Transcript Document

ALTAR WORKER’S TRAINING:
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW AND WHY
THE GOALS OF THIS TRAINING WORKSHOP:
• To explain the purpose, principles and processes of an
altar call
• To prepare and train future altar workers
• To share and reinforce the knowledge of experienced
altar workers
• To provide a foundation of excellence for growth within
the altar work ministry
• To help align the altar work with the vision of SSCC
WHY DO WE HAVE AN ALTAR CALL?
1. To give the listener the opportunity to respond to the
message and the call of God
2. To give ministers the opportunity to minister to their
spiritual needs
a. Acts 2:37-41 (The first altar call of the Church!)
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL ORDER OF AN ALTAR
CALL?
1. Various altar calls are given by the Bishop/Pastor
2. Respondents approach the altar in response to the call
3. Ministry is offered to the respondents
4. Respondents are led to various rooms for personal
follow up ministry
a. Point: Follow up ministry could include prayer,
laying on of hands, explanation, answering questions,
etc.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALTAR
CALLS?
1. The call to Salvation (Relationship with God) Acts 2:3741
2. The call for Membership (Relationship with the
Church Body) Hebrews 10:25
3. The call for Prayer (Deliverance, healing, blessings,
etc.) Acts 4:23-31
4. The call for Rededication (Reconnecting with God and
His Church) Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 2 Cor. 2:6-8
POINT: Other altar calls may be given by the Bishop
according to the leading of the Spirit
WHO IS EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO THE ALTAR
CALL?
1. The unsaved (for Salvation)
2. The unchurched (for Membership)
3. Those in need of Prayer (for deliverance, healing,
blessing)
4. Those in need of Rededication (for restoration)
POINT: Respondents become members of the Body of
Christ upon salvation, and members of the local Church
body upon their request to join
THE UNSAVED WILL BE LED INTO A PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST:
1. By confessing and repenting of their sins and accepting
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – Acts 2:23
2. By showing their acceptance of salvation through
baptism - Acts 2:38
3. By being filled with the free gift of the Holy Spirit
through prayer and the laying on of hands
a. Acts 2:37-39; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-7
(Examples of believers being filled with the Holy
Spirit)
THE UNCHURCHED WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO
JOIN THE FOUNDATIONS CLASS:
1. To fulfill the membership requirements of SSCC
2. To learn the basic tenets of the Christian Faith which
are taught at SSCC
POINT: Former members who are Rededicating their lives
to the Lord may or may not be required to attend the
Foundations class depending on the circumstances, the
length of their departure and the assessment of SSCC
Leadership
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE ALTAR WORKER
DURING THIS MOMENT?
1. To provide Protection (safety for participants)
2. To maintain Order (crowd control and direction)
3. To provide Assistance (prayer, anointing oil, guidance,
tissue, etc.)
WHY IS PROTECTION NEEDED?
1. To prevent altar participants from experiencing harm
or hurt by altar activity or other altar participants
a. ex: catching the falling respondents, managing the
shouting respondents
HOW IS ORDER MAINTAINED?
1. By assisting responders to safely position themselves
according to the direction of the Bishop/ministering
Pastor
a. ex: catching the falling respondents, managing the
shouting respondents
2. By preventing interference by family, friends and
audience members
HOW IS ASSISTANCE PROVIDED?
1. By reinforcing the instructions and directions of the
Bishop/Speaker
2. By providing clarity of information to the respondents
as needed
3. By meeting the immediate needs of the respondents
(tissue, comfort, covering, etc.)
4. By rendering any assistance that the Bishop/Speaker
requests (i.e., supplies Bible, anointing oil, etc.)
5. By praying for respondents at the Bishop’s request
a. NOTE: The prayers of the Bishop/Speaker normally
take precedent over the prayers of the altar worker
WHO MAY BE USED FOR ALTAR WORK DURING
AN ALTAR CALL?
1. Pastors, deacons/deaconesses, licensed ministers,
ushers, leaders
2. Church elders appointed by the Bishop or other
presiding leaders during the altar call
BEING SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT:
POINT: Being “slain in the Spirit” occurs when the Spirit
of God overwhelms the physical body of a respondent,
causing them to lose strength, control of their bodies and
possibly awareness of their surroundings:
Daniel: 10:7-9 – “I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the
vision. The men with me didn’t see the vision. Yet, they
started to tremble violently, and they quickly hid
themselves. So I was left alone to see this grand vision. I
had no strength left in me. My face turned deathly pale, and
I was helpless. I heard the man speak, and as I listened to
his words, I fainted face down on the ground.” (GW)
BEING SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT:
Revelations 1:12-13, 17 – “– “And I turned to see the voice
that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks: and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one
like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to
the foot, and gird about the paps with a golden girdle…[17]
and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid
his right hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not; I am the
first and the last…’” (KJV)
BEING SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT:
POINT: This experience can also happen to unbelievers
and enemies of God:
John 18:4-6 -- “Jesus knew everything that was going to
happen to him. So he went to meet them and asked, ‘Who
are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus from Nazareth.’
Jesus told them, “I am he.’ Judas, who betrayed him, was
standing with the crowd. When Jesus told them, ‘I am he,’
the crowd backed away and fell to the ground.” (NIV)
WHY DO ALTAR WORKERS CATCH THE
FALLING RESPONDENTS?
