Mistake #2: Make people do business with God in front of everybody.
We conduct financial business with our banker privately. We do health check-ups with our doctor privately. So why do we insist on making people do their spiritual business with a pastor publically? This is the most important decision people ever will make, so why force them do it in front of hundreds of people, many of whom are strangers?
Just because we ask people to move from their seats doesn’t mean we have to make them stand in front of the whole church as they process their emotions, their sin and God’s call. If we want them to make an informed decision about following Jesus—and we do, don’t we?—then we need to give them the proper time and place to do so. At the front of the church, with hundreds of eyes on them, with the organist playing the fourth verse of “I Surrender All,” is not the best time or place.
Instead of making people carry on such an important conversation in such a distracting environment, consider having them meet with counselors in the pastor’s office or some other designated meeting space that can handle adequately the task of impacting eternity.
Speaking of counselors …
Mistake #3: Only have a few counselors available.
It’s happened way too many times. The preacher gives an invitation to follow Jesus, a few dozen people move to the designated area … and two counselors bravely wade into the sea of sinners. The pastor then says, “Alright, all you guys go with Bill. All you ladies go with Margaret.”
These poor counselors are as outnumbered as King Leonidas at Thermopylae!
Why do churches have so few counselors? Do they not understand the importance of well-trained counselors? Do they not expect God actually to stir people’s hearts to repentance?
Regardless of their reasons, the results of having too few counselors are terrible. People usually don’t get the attention and help they need. Further, they’re forced to choose between sharing their deep dark sin in front of the counselor and several other people or not sharing anything at all.
Guess which one they usually pick.
This mistake is so easy to avoid. Prayerfully select enough men and women from your church so that potential respondents can have a one-on-one conversation with someone of the same gender.
You’re not out of the woods yet. There are other counselor-related mistakes that can ruin an altar call.
Mistake #4: Use untrained and unprepared counselors.
In trying to avoid mistake #3, some pastors use anybody they can get their hands on to counsel others. Any Christian can do counseling, right? After all, they’ve sat through hundreds of altar calls. Plus, they even went through this experience themselves! They should know the ropes by now. Right?
That’s a big assumption, and it carries big risks.
Of all the mistakes that ruin an altar call, the use of untrained and unprepared counselors may be the most frequent. Teachers must be trained in order to lead a class. Preachers must be trained in order to lead a congregation. Why shouldn’t counselors be trained to lead people to Christ!? Here are just a few of the important points on which your counselors need to be crystal clear:
1. Do the counselors know where to stand, when to approach a person, and where to take him or her?
2. Do the counselors know what to say and not say? Can they clearly explain God’s plan for salvation?
3. Do the counselors know the importance of confidentiality? Likewise, do they know when to refer a person to a professional?
4. Do the counselors have the necessary tools for the task? Counselors will need their Bibles, of course; but it wouldn’t hurt to have extra copies of God’s Word to give to those who do not have one. Counselors also will need forms to collect contact information for follow-up purposes. Further, they should provide people with information about the church, including a way to contact the counselor and the pastor. It doesn’t hurt for counselors to have breath mints, too!
5. Are the counselors aware of all the expectations placed on them? Are they supposed to collect the people’s contact information? Are they supposed to follow up with them?
