MATERIALS
FOR COMMUNICATING AND PROMOTING
The Heart for the Harvest Seminar
Below you will find…
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Descriptions and Explanations of the Harvest Program (of various lengths and styles, for bulletins, etc.) |
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Description and explanation of the seminar manuals (for bulletins and display tables) |
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Excerpts of letters from preachers where the seminar has been conducted |
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Quotations from members’ evaluation forms |
Please feel free to copy and edit text, titles, fonts and sizes of any enclosed materials to suit your communication needs concerning the Harvest Program.
Descriptions
and Explanations of the Harvest Program
Coming
Soon
Power
Fishing
That’s where A Heart for the Harvest can help. It’s a new program designed to give believers a compelling, inward motivation to get involved in reaching out to non-Christians. It can help you find the power you’ve been wanting.
What’s more, A Heart for the Harvest is coming to {congregation name} on {date}. Watch for more information.
A
Neglected Resource
Though we certainly need some good methods for reaching out, our focus on methods has sometimes caused us to neglect the weightier matter of motivation. Unfortunately, when we have occasionally addressed motivation, we have tended to appeal to guilt or lay a heavy burden of duty on each other. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were motives for evangelism that were more noble, more powerful, and more permanent than these? Good news: There are!
Peter and John were deeply motivated by what they had seen and heard from Jesus, and they couldn’t help but talk about it (Acts 4:20). Paul was deeply motivated by the love of Christ revealed at the cross, and it compelled him to devote himself to evangelistic and missionary ministry (II Cor. 5:14-15). All three men heard and experienced the power of the good news about Jesus, and it changed their lives. It impelled them to reach out to others. The core gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection provides a deep, spiritual motivation for reaching out to lost people.
On {date} we will have an opportunity to develop the same kind of motivation. We will be hosting a seminar called A Heart for the Harvest. It’s designed to help us hear and experience the gospel at a deeper level, leading us to have a heart for the harvest of lost souls around us. Mark your calendars now, and begin praying that God will use this program to give each of us a heart for the harvest.
Marvin Bryant
Information
Concerning the Heart for the Harvest Program
1. Prayer. Ultimately, the Lord of the harvest is the One who will raise up and send out workers (Matt. 9:35-38). We urge you to be praying now that God will bless and use the Harvest Program to raise up worker for His harvest right here in {town or city}. {If you have decided on specific ways of getting people involved in praying, you could mention those here as well.}
2. Seminar. Marvin Bryant will be with us on {dates} to present five messages. These will focus primarily on helping us clarify and be touched again by the core message of the gospel, with hopes that it will lead us to participate in the follow-up portion of the program (#s 3 & 4 below).
{You may wish to run the titles and times here:
“Getting Our Bearings” (Saturday at {time})
“Rediscovering the Gospel” (Saturday at {time})
“A Disturbing Truth” (Sunday at {time})
“Profound Disclosure” (Sunday at {time})
“What the World Really Needs” (Sunday at {time})
3. Reflections. The Reflections contained in the seminar manual consist of Bible readings, statements, thought questions, and (sometimes) practical applications. They are designed to help us to reflect on the Word and give God opportunities to mold our hearts. Each Reflection is geared either toward giving us a heart for the harvest, helping us live a life worthy of the gospel, or helping us take little steps toward influencing others.
4. Groups. Weekly discussion groups will meet to share and process what we are learning and experiencing from the Reflections. This will give us opportunities for encouragement and synergism. {if you know when the groups will meet you can specify it or say “The times of the group meetings will be determined based on the availability and preferences of those who sign up.”}
A seminar manual will be available and is a vital part of the Harvest Program. Your elders {or leaders or elders and ministers, etc.} urge you to participate fully in each part of this program. For more information, see {name}.
Though we have already pleased God in many ways in our lives, today I’m thinking about a special, specific way of glorifying him. As Paul envisioned it, when we earnestly share the good news with those who are lost, God’s grace reaches many people. The end result of this is thanksgiving overflows to the glory of God! It’s in the text in black and white (II Cor. 4:13-15), and it’s something we can all have a hand in!
One major problem, of course, is not many of us have a strong enough desire for evangelism to get us involved. Let’s face it, we will find a way to do the things we really want to do. Many of us simply do not have enough of a heart for evangelism to rearrange our busy schedules and venture out of our comfort zones. In fact, inadequate desire may be the root problem in our current drought of evangelism.
