commitment which prompted her to remain in the church as she shared her newfound faith with others.
Synergy: Synergy is created when combined multiple forces start working together to create an effect greater than that of an individual one. A good example is 80,000 fans clapping for their favorite football team as opposed to one fan clapping. If one major meeting is held, then those attending that one meeting are excited. However, if like in Rwanda there are 2,227, then people everywhere are excited, creating a much louder “noise” heard all across a conference or union.
Health Expo/Mega Clinic: Health expos are an effective way of reaching out to people in need. The result if this is that many contacts can be made for Jesus. These people were then invited to health seminars and to the evangelistic meetings through which they can learn more about the saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
ADRA Projects: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is committed to spreading the love of our Lord Jesus to the world through community outreach projects that whose aim to improve the lives of the people in the communities. Through partnership with ADRA, community outreach projects can be carried out whose sole purpose is to create friends for Jesus. For more information on this, please contact Jonathan Duffy or May-Ellen Colon at the General Conference, colonm@gc.adventist.org. ADRA is very interested in helping churches reach their communities for Jesus.