Men have never discovered anything that equals prayer for securing an audience. It is the master method, and the Master's method. When Jesus prayed all night, throngs eagerly sought Him the next day. And when Ezra "had prayed, . . . weeping, . . . there assembled . . . a very great congregation of men and women and children." Ezra 10:1. Prayer and tears! Two of the most powerful and yet most simple instrumentalities ever known or employed by men. By these, humble ministers down through the ages have lured the lost from every walk of life.
Of course this is an expensive way of enticing the crowds. However, its cost is not in dollars and cents, but in brawn and brain and blood. God needs men today who are willing to be consumed, that His work may prosper. No minister can vitalize others without devitalizing himself. Merely saying prayers, or even praying in the ordinary sense; will not do. It is too cheap. The plea of "Give me or I die" is always expensive. But it will melt frozen glaciers of human wicked-. ness, and turn men's steps toward God.
Conference officials have never sought to limit this sort of expense. Luring the multi" tude in this costly way may eventually mean martyrdom to the man who is willing to pay the price. But what if it does? The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church. And seed is becoming scarce these days. The world stones the man it cannot answer. But killing God's workmen never stops God's work.
We are saying nothing against appropriate advertising. Cards, handbills, folders, posters, press publicity, slides, and other devices, all have a legitimate place in securing an audience. In our limited experience, we have tried them all, and have found them more or less successful, but not the most successful. ,
An evangelist of the Lord should never advertise himself too highly. This is deadly to real power. He should not tell the people what a wonderful man he is, but rather tell them what a wonderful God he serves. Neither should he be concerned over his popularity. He ought not to advertise anything he cannot deliver. His preaching must be better than his proclamation. To disappoint an audience is nothing less than a tragedy.
Some evangelists are like small stores, which put about all the goods they have in the show window. Remember that little sermons get little audiences.
The class of people drawn by the evangelist may depend somewhat upon the nature of the advertising used. Notoriety is not alwayg, publicity. The brass-band-and-flaring-trumpet kind of publicity may bring those who mostly want the "sounding brass-and-tinkling-cymbal" kind of preaching. On the other hand, modest, dignified, spiritual announcements, coupled' with fervent prayer, will draw the class of - people that will make good, loyal Seventh-day Adventists. Think this over,
Let us illustrate this matter. Observe the class of people who flock to hear the "tongues" preacher who is nimble of talk, but narrow in teaching; and whose services are mainly noise and nonsense. Then, on the other hand, think of our own noble pioneer ministers, with old tents, no song leaders, no choir, no acl, vertisements. God's promise was fulfilled to them when He said, "I will make My words in thy mouth fire, . . . and it shall devour them." Jer. 5:14. In a few weeks stanch companies of rugged Seventh-day Adventists were organized, monuments of God's power to save.
From a human standpoint John the Baptist chose a very poor location for an evangelistic effort. But with the power of God upon him, and a voice like a silver trumpet, his words were compelling. He laid the ax at the root of the tree. All classes, all trades, on foot and mounted, came from every direction and literally thronged the banks of faraway Jordan. Men of the crowds went to hear the man of the desert. Arid what John was, was as effective in assembling the people as what he said.
John's preaching was with such power that "tidings of the wilderness prophet . . . was told in the carpenter shop that had been Joseph's, and One recognized the call."—"The Desire of Ages," p. 109. However, when interviewed by the priests and Levites as to who he was, the disciple humbly replied, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness."
In preaching Jesus up, John preached himself clown. And we can do-- no better. An old saintly soul winner always styled himself "the shepherd dog of the Lord."
Years ago a certain minister was pastor of a large city church. He had served there for several years, and had given the people the very best he had. The 'Lord had blessed his efforts, but he longed to lead the flock on to still higher ground, and to a still deeper consecration. He attended, a General Conference at this juncture. He received some special help, but he was not satisfied. Still seeking and praying, he boarded the train for home. Opening his Bible, he read 1 Corinthians 13. Then he read it again and again, finally committing the whole chapter to memory. Here was what he had been longing for, and just the help needed for the flock back home. Having to stop overnight on business in a certain city, and arriving there, in early evening, he went immediately to ,a hotel. For devotion he began reading the book of Matthew. Finishing this. Gospel, he then knelt in prayer. He read Mark, then prayed again. This was followed by a .reading of Luke, and another prayer.. Then the Gospel of John was perused in the same, manner.
The happy hours slipped quickly away. Midnight came and went, as the reading and praying continued. Man was talking to God, and God was speaking to the man. Acts and Romans were read, with prayer after each book. Then, beginning First Corinthians once more, he read to the thirteenth chapter, closed the old Book, and prayed again. He looked out the window. Light was just breaking in the eastern sky; and great light and power had just broken in upon the soul of that preacher, too. What a glorious night it had been!
He has often wondered what the hotel maid thought as she came that morning to room No. 15o and found the 'bedcovers not even turned down: All business was forgotten as he joyfully journeyed homeward. At last he had found the help he most needed. This experience was so sacred to him, that it was never told to the church members. But some way they well knew that God had done great things for their pastor, and they were deeply stirred. Heaven seemed to come down to earth. The attendance at every service grew rapidly. Funds increased. Strangers were drawn into the services, and backsliders returned home. Never before had the old church had such an experience. Men were fed with manna, gathered on the knees during those luminous night hours in Room 15o. The attendance problem was solved, preaching became a pleasure, and wonderful results followed. This is a method well worth trying by every preacher of the gospel.