That’s why we’ve decided to host a program aimed specifically at helping us develop a spiritual, heartfelt desire to bring people to Christ. It’s called A Heart for the Harvest, and it’s designed to do just that: give us a heart for the harvest of lost people in our neighborhoods and workplaces.
Do you need a heart for the harvest? If so, mark your calendar for {date} and start praying that God will use this program to give us hearts for the harvest. It is a way you can have a hand in causing thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Letter
from Me to Your Members
(This is essentially the same as the article above, so you wouldn’t want to do both. If you choose the letter, I will be glad to sign each one by hand. Just fill in the missing information, print them up and send them to me. I’ll sign each one and return the stack to you.)
I’m sure you have already pleased God in
many ways in your life, but today I’m writing about a special, specific way of
glorifying him. As Paul envisioned
it, when we earnestly share the good news with those who are lost, God’s grace
reaches many people. The ultimate
result of this is that thanksgiving overflows to the glory of God!
It’s in the text in black and white (II Cor. 4:13-15), and it’s
something we can all have a hand in!
One major problem, of course, is not many Christians have a strong enough desire for evangelism to get them involved. Let’s face it, people will find ways to do the things they really want to do. Many Christians simply do not have enough of a heart for evangelism to rearrange their busy schedules and venture out of their comfort zones. In fact, inadequate desire may be the root problem in our current drought of evangelism.
That’s why I’m so thankful for the opportunity to come to {city or congregation} and share a new program aimed specifically at helping Christians develop a spiritual, heartfelt desire to bring people to Christ. It’s called “A Heart for the Harvest,” and it’s designed to do just that: give people a heart for the harvest of lost people in our neighborhoods and workplaces.
Do you have “a heart for the harvest?” Could you stand to increase your desire for evangelism? If so, I hope you will take full advantage of the Harvest program by praying that the members’ hearts will be open, by attending all the sessions, and by participating in the follow-up reflections and group discussions. The more fully you participate, the more opportunity you are giving God to transform your heart.
I’ll be speaking at a special session on Saturday, {date and times} and at Bible class and both morning and evening sermons Sunday the {date}. The seminar manual, which contains the lesson outlines and also the all-important follow-up materials, {is available now/will be available beginning on {date}} at {location}. Please take a look at one the next time you’re at the building and consider getting one. It is vital to the program. If you have any questions, please speak to {contact person/people}.
I can’t guarantee what God may do through the Harvest Program, but I do believe it provides a structure and opportunity for you to develop a spiritual heart for the harvest. As far as I know, this kind of opportunity to enrich our desire for evangelism is truly unique. Investing yourself fully in it could be a next, significant step toward you causing thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Your
brother in Christ,
Marvin Bryant
Miscellaneous
Description and explanation of the seminar manuals (for bulletins or display tables)
In order to gain the maximum benefit from the Harvest Program, a person should get a seminar manual and participate fully in each of the four parts of the program (Prayer, Seminar, Reflections, and Group Discussion). The 150 page manual contains fill-in-the-blank outlines of the seminar messages, the follow-up Self-Study and Reflection guide, and additional resources concerning evangelism. They are a “must” for those who want to participate in the follow-up work (the Reflections and Group Discussions). Since each individual’s personal reflections will be written down in the spaces provided in the Reflections section, each person needs to have his or her own manual.
{For bulletin articles you may want to announce that the manuals are now available and where the display table is so people can go by and have a look at them.} We are asking each person to cover the $ ___ cost of his or her own manual. If that will prevent you from getting one, however, please see {name}. (Alternately, “… please go ahead and take one. The church will cover the cost for you.”) Although we feel the manuals are well worth the $ ___ investment, we do not want anything to deter you from having an opportunity to develop a heart for the harvest. (Note: You may want to instruct the members where to put the money or who to give it to and that individual checks should be made out to your congregation. Then one combined check cut from your congregation to Northwest Church of Christ and earmarked for “Harvest Resources.” If your congregation is going to cover the costs of all the members’ manuals, you would obviously reword this paragraph accordingly.)
Once you get your manual, you will probably want to browse through it. Pages 7, 137-138, and 140-141 are especially appropriate to read and ponder before the seminar.
Excepts of Letters from Preachers
“Just
a note to say thank you for touching our lives and helping us “refocus” our
lives outside the city gate! I’ve
heard lots of positive comments from our family.” –
“Once
again, I appreciate all the work you did for our seminar.
