When I read reports of evangelistic meetings conducted with success every night in the week in the same hall or tabernacle, I am made almost envious of such opportunities of heralding the glorious message of the everlasting gospel. But in England, and such countries as Australia, the every-night method meets with but little response. To attend religious meetings two nights in the week is seemingly all that even the most interested of the congregation are able to manage. Then how can we reach them? Here is the plan that I have found most effective:
Engage the best theater or hall in the district for Sunday nights. People are drawn from all surrounding districts to this main meeting. After the first week some are inquiring about other meetings. That gives opportunity to announce that the many inquiries have encouraged the evangelist to open a regular midweek meeting in such-and-such a district. By the next Sunday night some from other districts are wondering why a similar meeting could not convene in their locality. So a similar announcement is made, naming the location, the subject, etc. By the end of the first month, meetings are convening in perhaps four or five different smaller centers within the radius of a few miles. At these auxiliary meetings, perhaps only one Bible teacher will be in attendance, and thus the staff of workers will be distributed. So, with a staff of three to eight workers, such smaller centers will be cared for. The number of meetings is governed somewhat by the number of workers.
When two or three young men are with me, I have found it an admirable plan, in developing them, to give to each a district. Some kind of inexpensive advertisement can be undertaken for these district missions, thus giving opportunity for those of less experience to learn sound and tried methods. In each of these districts we endeavor to organize, in addition to the service in the local hall, parlor or cottage meetings for the most interested. Usually some home is opened, and here we are able to teach from ten to twenty regular seekers the deeper issues of the message.
If one is fortunate enough to have experienced lady Bible teachers on the staff, such parlor meetings can be cared for by them, and thus these meetings easily become baptismal classes and prayer and general study meetings.
At the Sunday evening services we make frequent appeals or altar calls. Those responding represent a variety of decisions. Some are accepting Jesus as a personal Saviour for the first time. Others are deciding to walk in the light of new-found truth—baptism, the Sabbath, tithing, etc. A brief aftermeeting is held for these special seekers. All are encouraged to take part in prayer or testimony. Great care should be taken by the leader to guide the meeting in a helpful way. Decision cards are then handed to all. Those accepting salvation, sign a different card from those consecrating themselves to some branch of obedience. To each a personal letter is sent from the evangelist, enclosing a brief Bible study. These cards are then apportioned to the workers in the various districts, thus avoiding overlapping and duplicate traveling expense.
How different now is the reception of the Bible teacher by the one who has signified his or her decision, from the earlier chilly "doorstep visit"—so often the experience of the visiting worker! Bible instruction is welcomed by the new convert. Having once accepted Jesus as his Saviour, he is eager to learn more of Him. And it is important in our ministry that we emphasize that "God hath made that same Jesus . . . both Lord and Christ." That was the climax of the Pentecost sermon, and it should be the burden of every message we bear.
Obedience is the natural result. And it will be obedience that springs from love to Jesus, and not the mere acceptance of a creed as a Christian duty. Such surrender will be of grace and not of works. How beautifully this method of teaching is emphasized by the servant of the Lord in "Testimonies to Ministers," page 508: "Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone can complete the work."
The result of this district method can be the organization of two or more churches from the one main center. I have followed the plan of having frequent baptisms rather than one or two larger services at the close of the campaign. Such services provide unique opportunity for decisions. At the close of each baptismal service it will be wise to make a. call for decisions for baptisms. Many are moved by the Spirit of God at such a meeting. On one occasion more than one hundred decided for baptism and acceptance of the message as the result of such an appeal. Not all of these will be ready at the same time. Hence there are always baptismal classes in progress preparing those who are deciding. A fisherman never expects to catch all the fish at one haul. He goes out continually, casting his net according to the varying conditions. Those he misses one time he will probably catch the next time. As fishers of men, we are entrusted with great responsibility. But we can take courage from the thought that the "Lord has His representatives in all the churches. . . . Many there are who have faithfully walked in the light that has shone upon their pathway.
They hunger to know more of the ways and works of God. . . . Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the very verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in."—"Testimonies," Vol. VI, pp. 70. 71.
May wisdom and grace be given to us of God to gather in these precious souls. And while we go forth, let us remember that "that day, that evening, may be the only opportunity which some soul may have to hear the warning message."—Id.. p. 47.
London, England.
