Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Outreach/Personal Evangelism

Personal Evangelism
Outreach General Conference	Skill Level 2
	Year of Introduction: 1938

Contents

1. Through Bible and the writings of Ellen G. White study how Jesus treated people on a one-to-one basis. Write a 500-word report or give a five-minute oral report of what you learned.

The following passages tell how Jesus interacted with people on a one-to-one basis and are recounted in the Gospel of John and in Ellen White's book The Desire of Ages as follows. You are encouraged to study other examples and use the other gospels as well.

Nicodemus

John 3:1-21, Chapter 17

Samaritan woman at the well

John 4:1-32, Chapter 19

At the pool of Bethesda

John 5:1-9, Chapter 21

Mary and Martha when Lazarus died

John 11:17-44, Chapter 58

Mary at the resurrection

John 20:10-18, Chapter 82

Jesus reinstates Peter

John 21:15-23, Chapter 85

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He went through the following steps. First, He aroused an interest by asking her for some water. This was an unusual thing for Him to have done for two reasons: a) She was a Samaritan and He was a Jew (which she noted), and b), she was a woman and He was a man. It was not typical for a man to talk to a woman - even to his own wife - in a public place.

The second thing Jesus did was to get the woman to recognize her need. He offered her living water. She did not immediately understand that He was not talking about physical water, but she was also not totally oblivious that He was speaking of spiritual things (He said this living water would give her eternal life).

The third thing Jesus did was to make the woman realize that she needed to make changes in her own life. He did this by telling her that she had had five husbands and was living with a man to whom she not married. She countered by trying to change the subject and start a religious argument (Jews worship in Jerusalem, Samaritans do not). This was the equivalent of a modern-day Internet "flame war." She may have felt that if she could get Jesus to argue with her, she would be justified in not making the required changes in her life. Jesus did not take the bait, instead explaining that this argument was moot.

The fourth thing Jesus did was to bring the woman to the point of a decision. He openly and plainly declared Himself to be the Messiah, and it was then up to her to decide if she would accept Him as such. And she did. She immediately went back into her village to tell others about Him, even leaving her water jar behind (perhaps so she could travel more swiftly). She returned quickly with many of the people from her town, and they too became convinced that Jesus was the Messiah.

2. Show that you have a personal daily devotional life for at least six months.

One way to show this is by keeping a devotional journal. Summarize what you have read, making sure to record any Bible verses or other reading material studied. Be sure to record the date as well.

If you like, you can record your journal on a blog so that others may read it on the Internet. You may even plant a seed this way without knowing it!

All AY classes have Bible reading assignments. These can easily be used as a 6-month devotional. For Pathfinders at the Voyager or Guide level, the Bible reading assignments as outlined in your AY diary are organized into a 26-week program (26 weeks is 6 months). The Friend, Companion, Explorer, and Ranger Bible reading assignments are organized into a 13-week program. There is nothing to say that a Pathfinder can't read ahead though, so why not read two years worth of these levels? Your AY diary will have a place where you can check off each passage as you've read it.

3. Do two of the following

Choose any two of 3a, 3b, or 3c.

3a. Take part in one of the following

(1) Evangelistic meetings (2) Youth Evangelistic meetings (3) Community service van activities

If your church is planning an evangelistic series, volunteer to help out. Otherwise, talk to your pastor about organizing one.

Some larger churches operate community service van activities. These vans are used to deliver food, clothing, and services to areas where homeless people congregate. If your church does not offer community van services and you are interested in starting one, talk to your pastor.

(4) Cooking school seminars (5) Stop Smoking seminars (6) Weight loss seminars (7) Stress management seminars

The Adventist Health Care System runs seminars for all of these areas, sometimes integrating aspects of all into a single series of classes. Contact an Adventist hospital near you for more information on running your own program or helping with one of theirs.

In your choice of the above, do the following:(a) Take part in the organization of the activity.(b) Take part in the setting up of the meeting place.(c) Assist in the advertising.(d) Find out where the finances came from for the outreach project and what expenses were incurred.(e) Be involved in the operation and running of the outreach project on a regular basis.

These aspects of this requirement represent a lot of work and are designed to ensure that you are a full participant in the programs rather than just an observer.

3b. Assist in the organization and planning of one of the following outreach projects and participate in the project at least ten hours

(1) Community beautification project, such as landscaping or improv­ing a public area

If you are to undertake a mjor landscaping project in a public area, it is essential that you get permission from whatever authority is responsible for the park's operation. A litter pickup program would also be acceptable, and though it would not require coordination with the responsible government body, it would benefit from it. Many communities operate "Adopt a Street" or "Adopt a Spot" programs. Your Pathfinder club could engage in such a program. In some programs, the governing authority will provide materials (trash bags, plants, tools, etc.) and the volunteer organization provides the labor. These programs usually advertise their existence with small blue road signs, usually with the volunteer organization's name printed along the bottom. Such a sign can make for good public relations between your Pathfinder club and your community, but only if the adopted space looks good. If you adopt a spot and neglect it or do a bad job with, the sign will advertise that too.

