by Alex G. Smith
Too often the one-night film showing draws crowds, and perhaps results in decisions, but not the establishment of new churches. In this article some better goals are enunciated and practical steps are given about how to reach them.
Too often the one-night film showing draws crowds, and perhaps results in decisions, but not the establishment of new churches. In this article some better goals are enunciated and practical steps are given about how to reach them.
After ten years of church planting experience in Thailand, I am firmly convinced that film evangelism is a valid means to multiply churches in rural villages. Provided an adequate strategy is used, films can be an effective bridge in the cross cultural context.
CULTURAL RELEVANCE
The first consideration is the fitness of any method of evangelism to the culture. In some societies, drama or song may be more suitable than films.
In Thailand medicine sellers and battery merchants use films. Driving mobile film units, these salesmen travel to remote villages and towns in spite of poor roads and difficult trails. Some even use launches to reach villages along river banks.
Missionaries recognized the advantages of using films for evangelism. Some Land Rover vehicles were equipped for this ministry, as well as a couple of launches. Film evangelists spread the gospel to many villages in unreached areas.
The arrival of a film unit signaled a gathering of the community. By evening most of the families were present, people squatted in front of the large screen raised in an open field, or in front of the temple, school, or market. Local food venders encircled the group, their delicacies displayed under smoky oil lamps. People from surrounding villages walked miles to attend. All expected to remain for hours to see the films and hear the sales pitch of the visiting merchants. This model was well adapted for film evangelism, preaching, and sales of Christian literature.
CONCERN FOR WEAKNESSES
Reaching thousands in this way was commendable, but there were weaknesses. In 1960 a film evangelist of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship reported that 40,000 people had been reached through eighty film showings during eight months in Central Thailand. Since these screenings were in virgin areas, many heard the gospel for the first time. But actual known converts were few, if any. -The problem of showing in a different place each night made it difficult to measure the response and effect of a film. Years later some who became Christians testified that the Holy Spirit had used a film to penetrate their hearts.
Was it sufficient to spread the gospel this way? Were one-night stands accomplishing the desired objective? Actually, what was the goal of such film evangelism? During the following years several incidents sparked a serious rethinking of strategy. One particular case is mentioned here.
In 1962 a film launch named Santisuk (Peace) operated by the Overseas Missionary Fellowship chugged between rows of floating houses in the provincial capital of Uthaithani. For hours she strained against the winding stream swollen by muddy flood waters to reach the village of Wang Ma in the Ladyao district. That evening films were shown, and the gospel proclaimed. The following morning the launch proceeded to another village to repeat the program. Meanwhile, at Wang Ma an elderly man, Mr. Dokdin, was convinced that the message he saw portrayed was true, but the evangelist who had moved on was unaware of this.
Ten years passed before Mr. Dokdin had his next direct contact with an evangelist when a film evangelism team stayed for a week in his village. This personal visit stirred the dormant spark of truth into a flaming commitment to Christ. A couple of months later he was baptized, along with his ninety-year-old mother and five other villagers. A new church was started.
This incident demanded careful evaluation of the difference between the two approaches. The lessons learned during the intervening decade led to changes in goal setting and strategy for film evangelism, resulting in a more efficient approach.
GOALS CLARIFIED
Reports of film evangelism in other countries confirmed that our problem was far from unique. Many film ministries ran on tight one-night itineraries. Most showings were held in churches or theaters. Non-Christians were expected to come to them, or to be brought by the Christians. Some films were shown to the unsaved at fairs or schools; others, simply in open villages.
Most film evangelists faced the constant problem of follow-up. Many opted out of direct responsibility, leaving it to the local churches. Few, however, checked to see that the churches did an adequate job. This exposed a weakness, for delegation requires responsibility, and responsibility demands accountability. The danger of film evangelism becoming an end in itself, instead of a tool for making disciples, was sadly obvious.
My early experience in film evangelism followed the practice of one-night screenings, so that as many as possible might hear. Was my objective merely to proclaim so that everyone heard? Was it just to bring people to decision for Christ?
Matthew 28:19, 20 succinctly declares the imperative of the Lord to make disciples. To make disciples means to produce responsible Christians who worship and serve God in his church to his glory. The task is to teach them to observe all he commanded, not merely to know it. The evangelist’s mission is to bring lost men to the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5). This biblical goal became the new aim of our film evangelism. To fall short of this was to miss the mark of God’s command.
The way success in a film campaign is reported is a clue to the goals. Rejoicing in large numbers who view the films indicates a good but shallow objective. Statistics of the number of professed decisions is better, but still falls short of the scriptural criteria. The best and most valid tool for measuring effectiveness of film evangelism is the number of disciples made, that is, those who become functional members of the church.
