CHURCH PARTNERSHIP EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP (C.P.E.D.)

CLOSE-OF-CAMPAIGN-REPORT

LA VEGA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AUGUST, 2002

Prepared by Stephen Brauning, national coordinator for the D.R.     Sept. 6, 2002

Several pastors of the Association express support and gratitude during the closing service.

Part of the CPED team at the Ministry Center in La Vega.

Last month we held the two week intensive personal evangelism campaign in La Vega.  

This was the second such activity that Steve has headed up, which is under the auspices of Church Partnership Evangelism and Discipleship (C.P.E.D.), an international and interdenominational ministry.   La Vega was chosen since it is the least evangelized city of the Dominican Republic (only about 1% evangelical).  We brought in 20 missionaries (6 from Panama, 6 from Costa Rica, 6 Dominicans, 1 Haitian and 1 North American) and teamed them up with local churches.  22 churches  from different denominations participated, just three being Christian Reformed; 170 local church members were trained and mobilized and together with the missionaries, presented the gospel to over 1,600 people.  God was working through them, as 1,485 people prayed to receive Christ, most of them being first-time commitments.  

The local churches and members are also trained in follow-up and supplied with a Bible study booklet and a New Testament for every contact that wants to receive them.  We distributed over 1,500 sets.  Already by the second week testimonies were coming in from pastors: Angel Fernandez, newly ordained pastor of the Christian Reformed Church in La Frontera, reported a new crowd of visitors in church the Sunday after teams had evangelized the area.  Pastor Andriano Lopez of the Free Methodist Church told of new cell groups starting in the new converts homes, and more new people attending them.  They had run out of materials already by the second week! 

The whole event was a thrill to be a part of.  The pastors’ association in La Vega was very supportive, the missionary team enjoyed great fellowship and communion together, and the through it all, the Lord supplied all our needs and provided safety and health for everyone.  The thrill of seeing people receive Christ and seeing local churches mobilized to evangelize their communities.

One day Steve evangelized with Berenice Espinal from the Church of Praise. She had never evangelized in this way before, but by the second visit she was openly sharing her testimony. By the end of the afternoon they had shared the gospel with four individuals, two of whom were women who had attempted suicide within the last year. One prayed to receive Christ and committed to study the Bible with Berenice once a week: it was her first cousin, Julie Anton.  There is a very good link for follow-up there.            

We also had a wonderful host and hostess in Louis and Fior Sollecito.  Louis is a missionary from New Jersey, married to Fior, who is Dominican, and they have planted 5 churches in the last 10 years in the La Vega area.  They also operate the ministry center where our missionary team stayed, and we enjoyed Fior’s cooking and motherly care.  We praise the Lord for these fellowservants  that he has provided.

On the last day, we had a closing worship service, at which over 250 people attended.  We celebrated the Lord’s saving grace, and gave thanks for all His mercies.  The pastors of the association said it was the biggest joint service they had ever had.

Now that the initial push is over, the harder, longer-term work of following up will continue.  We trust that the local churches, their pastors and members will continue to visit the many new converts, offer Bible studies to them and their families and neighbors, so that the harvest will be even greater than the initial statistics show.  Through the immediate comments, reports and testimonies that we received from pastors and others, there is a high level of commitment to carry through with this.   In fact, the way several of the pastors put it, they had tried other evangelism methods and materials, but this looked like the one that was going to allow them to really reap the harvest!   Please pray for these faithful workers, as they carry out this important ministry, and that God would bless the efforts by moving in the hearts of the 1,485 and others as well, by the Holy Spirit confirming their faith and sealing them for eternal life.  Also thank the Lord with us for this thrilling ministry. 

 We already are approved for another campaign in May 2003!   Please pray for preparations and especially the selection of the place to concentrate the efforts.  For more info and some photos, go to our web page – www.geocities.com/stephen.mark/Mission.htm   Also look at the CRC Encounter On-Line magazine for a related story http://www.crcna.org/cr/crnw/crnw_encounter_sep02_partne.htm

 A more detailed chronological report:

 January 8, 2002 – Church growth committee of the Christian Reformed Church in the DR recommended La Vega as the site for the next CPED effort.  Rational: 1. It is one of the least if not the least evangelized cities in the DR.  2. There is a good association of pastors that would form the base of the work.  3.  The CRCDR is planting a new church there and could use the help.

 March 18 – first visit by Steve B to the pastors’ association.  Good reception, interest.  Between March and July, Steve made about 6 or 7 visits and numerous phone calls to the association.  The reception and support was very good.  The president of the association, Pastor Kenzo Yamamoto of the “Church of Praise” (700 Club), has been key to the program.  He gave support and made many contacts.  The association is very united and representative of many different evangelical groups: Pentecostal, Baptist, Nazarene, Charismatic, Christian Reformed, independent, Haitian churches, rural and urban churches, and so forth. 

