WORKING POLICY FOR LITERATURE EVANGELISTS

WORKING POLICY FOR WORKING POLICY FOR LITERATURE EVANGELISTSLITERATURE EVANGELISTS

PUBLISHING POLICY I

Presented by: Howard F. Faigao, Director

Publishing Ministries Department

General Conference of SDA

OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTSRESULTS

The LE students will understand the organizational set-up of the Church's Publishing Department and the flow of responsibilities.

The L E students will understand the general principles of the Church governing the work of literature evangelists in general and how he relates to the Church as a worker.

The L E students will be able to identify the different classes of literature evangelists and the requirements for each class.

The L E students will know the privileges and benefits of literature evangelists as he works for the Lord and the Church.

PUBLISHING MINISTRIES

PUBLISHING MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZATION

GENERAL CONFERENCEGENERAL CONFERENCE

The General Conference is the highest organizational level and authority of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on earth under God. The Church has many departments and services and the Publishing Ministries Department is one of them.

The General Conference Publishing Ministries Department directs the Publishing work of the Church worldwide. The director is the department head and has 1-2 Associates working with him.

DIVISION PUBLISHING MINISTRIES DIVISION PUBLISHING MINISTRIES DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT

The Division is a section of the General Conference in charge of the work within its territory. The world-field is divided into 13 Field Divisions.

The Division Publishing Ministries Department supervises the Union(s) Publishing Program, Union Publishing Houses and Union Literature Ministry Seminaries within its territory.

Publishing Policies are developed at the Division level.

UNION PUBLISHING MINISTRIES UNION PUBLISHING MINISTRIES DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT

The Union Publishing Ministries Department is responsible to nurture and develop the publishing work within its territory.

It provides direction and supervision to the Conference/Mission publishing department programs.

An elected Associate Director is appointed to direct the Literature Ministry Seminary.

CONFERENCE/MISSION PUBLISHING CONFERENCE/MISSION PUBLISHING MINISTIRES DEPARTMENTMINISTIRES DEPARTMENT

The Con/Mission Publishing Ministries Department is responsible to develop the publishing ministry to the fullest extent.

Publishing Director - The Director is the head of the department.

He provides supervision to the total program including APDs and LEs.

He assists the APDs in their work of recruiting, training LE's and all other sales activities.

When the publishing work of the Con/Mission has grown with more than 10 Assistant Publishing Directors to supervise, normally the con/mission appoints an associate to work with the director.

CONFERENCE/MISSION PUBLISHING CONFERENCE/MISSION PUBLISHING MINISTIRES DEPARTMENTMINISTIRES DEPARTMENT

Assistant Publishing Director

Leader of a group of at least 15 LEs

He works within a defined territory.

His main work is to recruit and train Literature Evangelists in salesmanship and soul-winning techniques.

THE LITERATURE EVANGELISTTHE LITERATURE EVANGELIST

The Literature Evangelist is a self-supporting worker of the Church.

His basis of self-support is the commission remuneration system.

This system provides opportunity for every LE worker to set his own income without limitation.

LITERATURE MINISTRY LITERATURE MINISTRY SEMINARIESSEMINARIES

The Literature Ministry Seminary program ispart of the total publishing work of the Union. It is established to provide professional trainingto literature evangelists and publishing leaders.

The LMS Director is an Associate Publishing Director of the Union.

PUBLISHING HOUSESPUBLISHING HOUSES

Publishing Houses are established by the authority of the Division for

the purpose of originating, translating and printing

denominational literatures.

HOME HEALTH EDUCATION HOME HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICE & ADVENTIST BOOK SERVICE & ADVENTIST BOOK

CENTERSCENTERSThe HHES/ABCs are the official distributing

agencies for denominational publishing houses within their respective territories. They are dealing with subscription and trade books to Literature Evangelists, other church workers, church members and the general public.

HHES - Generally in charge of subscription literature to be sold by Literature Evangelists to the general public.

ABC - Generally in charge of trade literature for the Church membership.

PUBLISHING ORGANIZATIONPUBLISHING ORGANIZATIONSUMMARYSUMMARY

A. General Conference Publishing DepartmentB. Division Publishing Department

C. Union Publishing Department

D. Conference/Mission Publishing Department

1. Publishing Department Director2. Assistant Publishing Director3. Literature Evangelists

E. Institutions/Organizations

1. Literature Ministry Seminaries2. Publishing Houses3. Home Health Education Service/Adventist Book Center

DIVISION PUBLISHING MINISTRIES DIVISION PUBLISHING MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT TODAYDEPARTMENT TODAY

Total No. of Unions Served _______

Total No. of Publishing Houses _______

Total No. of Literature Ministry Seminaries

_______

Total No. of Publishing Leaders _______

Total No. of Literature Evangelists _______

THE LITERATURE EVANGELIST AND HIS MINISTRY

GENERAL PROVISIONSGENERAL PROVISIONS

Authorized Part-Time - LE's who work less than 144 hours per calendar month or 1440 hours per year

Full-time Literature Evangelists - LE's who are devoting their life to the calling of the Literature Ministry. They hold no other income generating employment or work besides the ministry. Full-time LEs are divided into 3 categories: Interns Licensed Credentialed.

