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How to begin a Railroad Evangelistic Association Chapter |
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We are delighted you are reading this information on “How to begin a Railroad Evangelistic Association Chapter”. We are here to support you in anyway we can in helping you establish a REA Chapter in your local area. Each chapter is unique in structure. Following is some information on helping you to get started on the right track. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have further question or concerns. First, it would be appropriate to speak to your pastor and share with them your desire to form a local REA chapter. Give them a Railroad Evangelist magazine and a “Introducing the Railroad Evangelistic Association” brochure. Have a copy of the REA Constitution and By-laws to give them if they would like one. REA is a Para-church literature evangelistic ministry to the entire railroad community world-wide, reaching out through the Railroad Evangelist magazine to the railroad industry, the model railroader and the rail fan enthusiast with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first Railroad Evangelist was published in June 1938 by Luther S. Harkey, a railroad engineer and founder. In September 1941 REA was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in Sanford, Florida. The purpose of an REA chapter is to have fellowship with other Christians that are railroad related and have a desire to reach out to the railroad community with the Good News of Jesus Christ through the Railroad Evangelist magazine. A chapter normally meet once a month and is open to all men and women, their families and friends. The traditional formation of an REA chapter would be to gather together about six (or more) Christian together who have a common interest in some aspect of railroading to form a local REA chapter. Out of this initial group, the group would appoint, through mutual agreement and consent; a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. After one year an official election of officers would be held. They also would have to be in agreement with REA’s Constitution and By-Laws and approved by the REA Advisory Board to be an official REA chapter. Most REA chapters usually gather for a meal once a month such as a potluck at a local church or at a restaurant or someone’s home who would host the meeting. Each chapter decides when and where they will meet. It is not necessary to have a “religious service” each time, most chapters do as they not only meet for mutual fellowship but also use the chapter meeting as an evangelistic outreach inviting their friends and/or family members. A typical REA chapter meeting would look something like the following, (not necessarily in this order). 1. Open the meeting with prayer. 2. Word of greeting – Any announcements 4. Have a special musical number, (but is not necessary). 5. Have someone share his or her testimony. 6. Take prayer requests and pray for them. 7. Receive an offering for the local chapter expenses; 10% of the offering should be sent to the National REA office according to the Constitution and By-Laws. 8. Close in prayer. At some point during the meeting a portion of time should be given to discuss how different ones have distributed the Railroad Evangelist in their local area. Some suggestions would be to take the Railroad Evangelist magazine to local Model Railroad shows (as many have a table available for free literature), Model Railroad Hobby Stores, Railroad shops, Yard offices. Some may be able to give or leave some at Amtrak Stations and other RR stations such as a Tourist Railroad. Some Christian bookstores have a place for free literature as well. Anywhere there is a waiting room or where people gather. When leaving material, it is always good to get permission if at all possible. Come up with any other ideas? Share them with us. Our primary objective is literature evangelism using the Railroad Evangelist magazine to spread the Good News everywhere as we believe everyone needs to be on the “right track” to heaven through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. REA
Fellowships An REA Fellowship is when just a few people would like to get together at a designated time and place for related railroad fellowship. A REA Fellowship is different form a REA Chapter whereas a chapter has a slate of elected officers and is more structured. Whereas a REA Fellowship decides what, when and where their time together will be like. The one guiding principle for an REA Fellowship is for the leader(s) of the group to be in agreement with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Railroad Evangelistic Association. A REA Fellowship could easily develop into a REA Chapter. For further information or questions contact:
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