 The Association had several negative experiences with outside ministries coming in and imposing programs on them.  The Yiyi Avila campaign of 2000 left them holding over 100,000 pesos of debt, very little fruit that remained in the churches, and some antagonism with the community.  Another ministry was going to come from Puerto Rico this August, at first supposedly for an mass evangelism campaign; but then it turned out to be pastors’ conference.   They were going to impose the following rules: the association had to cover all the costs of bring the ministry here; people had to pay to attend; no filming, taping, photographs, etc since they were going to sell tapes and videos; and they were going to hold an offering that would go the speakers!!!! 

 So as I presented the CPED program, it became clear that CPED was different.  The whole program was designed to benefit the participating churches, with little financial commitment.  The benefits of mobilizing the churches themselves to evangelize, of presenting a positive message of salvation, and of funneling the new believers in the churches, was an offer that they couldn’t refuse! 

 Pastor Kenzo commented during the closing worship service that at first it sounded good: a few youth would come and evangelize around the churches for a few days.  But he hadn’t dreamed that it would revolutionize the evangelism of the church.  Pastor Adriano, a former president of the association, said that this is the kind of program that they were ready for.  They had tried the standard methods of screaming at people from platforms and through megaphones.   They had done prayer walks, anointed the city’s gates, the high places around the city and the sources of the rivers, etc.  But this was the first time that they had actually taken the gospel, two by two, out in the communities and into the homes of the people.  Praise the Lord!  It has taken 2,000 years but we are finally getting back to what Jesus taught us.

 May: Sign-up forms were slowing coming in.  Only 4 or 5 churches actually signed up, although there are at least 15 more promised.  After investigating the Christian Conference grounds in La Vega, it was found to be unavailable.  Kenzo suggested I meet with Louis Sollecito, which I did and went to the ministry center.  Immediately I felt that we had found another key to program.  Not only was the center perfect for the food and lodging of the missionaries, but Louis represented more 5 churches which he was very interested in signing up.  Praise the Lord again! 

 June: Still too few churches signed up; I made dozens of phone calls, did more investigating:  The Cristianizacion Church in Santiago (a larger city 30 minutes north of La Vega), a large church with which the CRC mission partners, signed up.  That plus the ones promised to sign up, should do it.

 July: Final planning, budgeting, communications going out to all the participating churches; missionary teams lined up;

 Friday August 9: team from Panama arrived in Las Americas Airport, Sto. Dgo.

1. Aral Enrique de Freitas  (Assemblies of God pastor and nat. coord. for Panama

2. Gisela Valdespino            (the rest, members where Aral pastors)

3. Adela Vda.de Giroldi

4. Maritza de Rovi

5. Gregorio Rovi

6. Amelia Batista Willians

            Also, pick-up at various points in Sto. Dgo. of Dominican Missionaries(all of whom participated last year). 

1.      Yoselin Guzman   (member at Iglesia de Dios, Consuelo – participated last year

2.      Eunice Silvestre    (  “                  “               “

3.      Pastora Maria Isabel Santo Santana (pastor of independent Pentecostal church, Consuelo

4.      Juana Teo     (member where Maria Isabel pastors

5.      Pastor Ramon Alfonso (pastor, Christian Reformed Church San Pedro de Macoris)

6.      Martin Ovil      (member where Ramon pastors 

7.      Alexander Gomez Olivares (member Igl. de Dios de la Profecia, Sto. Dgo.)

 The Dominican team did some coming and going throughout the two weeks. On two stayed the whole time, the rest stayed less time.  The second week, two more people came,  Pastora Quena Nolasco(Iglesia de Dios, Consuelo), and Jesus Manuel de la Cruz,  pastora Maria Isabel’s son came to replace several people that had left.   These changes were really no problem and we were able to compensate.

 Anyway, with two large vans (my mission van and the church van from the Christian Reformed ministry center in Sto. Dgo. With brother Guido at the wheel), this group arrived in La Vega and got settled in that Friday night.

Saturday, Aug. 10: Training workshop held in “the Church of Praise”.  Attendance lower than expected, total of 110 out of expected 180.  4 signed up churches are no-shows.  But 2 other churches show up and we arrange for integrating them.  The participants are divided up into groups of between 10 and 15, with churches staying together as much as possible.  Here is where I begin my assignment of missionaries to churches.  More or less at random, the mission team is split up to lead the training in the small groups.  Generally 2 missionaries per group.  This is the main part of the day.  They teach then practice the “Good News” material for about 3 hours, then later do the same with the “Essential Truths” Bible Study booklet, for about 2 hours.  Now, whichever missionaries are working with a group from a specific church, they are signed up to go and evangelize with that church.  They also are to arrange a visit to that church on Sunday. 

 The workshop also included an opening devotional and a time of worship later on; a coffee break in the morning, lunch at noon, and another break in the afternoon.  Then by about 4 o’clock, we go into prayer in the same groups, and by 5PM can close and dismiss everyone.

The hosting church arranged all the food and drinks, and did so very efficiently and at a very low cost.   Also they were very accommodating and invited several of the team that evening and in subesquent days to various activities.

