Introduction

Three themes flow through the HIM model, namely: Responsible Evangelism, Multiplication Ministry and Stewardship.

This Evangelism and Discipleship Model for the Southern African Region is based on the following:

1. The Great Commission calls on us to make Disciples and not mere Converts.
2. While involved primarily in Church Planting and Evangelism through Short Term Outreaches, HIM must be (and is) involved with discipleship of the local church and of new believers.
3. The Southern African Region has characteristics which are both common to all churches and some that are unique to the area, these must be borne in mind while reading this document. Some of the specific needs are reflected in this Model.

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Goal

1. To bring in visitors on short tern outreaches for a crusade lasting 8 days with travel time on either side.
2. To help train local Christians in one-on-one evangelism
3. To plant multiple churches during the outreaches
4. To disciple both the local Christians and the new believers
5. To set in motion a movement of church planting in the area
6. To leave behind trained leaders and members
7. To send home enthusiastic participants that will continue to do evangelism in their home churches

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HIM Southern Africa and Discipleship

Bearing in mind that the situation may vary vastly from country to country in this region, some of the factors that call for a heightened involvement by HIM in outreach evangelism and discipleship in this region are:

• In some countries most of the Pastors have had little or no formal training at all. (In Angola only one out of forty pastors have been trained)
• Some pastors are responsible for as many as 30 churches or preaching points. As a result baptism, communion, teaching, and evangelism have been severely neglected.
• Some of the countries have recently been under Communist rule and had little access to Bibles and any Christian literature whatsoever.
• Some of the countries have recently been or are currently involved in war or civil war. Large-scale destruction of the infra-structure as well as educational and church structures has severely affected the church.
• Many cults are entering these areas leaving the churches confused.
• Many different denominations are targeting these countries. With their different emphasis (particularly regarding the Holy Spirit) many Christians do not know what to believe.
• Poverty is the rule rather than the exception in the region.
  Many people are illiterate.
• Most churches have very weak leadership structures.
• Most churches have no access to modern information technology.
• Most churches have very few resources - some meet under trees!

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Challenges faced in Short Term Outreaches

We have to keep in mind that we will be involved in church-to-church outreaches on invitation from local organizations, associations and groups. Several limiting factors must be remembered, most of which can be overcome:

• Every crusade comprises of a different set of participants. We do however have full time staff that live in the area to which we are invited.
• Each crusade takes us to a new area for a very short period of time (usually 8 days of contact with the host churches.)
• Neither the churches of the area nor HIM has the financial resources to provide adequate discipleship materials for all the people.
• Visiting participants sometimes struggle to accept just how simplistic the message needs to be in most of the churches. Transferring their sophisticated, educated, churched, Christian jargon into understandable basic concepts proves difficult for most volunteers if not well prepared.
• Distance, the terrain, transport, language and cultural differences, all add to the complexity of the situation. Material that is ideal for Mozambique may be completely useless in Malawi or even a different area of Mozambique! Methods acceptable in South Africa may offend in Lesotho, etc.
  
  

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  Crusade Preparation

Discipleship throughout the Preparation Process

A. The Invitation

Any HIM crusade starts with an invitation by a Hub church, association or union of Churches. Very often invitations follow someone participating in a crusade. On returning home the participant will usually share his excitement with other pastors and an invitation will be sent. Even here, when the first approaches are made by prospective crusade organizers, it must be made clear that discipleship will be part of the 'package'.

• In Africa many crusades take place every year. Most are conducted in large stadiums or huge tents. Almost no participation is required by the local leadership other than to advertise the event. Nothing is required of the local church members and very little follow-up is ever done successfully.
• One of the strongest points in HIM's favor is the emphasis of total participation of not only the leadership, but of the members as well.

The inviting association should know from the outset what they are letting themselves in for, that this will not be just another "hit-and-run" crusade, but rather a two year plus program of complete evangelism.

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B. Forming the General Committee

After the acceptance of the invitation and the flow of correspondence a visit by HIM Staff usually takes place about 12 months before the crusade.

The following written material is sent to the participating churches:

• A detailed list of what HIM expects from the participating churches.
  A detailed list of what HIM has to offer the churches.
• A questionnaire regarding the group or association to help determine whom we are working with before we arrive in the area.A report of their working relationship with the local Missionaries.
• A summary of their needs/strengths. E.g. Number of trained pastors, current church growth, leadership qualities in the local churches etc.

During the Meetings

These meetings are generally used to form a committee who will be responsible for all the practical arrangements for the crusade. Material has been set up for these meetings detailing all they have to do to have a successful crusade. These materials are practical and are well received in the African context. Some minor adjustments need to be made from time to time for cultural purposes.

Much of this time is used to motivate and train those attending. There is a strong emphasis on the use of the Operation Andrew Cards and on prayer. I believe this is one of our strongest discipleship roles in the churches.

Operation Andrew - Discipleship in Prayer

While most African churches have a strong emphasis on prayer, they do not receive much teaching on prayer. The training that we bring to the churches, particularly the emphasis on every member's participation is a major boost for the churches. Church life in general centers on the leadership or at most on the men. By involving everyone in the prayer program of the church, we are helping to encourage general participation.