Classes of Literature Evangelists


Full-time and Part-time Literature Evangelists are assigned to designated territories.

They are to become a part of the community and provide continued service and ministry to the area.

Designated Territory


Literature Evangelists are gospel workers for the SDA Church.

Therefore they should sell only denominationally approved literature or items as distributed through the HHES/ABC outlets.

Products to be Sold


The prime objective of the Literature Ministry is to

contact souls for Christ. The following methods are

avenues by which LE's can present the gospel.

Sale of health and gospel literatureFree literature distributionEnrollments in Bible Correspondence CoursesPersonal Bible studiesInviting interested persons to church &

evangelistic meetingsBy personally sharing the gospelPraying with prospects

Missionary Activities


One important aspect of the LE work is reporting. This is done for important purposes, such as retirement, status requirements and others.

LE's are required to submit report monthly (weekly in some places), reflecting the following. (Show example)

Number of HoursNumber of Weeks WorkingNumber of Homes Visited (Exhibit)Amount of SalesMissionary Activities

Reporting System


Even when the LE is unable to work due to illness, he should send his report stating the number of hours for credit.

These reports are compiled in the Con/Mission and Union

Reporting System

LE CATEGORIES

AND

REQUIREMENTSEvery beginning of each year (January 1), LE's are reclassified to different classes/categories based on the previous year's performance and policy requirements.

LE CATEGORIES & LE CATEGORIES & REQUIREMENTSREQUIREMENTS

All LE's who worked less than the number of hours or weekly reports required by the Division policy for full-time Literature Evangelists are reclassified as …Part-Time…regardless of their sales performance. (Example)

Authorized Part-time

LE CATEGORIES & REQUIREMENTSLE CATEGORIES & REQUIREMENTS

An Intern LE is one who is in training, developing skills in

literature evangelism through personal witness and distribution

of health and gospel literature. Requirements are:

Full-Time (Intern)


Requirements are: Submit a completed application to the

Conference/Mission Publishing Committee for approval.

Submit a medical certification or report with the application.

An SDA member in good and regular standing.Has no financial obligations which exceed the

earning ability of the Literature Evangelist.Approved by the Con/Mission Publishing

Committee in order to start working

Full-Time (Intern)


Successful completion of LMS training courses during internship

Demonstrated skill in personal witnessing and Christian salesmanship

Worked a minimum of ___ hours and have submitted ___ weekly reports during three consecutive months as an Intern

Full-Time (Initial License)


Understand the publishing policies and be willing to abide by them

Reach the sales minimum requirements as set by the Union, according to formula stipulated in the Division Policy.

Example Formula :

Full-Time (Initial License)


When a Licensed Literature Evangelist has not qualified for Credentials after one year, the Con/Mission may grant a renewal of License when the following requirements are met:

Worked a minimum of ____ hours and submitted at least ____ weekly reports during the previous year

Shall have worked within the department policies

Reached the minimum sales requirement as set by the Union, according to formula stipulated in the Division Policy. Example Formula:

Full-Time (Renewed License)


The Con/Mission Committee shall grant Literature Evangelists credentials upon fulfillment of the following requirements during the previous 12

months:

Worked a minimum of ______ hours and submitted at least ______ weekly reports.

Shall have followed the Publishing Ministries Department policies.

Reached the minimum sales requirements as set by the Union, according to the formula stipulated by the Division policy. Example Formula: (Show Example)

Full-Time (Credentialed)

LE QUALIFICATION AND LE QUALIFICATION AND REQUIREMENTS – SUMMARYREQUIREMENTS – SUMMARY

LE CATEGORY REQUIREMENTSFull-time LEs Period Reports Hour Sales (minimum)

1. Initial License 3 mths 12 42 WF x 45% x 3

2. Renew. License 12 mths 40 144 WF x 45% x 12

3. Credentialed 12 mths 44 1680 WF x 75% x 12

Example Formula


When a Licensed or Credentialed Literature Evangelist fails to qualify in sales requirements after one year for the status of either,

Renewed License Credential Renewed Credential

He/she shall be reclassified as full-time Literature Evangelist Intern and may again qualify for new license in any three consecutive months. (Example)

Renewal of Status


When a Licensed or Credentialed Literature Evangelist fails to qualify in the number of hours worked and weekly reports submitted after one year; he/she shall be reclassified as . . .

Part-time Literature Evangelist

and may again qualify for new license in any three consecutive months. (Example)

Renewal of Status

BENEFITS OF LITERATURE BENEFITS OF LITERATURE EVANGELISTSEVANGELISTS

Literature Evangelists serve the Church through a wide range of missionary activities

as they spread the message through the printed page and other direct soul-winning

activities. To assist the Literature Evangelist, the following benefits are made available:

Full-Time


As outlined in the Division or Union

Publishing Ministries Department Policy.

