Truly, we should be his witnesses till ‘the very end of the age’ and even in the uttermost corners of the earth (Acts 1:8) It has to be kept in mind that our preaching of the Gospel is not just aimed at getting people baptised (1 Corinthians 1:17). The seed of truth which we sow now, will certainly bear fruit in the next world, if not in the present time (See Grace – Blossom 25:February 10, para 08). Hence, we all should actively preach the Gospel full-fledged. It is also an work we have to do to confirm our faith (See Grace – Blossom 24:January 10, paras 05,06). Hence, to confirm our faith and grab our crown, we should all, be it men or women, old or young, should actively seek to spread the truth. Otherwise, our faith, lacking in works, will be dead (James 2:20,26). A mere faith on God does not help, as James points out that even demons have that (James 2:19). To suffer for the Gospel is our calling (2 Timothy 1:8). House to House ministry is a wonderful and efficient way to fulfil that calling. In this issue, let us explore the usefulness and manner in which to embark on such a ministry.
(2) House to House ministry was used by none other than Jesus (See Matthew 10:12,13). Indeed, Jesus and his disciples went House to House and preached the good news about the One Living God. After the resurrection of Christ, the apostles continued to indulge in House to House ministries – ‘You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house’ (Acts 20:20,21). This does not mean that they did not use other methods to spread the Gospel. Christ and later apostles, preached in synagogues, market places and mountain slopes (Matthew 4:23, 5:1, Acts 17:17). Yet, they apparently continued to preach house to house. It is important to probe the reasons for this. Because, even today there are many ways to spread the truth – Television, Radio, Internet, Public meetings etc. Technological advancements have enabled us to spread the truth, more efficiently. It is vital to use these modern facilities in God’s service. Truly, every church should plan their witnessing activities in a way that makes use of all available tools. Elders should take the initiative in this regard and plan. If there was no such planning in your church, each brother and sister should plan individually and with other like minded brethren and spread the truth. This being the case, one might wonder, is it necessary to do House to House ministry in this modern world which has provided us with so many advanced tools? It is necessary indeed! Because, the reasons that made captivating public speakers like Jesus and Paul to feel the need to do House to House ministry, still exist. Let us explore those reasons.
(3) A special characteristic of House to House ministry is that we seek out people in their homes. In public meetings, only those who attend it will benefit. But, if we go to people’s houses, those who never attend such meetings usually can also be covered. The fact that we take the initiative to preach the truth instead of the vice versa, demonstrates our love for the truth. More importantly, House to House ministry is an efficient way to make people easily understand the truth. Listeners cannot clear their doubts then and there in public meetings. Many go home with doubts and confusion. Some understand the message in a wrong fashion. Moreover, there is difference in the aptitude and mental state of each person which means, some may understand, some others may not. When we preach exclusively to a family, these problems can be avoided. Listeners can clear their doubts immediately. We can also calibrate our message in accordance to the aptitude and mental state of our listeners. This is scientific. Researches have revealed that smaller class sizes produce better results. That is the reason; Class sizes are getting reduced in schools these days. Moreover, man’s attention span is short. Hence, in a public meeting setting, it is tough for people to concentrate. That is the reason, many times, while sitting in a public meeting we find our minds wander far away from the topic, even though our eyes may still be fixed at the speaker. On the other hand, when we lay out the truth as part of a conversation, we can hold people’s attention longer. Hence, House to House ministry is an excellent way to make it easy for people to understand the truth.
(4) Moreover, a lot of money is needed to organise public meetings or say television broadcasts. For example, to hold a public meeting, we need to hire a place and then advertise about the meeting. All of these require a lot of money. Hence, public meetings cannot be held at will or in a daily basis. We need to plan extensively and collect money to hold such meetings. It is thus impossible for one person to do such ministries. Only those churches which can afford the expenses can attempt such things on their own. Others have to wait for donations. On the other hand, House to House ministry involves literally zero expense. No elaborate planning is needed. It can be done daily. Even a single person can do it without the need for help from anyone else. What a blessing it is! We do not have to depend on donations or help to do the Gospel works that are needed to confirm our faith. Only a will to serve God and a determination to confirm our faith is needed. If we have such a will and determination and decide to do House to House ministry today, we can start from today itself. This is another reason for the churches of Apostles’ times to extensively do House to House ministry.
