Personal Ministries
GROW
Plant

02. Plant

After preparing the soil with friendship and service, the next phase of the disciple-making process is to invite people to consider, spiritual truth. This can be accomplished by sharing literature or media, by offering Bible studies, or by inviting people to church services and events. The more spiritual seeds we PLANT, the more interested people we will find or develop—and the greater our harvest will be. Therefore, distributing a high volume of spiritual seeds is essential for the growth of the church.
Plant illustration

PERSONAL DISCIPLE-MAKING

Here are several ways to lead someone from a friendship interest to a spiritual or study interest, and to provide spiritual growth throughout the disciple-making journey:
  • Share truth-filled literature (tracts and books) and media.
  • Invite your friend to Sabbath School, church, and prayer meeting.
  • Share a personal testimony or a special Bible promise.
  • Invite your friend to go through a series of Bible studies together or on their own.
  • Invite your friend to a small group Bible study or evangelistic series.
  • Offer to pray together.

LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRIES

To plant seeds of truth, Literature, Media, and Invitation Ministries are essential in every church. To establish these ministries:
ELECTa publishing ministries coordinator and/or personal ministries assistant to oversee literature, media, and invitation distribution ministries (Church Manual, pp. 102, 107).
BUDGETannually for literature, media, and invitations to Bible studies and church events (cost of invitation cards, flyers, social media ad campaigns, mailings, etc.).
CREATEa prominent display of free literature, along with cards or flyers offering Bible studies, for members to distribute.
PLANways to inspire, equip, and involve members in sharing literature, media, and invitations year-round, while also scheduling mass distribution efforts (door-to-door, city sidewalks, etc.) and advertising campaigns as able (mail, social media, online, etc.).
PROVIDEleadership support—prayer, promotion, financial support, and participation.

Take Note!

  1. 1.
    To be ongoing,local churches need ministries, not just events. Every disciple-making ministry should have a leader, a budget, and annual action plans.
  1. 2.
    The local church’s role in disciple-making is twofold:
    • Equip and involvemembers in personal labor by providing resources, giving ministry assignments, inspiring and motivating, launching personal labor initiatives and campaigns, etc.
    • Conductevents and Programs that minister to members’ friends and interests, as well as to new interests in the community.

Recommended Resources:

View All

Spread the Word

  • The importance of spiritual power for witnessing
  • The role of character in witnessing
  • How to initiate spiritual conversations
  • How to share your testimony
  • The power of spiritual invitations
  • Why and how to share literature and media
  • How to visit spiritual interests
  • Why and how to visit the homes in your community
Download
Spread the Word
My Disciple-Making Journal:

My Disciple-Making Journal:

A Global Total Member Involvement

Personal Planner

  • A must for every church member!
  • Learn the process for making disciples
  • Gain invaluable insights and practical tips
  • Create your own interest list
  • Use disciple-making logs that guide you in planning and recording your efforts
  • Use journal pages to record testimonies and reflections
  • Gain inspiration and encouragement to get started with personal disciple-making
  • Pastors and leaders can use the accompanying PowerPoint for training
Global Total Member Involvement

Global Total Member Involvement

Church Planner

Revised Edition

  • A must for every church pastor and local leader!
  • A companion resource to My Disciple-Making Journal: A Global TMI Personal Planner
  • Guides in making a disciple-making evangelism plan for your local church
  • Learn the twofold role of the local church in making disciples
  • Discover essential disciple-making ministries
  • Get church members ready for personal disciple-making
  • Includes sample and blank planning forms
  • Use the accompanying PowerPoint for training

Take Note!

  1. “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
  1. “The truth is to be scattered by all who claim to be disciples of Christ” (Christian Service, p. 68).
  1. “Unvarnished truth must be spoken, in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 231).
  1. “Everyone who has heard the invitation is to echo the message from hill and valley, saying, ‘Come’ ” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 110).

Explore the full Global TMI strategy by navigating through the five essential areas of disciple-making.