Self-Supporting Tabernacle Efforts

Different sections of the metropolitan area of Los Angeles had called for efforts. The com­mittee decided to grant the request of the Hunt­ington Park church for an effort at South Gate, with the understanding that that church, with the help of near-by churches, would raise the money for materials for the construction of a tabernacle, and that the labor would be free.

It was a new venture, but these churches heroically went about the task, and $600 was raised toward the building. A location was de­cided upon on one of the main arteries between Los Angeles and Long Beach. The city co­operated by leveling the lot for us free of charge. A call was made in the churches for volunteer labor, and at the time appointed about twenty-five men were on hand to do their part. The sisters of the church provided noon­day meals on the grounds. In the course of twenty days the building was ready, with all the facilities of the previous tabernacles.

The conference gave $100 as their share in the expense. We felt from the beginning that God was in the work, and that He would richly bless those who so liberally helped toward its success. However, because of last-minute changes that had to be made, we were in debt $200 when the opening night came.

We advertised in our usual way with hand­bills, but not in the newspapers. Our taber­nacle, when crowded to capacity, seats 1,000; but the opening night found not even standing room available, and for a number of Sunday nights people were turned away. We adjusted our Bible study rooms so as to make them part of the auditorium, but still we were hard-pressed to care for the crowds. We used no spectacular methods to draw the people. Our initial and subsequent advertisements stated that it was a "Seventh-day Adventist Prophetic Bible Lecture Campaign," setting forth the great truths of Bible prophecy and their rela­tion to our present day.

We hired no outside talent to draw 'people, but depended, as is our custom, entirely on those of our people who love the Lord enough to render Him willing service. As usual, our choir was vested, and occasionally new songs on the message provided added interest in the mu­sical feature of the program. Evangelist H. M, S. Richards presented the messages in so force­ful and convincing a way that from the begin­ning people began to make their decision for God. Baptisms were held nearly every Sun­day night, and sometimes during the week.

We continued our campaign for four months, during which time over two hundred were bap­tized. Entire families came in together. A goodly number had been Catholics, some Mor­mons, others Spiritualists. Many, we are happy to say, came direct from the world. Two min­isters of other religious organizations were among the converts, one of whom is now en­gaged in the colporteur work.

The meetings held in the tabernacle closed in June, with every expense met. Out of the offer­ings we were enabled to pay, besides all the current expenses, such as lot rent, light, heat, telephone, advertising, etc., the $200 deficit, return to the conference the $100 given at the beginning, and have surplus enough to buy for our next effort one thousand new "Gospel in Song," with the expense of adding our own special supplement, which has proved an at­tractive feature to our music. Besides all this, during the campaign we raised $250 toward a weekly broadcast of the message over the radio.

The conference plans for the tabernacle to remain intact for future meetings by other evangelists, which seems a wise course to fol­low. However, the tabernacle is not closed. It is now the regular meeting place of our Hunt­ington Park church, their own church building being far too small to accommodate the aug­mented attendance.

While the Huntington Park church bore the brunt of the cost, it is refreshing to note that according to a financial report just issued by the conference, the tithe of this church for the first six months of this year is nearly $700 more than for the same period last year, proving again that God will supply all our needs if we set our minds to do His will.

Truly it is "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." We thank Him for His abundant blessing. The work accom­plished is but an omen of the nearness of the end. May the spirit of evangelism, which was the animating power in the early days of this message, burn with ever-increasing fervor until the last soul on the outer circle shall have heard the bridal call, "Come; for all things are now ready."