BEING A DOOR OPENER
When the Reach4Life programme is being launched in a new area, the partner organization will need to approach several institutions to introduce the programme and ask for permission to run it in their institution. This process of asking for permission is what we refer to as door opening – opening the door for this ministry to be run in that institution.
The challenge is to select institutions strategically and get permission from the management to hand out books to participants and explain to everyone how to make the most of the book.
Before going out to any institution, the team needs to map out the area to agree on which institutions will be targeted. Thereafter, find out who are the contact people so that you have some background information as you plan your visit.
Methodology
1 . Here are the factors in deciding which institutions to approach. Since you probably have limited numbers of Reach4Life books allocated to you remember three things:
Contact the Biblica Office or Biblica partner organisation in the area to ensure that the institution has not already been approached. If it has not, then notify them of your intention. If it doesn’t work out, notify them of that too.
Always prioritise economically challenged areas as this will be a rare gift to the recipients who often feel like the underdogs of society. Secondly, such areas are usually densely populated meaning we will reach more youth.
Rather than approaching one school in a town or city and another school in another town or city, roll out the programme to as many institutions as you can in one area.
A systematic approach by area increases the impact and is easier to manage.
2 . Once you have selected the institutions, you need to get permission to present the programme. You do this by making an appointment to meet with the management. If you have contacts with the governing body or board, you can take this route too.
3 . Here are some tips:
Pray: Pray for God’s favour and that he would open the door into the institution. Pray before, during (silently of course) and after the meeting.
Make appointment: When making the appointment (usually through the secretary) be polite. Confidently explain that you are part of Reach4Life and want to include the institution in a nation-wide campaign to positively shape the sexual values and behaviours of young people. Emphasize that everyone who participates in the programme will receive their own Reach4Life book free.
Confirm: phone to confirm on the day of the appointment.
On time: Do not be late for the meeting; although accept the fact that you may be kept waiting.
Manners: Dress well, act politely, be friendly yet respectful, and be humble yet confident.
Gift: Give them a copy of Reach4Life that they can keep regardless of the outcome.
4 . Here are some examples of what to say:
Introduce yourself and explain that you are a R4L ambassador or peer educator.
Explain what you want to do: We want to hand out a free copy of this book to everyone in your institution who would want to take part in the programme, along with an explanation of what it is about.
Tell them about its success elsewhere: You can talk about its success in other countries or regions and some of the positive outcomes or its success in your own region. For example, “We aim to hand it out in all the high schools of our country in the next 10 years. Already we have handed it out in over 200 high schools – we have had raving feedback from headmasters – and the youth are loving it.”
Tell them about the book: Basically, the book includes the New Testament – and hundreds of other things that will help young people to make wise decisions and deal with real life issues they are facing – especially around sexuality.
Tell them what impact you hope it will have: Our goal is to have a generation of youth who embrace positive values and behaviours that help them live fully.
Speak to their concern that it will offend youth of other faiths: Of course, since the book includes the New Testament some young people may not want to take part – and we will give them this freedom – but our experience has been that young people of all faiths have loved the book because of its youth appeal and practical life-wisdom.
Training Exercise: Get into pairs and do a role-play. One of you acts as the school principal and the other as the Reach4Life ambassador. Briefly act out an appointment where you introduce yourself and attempt to sell them on the idea of everyone in their school taking part in the programme. Use the points given above.
5 . Once the management of the institution consents, then the planning needs to begin. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Either plan the logistics with the head of the institution themselves (perhaps at another meeting) or with someone else – for example a teacher in a school – that the head delegates to. Request that the person being delegated to must be a very good organiser, since there are many logistics to be arranged.
6 . Be sure to stay in regular touch with the head of the institution and give them feedback on how the programme is going, especially giving evidence of the positive effect it is having on the young people in that institution.