Principles & Practice of Health Evangelism
Chapter 18
Susceptibility
Textbook pages 218-222
Susceptibility is the tendency to be affected by something external to yourself. It is the capacity to be influenced by receiving mental impressions. Susceptibility to evangelism is the tendency to respond positively to invitations to believe in salvation through Jesus Christ. These responses can be measured by a willingness to study the Bible in a systematic way and eventually by a willingness to be baptized and join the church.
Susceptibility to evangelism is a positive trait that is developed by the Holy Spirit working on the mind of people who are consciously or unconsciously searching for the truth. There are various degrees of susceptibility. These can be measured. Studies need to be done to measure how the susceptibility of people is influenced by various measures of intervention. This is a way to measure the return on investment.
Susceptibility to evangelism is a positive trait that is developed by the Holy Spirit working on the mind of people who are consciously or unconsciously searching for the truth. There are various degrees of susceptibility. These can be measured. Studies need to be done to measure how the susceptibility of people is influenced by various measures of intervention. This is a way to measure the return on investment.
Susceptibility to Advertising
Evangelistic efforts are widely advertised for a couple of weeks before the meetings begin. Which methods of advertising attract the largest number of people? Which methods of advertising are most cost effective?
A few years ago, the Crowley Seventh-day Adventist church in Texas held four weeks of traditional evangelistic meetings. These were advertised through a variety of means. There was the traditional mail out of “Prophecy for America” cards to every household in the surrounding postal zip codes at a cost of $8,000.00. A letter from the pastor was mailed to those who had stopped along the highway to go through a model of the ancient sanctuary tent of the children of Israel billed as Messiah’s Mansion at a cost of $225.00.
There was a letter mailed to the 100 plus previous attendees of the Best Weigh nutrition and weight loss program conducted in the church at a cost of $125.00. There was $200 invested in Facebook advertisements. The church had a large video sign on the road in front of the church and it was estimated that $50.00 of electricity was used to promote the meetings. Church members were encouraged to invite their neighbors and friends. A few brochures were made available at the checkout counter of a local thrift shop cosponsored by the church.
As non-Seventh-day Adventists arrived at the evangelistic meetings they were asked which modality of advertising influenced them the most to attend the meetings. The number of attendees that came because of each method of advertising were tallied and the cost per attendee calculated. The numbers are small but revealing.
A few years ago, the Crowley Seventh-day Adventist church in Texas held four weeks of traditional evangelistic meetings. These were advertised through a variety of means. There was the traditional mail out of “Prophecy for America” cards to every household in the surrounding postal zip codes at a cost of $8,000.00. A letter from the pastor was mailed to those who had stopped along the highway to go through a model of the ancient sanctuary tent of the children of Israel billed as Messiah’s Mansion at a cost of $225.00.
There was a letter mailed to the 100 plus previous attendees of the Best Weigh nutrition and weight loss program conducted in the church at a cost of $125.00. There was $200 invested in Facebook advertisements. The church had a large video sign on the road in front of the church and it was estimated that $50.00 of electricity was used to promote the meetings. Church members were encouraged to invite their neighbors and friends. A few brochures were made available at the checkout counter of a local thrift shop cosponsored by the church.
As non-Seventh-day Adventists arrived at the evangelistic meetings they were asked which modality of advertising influenced them the most to attend the meetings. The number of attendees that came because of each method of advertising were tallied and the cost per attendee calculated. The numbers are small but revealing.
The most cost-effective invitations were those personally made by friends to friends. These are the kinds of friendships developed at health evangelism programs when conducted with small groups.
Other highly effective methods of advertising were letters sent to alumni of previous health evangelism activities held at the church. Prior exposure to Seventh-day Adventists through health programming greatly increased the susceptibility of persons to attend evangelistic meetings.
If this was generally understood and appreciated by the denomination’s community of evangelists, they would require local churches to conduct health evangelism programs for a year or two before traditional evangelistic “reaping” meetings were held.
Mass mailing of invitations was the least effective modality of advertising. This method of finding an audience is expensive, unfruitful, is now obsolete and should no longer be used in evangelism.
Other highly effective methods of advertising were letters sent to alumni of previous health evangelism activities held at the church. Prior exposure to Seventh-day Adventists through health programming greatly increased the susceptibility of persons to attend evangelistic meetings.
If this was generally understood and appreciated by the denomination’s community of evangelists, they would require local churches to conduct health evangelism programs for a year or two before traditional evangelistic “reaping” meetings were held.
