To be a powerful evangelistic preacher, you don’t have to be a Billy Graham or a Junior Hill — but you do have to be a policeman, said Charles T. Carter, pastor emeritus of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills.
"Sometimes when we give an invitation, we are no more effective than we are because we’ve preached too long and we feel crowded," said Carter, who led one of several workshops (see story, page 7) held alongside the Alabama Baptist State Evangelism Conference. "We feel like we have to get the invitation in and get it over with so we can beat the Methodists to the cafeteria."
Instead of shortchanging the invitation, he said be cautious about the length of your sermon so that you have the time needed. "Be your own policeman." Giving an evangelistic invitation is an important job worth time and attention, Carter said.
"It is an astounding thing that the God of the universe chooses to extend the invitation through us," he said, speaking from 2 Corinthians 4:5, 5:20. "I never cease to be amazed."
But oftentimes not only do we not leave enough time for the invitation but we also don’t spend enough time figuring out how to motivate people to make a response, Carter said.
When it comes to giving an evangelistic message and invitation he offered these suggestions:
– Be sure to communicate. Effective evangelistic preachers communicate a message from God in the language the people can understand, he said. "Use carefully chosen illustrations and keep eye contact. Keep it simple, too." – Give the invitation smoothly. "A lot of times, we have the sermon ready but we haven’t given a moment’s thought to how we’re going to do the invitation," Carter said.
– Give it prayerfully and expectantly. "I don’t mean the power of positive thinking — I mean you expect something to happen," Carter said. – Give the invitation clearly. We assume everyone knows our jargon, like "Some of you need to come on statement," or "Do you need to move your letter?" Instead of confusing them, help them know how to respond. Ask them to come forward or go to an adjoining room where counselors are waiting.
– Give it positively. "Don’t scold the people during the invitation," he said. "It’s no time to jump on the people, throw gravel in their face or vent about something that may be on your mind." – Give it patiently. Research has found that 90 percent comes after the third stanza, Carter said. "Oftentimes it takes time for people to process all they’re being asked to do."
– Prepare during the week. "The greatest thing you could do to get ready for Sunday’s invitation is the ministry you do Monday through Saturday," Carter said. Make appointments with prospects and go visiting, he said. When you know someone is coming to join the church, you’ll preach differently and give the invitation differently.
– Be biblical. "Billy Graham for half a century would preach using the words ‘the Bible says’ over and over, and for 50-plus years, God blessed his preaching on the Bible," Carter said. "We ought not to be surprised by that." – Be yourself. "You don’t have to be Billy Graham," he said. "Preach as yourself, as if you’re preaching for a verdict. The people’s eternal destiny is at stake."
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