 That night the team from Costa Rica came in at about 10:30PM, at Las Americas airport, which is about 3 hours away from La Vega.  I went down to pick them up and came back right away. 

1.      Norma Gutierrez

2.      Rebeca Chacón

3.      Alfredo Soto

4.      Juliana Mendoza (esposa de Alfredo)

5.      Pablo Jara 

6.      Pastor Diego Romero

Sundays – No morning activities planned, except group devotions.   In the evening, the team was out in the churches.

From Monday through Friday, both weeks, the evangelism program was held as seen in the “Planilla”, at the end of this report.  There was a fair amount of switching around mainly caused by churches not being ready, not having enough people, of what ever, but it worked out.  There were a number of times that missionaries were not able to go out to evangelize due to lack of local church workers, in most cases, they had signed up but did not show up.  The transportation went well, with my mission van making several rounds a day, Louis also taking care of several churches, and other churches coming to pick up the missionaries. 

Two of the churches that had not shown up at the workshop were reintegrated and workshops held in the evenings. 

Saturday, August 17, the team went shopping in Santiago during the afternoon and about 10 stayed to hold a workshop in the evening at the “Cristianizacion” church which was actually for 2 separate congregations. 

Friday, August 23, the team returned early to the ministry center and then went to prepare for the closing service, held at the newest church that Louis is planting.  They have a large building, actually a former warehouse that they just bought in August, and is now the largest evangelical church building in La Vega.  The service was held as described above, and was a big success and a very fitting celebration.  Finally at about 11:30PM the team gets back at the center.

Saturday, at 7AM we get on the road; the 2 mission vans were loaded and 6 missionaries were sent on public transportation.  Destination:  Solimar hotel on the beach in Guayacanes, near the Las Americas Airport.  Here the team would spend the day, also I picked up my family on the way.  The Panama team had to leave by about 1PM to the airport and most of the Dominicans stayed until late afternoon.  Only the Costa Rica team stayed until the next day.

Report on the results

The Lord truly worked through the ministry to provide very good results.  In spite of the fact that La Vega is known as very resistant, staunchly Roman Catholic,  we found that people were very open to the gospel.  The total number of conversions, or more accurately people that prayed with us to receive Christ, was 1,485. 

Participating Churches:   22

Local members trained:  169

Discipleship material distributed: 1,500

 The Detailed planilla was sent separately.

In order to analyze the results, I am estimating certain numbers based upon the results I had, and projecting that to the total.  This is not totally accurate I know since different missionaries use different criterion.   I tend to try to be very specific in trying to determine the following points:

1.      person’s past experience(if they had in past consider themselves converted);

2.      the authenticity of the prayer and what it means to them

3.      the possibility of follow-up by the discipler

4.      the continued commitment and possibility of integration into the participating church

So, here goes: among the 1,485 persons that prayed to receive Christ, are the following groups included:

1. First time conversions, about 85%    
2. Those that recommitted their lives to Christ – 15%
3. Those that prayed an authentic prayer of conversion - ??? Only God knows the heart.  But the fact is that many of those that are staunch Roman Catholics willingly pray with us but for them it is simply an equivalent to the confessional that they are used to.   
4. Those that will be followed up by the discipler – about 50%   The factors are commitment and/or opportunity on the part of the discipler, and willingness on the part of the person.  We hope it is more but we need to be realistic.  This is one point that we will determine when I go back over the next four months and consult with pastors, visit churches, and collect the follow-up forms.
5. Related to that, there is always a number of people that we can not ever even locate again: about  25%
6. Those that will not leave the Roman Catholic church: ????  It will be fairly high here in La Vega, maybe 50 to 75%; but we hope that the Lord will use the gospel presentation and the follow-up contacts and Bible studies to increase the faith of these people to the point of truly believing in Christ for forgiveness and eternal life, even if they never leave the RC.
7. Those that will be integrated into the participating churches: we hope for upwards of 25% - we will determine this number pretty accurately in four months’ time with a  survey of the churches.
8. Those that end up in other evangelical churches that we cannot determine for sure, but it could be 10%.

 One piece of info that CPED does not contemplate but that I would like to add to the stats is the total number of persons hearing the gospel presentation.  If we had that we could determine the percentage that pray, and get a total number of persons that are touched by the ministry.  I plan to put this on the forms for next year.   In my case I kept records and had a total of 53 that heard the gospel or at least part of the presentation.   31 prayed to receive Christ(58%).   My participation was fairly low compared to most missionaries because part of my responsibilities of directing to program, transportation and organization prohibited me from evangelizing every day.  But I was able to go out for 12 of the possible 20 evangelism segments.

My Follow-up

I will be returning to La Vega in Sept. and October to consult with the pastors about the results and any other details.  I hope to get to at least one meeting of the association and visit several churches.  Then in November again go to a meeting and visit some churches.  Then in December to return to collect the disciplers’ reports on Bible studies given and to survey the pastors about how many of the people that prayer to receive Christ are in their churches.  At that point I will prepare my final report with statistics about the long term results.