The local church is God’s institution for equipping and training its members to realize their full potential as soul-winners for Him. 

The Issue

The local church faces significant challenges in its attempts to evangelize the surrounding cities and communities.

A few of these challenges are listed:

1.    Pastors are busy with providing oversight and administration.

2.    Church members are not well trained to do effective evangelism.

3.    Church members are too busy.

4.    Many newly baptized members leave the church within 1-5 years because of the local church’s inability to provide long-term follow-up.

Services Provided by Bible Workers

Experienced and committed Bible workers can be a tremendous asset to the local church.  They can provide a number of specialized services that the local pastor and conference leadership may not be able to provide the members of the church.  A basic list of services that a Bible worker may be able to provide a local church follows:

1.    Provide individualized training to members in personal evangelism by taking them to visit contacts in the field.

2.    Develop a consistent plan of covering a neighborhood and assisting the local church pastor in implementing it at the beginning of the evangelistic cycle.

3.    Provide competent and consistent follow-up to evangelism contacts in the community.

4.    Train new members in basic doctrinal studies and help them integrate well into the church after baptism.

5.    Foster small group Bible studies in the local church.

6.    Assist the pastor in visiting members thus freeing up the pastor to address additional responsibilities.

Challenges Faced by Bible Workers

There are a number of challenges that Bible workers face in their attempts to work for God in this profession.

1. Local conference budgets are strapped for funds and so they are unable to support my Bible workers as a result.
2. The local church budgets are stretched thin.
3. Bible work is not a financially viable career option.
4. Due to the uncertain job outlook, Bible workers are rarely allowed to become experienced and effective in that local area.
5. High turnover results in Bible workers who are not experienced in the art and skill of witnessing and training.

Proposal

In the past, ASI Business Partners have relied on a stipend-based system of compensating Bible workers in the field.  Our proposal is that ASI consider fostering a framework within its Business Partner network in which Bible Workers are provided a means of non-ministry related employment. This framework would allow Bible workers to partly sustain themselves and help make Bible work a viable career option.  This framework would be reserved for individuals who are interested in making Bible work a long-term career or at minimum 5 years.

Discussion Points

We hope this proposal gives ASI a chance to consider various issues surrounding Bible work and how to execute effective strategies for evangelism.  Included in this proposal are some optional guidelines that the ASI evangelism team can consider in evaluating the possibilities of this proposal.

Training

A serious candidate should demonstrate a sincere desire to learn biblical truths and methods of cutting-edge evangelism. This should be supplemented with a completed Bible school course lasting from 3 months to 1 year at minimum.  In addition to didactic instruction the Bible worker should have a chance to see if God is calling them to this work.  Thus they should work in an internship lasting no less than six months.  Once ASI has established the commitment level of the aspiring Bible worker then the first few stipend payments from ASI should be cumulatively directed towards a short-term vocational skills course.  This allows the Bible worker to develop some vocational skills such as A+, MCSE, CCIE, phlebotomy, C.N.A. etc. which will ease their matching with an ASI business partner.

Employment

Each ASI business partner is best equipped to make hiring decisions however ASI can lead by establishing some common guidelines for all three parties, the Bible worker, ASI, and ASI business partners.  It may be advantageous to develop a job-to-skills matching system that would match Bible workers to prospective ASI business partners.  Most Bible work occurs during the late afternoon and early evening hours.  Thus the Bible worker is free during the morning and early afternoon to work at a non-ministry related job. This break from the regular bible work provides the worker with a healthy diversion for the mind and fulfills the Spirit of Prophecy guidelines for useful labor.

Due to the nature of Bible work, perhaps the ASI business partner could develop a project-based employment agreement with the bible worker thus allowing a Bible worker the flexibility to work and prepare for bible studies.

Conclusion

By implementing this proposal the Business Partners and ASI will be able to provide sustained and well-trained bible workers to local churches.  Even if the bible worker uses the skills gained in the vocational training to enter a secular line of work after five years it is hoped that they in turn would be open to hosting Bible workers and becoming business partners of ASI and thus fuel the growth of new, and young ASI business partners. The local churches will benefit from effectively trained members and the gospel will go out to the highways and byways of our neighborhoods and cities.