The public invitation as it is handled in most fundamental churches is essentially a singular method: the altar call. As I have said, I don’t believe that the altar call is the most ideal method of the public invitation, nor do I believe it is the most encouraging. I do believe that it is a valid tool, but as F.D. Whitesell says in his book 65 Ways to Give a Public Invitation, “We should… avoid a dead sameness and repetition.” On the issue of invitations, how many of our churches can say they have avoided that?
So it only seems fair to offer suggestions on how to vary public invitations. These are fresh ideas from an old source (F.D. Whitesell’s book), and I make no claim of originality on any of them. You might want to reread part three of this series in order to review some valid reasons why we would give a public invitation in the first place.
1. Ask the congregation to record their decision on a card provided in the back of the pews, and then to drop off the card at a designated location. This idea of recording the decision themselves and then depositing it for collection helps the person consider what they have decided, and provides an excellent follow-up plan for the pastor if it is deemed necessary. This obviously takes forethought, making sure that there are cards in the pews for those who need them. Consider having a closing instrumental piece as people fill out their decision cards.
2. Invite those who have indicated a need to stay for an after-service. The after-service can be handled in a variety of ways. It could be a time of testimony, a time of prayer, or a time of Q&A. It could be set up exclusively for those who have indicated a need for salvation, or it could be specifically for Christian members of the church. Though the after-service has historically been held after the service, it might even be a meeting held at a later time or another day.
3. Have counselors ready to deal with those who raise a hand. I saw this at a church once and was very impressed by it. I had preached a simple gospel message and invited those who had not yet trusted Christ for salvation to raise their hand. I noticed a group of church members congregating in the back of the auditorium. They were looking for raised hands. When the closing hymn began, these counselors moved forward, went to the various people who had raised their hands, and invited each one to join them in the counseling room located off of the main auditorium. Under this particular pastor’s ministry, the church had added a second morning service until a larger auditorium could be built.
4. Invite those making a decision to stand. This is another method I have seen and used. First, invite those who need to make a decision to raise their hands. Then, ask those who have raised a hand to look up at you (the preacher). Explain that you are going to ask them, and only them, to stand as you pray. Then tell them that once you have finished praying, they are to remain standing, to “do business with the Lord” where they stand, and when they have finished to be seated. After all have been seated, close the service in prayer. This is a solemn and moving way to invite for decisions: the whole church is aware that decisions are being made. If someone of the number indicated a need for salvation, he should be approached after the service and counseled about it.
5. Ask for testimonies about how God has worked through the message. Testimony services should be handled with care, and the preacher should make it clear that the point of a testimony is to glorify God, not the preacher’s message. Verbal testimonies about God’s working in the heart can encourage the congregation and the pastor, and it may stir others to decision as well.
6. Invite responders to meet someone at the front, to tell the person what they are deciding, and to pray with them about that decision. This could be the pastor, pastor’s wife, a deacon, or deacon’s wife that meets them. This can provide accountability and encouragement for the one responding. If the responder has questions, this could also be a good time to address those.
Keep in mind that a call for public response is not always warranted. Everyone points to D.L. Moody’s famous illustration of the Great Chicago Fire to justify a public invitation in every service. However, one man’s conviction against a method of inviting (asking the audience to take a night and think it over) and preference for another (calling for an immediate, definite decision) should probably not be applied to every local assembly. Moody was a man used of God, but he wasn’t divine.