We have in our union a layman of average ability, who has canvassed for several years, but has more recently supported his family by truck gardening. Out on his trips selling vegetables he scattered literature, and soon an interest was aroused in a little town a hundred miles from his home. He determined to foster that interest, as the Texico Conference had no minister free to hold an effort there. Causey, the little town in which the interest sprang up, is a small place; so his courage was equal to the task. As a result of a series of meetings the conference president baptized eighteen believers and a church of twenty-seven members was organized.
As missionary leader in his church, Brother Colburn was overjoyed, and wanted to attempt something greater. Inasmuch as Roswell, his home town, had not had a series of meetings for some years, he took the matter to the church board, and they decided to rent the Armory, which has a seating capacity of over six hundred. The little city of Roswell is the center of the entire valley, having a population of over ten thousand. The conference lent him seats and a stereopticon. He began his meetings with great timidity, but the first night he had an attendance of over two hundred and fifty. As the church had secured the Armory for only a month, he held meeting every night. His brother, a student at Southwestern Junior College, came to lead the singing, and thirty services were held for the public.
His expenses were almost wholly met by his offerings, so that feature was not any great burden on the church. Due to inability to secure the Armory for a longer period, he had to transfer his meetings to the church. The definite results to date are five observing the Sabbath, twenty families taking Bible studies, and twenty-five addresses still uninvestigated.
Brother Colburn is overjoyed at what the Lord can do through a layman, and is determined to begin again in some other place as soon as this effort is well terminated. The experience gained will make him more efficient in another effort. Two other churches in the conference have caught the spirit, and are beginning to lay plans for efforts. This is a work to which we as workers should give our most sympathetic aid and direction.
Keene, Tex
