Streamline Tabernacle Blueprints
[In the October, 1935, Ministry appeared an illustrated description of the streamline tabernacle used by Evangelist O. L. Denslow. We recently invited him to place the blueprints on deposit with the Ministerial Association at headquarters, for the inspection of workers who wished to examine them with a view to the possible building of similar structures. These are now available, and can be borrowed upon application. In lodging these specifications with us, Brother Denslow wrote, upon our request, the following paragraphs concerning the advantages of such a tabernacle and its resale value, which is a material factor.—Editor.]
The round-top tabernacle which I used here in South Bend is, I believe, most suitable where a moderate-sized building is desired, one that will seat from five hundred to a thousand people. Ours was forty feet wide and eighty-six feet long, and would seat five hundred people.
The construction of the building is so different from an ordinary building that from the very beginning of its erection it attracts unusual attention. More than ordinary interest was shown in ours, and on the opening night it was packed to the limit. The front was given a modern appearance, and this added to the attractiveness. Inside there are no unsightly pillars, posts, or bracing to obstruct the view. The people surely enjoy this feature, too, because from every seat there is a clear view of the platform and the speakers.
The cost of the building is very reasonable. Ours cost in round numbers $1,300. After using it two years and moving it once, we were able to sell it for $1,000. Long before we were through with it, several inquired if the building was for sale, showing that this type of structure has a good resale value. I do not hesitate to recommend this plan to any one wanting a small, inexpensive tabernacle.
Radio and Tract Combination
The program in one of the conferences on the Pacific Coast might contain a suggestion for others engaged in radio evangelistic endeavor. For many months Elder C. S. Prout conducted a series of excellent broadcasts. He received many letters of appreciation and numerous contributions for the support of his work. However, he felt that much more could be done to interest people in these radio programs by the church members living within range of his station.
The members of the surrounding churches were supplied with radio announcements. On one side of these announcements, information was given concerning the station, with its frequency, the speaker, and the music. On the other side a special offer as outlined below was made, together with the date and time schedule for the presentation of the various topics:
The home missionary department launched the program by asking the membership of the churches to go out with these handbills. As they were distributed, attention was drawn not only to the special series of radio sermons, but also to the offer of the Home Bible Study League to provide studies on the topics presented by the evangelist. After the presentation of the first radio sermon of the series, the members went out with the first tract bearing a title identical with that of the evangelist's sermon. Once again the attention of the community was called to the fact that a leading evangelist was on the air, and that this literature contained a study on the subject of his previous discourse; and so on through the series.
Between 50,000 and 60,000 tracts were distributed within the range of the broadcasting station, and many interested people were found. The evangelist had the pleasure of baptizing at least six as a result of his radio work, and many others were won as a result of the public effort which followed. One whole family of five joined a. church nearly seventy-five miles away, and probably there was other good fruitage.
A few moments' reflection will show the advantages of such a program. The lay forces of the church are brought into operation in announcing the broadcasts. Bringing these subjects to the homes week by week is a regular reminder to the people. The topic is pressed home by a printed presentation of the subject. Interested ones are easily detected in the personal visitation of church members, and thus a closer follow-up work is possible. The evangelist takes care of those in his immediate vicinity, and the near-by churches follow up those residing in their territories. The fact that our membership is encouraged to distribute systematically a complete series of subjects covering the salient points of the message, adds still another important value to this program.