(2) Story hour

When an Adventist named Verna Clay tried to minister to the people of the Umatilla tribe of Native Americans, they were suspicious, and resisted her initial efforts. It was not until she began a Story Hour program that they started sending their children to her. This initial program blossomed into a 20 year ministry, and many of the Umatilla came to know Jesus through her efforts. Verna Clay died in 2006, and was honored with an official Long House ceremony. It is extremely rare for anyone outside the tribe to receive such an honor, and it all started with a Story Hour ministry.

(3) Clown ministry

A clown ministry can be a lot of fun. Dressing up, wearing face paint, rubber noses, and large shoes allows even the most introverted person to "step out" and have some fun while reaching small children. Be sure that the program delivers a message - otherwise, it is mere entertainment. It is probably best to write a script first so you know how many clowns you'll need. You can also develop the script for the number of clowns you have.

(4) Puppet ministry

The target audience for this ministry is young children. A Puppet ministry program could be all or part of a Vacation Bible School. Talk with your church's VBS leader to explore options. See the Puppetry and Puppetry - Advanced honors for details of setting up a ministry like this.

(5) Prepare Christmas stockings for underprivileged children.

Propose this project to your church's ACS (Adventist Community Services, formerly known as the Dorcas Society) Director, offering to provide the stockings and the goodies that go inside them. Your club could make the stockings while earning the Basic Sewing, Knitting, or Felt Craft honors. If the "goodies" are girl-, boy-, or age-specific, make different types of stockings so that they can easily be distinguished. The following items make good stocking stuffers:

• Orange
• A few pieces of candy
• Small toys, such as Matchbox cars, tiny dolls, or wooden trains
• Toothbrush
• Play food
• Plastic animals
• Disposable camera
• Super ball
• Our Little Friend or Primary Treasure
• Water color paint set
• Diary/Journal
• Crayons, paper, glue, etc...
• Legos, Duplos, etc.

If the stockings may be destined for a home with children under 3 years old, care should be taken to select items that do not pose a choking hazard - basically, anything the size of a golf ball or smaller. Also make sure that the stocking is filled mostly with fun items - what child will be thrilled to get a stocking with nothing but toothbrushes and the like?

(6) Food and/or clothing distribution to the needy.

Talk to your church's ACS Director to coordinate your efforts for this project. Many Adventist churches run a clothes closet for the needy, and in some areas, multiple churches from varied denominations combine their resources to run one.

If your church does not participate in such a program, look into starting one. You can also volunteer to help your local Salvation Army or Goodwill chapter.

(7) Programs and visits to a nursing home, orphanage, or pediatrics ward of a hospital.

This requirement can be combined with section 8 of requirement 3c. Basically, you would make your posters up ahead of time, and hang them when you arrive for your visit.

Nursing Homes

Nursing home visits are a staple of Pathfinder outreach. Many clubs visit nursing homes on a monthly basis. During these visits, the group often assembles in a community room to sing a few hymns (the residents love to hear the classic hymns). Afterwards, the Pathfinder mingle with the residents, sometimes sharing juice and cookies provided by the nursing home. The entire visit is usually about an hour long, so in order to get ten hours of community service, you will need to make ten visits. If desired, you can do this biweekly or even weekly rather than monthly.

If you would like to lead your club in this form of outreach, call a local nursing home and ask to speak with the Activities Director. Some nursing homes are more friendly to this form of outreach than others, so if you feel you are not welcome (or if the staff is surprised when you arrive, even though you made prior arrangements), stick it out for a couple of months. If the situation does not improve, consider contacting a different nursing home.

Orphanages

The goal when visiting an orphanage is to make friends with the children there. Treat them as you would any other child, and be ready receive the friendship they have to offer you.

Pediatrics Ward

One of the requirements for the Voyager curriculum is to plan a party for the physically handicapped. You will find many handicapped children in a Pediatric Ward, so this is a perfect opportunity to throw a party for them.

(8) Similar project approved by a Master Guide or AY leader.

Note that the projects listed in the section are all community service-oriented. In order to preserve the spirit of this requirement, a similar project would also be community service-oriented. We present here a few ideas, but feel free to come up with your own.

• When winter approaches, the homeless find themselves in need of many things. You may be able to help meet those needs in these ways:
  • Blanket drive
  • Coat drive
  • Sock drive
• Toys for Tots
• Pollution remediation project (see the Environmental Conservation or the Ecology - Advanced honors for ideas).
• Any of the honors in the ADRA series.
• Any project listed in the Adventurer for Christ honor.
• Mission Trip
• Organize a Blood Drive

If you would prefer a project you can do by yourself instead of with a group, consider these:

• Translate church services for the deaf using Sign Language.
• Read a book to a blind person
• Volunteer at a library
• Visit shut-ins after church on Sabbath afternoon.
• Make toys for needy children (see the Woodworking honor).

Remember that you will need to spend at least ten hours on your project.

