Greater Evangelism

Providence, Rhode Island, a city of 250,000, was the field chosen. Pawtucket, with a pop­ulation of 75,000, is but five miles distant. We have two English churches with a membership of 252, a German church with a membership of 12, and a Swedish church with a membership of 30, making a total of 294 members in these two adjoining cities.

The following comprise the group of work­ers: Elder W. II. Branson; his son, Elder E. L. Branson, local pastor of the English church; Elder S. Lundstrom, local pastor of the Swed­ish church; and two Bible workers, Miss Can­dace Ferguson and Miss Ethel Meek. Miss Louise Kleuser, conference Missionary Volun­teer and educational secretary, has been doing part-time Bible work while carrying the heavy responsibilities of these departments.

The meetings opened in the Elks Auditorium, Sunday evening, March 5, with approximately 900 in attendance. Services are held each eve­ning with the exception of Saturday night, Elder W. H. Branson and his son alternating as the speakers. At this writing, two weeks have passed since the first meeting. The at­tendance is holding steady. During the week nights, the attendance is about 50 per cent of that on Sunday night. The audiences are giving excellent attention.

The Elders Branson are giving special at­tention to the organization of their helpers. Each evening before the service, about a dozen of the brethren and sisters of these churches meet with the conference workers for prayer and Bible study. During the day these work­ers visit the many homes of those who, by signing cards, have signified their desire for literature. Miss Kleuser is conducting a suc­cessful Bible workers' class for those church members who have a desire to become efficient in this line. The class grew so large that it had to be transferred from the schoolroom to the Sabbath school room. It is evident that our people are anxious to become efficient soul winners, and are willing to study to that end.

An invitation to speak over the radio was received from one of the local broadcasting stations, and the brethren are putting on a program each Sunday afternoon from 1:45 to 2:30. Elder W. H. Branson is also responding to requests from the Rhode Island State College, Observation School, and other organ­izations, to speak to them on his experiences in Africa.

During the two months' effort in our field, Elder Branson is not relieved of the burdens and responsibilities of his office as vice-president for the North American Division, but is carrying on his correspondence and work in an impro­vised office fitted up in a room of the Provi­dence church. The example of Elder Branson should encourage every worker to greater ef­forts in the service of God. He could have continued on just with his regular duties, and all would have recognized that he was carrying full work. But he felt that he should have an up-to-date experience in evangelism to give strong leadership, and was willing to make this extra effort in order to gain that experi­ence. We hope many of our men in executive positions will emulate his example. We be­lieve that by so doing many souls will be won to the truth by direct effort and indirect ex­ample.

South Lancaster, Mass.

Revival Efforts in the Southern Union

By S.A. Ruskjer

At this writing, ten-day revival efforts have  been held in nearly half the churches of the Southern Union Conference, and more than twenty such efforts are in progress at the mo­ment. We shall not rest satisfied until a ten-day revival effort has been conducted in every church in our entire field.

In the meetings held thus far, scores of back­slidden Adventists have been reclaimed; many of our young people have been led to take their stand for the Master and His truth; and a goodly number have been brought into the church, having previously been labored with by soul-winning lay members. These efforts have also resulted in arousing a deep interest in the truth on the part of hundreds who had had previous contact with our message.

The ten-day revival efforts in our territory have drawn capacity crowds, regardless of whether the efforts have been conducted in smaller churches in rural territories or in our larger churches and centers. in connection with the ten-day efforts, pastoral visits have been made in every Seventh-day Adventist home in the community in which the effort was being conducted. These pastoral visits and seasons of prayer in the homes of our people have resulted in rebuilding the family altar in many, many homes. Our people have reconse­crated themselves and have dedicated their homes to God and to His truth, and to the fin­ishing of the work.