This document discusses strategies for evangelism within the Black community, specifically targeting the middle class. It notes that the middle class makes up the largest group within Black Adventist congregations. Recent evangelistic efforts have relied too heavily on hired Bible workers and "big events", which are less effective at reaching the middle class. It proposes that members spend time witnessing to their own neighbors through simple acts like praying with them on their doorsteps. Regular neighborhood prayer meetings could then be organized to foster spiritual connections. The goal is to reignite members' passion for witnessing within their own communities as a key to finishing the gospel commission.

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2. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
John. 4:35 - Do you not say, 'Four months more
and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes
and look at the fields!They are ripe for harvest.
(NIV)
Matt. 9:37 -Then he said to his disciples, "The
harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
(NIV)
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3. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth AboutThe Black Community
According to Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize
winning author of the book, Disintegration,
the largest single group in the very diverse Black
AmericanCommunity is the “Mainstream
Middle Class Majority.”
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4. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth AboutThe Black Community
According to Robinson there are three
additional groups:
1. A large, Abandoned minority – Inner City Poor
2. A smallTranscendent elite – Oprah Winfrey, etc.
3. Two newly Emergent groups – people of Mixed
Race heritage and communities of recent Black
Immigrants
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5. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth About Black Adventist Congregations
The largest single group in Black
Adventist American congregations,
especially in large metropolitan areas, is
our Middle Class membership.
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6. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts
• In recent times we have over-
professionalized our evangelistic
efforts.
• In recent times “Big-event”
Evangelistic successes are in decline
among Black and White American
Adventist congregations.
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7. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts
• In recent times Hired Bible Workers
have become the major source of our
baptismal successes
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8. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts
• Over recent decades we have taken
our members out of direct soul
winning efforts by hiring Bible Workers
almost exclusively.
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9. On the StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth About Recent Evangelistic Efforts
• Hired Bible Worker’s “knocking-on-
doors” are largely unwelcomed in
Middle Class neighborhoods
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10. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth AboutTheTask Ahead
• Should we abandon the use of Bible
Workers in our evangelistic efforts?
• No! Why? Because it is the most
effective, if not the only method,
currently bringing souls for baptism.
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11. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth AboutTheTask Ahead
• But it cannot remain the major or only
source of baptisms into the American
Seventh-day Adventist Church if we
are going to “finish the work” in these
United States.
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12. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTruth About theTask Ahead
• We must expand our reach into the
largest community of Black people
in the United States –The Black
Middleclass!
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13. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTimes Demand Change
• While it is true that Middleclass
neighborhoods, black or white, are not
welcoming to strangers knocking on
their doors
• It is also true that they will open their
doors to their neighbors whom they
know by name or by sight
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14. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
TheTimes Demand Change
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15. • Ask them to join in an all out effort to
reach their neighbors with spiritual
things
• An effort that changes the
conversation with their neighbors from
home improvement to spiritual
enrichment 15
OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
AskThem

16. OnThe StreetWhere you Live
AskThem
• Ask them to join us in tithing their time!
• There are 168 hours in the week (112
of these are waking hours).
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17. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
Rebuilding the FamilyAltar
• Think of what can happen in our
homes and churches if we lead our
people into a serious and faithful
commitment of time using the
following formula?
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18. On the Street Where You Live
The Stewardship of Time
a. Hours for sleep 56
b. Hours for work 40
c. Hours for commuting 14
d. Hours for chores 10
e. Hours for Meals 14
f. Hours for Daily Devotions 07
Rebuilding “The Family Altar”
- 30 minutes morning (Devotional Book)
- 30 minutes evening (SS Lesson)
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19. On The Street Where You Live
Stewardship of Time Con’t
g. Christian Outreach 03
- Prayer with neighbors
- Simple better living programs
h. Prayer Meeting 01
Total 145
hrs.
Hours Remaining 23
hrs.
168 hrs.
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20. On The Street Where You Live
Stewardship of Time Con’t
• Sabbath Hours 24 hrs.
• Worship Services 5 hrs.
– Sabbath School 1 ½ hrs.
– Divine Worship 2 ½ hrs.
– AY. 1 hr.
Miscellaneous: 7 hrs.
Church Prep 1 ½ hrs.
Meal time 2 hrs.
Travel time 1 ½ hr.
Outreach/Study 2 hrs.
• Rest 8 hrs.
• Other things/activities 4 hrs.
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21. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• Our success in future soul
wining efforts in this highly
technological, convenience
oriented, religion-on-demand
age,
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22. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• is inextricably tied to re-igniting the
passion for witnessing of all members,
but especially Middle Class members,
because they are the largest group in
our membership.
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23. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• So let us begin this re-igniting of
passion for direct witnessing with you
and with your middle class neighbors
next door and across the street.
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24. On The Street Where You Live
Starting with simple things
• We begin with a simple personal non-
threatening entry-level spiritual
neighborhood activity.
• Praying with your neighbor!
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25. The Territory
A safe and familiar place
Both Sides of the block
or cul-de-sac on the
Street Where You Live
(Don’t do as the song says; Don’t ask the Lord to “Enlarge Your
Territory” just yet. You have a few things to do).
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26. On The Street Where You Live
Simple Things in your neighborhood
• You know your neighbors and they
know you - by name or by sight
• Do not need a group to meet at the
church
• Does not need a group leader
• Does not require gasoline or
transportation
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27. On The Street Where You Live
Simple Things (Con’t)
• Solicitation permits are unnecessary
• Refreshments are unnecessary
• Babysitting service at the church is
unnecessary
• Opening and closing the church is
unnecessary
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28. On The Street Where You Live
Simple Things (Con’t)
• Gated community? No problem. You
already live there and have the entry
code.
• Does require interest in the spiritual
well-being of others
• Does require courage and commitment
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29. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• Knock on a neighbor’s door with an
invitation to pray; for family,
neighborhood, city, nation, etc.
–In the doorway with everybody
at home invited to join in
–Do not go inside and do not
accept food or drink
• Ask them for any special requests for
prayer that they may have
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30. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• Requests are to be given to prayer
groups previously prepared to
receive them at your church
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31. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• Check back the next week, or as the
Holy Spirit leads, to see HOW the Lord
is answering your prayers of faith
• Wait for your neighbors to ask for more
of what you have to offer as their
prayers are being answered.
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32. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• Be patient. After a time but only as the
Holy Spirit leads, you may begin a 10
Minute prayer ministry on your
block/cul-de-sac with all your
neighbors together.
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33. On The Street Where You Live
A Simple Thing to do
• Do it on a home rotating basis once or
twice a month
• Be patient as the Holy Spirit gives you
wisdom and patience.
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34. On The Street Where You Live
We Close With A Simple Prayer
“Lord please give me the faith and
courage to do this simple activity. By
your Spirit please prepare my neighbors
to receive this simple act of faith and
fellowship…
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35. On The Street Where You Live
We Close With A Simple Prayer
…Help me to speak and pray with words
that lift their spirits, not self-righteously
nor condescendingly, but as one also
standing in the need of prayer. Amen.”
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36. On The Street Where You Live
Faith and Confidence!
I John 5: 14-) 15 (NIV)
14.This is the confidence we have in approaching
God: that if we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us.
15. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we
ask-we know that we have what we ask of Him.
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37. OnThe StreetWhereYou Live
The Lord wants you
and
Your church needs you!
The End
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