Mass mailing of invitations was the least effective modality of advertising. This method of finding an audience is expensive, unfruitful, is now obsolete and should no longer be used in evangelism.
Susceptibility to Stay
It has been estimated that about 50% of those who join the church leave within one year. The susceptibility to stay in the church following evangelistic meetings need to be measured. I do not have any figures on this, but I predict that new church members who were first cultivated in health evangelism programs will be much more susceptible to staying with us. The success rate might be at the end of a year as high as 80%-90%. This is a number that needs to be measured by those who conduct health evangelism.
Susceptibility to be Active
There are members who support the church by becoming involved in church culture. They attend Sabbath School, prayer meeting, and regularly attend services on Sabbath. It is my prediction that new church members whose first exposure to Seventh-day Adventists was in health evangelism programs will be more susceptible to become active participants in the activities of the church. It couldn’t be otherwise because they had friends in the church well before they were baptized.
Susceptibility to Give
Lastly, there are members who support the mission of the church by regularly depositing their tithes and offerings in the church coffers. About half the members in my local church don’t pay tithe. There are several others who only pay tithe and don’t support the local church in any other financial way. The church is very good at counting money. It is my prediction that new church members whose first exposure to us was through health evangelism will be faithful in returning their tithes and offerings.
This needs to be measured. Once it is known that giving is enhanced by health evangelism, church administrators will insist that all traditional evangelistic meetings be preceded by one or two years of health evangelism activity. It will be a financial boon to the denomination.
This needs to be measured. Once it is known that giving is enhanced by health evangelism, church administrators will insist that all traditional evangelistic meetings be preceded by one or two years of health evangelism activity. It will be a financial boon to the denomination.
Tracking Susceptibilities
The various practices of individuals who join the church need to be measured. The tool has two parts to it. One is data collected from a new member at the point of baptism. This needs to include basic demographic information but most importantly information about the steps that led to baptism. How long were they actively connected with Seventh-day Adventists before baptism? How many members in this local church do they know and interact with? What meetings or programs did they participate in before baptism?
These data will identify those who attended an evangelistic meeting in response to a flyer mailed to their residence and those who have attended one or more health evangelism programs prior to more formal Bible studies or participation in traditional evangelistic meetings.
The second tool needed is a bit more complicated. It is a report card on progress in the Christian life. To be most accurate it should not be completed by the person being tracked. It could be completed weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Attendance at Sabbath School, church services, prayer meeting and other activities needs to be monitored by someone who takes a census of the church members who attend every meeting.
This is not just a count of how many attended a given meeting but identifying every individual who shows up to every service of the church. This census could be performed by a church member who is personally acquainted with every member of the church. Another way is to issue a bar code identification to every church member to be scanned every time they come to church. Another way is to place a kiosk in the entryway of the church for people to sign in each time they arrive for services.
Beyond simple attendance other measures of involvement in activities of the church can be documented on a quarterly basis. Does the new member help in Sabbath School departments? Does the new member support Pathfinders or volunteer to be a helper in one of the frequent health evangelism programs?
The giving habits of new members can be obtained from the church treasurer. This is confidential information and should be de-identified before being attached to a members file. A simple scoring system would be sufficient. A=tithes and offerings, B=tithe only, C=offerings only, D=rarely gives, E=never gives.
These data will identify those who attended an evangelistic meeting in response to a flyer mailed to their residence and those who have attended one or more health evangelism programs prior to more formal Bible studies or participation in traditional evangelistic meetings.
The second tool needed is a bit more complicated. It is a report card on progress in the Christian life. To be most accurate it should not be completed by the person being tracked. It could be completed weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Attendance at Sabbath School, church services, prayer meeting and other activities needs to be monitored by someone who takes a census of the church members who attend every meeting.
This is not just a count of how many attended a given meeting but identifying every individual who shows up to every service of the church. This census could be performed by a church member who is personally acquainted with every member of the church. Another way is to issue a bar code identification to every church member to be scanned every time they come to church. Another way is to place a kiosk in the entryway of the church for people to sign in each time they arrive for services.
Beyond simple attendance other measures of involvement in activities of the church can be documented on a quarterly basis. Does the new member help in Sabbath School departments? Does the new member support Pathfinders or volunteer to be a helper in one of the frequent health evangelism programs?
The giving habits of new members can be obtained from the church treasurer. This is confidential information and should be de-identified before being attached to a members file. A simple scoring system would be sufficient. A=tithes and offerings, B=tithe only, C=offerings only, D=rarely gives, E=never gives.