The Nathanael Project is a church-evangelism program. A spiritual adventure or journey in evangelism.
Who is Nathanael?
In John 1 Philip meets Jesus and immediately goes to his friend, Nathanael, to bring him to Christ. We believe that everyone has a Nathanael (friend, relative, co-worker, neighbor, etc.) who needs to come to Jesus.
Shouldn't we be witnessing to all of our unsaved friends?
Absolutely. Statistics reveal, however, that it’s just not happening. Over 80% of believers will never share their faith with over 90% never having the privilege of leading someone to Jesus. In fact, at any given moment, 50% of believers are not even praying for a lost soul.
So, the project is geared to focus on just one person---two months of praying for and working with that one Nathanael that God has laid on their heart. Obviously, it may take longer to see them come to Christ, but we think that a two-month period will jump-start the process.
How long does the journey last?
We hope for one’s entire life . . . we’re praying that this will create a culture of evangelism, but The Nathanael Project lasts for 2-months (9 Sundays – the first 8 run congruent with the 8-chapters of Dan Allen’s book – Exhaling the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the 9th Sunday or weekend is reserved for your folks to invite their Nathanael to a special service or program where the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be clearly explained. An in-church name for it might be “Nathanael Sunday”).
What parts of my church will be involved?
This program starts from the preaching behind the pulpit and includes – Small Groups, Adult Sunday School classes, Children Church (both Junior and Primary churches), as well as a complete program for teens.
Sermons for the pulpit and materials for the other ministry of your church have been written and are available to use.
Is there a textbook?
Our director, Dan Allen’s book, Exhaling the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Evangelism as Natural as Breathing the Truth, is the foundation for the journey. It is recommended that each family have this short but meaningful and helpful book. The “Tools for Witnessing” in the back are very helpful.
Are there any other books that are needed?
The Bible is our guidebook for life. Everyone must have a Bible.
The “Daily & Family Devotional & Small Group Guide” will be helpful for each adult and/or family to have. This becomes a daily reminder and reinforcement of the weekly themes as one reads the daily Scriptures, short exhortation and memorizes witnessing verses. One page per week is devoted for family devotion suggestions as well as family and homeschooling assignments or for further study. The booklet also contains the weekly Small Group material.
What do the pastors and church leaders need?
The Nathanael Project Manual. This includes explanation of program, starter materials, calendar, and suggested advertising promotional. The Small Group Leaders Guide as well as curriculum for Adult Sunday School are contained in the manual. All of this is reproducable for member churches.
Does the pastor need to preach from the same story & text as Dan's Book?
No, however, it would be wise to stick with the theme since the rest of the church will be following that theme. The adult Sunday School curriculum stick with the theme but uses different Biblical passages.
Can we access the material digitally?
Yes, all the materials, including Dan’s book (Kindle edition - Amazon) are at our website – www.TheNathanaelProject.com. It is password protected. The password is given to a church upon paying the fee. The access to the website is for six month. Anyone in your church, especially pastors, teachers and team members for the project can have access to the materials using the same password during your subscription. A second-level access is given to the pastor and/or leader of the program.
The honor system is involved here. Please do not give your password to another church or ministry. This ministry is funded by the fee and sale of materials.
How can my church get involved?
Fill out the short application (located under “Contact” on www.TheNathanaelProject) and pay your subscription via the online payment or send the application and check to: 800FollowMe, PO Box 11, Telford, PA 18969. Your password will be automatically sent to you when the payment has been received.
What does the program cost?
There is a fee which gives the church access to all the material on the website. See “Fee” under “Introduction”.
Will I receive any hard copies of materials with a paid subscription?
Yes, depending on the level of your membership. See the chart under “Fee” under “Introduction.”
Have other churches used this material?
This ministry concept has been under development for several years. Eleven test-churches ran the program in 2014 to 2017 while it was being developed.
Can we just use parts of the program?
A church can use the program anyway in which they feel it will have the most impact on the greatest number of their people. We have found, however, that if it is just something the pastor preaches, it becomes simply another sermon series. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but to get the fullest impact requires the entire church to be involved. Commitment and accountability can be generated from small groups. Test churches that did not use the small group material saw little to no results. However, there are other ways to develop commitment and accountablity. We’d be interested to learn what works for you.
The hope is to get as many people as possible involved. During Dan Allen’s 25-years of pastoring, he used an evangelism program that ran ancillary to the church. It was an excellent program, but only with a small percentage of the church and, thus, produced a modicum of results. This program, however, is designed to involve everyone in the church – “Everyone has a Nathanael!”
The success of the program will depend on how much you and your church put into this.
Is this material reserved for an specific denomination?
No. This material will work with any Bible believing church. See Core Values.
The test churches consisted of Independent Churches, a Baptist Church, a United Methodist church and several Bible Fellowship Churches.
Can we reproduce materials?
The materials found on the website are yours to use during the six month subscription. You may not, however, take the material, recast it and sell it without permission from 800FollowMe. Dan Allen’s book is copyrighted. The entire program is also copyrighted, but permission is granted for you to use it within your church.
What if we decide to use it after the six month fee has run out or will during the time we are using it?
Yes. We have a program that can be used in either Sunday School or Children’s Church for both primary age children (preschool thru 2nd grade) and junior age children (3rd thru 6th grades).