3c. Do all of the planning and organization and participate at least 15 hours in one of the following outreach projects

(1) Free yard care or housework for the elderly

Yard care can be done in any season as it includes tasks such as weeding flower beds, mowing grass, raking leaves, and shoveling snow. How many elderly people love to garden, but no longer can because they are unable to till up the ground? If you do this for them in the spring, they will be able to enjoy a favorite hobby through the summer and into the fall.

Housework need not be limited to cleaning either. If you like to cook, you could offer to come over and prepare a meal, either on a regular basis, or as you are able. Small repairs and maintenance should also be considered an acceptable way to meet this requirement.

Sometimes it is nearly impossible to escape without getting paid. If this happens to you, and you are unable to convince the person for whom you performed this service to not pay you, tell them you will donate the money to a charity in their name. Make sure they get a receipt.

(2) Teach in a lower division Sabbath School department.

A "lower" Sabbath School department would include Beginners (formerly Cradle Roll), Kindergarten, or Primary. It is called lower because the age of the student is lower, not the status or worth of the student! Teaching in a Sabbath School department can be a very rewarding experience.

Talk to the leader of one of these departments and ask if you can help. The Grace Link materials published by the General Conference for these divisions is structured so that the leader can recruit a few teachers who will in turn require very little preparation time. It should be noted however, that if more preparation time is taken, the results will generally be better.

In most Adventist churches, the leader of each Sabbath School department is selected by the Nominating Committee, and then that nomination is voted on by the church. Some churches will also choose teachers through the Nominating Committee. Others will choose them through a Sabbath School Council, and others will allow the department leader to choose the staff. Even then, the leader's selection of staff may be subject to approval by the Sabbath School Council, or the Church Board. Whichever way this is done in your church, the department leader is sure to know, and will be able to offer advice.

If you need to be nominated by the Nominating Committee, you should make your desires to work in these departments known to them when they are in session (Nominating Committee is a temporary, though recurring committee). They will take your interest into consideration, however, they are under no obligation to nominate you for any office, and you should not take offense if your services are not accepted.

(3) Temperance talks

See the Temperance honor for help in preparing your talks.

(4) Tutoring of younger students

The Literacy honor has details for setting up a formal community tutoring program, but for this requirement, it would be sufficient to simply meet with a younger student on a regular basis and help out as needed. It is important to not do the student's work for him when tutoring, so guard against that. Helping a student to study for a test by using flash cards, or asking questions from a list (with the answers) can be very helpful even if you are not an expert on the subject yourself (though being an expert certainly does not hurt). You can also listen to a beginning reader read a book, and offer gentle corrections as needed. Talk to someone who teaches younger students, and make your desire to tutor known.

(5) Volunteer work in a hospital or nursing home

If you choose this option, be sure to look over the Health and Healing honor. Most hospitals and many nursing homes will have a program in place for volunteers, though they limit participation to teens and older.

(6) Supplying books and games to a hospital

Though pediatric wards can make the most obvious use of these materials, keep in mind that adult patients can make use of them as well. See if the hospital can use DVD's, and if so, collect those too. Collect books for children of all ages and books for adults as well. When selecting games keep in mind that hospitalized people frequently have impaired mobility, so footballs and jump ropes may not be the best choices. Also remember that the patient may be spending a lot of time there alone, so games that can be played solo are also very useful (Rubik's Cube, puzzle books, etc.). Board games are also appropriate.

(8) Make posters and art projects for a hospital, nursing home, or orphanage.

The posters here should be works of art suitable for framing, not advertisements for a bake sale. The thought is to add cheer to a situation which might be otherwise gloomy. Look over the Lettering & Poster Making honors for tips on making high quality posters.

(9) Adopt a Grandparent Program.

To adopt a grandparent, you can either volunteer for a formal organization such as Adopt a Grandparent, or you can make a similar commitment on your own. This means identifying a senior citizen and visiting him on a regular, weekly schedule. Be sure to be on time, as this is very important to a lonely senior. The most important thing you can do for an adopted grandparent is to listen and to receive. Receiving can be difficult, because as Christians, we are more comfortable with giving than receiving. But seniors have a lot to give, and if you are willing to receive, they will be very happy. After several months of this, you may find that you have made a very dear friend.

(10) Similar project approved by a Master Guide, AY or Pathfinder leader.

Again, the projects listed in this section are also community-related, and most have a focus on health. The difference between this requirement and the one like it in section 3b is that you are to spend 15 hours on these, as opposed to 10 hours in requirement 3b. Since these appear to be intended as equivalent requirements, it would be logical to conclude that the projects listed here could be a little easier to accomplish. Indeed a quick glance will show you that the projects listed in 3b require a lot preparation, while the projects listed here in 3c require little. In light of this, you should evaluate the project you have chosen, and if little preparation is required, your goal should be 15 hours rather than 10.

References

1. ^ Mission to the Umatilla, by Kathy Carr, Banner Books
2. ^ The Legacy of Verna Clay, December 2006 Gleaner : North Pacific Union