Comments on: Old-school door knocking in Oklahoma City

By: Stephanie Scales

Stephanie Scales — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:52:33 +0000

it was the day before my 33 birthday, I prayed to the lord that something change in my life. I was so very alone and depressed and in so much pain in my life i knew not where to turn,i turned it all over to God. I told him that this year was going to be different and I was ready for whatever change needed to be made. The next day the door knocking came a knockin’ on my door and things were set into motion from there. I was a bit lenient at first, not sure of what to expect. But am so blessed and so very happy to have anew family in Christ today! Thank you! God bless

By: David Burdue

David Burdue — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:00:41 +0000

Following the campaign it was very impressive to see members walk up to visitors and immediately set up a time for a Bible study. Individuals have and are being given an opportunity daily to accept Jesus. Angels are rejoicing. Those on God’s side are rejoicing with the angels. Please stand with Jesus and share the truth in season and out of season.

Strangers continue to come to the church building, calling in and asking for information. I believe this to be agreeable with Jesus.

Please also find an opportunity to read a Bible passage or a whole letter to a stranger as it could do you both good.

By: George Rowell

George Rowell — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:17:15 +0000

First of all I would like to thank John for his military service, we do appreciate your sacrifice so campaigns like this can be completed without interference or hindrance to spread God’s Word openly.

John the “picture board” is intended to let all of the local members recognize and greet by name their new brothers and sisters when they saw them for the first time. Not all were able to witness each blessed baptism for themselves, so this, I believe is the main reason for the board not to gloat, God forbid, over a quantity.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I believe Jesus is telling us He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Could it be so hard to understand this babe in Christ, the joy felt in his life, his wanting to share his new found Savior? What a great example for all of us. Please don’t expect a babe to have the vocabulary or the knowledge of someone seasoned in the Word.

Now is knocking doors a good option, only God knows the effectiveness of this approach to bring His word into our neighborhoods. I personally have never dedicated so much of my time and energy to prepare for a campaign or any other outreach action as I did for this one. So, that said, I got out of my comfort zone, way out, and did something I am commanded to do and enjoyed every minute of it.

The NW Lawton church of Christ members are a loving and caring group of Christians that helped us at Cherokeehills learn how to reach out and spread the Word.

Pray for us now to “keep the saved, saved” in the next few critical months, Satan wants them back bad.

By: John Paul Hundley

John Paul Hundley — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:12:08 +0000

Well, I still am for zeal, even zeal without knowledge can do good. It is better than no zeal.
I guess my eyes are playing tricks on me. I can affirm strongly that the sign on that van did say, “Church of Christ, Established 33 AD.” and the convert did say he was “baptized into the Truth.” Where did he learn that? The posted pictures of the converts reminded me of when I flew in the Navy and the ground crews painted little planes under the cockpit indicating how many kills you had. Five and you were an ace.
Understand my concern! My ministry is to those who have left the church or any church and abandoned any faith in God. Ralph Barma says 1,000,000 people a year are leaving the organized church. Flavial Yeakly reports churches of Christ have lost 6 % over the past three years. Christian Chronicle has addressed the issue in the past. It is my belief that the best place to address this thing is on the front end.
See what can happen when we are so blind that we will not see in one of the greatest catastrophies in religious histry. This is my area of work. http://www.churchcalvary.com/SPIRITUALITYTHEOLOGY.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:22:20 +0000

Having been involved with (lackluster) door-knocking campaigns in various venues in the past, and having my own share of doubts before last week, this particular approach was utterly fantastic! The sincerity of those who responded in our community has humbled me. We were told that some converts from other campaigns had said that ‘I have been waiting all my life for you to come talk to me.’ I can tell you that I have heard similar things from follow-up studies with some of our new brothers and sisters. And they are hungry to learn more of the truth! Steve (and our elders, and others) have been preparing us at Cherokee Hills for following up with these new converts, studying with them, spending time with them, getting them involved at church. This is where the real challenge comes along, and I pray that we are up to it!

John, as far as the facts, there is no misrepresentation. Our approach was to read from the New Testament only; no other materials were used, and no opinions were expressed–only the Word of God. These new converts will (hopefully) go into advanced studies and remember fondly the hour they first learned the truth, and turn and help others to see it also.

