Knock every door: Churches work together to share gospel
LAWTON, Okla. — Four local congregations recently joined the Northwest church in a weeklong effort to knock on all 36,000 doors in this southwest Oklahoma community, inviting residents to Bible studies and gospel meetings held concurrently at all five church buildings.
Each June for the last 34 years, Northwest members have traveled to another community to conduct a “Back to the Bible Campaign” at the request of a host church. But this year, Northwest leaders decided instead to partner with neighboring churches to reach out to their own city of 91,000.
Volunteers from the Northwest, Eighth and Lee, Rose Hill, Sullivan Village and University churches divided the city into zones. The campaign produced 51 baptisms and one restoration.
“This year’s campaign was definitely different,” said Northwest’s Bob Dismuke, campaign coordinator.
Since the campaign was local, many more Northwest members were able to be involved, from driving or providing child care to preparing meals and teaching Bible studies.
Kristi Brown, who has been on seven campaigns, said the experience of knocking doors with fellow Christians is “like being at an adult church camp – we are saving lost souls together.”
As for door knocking, Brown noted that people seem to have a better response when you meet them at the door — “it shows them you care.”
The five congregations advertised their joint endeavor locally before the first knock, letting the community know what was about to happen.
This offered members “a vehicle into their homes,” said Dave Dugan, minister of the Eighth and Lee church, adding that some residents said they had been expecting the church members who rang their doorbells.
Randy Mathis, the University church’s minister, said the personal investment spoke volumes to Lawton residents.
“For people to take time out of their day to personally knock doors means something more than just putting up a sign in your yard,” Mathis said.
Gene Gochenour of Sugar Creek, Mo., attended with hopes of gaining useful evangelistic information to take back to his home congregation.
He and another church member, Charles Price, knocked doors for three days with the group and praised the camaraderie and relationships he saw in the five congregations’ members.
Each June for the last 34 years, Northwest members have traveled to another community to conduct a “Back to the Bible Campaign” at the request of a host church. But this year, Northwest leaders decided instead to partner with neighboring churches to reach out to their own city of 91,000.
Volunteers from the Northwest, Eighth and Lee, Rose Hill, Sullivan Village and University churches divided the city into zones. The campaign produced 51 baptisms and one restoration.
“This year’s campaign was definitely different,” said Northwest’s Bob Dismuke, campaign coordinator.
Since the campaign was local, many more Northwest members were able to be involved, from driving or providing child care to preparing meals and teaching Bible studies.
Kristi Brown, who has been on seven campaigns, said the experience of knocking doors with fellow Christians is “like being at an adult church camp – we are saving lost souls together.”
As for door knocking, Brown noted that people seem to have a better response when you meet them at the door — “it shows them you care.”
The five congregations advertised their joint endeavor locally before the first knock, letting the community know what was about to happen.
This offered members “a vehicle into their homes,” said Dave Dugan, minister of the Eighth and Lee church, adding that some residents said they had been expecting the church members who rang their doorbells.
Randy Mathis, the University church’s minister, said the personal investment spoke volumes to Lawton residents.
“For people to take time out of their day to personally knock doors means something more than just putting up a sign in your yard,” Mathis said.
Gene Gochenour of Sugar Creek, Mo., attended with hopes of gaining useful evangelistic information to take back to his home congregation.
He and another church member, Charles Price, knocked doors for three days with the group and praised the camaraderie and relationships he saw in the five congregations’ members.
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