Two practical results of having clear goals for film ministry emerge. First, goals give a specific base on which to focus prayer. The objectives become a concern for intercession. Second, goals provide the foundation on which concrete plans can be laid. Practical steps to reach the goal become an exciting exercise under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
STRATEGY REVAMPED
Another crucial issue is the establishing of a correct strategy. A minimal four-fold strategy is required. These elements are interdependent and hang together as four links in the same chain. To break one link, or neglect any element, is to seriously threaten the whole strategy.
1. Identify the Responsive. Since disciple-making is the goal, film evangelism should concentrate on where disciples are most likely to be made. The scriptural principle of receptivity indicates the evangelist’s initial strategy should be to identify the responsive people. By directing all forms of seed-sowing evangelism, such as literature drives, village preaching, probing team evangelism, and personal witness to discover specifically which families, villages, and peoples are most open to the gospel, the best growth potential for new disciples is pinpointed.
Dedicated Christians work for God, but it is more important that they work with God. In other words, find out where the Holy Spirit is working, and then get in line with his ministry. This provides valuable preparation and stimulation for the next aspect of strategy.
2. Evangelize Intensely. These responsive peoples become the focus for intensive film evangelism geared towards making new disciples and planting new churches. Extended time must be spent in each responsive location, with flexibility to remain as long as necessary.
The evangelistic film team members, reinforced by any local Christians and church members exercising gifts of evangelism and teaching from nearby congregations, live together in the village during the campaign. This provides greater contact with the receptive people. A living demonstration of Christian community is seen before all.
The evening film showing is one important aspect of this approach. The largest crowds come to these programs, which also include Christian drama, indigenous hymns, music and illustrated poster preaching. Programs are carefully developed to portray a balanced exposure to God’s person as creator, his redemption in Christ, and his power to transform lives, giving victory over sin and evil spirits. Team members answer questions and counsel inquirers during and after the program.
The key to effective film evangelism lies in daytime visitation after the evening presentations. Explaining, persuading, and teaching continue in the homes. Commitment to Christ is the emphasis.
A further element of this phase is the attempt to win family units to Christ, rather than isolated individuals. In virgin areas where opposition and social ostracism are strong, new Christian family units are more likely to survive the pressures and to expand the church, than scattered individuals.
3. Incorporate Converts into Churches. As several families or a number of individuals accept Christ during this intensive campaign, the third step leads new Christians on to become true disciples. They need to be baptized and taught. They must continue in the apostles’ doctrine, prayers, fellowship, the communion of the Lord’s Supper, and witness (Acts 2:37-47).
Therefore, new converts must be incorporated into the church and trained as responsible members. Where no church exists, new churches must be founded immediately. Worshipping God, sharing in fellowship, and witnessing to relatives and friends are top priorities of nurture. The film evangelist who follows the biblical goal to make disciples must accept responsibility to see that this is accomplished.
Since the team is temporarily resident in that locality, initial teaching and daily demonstration can easily be done. But as the team moves on to another responsive place, some team members with gifts of teaching may be left to care for the new flock, and to continue evangelism and training for a short time. Cassette recorded messages, Bible correspondence courses, and appropriately prepared literature for new believers are helpful supplements to early establishment. The new congregations must learn to stand on their own. Occasional visits and careful progress checks should be made by the film evangelist and his team. Local leaders from the new churches should be sought and trained to care for the flock as soon as possible.
4. Evaluate in Terms of Disciple Making. The fourth element of this strategy is evaluation. The film evangelist by himself normally is unable to do all that is required to reach his goal, but he cannot absolve himself of responsibility to check that the church is in fact established, that disciples are in truth made. In some cases he may need to curtail his activities to see personally that this is accomplished. He may need to add special members to his team with gifts adequate to fulfill this task.
Constant evaluation at every phase of the strategy and program is essential. Lessons learned., strengths observed, and weaknesses noticed reveal adjustments to be built into future programs. Most innovations leading to the strategy suggested here have arisen from concerned evaluation.
One of the strengths of film evangelism is its place -in reaping ripened harvest fields when adequate personal evangelism and nurture are integral parts of the program. Although Thailand is generally an unresponsive Buddhist land, with less than one tenth of one per cent Protestant Christians, our film evangelism has resulted in ten new congregations in virgin areas of Central Thailand during the last five years. An integrated strategy of film evangelism towards making disciples can be the key to similar successes under God in other parts of the world as well.
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