What is the success rate from door to door religious outreach by Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others?

Question

It seems like it must be significant since people keep doing it, but it seems hard to imagine it is that large. How many people call back or attend church per visit (or per day's worth of visits)?

Also, does speaking with so many people of different beliefs weaken or strengthen the beliefs of the people going door to door?

Thanks for your replies!

Answer 1

Once I talked to an elderly JW that said she converted one person in her life time. Why can't they spread the word by doing things that are helpful. Other churches in my area help out by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, food drives, and even oil changes for single moms.

Answer 2

I’ve noticed the trend that more and more JWs are reporting their time on the Internet as part of their field-service. You, sir, hopefully do not hold a job involving statistics. First you assume that all those hours are spent in the door-to-door work. Wrong. Secondly, have you considered what have we been reporting all these years before the internet became so common-place? We've been reporting the time we talk to people in the street, on the bus, at school/work during the lunch break, at the doctor's waiting room, to the doctor himself once you get in, to policemen who can chit-chat on the street as they watch traffic, when writing letters or school reports about our beliefs, talking to others when in jail for refusing to break God's law just to obey what the government says (e.g going to kill other JWs in other countries in times of war).... We report our time from so many sources. The internet is just an addition. And no, the door-to-door ministry is the MAIN way of preaching and it is here to stay. Jesus himself endorsed it ^_^ If Vot was to report the hours she spends on Y!A every month, and even if I was to stick to just answering SERIOUS questions and avoid frolicking around, I'd be doing more than 4 regular pioneers put together (You DO know what a regular pioneer is, right?)

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses feel that their success rate is 100%.

Success is not measured in converts or other statistics, but in adherence to the will of God and Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses would go from door-to-door even if there were no hope that anyone would change their religion, or even if no one would listen to them!

That is because Jesus Christ specifically assigned the house-to-house ministry to the Christian congregation, with no regard for specific results.

(Luke 10:1,2) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to direct attention to the bible, and move on when their message is unwanted. Since each congregation in the United States tries to call at every home in its territory at least twice each year, there is strong motivation for them to move on where little interest is shown. Also, the Scriptures help the Witnesses to expect little interest from most:

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm

Answer 4

Some people just go to stop the annoying visits...lol. It's like a hit and miss kind of thing...if you keep going out there, eventually someone is going to respond in a positive way. I would never choose to attend either of those two groups you mentioned. Being able to know true Christianity prevents me from believing what they preach. The Bible teaches that the Elect of God cannot be fooled by the lies of false beliefs.
In my culture, when someone comes to your door, you are friendly, and may even invite them in, and offer them something to drink. LDS take full advantage of this cultural trait and keep coming back! I learned not to be that friendly. They also learned my language--but they don't know day to day words, only church related ones...it's kind of interesting to be able to talk to them and then they start laughing and nodding their heads as if they really understand everything you are telling them.

Answer 5

The success rate of door to door missionary work depends on many factors and I do not think it would be possible to give you a completely accurate number. However I can tell you that the areas that have the highest number of baptisms coming from them are traditionally the ones that the members most actively help the missionaries in their work.

Answer 6

For Jehovah's Witnesses, the sucess rate is 100%.

This is true despite the frequent lack of [positive response. Why?

Because we are doing the work that Jesus both prophesied and commanded to be done. In Matthew 24:14 he prophesied: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

And then in Matthew 28:19, 20 he commanded "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Both from KJV)

Since we are doing this we are successful, 100%!

For the most part we are strengthened by this activity.

Answer 7

There are close to 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide in 236 lands. They conduct over 6 million home bible studies worldwide.

Our goal is not to get new members, but to find those who want to study the bible, many may study for months, but not attend the Kingdom Hall. We want to teach them the truth of the bible. If it reaches their heart and they are moved to dedicate their life to serving Jehovah, and they have made the need changes in their life, then they qualify to be baptized.

Going door to door strengthens our faith, because we are doing what Jesus commanded us to do at Matt. 24:14 "This good news of the kingdom will be preached to all the inhabited earth as a witness, and then the end will come."

We will meet those who oppose us, but just one person who is receptive makes everyone's day and those who oppose are quickly forgotten.

Answer 8

I'm a Mormon, so I let the missionaries in, probably for supper. And when the JW's have come to visit us, I tell them what my (non-Mormon) father always says: "Thank you for your time, we are very happy in our faith."

EDIT: The LDS missionaries, for the most part, hate door-knocking. They have found that people are often busy and do not wish to be disturbed. They have found that few people who answer the door want to listen to their message. They prefer to have people to teach, and find them more often through LDS members than through doorknocking. The program is changing so that they do more service in the community and meet people that way.

Answer 9

In their religion, they are not judged by their "close rate." They preach because they feel this is their purpose...if anyone listens, that is just a bonus. I'm sure some do come to their religion because of this type of contact. I get concerned when I tell them I am a Christian and they still feel the need to tell me how I am wrong, but I'm polite and say thank you and goodbye.

Answer 10

I heard it is 14% sucess rate for door to door contracting.
I heard this from the church mission leader. If people research the church with a friend or if a friend refers them to the missionaries the sucess rate jumps to 70%.