By: Jeanne Stark

Jeanne Stark — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:39:54 +0000

My first real campaign experience was in 1965 with Ivan Stewart. I have been involved in the Northwest Back To the Bible Campaigns since 1980. I’ve been on 26 of them to date so I believe I have the experience to judge whether they are successful or not. We at Northwest consider a campaign successful if we are spreading God’s word. That is our goal and our responsibility. The number of responses is up to the hearers and God who gives the increase. We are just out there looking for honest hearts who want to know God’s will for their lives. If one soul is saved as a result of the campaign then it was a success. The dollar cost is not important in comparison. I was in Garland and I don’t know what Bro. Paden saw either. Of course the new converts need further teaching and grounding, which is the local congregation’s responsibility. If some are baptized not fully understanding why, it is definitely not the fault of the teacher using the “Safety Chain” of scriptures. It’s also not a common occurance. Some agree to be baptized who do not intend to attend or change their church homes. Unless they indicate that, there is no way for the teacher to know their intentions. Sometimes we are unable to finish the second half of the study with a student which is about the church of the New Testament, unity, worship, etc. In that case, it is also the responsibility of the local congregation to follow up. There will always be detractors when there are Christians doing God’s work to the best of their ability. Satan even uses fellow Christians to try to discourage us.

By: John Paul Hundley

John Paul Hundley — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:17:55 +0000

Zeal is wonderful, but shouldn’t we do a little more research on our facts before we go public. The sign on the van, “Established 33 AD”; much talk about Walter Scott’s “Plan”. OCU could help some with a little better preparation with the facts. What will these converts do when years later they enter into advanced studies? We pray they will sort it out and mature and not feel they were mislead.

Positively, I would prefer to hear Paul’s approach to the Corinthians, “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.”

By: ken hargesheimer

ken hargesheimer — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:15:33 +0000

What about the Ethiopian treasurer!

Jesus said to SOW THE SEED! We can not do that sitting in the church building. We can sow it as above. Every christian can sow it using BBC, Bible DVDs, etc.

Growth and decline of The church of Christ in the USA – Don Petty, Dosyl56@aol.com

1. 1960s 17%
2. 1970s 6%
3. 2003-5 lost 10 per day!
4. 2006-8 lost 38 per day!
5. 2009-11 lost ?? per day!

By: Steve Schinnerer

Steve Schinnerer — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 08:26:09 +0000

I am currently serving as the pulpit minister for the Cherokee Hills church of Christ where this campaign took place. You need to know that for the last six months, the time we have been preparing for this work, I was extremely skeptical. I had been convinced by some that door-knocking really didn’t work any more. That it was, as Erik said, “Old Fashioned.” I wasn’t sold on the method the Back to the Bible campaign was using, even though they had proved it successful for the past 35 years. My wife will even tell you that the night before the campaign started I was unsettled about the whole thing. I had been on door-knocking campaigns in the past that were not very successful, so I started with an attitude of just bearing with it and eventually the week would be over. I now am ashamed of my attitude. If you have never seen the NW congregation at work in one of their campaigns, you have nothing to base your judgment on. These brethren have shown more love for the lost souls in our community in one week than I have for two years working with Cherokee Hills. I pray I am forgiven of my neglect. This past week has, in numerous ways, changed me. I have learned that when God’s people set out to fulfill the simple command of preaching the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15), and spend many many months in prayer and preparation, He will not ignore their willingness to spread the truth.

I don’t know what Shawn Paden saw in Garland, but there was not one soul brought to Christ without a thorough study of the plan of salvation. I personally baptized 27 of our 31 new family members and I have absolutely no doubt every single one understood exactly what God has commanded of them to refocus their lives in true repentace, and put on their Savior in baptism because they knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He truly is the Son of God and the new master of their life. Yes we are excited about the number of new babes in Christ. My facebook has been updated multiple times a day with reports of new Christians and how many studies had been set up. You cannot tell me it is not exciting to know that in the 21st Century it is possible to set up 271 Bible studies simply by asking people if they are interested in learning more about God’s plan for their life, and for 31 to say “yes” to Jesus Christ. Even God was thrilled enough to post that on His first day of campaigning nearly 3,000 were added to the church (Acts 2:41). He then updated that post a short time later to inform us that His kingdom had grown to over 5,000 (Acts 4:4).

What you will never be able to see in a blog article or the pictures that are included is not just what went into the changing of the destiny of 31 souls, but the transformation of an entire congregation. Are we exhausted? You had better believe we are! But there is a fire burning in NW Oklahoma City and I am blessed to be a part of it.

By: Bro. S. Suresh (Director), Gospel for Every Heart Ministries. Andhra Pradesh South India.

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:51:10 +0000

knocking doors is a very great ministry among the people because of through this ministry we can save and lead the people to Christ by the Gospel.

Your service in the Lord,

Bro. S.Suresh (Director), GOSPEL FOR EVERY HEART MINISTRIES, INDIA