(5) Moreover, not all have the talents needed to be a public speaker. Hence, in many churches, the witnessing work revolves only around a small number of public speakers. This has resulted in a scenario in which other members of the church have no clear way of working for God in the spreading of the Gospel and hence have become spiritually lazy and thereby gossiping and quarrels foment. When all the members of a church go house to house to spread the Gospel, spiritual laziness can be avoided. Also, in many churches, their talented public speakers become prominent and groups form around them, again, resulting in quarrels and ego clashes (See Grace – Blossom 27:Memorial Day 10, para 07). Meanwhile, one does not need any special talent to do House to House ministry. We all know how to make conversation and hence all of us are good to go in this regard. House to House ministry will specially aid consecrated women. In the churches of the first century, women were very much involved in the Gospel ministries (Romans 16:1,2, Philippians 4:2,3, Colossians 4:15). Priscilla played a big part in the conversion of Apollos, who later went on to become a popular Christian preacher of the first century (Acts 18:26). While it is true that Paul says that woman have to remain silent in the churches, he is also the one who says that they should do ‘good works’ (Gospel-Church works) (1 Timothy 2:9,10). Indeed, witnessing the truth is something everyone has to do, regardless of gender. However, socio-cultural limitations impose many red lines for women. Yet, it is easy for them to do House to House ministry with their husbands. Aquila and Priscilla were doing the same (Acts 18:26). They can also witness to other women in this way on their own.
(6) Only because of these very many benefits of House to House ministry that the early churches continued to do it. We too should decide today that we will go House to House with the Gospel of Christ. Still, many will feel inhibited and apprehensive. They may feel awkward about knocking the houses of complete strangers and preaching them the truth. Even Prophet Jeremiah was apprehensive when God called him – ‘I do not know how to speak; I am only a child’ (Jeremiah 1:6). Truly, even the people of the early church must also have had similar apprehensions, when they started out. At least, we today do not face, with few exceptions, mortal danger if we witnessed the Gospel. Our societies are more liberal than that of first century and hence we are better placed than them. For us, hence it is more a fear of humiliation rather than physical harm that makes us hesitate to go House to House. It is undeniable that sometimes we will be humiliated and insulted. Some people may drive us out and look us with disdain. Some others may mock. But, would not have Christ faced similar treatment when he went House to House in first century Judea with the message of the Kingdom? Would not have Paul faced such humiliations? Definitely, they both would have. A servant is not above his master and hence the humiliations suffered by our master Jesus, will certainly visit us at times. That they will visit us is a prophecy of Jesus (Matthew 10:24,25, John 15:20). Paul’s many humiliations underscore that this prophecy is getting fulfilled (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). However, we should not be fearful; knowing that suffering and getting insulted for the sake of the Gospel is our calling. Truly, no kind of fear should be present among us, as we know the truth about this world and the coming one (See Grace – Blossom 16 :May 09). Let us overcome the fear of humiliation. Let us ignore our vain egos and serve God.
(7) If somehow we overcome our fears and hesitations and decide to go House to House with the Gospel, it will be helpful to follow certain, simple guidelines.
- It starts with the dresses we wear. They have to be appropriate and neat. This does not mean that we have to wear expensive designer wears. Ordinary clothes that are clean and presentable will do. Importantly, they should be in tandem with the cultural context we are living in. When we knock on a House, the host sees our dress first and hence they should not be outrageous or out of sync with local culture for they give the first impression.
- How to start the conversation is another important question. Many approaches can be followed. We need to start the conversation from topics that generally attract the attention of people. For example, many people do wonder why there is so much evil in the world and hence we can tap that sentiment by starting with highlighting the many wars and sufferings in the world and asking them ‘So, How do you think the future of mankind is going to be?’ Moreover, as much as possible, we should incorporate the present day headlines in starting the conversation. May be, the neighbourhood or town we are witnessing to, had a spate of murders or robberies. Then, we should start the conversation by asking them something like ‘You must have read about this in yesterday’s local newspaper, why such things happen?’ We can even show a copy of that newspaper to have greater impact. In this way, we should make use of the issues that will gain us the attention of people. Around festival days like Christmas or New Year, we can make use of the festive spirit of people by asking them something like – ‘Do you want to hear some very good news this New Year?’ Moreover, in order to aid us in our witnessing, it is better to carry a small book or a pamphlet that is on the topic we intend to share that day such that we can leave it with them when we leave. An attractive and meaningful picture in that book or pamphlet can also be used to start the conversation. In this fashion, we should be like Paul and start our conversation in a ‘wise as serpent’ way (Acts 17:22,23, Matthew 10:16, See Grace – Blossom 25:February 10, para 04).