(Example to be explained in details by the

instructor.)

Full-Time (Intern)


In addition to the LE Intern's benefits, the Licensed Literature Evangelist may receive benefits as outlined in the Division or Union Publishing Ministries Department Policy.

(Example to be explained in details by the instructor.)

Full-Time (Licensed)


In addition to benefits received by Intern and Licensed Literature Evangelists, the Credentialed LEs may receive benefits,

when currently qualifying, as outlined in the Division or Union Publishing Ministries Department Policy.

(Example to be explained in details by

the instructor.)



Transportation and moving expense for resident Literature Evangelists who, with their families, are authorized a move to a new territory.

In the transfer of Literature Evangelists from one mission to another, the expenses shall be paid by the mission initiating the call and not from the Literature Evangelist Benefit Fund.

Travel expenses, including per diem for travel time, may be paid when approved to receive training at a LMS center.

Full-Time (Interns)


In addition to the Intern's benefits, the Licensed Literature Evangelist shall receive the following benefits:

Transportation, food and lodging while attending annual LE conventions and LMS training

Transportation and moving expenses for moves requested by the local Con/Mission Publishing Committee



Emergency assistance may be granted in cases of hardship which are beyond the control of the LE, such as accident, extended illness, temporary disability, large losses, etc.

Other benefits as may be approved by the Union



In addition to benefits received by Intern and Licensed Literature Evangelists, the following benefits may be granted to Credentialed LE's when currently qualifying:

Benefit Allowance based on retail sales1 to 9 years of service - 5 - 6%10 years up - 6 - 7%

Other benefits as decided by the Union, such as medical allowance, educational allowance and constituency allowance.


The Literature Evangelist and His The Literature Evangelist and His Ministry (SUMMARY)Ministry (SUMMARY)

General Provisions Classes of LEs Designated Territories Products to be Sold Missionary Activities Reporting System

LE Identification and Requirements Authorized Part-Time Full-Time Literature Evangelists

LE Benefits Interns Licensed Credentialed

WORK RELATIONSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT

HOME HEALTH EDUCATION HOME HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICESERVICE

Under the provisions of the Division Policy, Literature Evangelists, Church members and other Church workers have to transact business with the HHES/ABC in cash basis only.

So . . .LEs are encouraged to establish a healthy financial base in their work by managing their finances very carefully.

HHES Transactions


LEs are encouraged to build up their own capital for books so as to have enough literature supplies all the time for their work.

LEs are encouraged to avoid debts. LE's without debts and who are financially stable can work happily without worries of debts to pay up. They are most likely to succeed and will stay in the work.

HHES TransactionsHHES Transactions


Under the Division Policy, the Full-time Literature Evangelists get ____% for his commission based on the retail price of subscription books and magazines.

Part-Time LE's receive ____% commission

Literature Evangelist Commission

BUSINESS AND RELIGIOUS BUSINESS AND RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTVIEWPOINT

Viewed from the world's concept, Literature Evangelism is business. We are engaged in printing, publishing and selling business. But, it is the business of the Lord.

The Publishing work is God's business “under His special supervision”. The ultimate goal of the Publishing Ministry is to prepare souls for God's kingdom.

The business aspect of our work is just the means for the ultimate objective of God's Church - Soul-Winning.

The Lord’s Business

BUSINESS AND RELIGIOUS BUSINESS AND RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTVIEWPOINT

We urge all our Literature Ministry workers (LE's, Leaders, Publishing House Workers) to

conduct this work from a religious standpoint. Missionary work must be the prevailing motive. Honesty and Integrity must be practised in all transactions and in the

conduct of the Lord's work as a whole. As a saying goes: “Honesty is the best policy.”

The Lord’s Business

LE DEVELOPMENTLE DEVELOPMENT

The work of the Literature Evangelist

is, no doubt, in touch with the

business world and, therefore,

requires professional growth.

HOW?

Professional Growth


The smart LE will learn that he is surrounded with tremendous opportunities for improvements. The books and magazines he sells are rich resources of knowledge.

The Holy BibleSpirit of Prophecy BooksGood Educational BooksMagazines and News Papers

Professional Growth


The Literature Ministry Seminary is the college for Literature Evangelists. It is designed to provide formal professional training to LEs in all aspects of their work. The LMS provides four levels of free training for Literature Evangelists.

LMS Training

1.Introductory

2. Basic

3. Intermediate

4. Career


Another avenue which provides training and development for Literature Evangelists is the annual LE Conventions or Institutes.

This type of meeting is intended to uplift the morale and courage of every publishing worker as well as to provide information on current trends and developments in the Literature Ministry.

These institutes/conventions are provided free by the Church for Licensed and Credentialed Literature Evangelists.

*****

LE Conventions

CONSTANTLY IMPROVINGCONSTANTLY IMPROVING

The Prophet said:

“The Literature Evangelist should

not rest satisfied unless he is

constantly improving” 5T, p. 396.

THE END

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WORKING POLICY FOR LITERATURE EVANGELISTS