1. To protect them from harm and danger
2. To preserve order during the altar call time
WHY ARE SOME OF THEM COVERED?
1. To preserve the dignity and privacy of the fallen
2. To prevent distraction within the audience
WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO CATCH FALLEN
RESPONDENTS?
1. Deacons, licensed ministers, trained altar workers,
ushers, appointees, etc.
a. NOTE: Wisdom and caution should be exercised
when altar workers positions themselves to catch a
respondent – consider your strength and size!
WHEN DO WE ASSIST THEM IN RISING?
1. When we see them making an effort to do so
a. Watch for alertness and movement
b. Watch for their request for assistance
2. When asked to do so by the Bishop/Minister
NOTE: It may be necessary to help relocate them for
the advancement of the service or to move them out of
harm’s way
HOW ARE RESPONDENTS ASSISTED IN RISING?
1. Carefully and respectfully, with proper techniques,
paying attention to where hands are placed and
physical contact is made
2. With sensitivity to their condition, awareness, gender
and age
SHOUTING:
WHY DO PEOPLE SHOUT?
1. It’s a personal expression of overwhelming joy and/or
emotion by the person
2. It’s a corporate shout of victory by the congregation
POINT: Shouting is often accompanied by praising God
in energetic dance and expressions of praise:
Psalms 47:1 -- “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to
God with cries of joy” (NIV)
Psalms 149:2-3: “Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the
people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his
name with dancing and make music to him with
tambourine and harp.” (NIV)
WHY DO PEOPLE SHOUT?
POINT: It may sometimes be necessary to gently restrict or
restrain an emotional shouter for safety reasons
• Flailing of arms can be a common activity for a shouting
worshipper
• NOTE: The Church can be held legally responsible in
the state of CA for injuries sustained by either
congregants or altar call respondents during their
worship
HOW SHOULD ALTAR WORKERS RESPOND
WHEN A SHOUTING WORSHIPPER IS PRAISING
GOD?
1. With Respect for–
a. The privacy of the worshipper
b. The space of the worshipper
c. The presence of God
2. With Protection of –
a. The dignity of the worshipper
b. The safety of the congregation
c. Yourself!
HOW SHOULD ALTAR WORKERS RESPOND
WHEN A SHOUTING WORSHIPPER IS PRAISING
GOD?
3. Containment of–
a. The space of the worshipper
b. The flow of the altar crowd
c. The observing congregation
HOW SHOULD ALTAR WORKERS RESPOND
WHEN A SHOUTING WORSHIPPER IS PRAISING
GOD?
4. Discerning –
a. The spirit of the worshipper: is it the Spirit or the
flesh? (Discern, not judgment or control)
b. The Spirit of the atmosphere: is there a spirit of
worship or praise in the church?
c. The direction of the service: is it moving in another
direction?
POINT: Constant awareness at the altar is key!
PERSONAL ALTAR CALL WISDOM:
1. Regarding personal hygiene and fragrances:
a. Maintain clean breath and good body odor
b. Be sensitive to the use of perfumes and colognes
POINT: Constant awareness at the altar is key!
2. Regarding difficult personalities and situations:
a. Avoid altar confrontations at all cost
b. Be aware to ask for assistance from other altar
workers during challenging situations
c. In situations where it is necessary to escort a resistant
respondent from the altar area, always get help
WHAT DOES EVERY ALTAR WORKER NEED TO
KNOW?
1. How to lead someone to salvation
2. How to effectively pray for someone’s needs
a. Praying for healing, peace, direction, comfort, etc.
3. How to offer wise counsel
a. Normally developed through experience
4. An understanding of the church’s altar call process
WHAT DOES EVERY ALTAR WORKER NEED TO
HAVE?
1. An active prayer life
2. A diligent study life
3. A team mindset
4. A submission to authority and leadership
THE KEY PASSAGE FOR ALTAR WORKERS:
Luke 5:4-11
-Vs. 4: “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
‘Put out into deep water and LET DOWN THE NETS for a
catch.”
-vs. 5: “Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all
night and haven’t caught anything. But BECAUSE YOU SAY
SO, I WILL LET DOWN THE NETS.’”
Vs. 6: “When they had done so, they caught such a large
number of fish that THEIR NETS BEGAN TO BREAK. So they
SIGNALED THEIR PARTNERS in the other boat to come and
help them...”
Vs. 10a: “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid. From
now on YOU WILL CATCH MEN.’”
THE KEY PASSAGE FOR ALTAR WORKERS:
“LET DOWN THE NETS”:
• The Word of salvation and harvest is given!
“BECAUSE YOU SAY SO, I WILL LET DOWN THE NETS.”
• The response of the altar workers – our tools are the nets!
“THEIR NETS BEGAN TO BREAK.”
• The work is too much for just a few workers!
“THEY SIGNALED THEIR PARTNERS”
• The harvest labor requires a team effort!
• AND THE LAST STATEMENT…
THE KEY PASSAGE FOR ALTAR WORKERS:
“Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid. From now on
YOU WILL CATCH MEN.’”
AS PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF THE
LORD, WE ALL BECOME FISHERS OF MEN!