Usual Procedure:

• These meetings are usually held over a two day period.
• Emphasis is placed on the fact that when the teams come for the crusade that their goal is to take local church members with them so that they can be trained in evangelism. Part of our goal is not only to do evangelism while we are there, but to teach and model evangelism so that we leave active evangelists behind when we leave. Once again the emphasis must be on general participation - not just men, but all members of all age groups.
• Leaders attending these initial meetings must leave with a firm belief that evangelism is not an event but a process and a lifestyle. For many in Africa evangelism is something that happens to you from outside. Someone else comes and does it for you. This is something that HIM can help change.
• The Operation Andrew Cards are explained. Church leaders attending these meetings must now go and explain how they work to Pastors who in turn have to train their members in their use. Some basic prayer training must be included in our package of materials to enable untrained pastors to sensibly involve their members in the nine month prayer program.

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The Preparation Retreat

The preparation retreat takes place over three days and is used to train all participating pastors and leaders. The practical arrangements and planning are covered extensively to ensure that the crusade will run smoothly. Local pastors are taught how to form local committees in their churches and again a strong emphasis is placed on the participation of all the members.

Discipleship at the Preparation Retreat:

While the practical arrangements have to be discussed this time is also used to encourage, motivate, and train pastors and leaders.

• Subjects covered are leadership, prayer, evangelism, follow-up, baptism, the importance of a youth program in church, etc.
• These subjects may appear to be basic and unnecessary but in the context of Southern Africa (and elsewhere) they are fresh news to the participants. I cannot emphasize enough just how basic some of this material has to be in some of these countries.
• During this time the daily program of the crusade is discussed and the importance of the daily training for the church and the new believers is stressed.
• The follow-up program has to be decided on during these meetings. This includes the materials that the churches will be using during and after the crusades. Material will be referred to later under the heading 'Materials'.

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Church Planting Preparation

Each participating church is encouraged to prepare to plant at least two new churches during the crusade week.

This implies that:

• They will identify the places where they want to plant new churches.
• They must arrange with local authorities for teams to visit the village/town and do evangelism.
• They seek out the chiefs and inform them of our intention to plant a church there.
• They seek suitable land where the church will meet and where a structure can be erected later.

Church planting remains the ultimate goal of our outreaches as it is the most effective way of turning converts into disciples.

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Discipleship during the Crusade Week

These methods are dependant on a team of at least 4 volunteers with the necessary skills.

During the morning session:

a. One team member with teaching skill meets with bulk of the church membership for Bible teaching. Subjects could be chosen from the following depending on the need:

• Basic Prayer
• Basic Bible Study
• Church life
• Giving
• Holiness

b. The rest of the team does home-to-home visits taking selected members with them for evangelism.

c. If a large team is available, a trained member may meet with the church leadership and cover the following subjects in the course of the week:

• Basic Bible Skills
• Basic Biblical Principles
• Basic Principles of Prayer
• Basic Homiletics - using the Bible as the basis of preaching
• Basic Leadership Skills

During the Afternoon Session:

a. From day two a daily afternoon meeting is held for new believers. During the evangelism and meetings it must be stressed that there will be a Baptismal service on the Saturday for new believers and those who desire to be baptized must attend these meetings. Others who want to know more about the Lord may also attend.

b. Pastors and leaders must attend so that they can continue with the follow-up after the teams have returned home.

c. Subjects to be discussed can include:

• Salvation
• Baptism
• Lordship of Christ
• Dealing with temptation
• Prayer
• The Bible
• Etc.

d. The rest of the team does home-to-home visits taking different members with them for evangelism. We must try to take as many people as possible with on evangelism to model and train one-on-one witnessing to them.

Saturday of the Crusade:

a. A Baptismal service is held wherever water is available. It is important that new believers be given the opportunity of being baptized. In many African churches there is a long period between salvation and baptism. This usually occurs because only ordained pastors may baptize. With up to 30 preaching points per ordained pastor it takes a long time to get around to everyone.

Sunday of the Crusade:

a. On the Sunday we try to have a Communion Service for the church and the newly baptized.

Discipleship After The Crusade

The new churches that have been planted and those who have participated must now do the follow-up and discipleship of new converts.

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Materials

There are several sets of follow-up materials available. No one set is ideal for the entire region. Every area needs to be investigated and the right materials made available to the local churches. It is possible that in time we may be able to develop our own materials that would be usable in most of the areas. Most of the current materials have been developed in a first world context. Something far more basic is needed.

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Needs

To fully implement this model we need extra funding. Teaching aids would also be welcome. The "Jesus Film" is of great use in evangelism and in Discipleship. A kit comprising the film, sound equipment and video projector etc. would be of great help.

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Summary:

Discipleship can be divided into three phases:

Before the Crusade: Aimed at leaders and members
During the Crusade: Aimed at the leaders, the Church andnew converts
After the Crusade: Aimed at new believers and evangelists

This is a growing and developing part of the ministry of HIM in Southern Africa. Every crusade teaches us more and I fully expect some of these perspectives to grow and change, nevertheless, we are committed to a higher level of involvement in Discipleship.

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Please Note:

1. Breakfast and Dinner are hot meals
2. Lunch is taken with the participants and consists of dry foods, fruits etc.
3. Some teams will have a late Dinner if they are based far from the base or if they are showing the Jesus Film
4. Depending on terrain and other factors not all the teams will necessarily stick to this plan.

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Usual Outcome of Crusades

This area is in the midst of a huge harvest. Most Crusades see Thousands coming to Christ and several new churches being planted. Participants can expect to work hard and see phenomenal results. Most people who have come out on these trips have been changed in significant ways. Most go home with renewed vigor for the Great Commission.

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