One of the test churches saw four children come to know the Lord using the Children’s material.
Do you have a program for teenagers?
A comprehensive program including philosophy of use, teaching materials, Q & A for after the teaching and small group material is in the packet for teens. It is excellent curriculum written by a youth pastor.
When should our church take the journey?
There are three or four times during the course of the year which works best for a 2-month, uninterrupted period to use something like this: September-October and before and after Easter. It’s hard to keep the small groups going during the summer and into September when people are on vacation and programs in the church are sparking-up, respectively. The dead of winter can be a challenge depending where you are located in the country. Starting of the New Year with this program would be beneficial. It could be the focus of the entire year.
Can we submit suggestions and sermons for use by other churches?
Absolutely! We encourage feedback. God to “Contact” on the website and click on “Suggestions.” The 800FollowMe team will make final decisions as ot what materials may appear on the website.
Is there an ongoing aspect to this?
Yes, in fact there are several things we’d like you to share with us:
We’d like to hear about your Nathanaels that come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Tell us your stories. Let us rejoice with you and all of Heaven.
800FollowMe would like to post witnessing videos to our website. A 3-to-5 minute Youtube of someone telling their story can be placed with an assigned number on the 800FollowMe.com website. The person telling the story will be able to promote this as a witnessing tool inviting indivduals to see their story. All approved stories will remain on the website for 1-year at no charge.
What is 800FollowMe?
800FollowMe is a 501c3 non-profit ministry which is the brainchild of Dick Dean, owner and founder of Channel 69, Allentown, PA, and various radio stations across the country. His goal was to use the “800” number as a means of sharing the Good News by using Christian media ministers answering a specific question. Some of these questions/answers can be seen on www.800FollowMe.com. Upon hiring veteran minister Dan Allen through the Christian Heritage Foundation, the vision expanded to include The Nathanael Project as well as social media evangelism. Still on the drawing board is the development of a discipleship program.
What are 800FollowMe's Core Values?
We value the truth that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son who stated I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me (Acts 4:12; John 3:16; 14:6)
We value the Gospel which is the good news of redemption that Jesus Christ came into this world as a baby, lived, died for our sins, was buried and was raised on the third day. And that He offers the free gift of salvation to all who will believe (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 3:16).
We value the Holy Spirit’s involvement in salvation as He calls (Romans 8:30); regenerates (John 3:3-7, Titus 3:5); makes spiritually new (2 Corinthians 5:17); baptizes (1 Corinthians 12:13); indwells (John 14:16-17); and seals the believer (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
We value God’s Word as the Truth and the ultimate means by which the Holy Spirit convicts of sin and calls to salvation (Hebrews 4:12).
We will value and will use every available means (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) within our expertise, including, but not limited to, electronic media (telephone, internet); social networks (texting, Facebook, Twitter); printed page (tracts, pamphlets, billboards, handbills); media (radio, television).
800FollowMe is a non-denominational religious organization
What is 800FollowMe's Mission?
Jesus’ command, to follow Me, was to seekers (John 8:12) and the devoted (Mark 1:17, Matthew 16:24 ) and it is for us today.
800FollowMe is an evangelism ministry working with, and in, media and the church by:
Encouraging Christians to share their faith with their friends;
Equipping Christians and the Church to be prepared in season and out of season (2Timothy 4:2) to preach the word;
Enabling Christians, the Church and Christian Media to evangelize.
Our goal is to utilize the media, web, social networks, churches and other means to present the Good News of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians. 9:19-23).
Who is Dan Allen?
Dan Allen became a follower of Jesus Christ at an early age under the tutelage of Godly parents. He grew-up in a pastor’s house. He graduated from Bible College (Lynchburg Baptist College, now Liberty University) and Seminary (Biblical Seminary, Hatfield, PA). He received an honorary doctorate degree (D.D.) from Lancaster Bible College for his over twenty-three years of ministry in the greater Lancaster County, PA, area pastoring the Bible Fellowship Church of Ephrata, galvanizing through prayer pastors in his community to work together for the Kingdom and his use of the media (radio, TV and local newspapers) to spread the Gospel.
Dan’s first church was in Cape May Courthouse, NJ (1979-1980) and he directed Pinebrook Bible Conference, Stroudsburg, PA, (2005-2011). Since then he’s been the director of both 800FollowMe and his personal ministry Joy in Jesus Ministries where he and his wife mentor pastors and wives; he continues his pulpit and media ministries as well as trains pastors and Christian workers in India.
He and his wife, Vonnie, have three married children (one with the Lord) and seven grandchildren . . . about whom he’d be dlighted to show his photos.
Each Sunday he goes to churches representing 800FollowMe and his Lord. He’d love to come to your hcurch. You can reach dan –[email protected]
Dan Allen became a follower of Jesus Christ at an early age under the tutelage of Godly parents. He grew-up in a pastor’s house. He graduated from Bible College (Lynchburg Baptist College, now Liberty University) and Seminary (Biblical Seminary, Hatfield, PA). He received an honorary doctorate degree (D.D.) from Lancaster Bible College for his over twenty-three years of ministry in the greater Lancaster County, PA, area pastoring the Bible Fellowship Church of Ephrata, galvanizing through prayer pastors in his community to work together for the Kingdom and his use of the media (radio, TV and local newspapers) to spread the Gospel.
