Event Suggestions
I. Prayer
1. Have folks pray and visit each night one-week prior to the event.
2. Have numbers “take five at five.” No matter where they are or what they are doing, stop at 5:00 p.m. and pray five minutes for the event.
3. Four weeks prior to the event have special prayer for the up coming event in Sunday School, Church Training and Mid-week Services.
4. Three weeks prior to the event have people turn in at least two names of people they are praying will make decisions during the event.
5. Two weeks before, divide your families into Andrew Workers – equal number for each night of the event. Their job is to fill the building each night of the event . . . Operation Andrew is a very good way to get the people there.
Example of how it works: Church has 100 active families – The event is five nights. This gives us 20 Andrew Workers for each night. They can ask both visitors and members to stand up for them. Visitors, however, count two points each. This gets members back each night and also provides an incentive to bring visitors. Award throwing or whip lessons, a leather whip, knives, Bibles, books, videotapes, albums, etc. to winner each night. Give a nicer gift to the overall winner the last night of the event. It is very import to follow this plan exactly, if possible. The Pastor is the key to this program – perhaps he might preach a sermon on Andrew prior to the event.
6. On the night prior to the event, ask all members to be present and set aside regular program in order to come and kneel at the alter and have a season of prayer. Make this one special. Try to get everyone to come to this one. Remember, no program, just come to pray. Try to have everyone there. Pray for names of lost. Call their names and let them sound in Heaven. Claim them for God.
7. Have Deacons meet for prayer. NOTE: Use any other methods you know of. . . let’s saturate this meeting in prayer.
II. Advertising:
1. Flyers: Should go out one week before the event, all over the town, community, etc. Mail them to prospects, other churches, etc. Be sure to include a picture (you can take anything from our website www.throwingknives.com). Especially sporting good stores, hardware stores or any place where men and boys like to go.
2. Mass Media: Use all newspapers, radio, T.V., and ads that are possible. Most of these offer free community service. Remember, advertising doesn’t cost – it pays! Best to purchase an ad also. Be sure to include pictures of evangelist.
3. Word of mouth: Get people to talk up the event. One good way is get a roll of red ribbon and straight pins. Cut off pieces about 3” long. Pin them to your shirt or blouse. Wear these where they can be seen. People will ask “what’s the ribbon for?” the answer, “To remind me to tell you that God loves you and to invite you to our special event.” This is for adults and kids alike. Tell them no one should be seen without their ribbon until the event is over. Visit every night the week before. Try to get into every house in the community and leave flyers. Visit the lost prospects. Seek to win lost souls – not just visiting the sick.
4. Mail: a letter to all prospects inviting them to come to the services.
5. Telephone Blitz: Select people to call every page in the phone book to invite them to the special event and ask them to attend.
III. Promotion
NOTE: This is to get people excited and expectant about this event. Promotion defined is simply “the use of excitement to get people under the sound of the Gospel.” Many people followed Jesus for his healing or miracles, but he used that as an opportunity to preach to them. Use Operation Andrew.
IV. Offering
We ask that a love offering be taken in services with no pressure – simply inform the people that the love offering will be for a team and not one man. The entire offering will go to the team. Any other offering, such as event expense, promotion, etc. should be taken separately. We do ask that our expense check be written separate for amount of flight or mileage of 25cents per mile when driving.
V. Knives, Whips & Books:
1. Have a good spot available for display of knives, whips and books. Usually in the vestibule.
2. We would like the pastor to announce these are available in each service.
3. Items are considered a ministry of the word, just as the preaching ministry is a ministry of the Word. Although there are knives and whips for sale, they are to help get fathers and son’s to share time together. We also have good Christine books and tracks for sale to help support our ministry. All proceeds go back into a special fund for producing future items. The ministry is entirely for the glory of the Lord.
VI. Accommodations:
1. Trailer hook ups are requested for the team, if possible.
2. Meals should be arranged so the team can have lunch and a meal following the evening service, if possible. These are simply requests and any variation can be made if needed.
3. We request that the team be allowed to return to their trailer as early as possible in the afternoon for rest and preparation for an evening service, either at your church or, if it is acceptable, to go to another church in your location.
VII. Order of Service:
1. Pastor will make any announcements, be in charge of offerings being taken, and receive those making decisions during the invitation.
2. Hopefully nursery service can be provided and ushers should be instructed to greet all visitors and direct them to the available nurseries.
NOTE: These Special Event suggestions are merely suggestions and are made available because of previous experience in other special events. We feel that these suggestions can help to produce the kind of Event we know you and God desire. We are willing to work under any situation that you feel necessary.