One way of attend our securing the names and addresses of interested persons who evangelistic meetings, is to pass out cards like the following: (See PDF)
This plan awakened a lively response in a city where we were holding meetings; and in order to meet the demand for these sermons, we looked around to find some way of multiplying them at small cost. We soon found an automatic-feed multigraph for sale cheap, and one of the sisters of the church bought it and gave it to the church. The church board accepted it, and has since added about $200 worth of equipment. In this way we have inexpensively multigraphed these sermon reports as well as produced the dodgers for the effort (not the initial folder, but all subsequent dodgers). Of course the labor is free, and the only cost is for paper and ribbon for the machine.
These sermons do not take the place of Present Truth, but as already stated, they serve as an effective means of securing the names and addresses of those who are interested in the particular discourse presented. Also they give the listeners an opportunity to go over some of the texts I use in the sermon; for these sermons, though written up before I preach them, are made from the same notes. When these printed sermons are delivered to the people, we have an opportunity to learn their reaction to the spoken sermons at the tent.
We have organized about twenty of the men and women of the church into a laymen's gospel workers' band, and every week for about a year, we have been teaching them how to work for others. We intrust the distribution of the sermons to these folks, and have a card system, in duplicate. On these cards they write the results of visits to the people, and copy from their cards onto our file at the tent. Then the Bible worker and I are able to work with those who are most interested, and thus do not scatter our time and energy. Here is a sample card: (See PDF for card)
This plan has worked admirably We have been able to use a great por tion of the membership of the church, and they all feel that they have a part in the work. There are 20 helpers in the band, 34 in the choir, 10 lady ushers, and 8 deacons. The deacons help place the extra chairs when the crowds cannot be seated in the tent. This means that 72 laymen are engaged in active work every week. But there are more; for 150 church members help to give out circulars every week, and though there are duplications of effort in the 150 over the 72, yet we know that at least 150 persons are helping in the effort.
We also have two laymen conducting street meetings every Saturday night. The young people and several other members help with the music. Two other laymen are conducting Sunday night meetings outside the city, as a result of which several are keeping the Sabbath, and some are about ready for baptism. A brother and his wife secured a fair building for $5 a month (the owner co-operating because of the nature of the work), and hold Sunday night, Wednesday night, and Sabbath services there. Though this mission is only about a month old, they have organized a Sabbath school of twenty-four members.
With a large church like this, which has quite a bit of talent, I feel that the church members should be actively engaged in labor for others, and have done all I could to foster this kind of work. I feel, personally, that the Home Missionary Department of this cause must be more thoroughly developed in every local church. Surely it is time for every minister to realize the latent possibilities in his congregation, and as the Testimonies say, teach them to work for others.
Miama, Pia.
