Evangelism
Meeting Minutes,
***This e-mail may be viewed as an attachment in
Microsoft Word***
We started off our meeting discussing the latest updates to some of our previously
discussed ideas. We also mentioned a few new ideas that could help the
Church become more prepared for the visitors and newcomers we will have,
God-willing.
1) Father Moussa made a list of the many services our Church
provides, including any special skills or talents someone may have that can
contribute to the service in any way. He stated that he will be passing around these
lists, so that everyone can sign up for a service they are interested in.
2) We mentioned the need for a brochure rack for the church. We can put the pamphlets in
it and any other books, flyers, etc. This would be something that
everyone is in charge of looking for. We decided to look for a
freestanding rack that is plastic and may be found at a local office store or
Wal-Mart.
3) After using the headphones for the English translation, we
think it is best to now collect the headphones after each sermon, place them in
plastic bags in the microphone room, and then replace them to the Church before
each sermon on Sunday. This will help protect them and eliminate any
temptation for a child to play with them.
4) We realized it is a wonderful idea for every person in the Evangelism group to
learn how to operate the headphones from the back room, so that if there is a problem with
turning it on or what not, any one of us will be able to fix it efficiently.
5) In regards to the English translation for the sermons, we need
to make a list of
people interested and able to translate the sermons in the back room, so that it can be
transmitted to the headphones. We came up with some possible names, but Father Moussa will be choosing
two people held responsible for this service. These two people
will then be able to delegate any others to help participate in the
translations every week.
6) The idea of the cleaning group comprised of Sunday school
children is a wonderful idea, but we need someone to be in charge of this
service entirely. Please, if anyone is willing to help with this service for
just 15-20 minutes every Sunday after class, contact me immediately. If
we do not have any one in the Evangelism group, then looking for volunteers in
the Servants’ meeting may be another option.
We discussed some wonderful news this Friday—St.
Mina’s church in
We then continued our meeting with an essential topic—The
Greeting Ministry.
We discussed some of this topic on
Greeting Ministry
It is extremely important that we all place ourselves in the visitor’s shoes and think about
all of the different emotions and expectations come along with entering a new,
unique church. By doing so, we are able to “think” as the
newcomer, and thus we are able to provide them with a blessed experience.
When a person first visits the Church there are a few main things they will be
looking for or thinking about:
1) The church is an unfamiliar
place and everyone is a stranger to him/her.
2) The visitor is looking for
something spiritual—they are most likely seeking peace and joy and
are looking for fulfillment.
3) The visitor wants to make this
unfamiliar place a more comfortable, familiar place for
himself/herself. The person wants to completely lose the feeling of being
a “stranger.”
4) The newcomer wants to feel
welcomed, wanted, and that he/she belongs to the church.
Now, as servants, how can we address these concerns
and needs of the individual(s)??
1) The first impression, usually the first few minutes, is
incredibly essential to the visitor. He/she can determine a lot about the
church in a short period of time, which is the reasoning behind having a clean,
quiet church for anyone to enter in.
2) How can I let the visitor feel our church is a very spiritual
church? Sometimes we overlook this aspect of the service, when it is
really something that a visitor is looking for. A good example of letting
them know about our uniqueness and great spirituality would be to say, “Our service comes from the 1st century
and was started by Christ Himself. It may not be familiar to you, but it
is a very spiritual service.” We should also provide
the visitor with a pamphlet telling about the “Christian Orthodox” church.
It is a good idea to say it this way because many people feel “Orthodox” refers
to a Jewish faith. We also need to provide
them with a Liturgy book immediately and let them know that the screen overhead is for them to use and follow along
with. Finally, by offering
someone to sit with them during the Liturgy, you will make them feel
comfortable and wanted.
3) We want to make sure that we introduce ourselves
immediately. It is a great idea to give
them your name and welcome them on behalf of the Christian Coptic Orthodox church and on behalf of our congregation and priests.
By doing so, you have extended your own personal welcome, a welcome on behalf of
the entire church, and a personal welcome on behalf of the priest(s) as
well.
4) After following the introduction, this would be a great time to
mention that there is an “information card” in
the pamphlet for them to fill out , in order for the
priest to personally welcome him/her to the church or give them a card to fill
and tell them this is in order to welcome them at the end of the service by the
priest. It is also a great way for us to contact them
later on for any events and invitations. This card will have basic
information, such as name, phone number, address, e-mail, etc. Father Moussa has requested to see this card before placing it in
the pamphlet. It is very important that we do not make them feel
pressured in giving us their personal information.
5) If we do not receive the “information card” from them
immediately, we at least need to get their name so that the priest can mention
this newcomer’s name in front of the congregation and welcome them after the
Divine Liturgy.
6) In regards to the “information card,” Victor Beshir came up
with the idea of having a guest book open on the
table, so that without great pressure, the visitor will feel free to
sign in.
7) We mentioned that we would like to seat
them in the middle section of the church, preferably where the English
translation headphones are installed, so that they will not have to
move during the time of the sermon. Also, it
would be great if the Evangelism meeting group can sit in this area so that
they can help them follow along during the service and make them feel
comfortable. (Later on down the road, we will have them sit
scattered around the church, so that they do not feel this is a row for
“visitors” only).
8) Since we stand for a long duration during the Divine Liturgy,
we would need to let them know that we are used
to this, but they are more than welcome to sit down and relax when they need
to. Remember, they will be looking to us as the “authority”
and it is very important that we give them “permission” to be seated.
9) Also, even though we will be providing
them with a packet that has brochures about the Coptic Church, Orthodoxy, the
church activity, schedule of services and pamphlet discussing the “first-time
visit information,” they may not have the time to read it right
then. It is ESSENTIAL that we tell them
that the Holy communion is for the Orthodox Christian, but that they are
welcome to take the antidoron (holy bread given after
church) and participate in singing hymns. This way, you have invited
them to take of the holy bread, without pressuring them
[discuss giving antidoron with your priest before
talking about it with visitors].
10) We need to come early in order
to prepare the table, brochures, guest book, Divine Liturgy books, etc.
There should be one man and one woman
helping with the preparation and sitting at the table every week.
11) We need to remember to mention
any services, events, or occasions to the visitor, such as Vespers,
weddings, baptisms, etc. This is a great way to introduce them to the
church and get them involved in the many sacraments, services, and activities,
not just the Divine Liturgy.
12) If the visitor arrives early, make sure to introduce him/her to other members seated next to
him/her. It is good to feel
standing and praying with people they know and not totally strangers.
13) After the Liturgy, make sure you introduce
them to the priest(s) and invite the person and escort them to the coffee room
for some food and drink. Now would be a great time to
introduce them to others and mention a word
about God’s love. Something as simple as “I am very thankful to God for bringing you to pray with
us today” would be wonderful.
14) DO NOT FORGET to welcome the
children that are visiting as well---This is very important!!!
We could invite the children to Sunday school
after the Liturgy is over. This will give the children a sense of
belonging, while also allowing the parents to get better acquainted with the
church and its congregation.
15) It is also very important to be
PERSONABLE, NOT PERSONAL. If someone begins to discuss
personal manners and situations, you can simply say, “I will pray for you.” Do
not become nosy and willing to get involved in their personal
affairs. Just make sure that you show
love, sincerity, and compassion, because we do need to be able to
relate to the visitor and show genuine concern for any of their problems.
We concluded our meeting with a prayer and final comments. Please
remember this meeting always in your prayers and remember that we are
ENCOURAGING more people to get involved in the evangelism effort in bringing
others to the love of Christ!! God Bless +
In Christ,
Jasmine Jourjy