I’ve heard nothing but positive reactions and hope that this can be the
start of a resurgence in our evangelistic efforts.”
“I know you need good critical comments, but I'm having trouble with it. Since this approach is different, there is little to compare with. You seem comfortable with all aspects of the manual and the five sessions. You will probably get to the point where you look at the manual less as you go through it, although looking at it does let the participants know you are moving through the lessons. And where there are blanks, I feel the need to get them filled in.
You provided what you said you would. Your sessions brought us along each step of the way. The amount of scripture read and left for us to read seemed about right. You came across as absolutely genuine.
Your telling of the “story” on Sunday morning was as clear as I've heard. It served both as an example of an explanation to an unbeliever of what God has done, as well as our need to hear it again. You have given us something different in this, and the way you approach it reflects the difference.
You showed a glimpse of your struggles, and I feel many can identify. That does away with the myth that one needs to be a super Christian to evangelize. Each session was very well delivered. Does Toastmasters help with that?
You
have provided us with the structure to continue growth, and I believe we will.
Having heard the sessions, the first two reflections are already reinforcing
them.”
Quotations from Members’ Seminar Evaluation Forms
1.
“It
gave me an opportunity to re-ignite my inner flame.” –
2.
“Thank
you so much for this wonderful eye-opening experience!!!” –
3.
“I
liked the fact that it reminded me of God’s wonderful plan and made me more
committed to sharing my faith at every opportunity.” –
4.
“I
liked the fact that the material is ongoing for us to continue the study and
become even more motivated to do God’s plan.” –
5.
“I
suggest you continue this great work by getting it to every Christian the world
over.” –
6.
“I
liked the personal stories you told along with the biblical Scriptures.” –
7.
“I
suggest more – more – more of the same seminar until every
8.
“Very
inspiring.” –
9.
“It
was all outstanding.” –
10.
“Superior”
–
11.
“I
liked the positive presentation—encouraging us to action, not scolding or
shaming.” –
12.
“The
focus was not on how to do what we need to do, but rather, do I really believe
what I claim to believe, enough to be convicted in my life.”—
13.
“It
was from the heart, very well put together, and interesting.” –
14.
“Sincerity
and humility convinced me of your character of purity—Thank you for sharing so
much of yourself!!” –
15.
“The
Sunday morning sermon was as good as it gets!” –
16.
“I
believe you have found an effective way to motivate a lot of people. Thank you
for all the work you have put into this seminar, material, etc.
Keep on keepin on.” –
17.
“I
really liked having the manual to follow along in.
I can look back at the Scriptures and review what you talked about.”
–
18.
“This
seminar has filled the nagging need I have felt for a rekindled heart with a
means to achieve that heart for the harvest—and a decision to do so!” –
19.
“I
liked the reminder that we dare not let the message that we know become
‘old’ and ‘too comfortable’ for us – we must share!” –
20.
“The
pace was fast, kept my attention. Thoughts
and presentation were succinct and interesting, plus, of course, biblical.”
–
21.
“Encouraging
and informative. It really made me
think that I could actually play an important role in evangelism.” –
22.
“Excellent
balance of logic and emotion! I really
appreciate the overall point – a heart for the lost is needed before any
methods or strategies have any merit. I
also appreciate the reflections. I
think they will be most effective in creating long-term change.”
--
23.
“Original
– not just another “How to” seminar. The
Reflections are so good.” –
24.
“The
book (manual) was very helpful and well prepared.”
--
25.
“Bless
you. I appreciate your sincerity and
obvious ‘heart for the harvest.’ This
is life-changing!” –
26.
“It
told me exactly what I needed to hear. It
touched me in such a special way and has encouraged me to be a worker for God.
Thank you and God bless!” –
27.
“The
seminar manual is excellent.” –
28.
“Keep
up God’s good work. God bless you
Marvin.” –
29.
“Your
sincerity and devotion to this work come across in your message and voice.
People can tell it’s a loved work for you.” –
30.
"It
was very informative, moving, and inspirational.” –
31.
“Encouraging
and practical. He made me feel like
even I could do this.” –
32.
“Powerful
challenge.” --
33.
“It
was presented in a loving manner but was strongly stirring to my soul.” –
34.
“May
God bless you and continue to give you wisdom, truth, and fire.” –
35.
“Your
message has truly changed my life.” –