For decades now, congregations and individuals have used correspondence courses to share the Gospel and help people learn about God’s Word.  These courses provide a convenient and non-intrusive method for reaching people that would be difficult to reach and study with otherwise.  Over the years, correspondence courses have helped dozens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of people learn the truth and come to an obedience of the Gospel.

To continue and further this method of outreach, the Christian’s Expositor Journal has developed a new six-lesson correspondence course entitled The Truth Frees.  Our hope is that this new course will further equip congregations and individuals share the Gospel and save souls!  We have also put together this list of suggestions to provide some tips that may help you use the course most effectively.

Advertise
Offering a Bible correspondence course is only effective if people know it is available!  Consider trying at least one and preferably multiple methods of advertising the course so that people can sign-up.

• HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Use Facebook advertising to advertise the course and offer an easy way to sign up online. This is proving to be one of the most effective and affordable methods of advertising correspondence courses. (If you need assistance with this, contact us at info@thecejournal.org and we’ll help or get you in contact with someone that can.)
• Advertise in the local newspaper or on the radio.
• Try a mass-mail campaign, mailing out information about the course with a returnable sign up form.
• Don’t forget to TELL people about the course. Keep a few of lesson 1 on hand in case you find an opportunity while you’re “out and about!”
• Check out Brett Hickey and Jonathan Edwards’ presentation, “Tools and Techniques for Evangelism” for great ideas in spreading the Gospel (Click here to watch this video on the Christian Landmark website).

Make it Easy
Take every hurdle out of the way that you can.  A couple of suggestions:

• Provide an easy way for people to sign up (i.e. a returnable form if you mail out an advertisement; a form on your website where people can sign up, etc.).
• Always provide a pre-stamped and pre-addressed return envelope when you mail out a lesson. This reduces their cost and makes it easy for them to return lessons for grading.
• Return every graded lesson so the participant can see how they did and retain the lesson for further use.

Be Prompt
Perhaps the most important suggestion is this one; be prompt and responsive!  When people have to wait for long periods of time between lessons, they will likely quit responding.  A couple of basic suggestions:

• Check mail frequently (if mail is received at Church or P.O. box for the church).
• Grade returned lessons as soon as possible.
• Try to mail lessons within one day of receiving a sign-up request or returned lesson.
• Be sure to answer any questions that respondents ask.

Be Prepared
Do your best to be prepared to respond to sign-ups and mailed-in lessons.  Some things to consider:

• Make sure you have courses on hand. Order extras before you run out!
• Have plenty of envelopes, stamps, etc. on hand so that you can be prompt in sending lessons.
• Have generic cover letters prepared beforehand that need minimal input to be ready for sending.
• Have more than one person at the congregation trained/able to receive requests, mail and grade lessons, and respond to questions.

Be Organized
Over time, you might have dozens (or even hundreds!) of people signed up for a correspondence course, and they will all be at various stages of the course.  It’s important to keep good records of sign-ups, contact information, and progress so that you can keep track of where people are in the course.

• Setup a spreadsheet or filing system to record sign-ups and pertinent information (i.e. name, address, and course progress).
• Keep a record of scores and completed lessons for each person that signs up (Consider scanning graded lessons or at least recording missed questions. This can be helpful if you have an opportunity to meet with the participant in an in-person study in the future).
• Follow Up: If you keep good records, you’ll be able to tell when someone hasn’t responded in a while. It may be worth it to send a letter or email making sure they received the course or seeing if they need a lesson resent.

Communication
Here’s some final suggestions to consider:

• Provide answers to missed questions. Don’t just mark missed questions wrong – provide the correct answer.  Preferably, write an explanation for each missed question that you will include when you send the graded lesson back.  This is a great teaching opportunity!
• Offer to study over the phone or in-person: From the beginning, let the participant know that if they desire, an in-person or phone study can be setup.
• Invite participants to services. Let those who sign up know where you are located and when you meet for services, and invite them to visit sometime.
• Mail participants meeting flyers when you have gospel meetings. If they are interested in studying the Bible, they may be interested in attending a gospel meeting!
• Try to meet the person once the course is completed. Whether you offer a Bible, certificate of completion, or something else for those that complete the course, this is an excellent time to try and meet the individual to continue a conversation about the Bible, answer any questions they may have after completing the course, or setup a new study.

We hope these suggestions are helpful as you endeavor to share the Gospel with the lost.

Lastly, we want to remind all that sharing the gospel is the work of each and every Christian.  Through daily examples and personal conversations, each Christian can influence and win souls.  This correspondence course is meant to assist in that process, not replace it.  Nothing will be as effective as Christians who are equipped and prepared to sit down to study the Bible with others.  We encourage leaders, teachers, and members to read through this course, study it for themselves, and prepare themselves to use it with their own friends, families, and contacts if it will help them.  In the end, our hope is that souls will be save, and God will be glorified.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Mt. 28:19-20)