The Small Hall Effort

We welcome these very practical suggestions on the small hall effort, prepared by one of our interns.

By Louis B. REYNOLDS, Intern-Evangelist, Sedalia, Missouri

We welcome these very practical suggestions on the small hall effort, prepared by one of our aggres­sive colored evangelist interns, and personally illus­trated by him—Editor.

In some localities it is not advisable to ex­pend large amounts of money for evan­gelistic meetings. Often local circumstances are unfavorable, and more often the confer­ence budget will not permit. Especially is this true in the case of a young worker whose experience and ability do not warrant as large an outlay of funds as would be made for an experienced evangelist.

"Our younger laborers must be content to work their way among the people slowly and surely. . . A more humble manner of working would show good results."—"Gospel Workers," p. 458.

Even an old store building may be utilized for an evangelistic meeting. There are a few essentials, however, that should not be over­looked. The question of just how to "fix up" a hall of this kind, so that it will be inviting to all, merits consideration. Careful planning may serve to alleviate the discouraging in­feriority complex that usually attends small projects.

To begin with, the outside should present an inviting and respectable appearance. A large sign in bold but neat letters might pro­claim the hall to be a place dedicated to "Prophetic Lectures," or a "Gospel Hall," or a "Bible Hall." The sign should not be of inferior lettering, as this is instantly repulsive to cultured people. This might well be stretched in banner fashion across the entire length of the building. Oilcloth, carefully tacked on a wooden frame about three feet wide, would adequately serve the purpose. With correspondingly large letters, the sign can be seen from quite a distance.

The windows may be draped with a plain-color cotton crash that harmonizes well with the color of the building exterior. This ma­terial may well hang the entire length of the window.

The subject for each night can be painted on the windows. A good lettering brush should be used for this purpose, with Sho­card colors. If the drapes are cream-colored, the lettering might be light green or blue, carefully shaded with orange or yellow. Bright colors attract the attention immedi­ately, and shaded effects make an otherwise poor lettering professional in appearance.

A second but not less important considera­tion is the interior of the building. Inside as well as outside, there should be a char­acteristic neatness. The room may be divided by partitioning off a small space in the rear of the building for a storeroom. The parti­tion can be made by nailing a wooden frame together and tacking a sheeting over it. This could cover the entire width of the hall and be nine or ten feet high. Several perpendicu­lar two-by-fours will strengthen the frame­work. To this surface, apply a wallpaper of simple design. The wallpaper border may be pasted at the top and bottom of the partition, and several arches made to simulate a church effect. This paper costs but a few cents a roll, and is durable enough for three or four months' wear.

There is no substitute for strong boards in building the platform for the speaker. These may be rented or bought from a lumber com­pany. The platform should be about seven by twelve feet, and one foot high. The railing around the front may be of half-inch pipe or of strips of pine two inches wide and one inch thick. This acts as a framework for the green cloth that may be gathered on it to adorn the front of the rostrum.

A sheet tacked over a framework of wood may serve as a screen for stereopticon or filmslides. Having the screen placed at a slight angle, would be advantageous to the lecturer, as that would permit the person operating the machine to be stationed near the side wall, and thus his machine would not block the center aisle.

A stand for the picture projector can be made at little cost, and painted a shade near the color of the chairs. By all means avoid using a table with boxes stacked on top of each other. This disgusts the discerning. In arranging the chairs, if there happen to be two or three kinds, put all of the same make together, with the best ones nearest the door and aisles.

Try a different design for the question box. A cardboard or wooden box of size sufficient to hold the questions and a piece of cardboard large enough to cover the box are necessary. Cut the cardboard into a large circle, oval, diamond, or oblong, and glue or tack it to the box. Fashion a slot through both the cardboard front and the box itself through which the questions may be dropped. Then a large question mark may be cut out of card­board and put on the front of this. The upper loop of the question mark should be just above the slot for the questions. A rubber band fastened through the box will keep the lid from swinging open, and will snap the box shut after the questions are removed.

If the weather is favorable, try a little psychology on the passing crowds. Leave the front doors open for about two hours be­fore the meeting starts, so as to give a wel­come appearance. And if the doors are left open during the lecture, a crowd will gather both outside and inside. When the meeting place is given a dignified appearance, there is less likelihood of a disturbance.

Let it be remembered, above all, that much prayer and an abundance of hard work are required to carry forward successfully the work in new fields.

 

By Louis B. REYNOLDS, Intern-Evangelist, Sedalia, Missouri

April 1938

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