- Another important thing is that, we should be good listeners. We should listen patiently and intently to the views of the other person. We should never try to cut him or her short or try to dominate to conversation. This also is commonsensical. People like good listeners. People listen only to those who listen to them. Hence, we should be good, patient listeners (James 1:19). A personal chemistry has to be cultivated with the listener. Such listening will also enable us to ascertain the mental state and aptitude of the other person, such that we can calibrate our witnessing to his or her specifics.
- Also, we should not jump to touchy topics like ‘Second Coming’ or ‘Trinity’ or ‘Anti Christ’ right away. Start by highlighting the blessings of the coming God’s Kingdom and how Christ won them for us. Wise to have an incremental, structured, orderly plan of topics. If they ask about controversial topics upfront, we should tell them to be patient. Only at an appropriate time when their growth is sufficient, should we deal with controversial topics.
- Time is an important factor for many. We should not take much time. Initially, one hour a day, once or twice a week will be enough. We should prepare lessons that suit the stipulated timeframe. None should go without preparation, hoping to make something up, then and there. Will we dare to go unprepared for our worldly commitments? Let us not treat God’s works with lesser importance. Preparation is important, for it would also mean envisaging the probable points that can rise in the discussion beforehand such that we can guide the discussion. We should deftly prevent the discussion from getting distracted by personal stories or tangential topics and channel it by remaining focussed. Sometimes, enthralled in a topic, they may ask us to extend the discussion for more than an hour. But, we must politely say ‘no’, assuring continuance in the next class. For if their household works get affected, they will regret later. Also, it is best to stick to our prepared script, to avoid errors that may confuse them. This professionalism will also gain us their respect.
- Christ sent his disciples as pairs for the House to House ministry (Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1).Taking a cue from that, it is better to go as two people. Going alone can be very lonely. On the other hand, if more than two knock the door of a house, people may find it hard to let them in, for three is a crowd. So, two is just the right number. It is a good number for the married ones. They can witness as a couple like Aquila and Priscilla. People will also be less hesitant to let couples into their houses and so they can thrive.
- Christ’s commandment was to preach the Gospel, till the end of the age, to all nations (Matthew 28:19,20). Hence, we should go to the houses of people of all caste and creed. When we do so, we should be crafty like Paul who was a ‘Greek to the Greek and a Jew to the Jew’ such that as much as possible, we do not hurt people’s sentiments. So, it is enough to identify ourselves as ‘Christians’. If they probe more, we can mention ourselves simply as an independent Bible Study/Christian Fellowship. We should not label ourselves as this sect or other and bias them against us. Even otherwise, Christ is the only identity we should wear (1 Corinthians 1:12,13). Nothing else matters and nothing else is appropriate.
At the end of it, we have to be prepared to be rejected by many. When rejected, sometimes in a nasty manner, we should not get angry and react. We should be calm and collected. We should not be discouraged. As Jesus once advised his disciples, we should wipe the dust of our feet and proceed to the next house. Only those predestined by God will be able to come into the church (Romans 8:29,30, 1 Corinthians 3:7, Galatians 1:15). So, we should not be disheartened. Also, even those who did hear some parts of the truth from us will find them useful in the coming age. While baptising is an important goal, spreading the gospel is our chief goal (1 Corinthians 1:17, See Grace – Blossom 25:February 10, para 08).
(8) Dear Brethren, it is a great privilege to bear the name of Yahweh, to the houses of people. In such a ministry, our book ‘Future of Mankind’, specifically designed to aid in House to House ministry will be useful. It has been already sent to our Tamil readers. English version is nearing completion. It’s colourful and meaningful cover page itself can be used to start the discussion. Moreover, each paragraph inside is provided with a question below. Hence, if one reads paragraph by paragraph along with the newcomer to truth and discusses the questions given below with him or her, then the newcomer will be able to easily grasp the truth. If you want copies of that book (only Tamil version available as of now), do contact us. However, it has to be noted that, it contains only the fundamental truths about Christ and hence will be useful only for the initial classes. House to House ministry is an expense free way to spread the Gospel. Just think! If a church of just 10 brethren divide themselves into 5 groups and go to just 3 houses in a week, 60 houses (approximately 125 persons) per month can be witnessed to. Hence, elders of every church should plan and encourage everyone in their church to do House to House ministry. Even if such encouragement is missing in our church, let us not wait for it to come and march ahead on our own in the service of God. House to House ministry provides us with an excellent opportunity to serve God and confirm our faith. What are we waiting for? Let us proclaim the Gospel, House to House.