The Old Door-to-Door Canvas

[Wilson Deaton]

For the purpose of outreach, suppose you decided to do an old-fashioned door-to-door canvas where you just knock on every door in a given area... What approach would you use at the person's door?

For example, would you make it more a survey and just ask questions? ("What can we do for you?" "How can we pray for you?") Would you just invite them to worship? Would you just give them general information about your church? Would you plan it in conjunction with a specific event and invite them to that particular event? Would you try to make it a gospel presentation? Etc.?

Wilson

[Jim Chabot]

Don't know if you have the time to read it, but Robert Schuller recounts his relentless canvassing activities in pretty good detail in his autobiography "My Journey" it's a pretty good read and I think that some pretty good insight can be found there.

His emphasis was on gospel presentation, he would specifically tell folks who had a church affiliation to stay there. I agree with his approach, a visit of this nature should be sales call for the gospel, the church is why you are at their house, not where your trying to get them to go.

[Billy Cox]

For the purpose of outreach, suppose you decided to do an old-fashioned door-to-door canvas where you just knock on every door in a given area... What approach would you use at the person's door?

For example, would you make it more a survey and just ask questions? ("What can we do for you?" "How can we pray for you?") Would you just invite them to worship? Would you just give them general information about your church? Would you plan it in conjunction with a specific event and invite them to that particular event? Would you try to make it a gospel presentation? Etc.?

Although I'm not in the position to decide to canvas/not canvas, I imagine that I might be positively influenced by a well thought-out approach. I can't imagine that I would appreciate someone I just met at my door trying to close a spiritual transaction...but then I'm not the target demographic. I definitely wouldn't invite someone in because I don't keep my house in guest-ready condition.

[Kami Tuenning]

Interesting question. In this age, I think people are reluctant to open their door to a stranger, I know I am. I live 2 blocks from an awful slumlord apartment. At any given time of the day or night, folks are sitting in the doorways escaping the heat in the hot weather, which we have had a lot of recently. As I drove past yesterday, I thought about the huge boxes of freeze pops that came through the food pantry. I had a quick fleeting thought to just approach the folks with all the freeze pops they can fit into their freezer and introduce myself. Figured it could be a good ice-breaker (no pun intended) and open the door for ongoing interactions throughout the spring and summer. I can't fathom handing them a box of freeze pops and a Bible tract or engage in something "evangelistic". I think being a good neighbor is the best form of door to door canvassing.

[Dave McClung]

For the purpose of outreach, suppose you decided to do an old-fashioned door-to-door canvas where you just knock on every door in a given area... What approach would you use at the person's door?

For example, would you make it more a survey and just ask questions? ("What can we do for you?" "How can we pray for you?") Would you just invite them to worship? Would you just give them general information about your church? Would you plan it in conjunction with a specific event and invite them to that particular event? Would you try to make it a gospel presentation? Etc.?

Wilson

Almost every day, I get a phone call from someone who is claiming to be taking a survey but is really trying to sell something. I think it is important that churches not become involved in fake surveys. If your objective is to win someone to the church and to the Lord, don't tell them you are taking a survey.

When we did the calling for Lake Houston Church we told people, "We are starting a new church in this community and are looking for people who would have an interest in being a part of it. " Depending on the response, we would ask if they would like to receive mail from the church and is there something we can pray about with you?

The people who actually came to the church were those with past affilliation with the Church of the Nazarene or those who were having some kind of crisis and were looking for help.

I also suggest that the church be clear about the objective. "Knocking on 500 doors" isn't the objective. That is the method. The objective is getting X number of people to attend services at your church where they can receive spiritual help.

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

We canvassed the homes near the church for about 3 years using door hangers that announced our special events, such as the Christmas cantata. We spoke to those who did open the door. I can think of only one couple that visited as a result, and then only once or twice.

[Gina Stevenson]

Each time I have looked at this thread before due to there being a new post, some "canvassers" have come to mind. Yes, last week one day there were a couple of people who came to the door (usually it is just door-to-door sales). Upon seeing their name tags, we said something like, "Oh, I see. Anyway, we already have a place where we 'hang out'," seeing that the LDS folks were recruiting. One of the guys then asked, "Have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon?" "Yes," as I was closing the door, having already indicated we had a home church, and not feeling up to any debate. So he then literally yelled: "Well, have you ever read it!?" Was thinking he was a bit off script there ... would not think they're encouraged to yell at people like that. [eyes rolling]

[Marg Shurtliff]

Each time I have looked at this thread before due to there being a new post, some "canvassers" have come to mind. Yes, last week one day there were a couple of people who came to the door (usually it is just door-to-door sales). Upon seeing their name tags, we said something like, "Oh, I see. Anyway, we already have a place where we 'hang out'," seeing that the LDS folks were recruiting. One of the guys then asked, "Have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon?" "Yes," as I was closing the door, having already indicated we had a home church, and not feeling up to any debate. So he then literally yelled: "Well, have you ever read it!?" Was thinking he was a bit off script there ... would not think they're encouraged to yell at people like that. [eyes rolling]

When I was reading your post , Gina , it brought to mind the fact that the Book of Mormon is about 60% quotes and misquotes from the Bible so you could have honestly said you have read that percentage of it !

[Gina Stevenson]

Looked at it a bit years ago (decades--when a teen), having both a friend and some cousins in the LDS church, but not much of it, so didn't realize/remember that, Marg.

[Jim Chabot]

Somehow this thread reminds me of the story that Garrison Keillor told about the young Jehovah's Witness girl who married a Universalist.

He said that they spent their honeymoon going door to door, for no particular reason.

Dave is right, the objective is primary.

[Susan Unger]

..."How can we pray for you?"...Would you plan it in conjunction with a specific event and invite them to that particular event?

I would do the two above.

In my experience of someone knocking on my door for something similiar, I was in the middle of making dinner, tired and not up for conversation with a stranger.

[Kyle Borger]

Sorry, but I wouldn't advocate spending the resources on it. Not saying it will never work, but Jesus is not about an intelligent argument. Jesus is about relationship. Creating new disciples comes from Christians investing relationally in others. So if you are determined to go door to door, I would suggest you tell them that you are trying to make new friends and would they be willing to come over for dinner. Build the friendship and gain the right to invest in their lives and speak to their hearts. I have learned that for me the goal is not conversions but transformation.

[Larry Parsons]

For the purpose of outreach, suppose you decided to do an old-fashioned door-to-door canvas where you just knock on every door in a given area... What approach would you use at the person's door?

For example, would you make it more a survey and just ask questions? ("What can we do for you?" "How can we pray for you?") Would you just invite them to worship? Would you just give them general information about your church? Would you plan it in conjunction with a specific event and invite them to that particular event? Would you try to make it a gospel presentation? Etc.?

Wilson

I like the simple survey when you ask "Do you know of any boy or girl in the area who not in Sunday School. What ever they say ask them if they are attending any of the two church in the area don't ask if they going to church if they are thank them and move on. It simple and easy
Thanks
Larry