Here is a real contribution in the field of effective evangelistic teamwork. Through continuity of united group effort, a form of balanced efficient company evangelism has been perfected by Evangelist Richards and his associates. Division of responsibility and breadth of endeavor characterize this Plan that has resulted in coordinated strength. Extensive literature distribution, strong radio work, effective Bible worker study lectures, thorough instruction of baptismal candidates, and an impressive development of attractive and efficient physical facilities (tent, flooring, heating, bookstand, baptistery, etc.) have resulted. The survey that follows, solicited after a personal visit to Sacramento, should be an encouragement and stimulus to all evangelists. Never has this editor seen so attractive a tent cluster disguised in such a manner that it no longer seemed just a tent auditorium. Perfection of detail arrangement has resided in a most inviting place in which to hear God's message for the hour.—Editor.
Well-Balanced, Trained Groups
There is an important place for company evangelism in the work of the third angel's message. This is especially true in city work. In the company form of evangelism, varied gifts are available, and the impact of the campaign upon the city is multiplied. "In union there is strength." No one man can carry the burdens of a large city evangelistic campaign and do it justice. When one man tries to do everything, either the systematic development and care of the interest aroused by the meetings suffers, or the public presentation of the message suffers. And sometimes health is shattered in such attempts.
In our "Voice of Prophecy" evangelistic group, Elder Howard A. Curran, my associate in labor, has his responsible duties as treasurer, has full charge of all interest cards and files, and directs the visitation of the entire group of workers. This prevents lost motion, and enables us to throw our entire force into the fray at the crucial moment.
All workers, in their visitation, attempt to draw every interested person to "Pictured Truth," a preliminary picture service at seven o'clock each night, which is conducted by Mrs. Curran. Here we focus our interest toward the baptism sessions on Tuesday and Friday nights, beginning about the fifth week.
The city in which we work is divided up, and two workers are made responsible for the visitation of interested persons in each section. At each workers' meeting, reports are made on each section as names are called from the master file.
Each member of our King's Heralds quartet also has responsibilities in the campaign besides visitation. Robert Johnson is a typist. Vernon Stewart is an artist and also an expert carpenter. Wesley Crane and his wife have charge of the bookstand. Ray Turner is superintendent of the erection of tent studios, and also cares for the amplifying systems.
An adequate evangelistic company works more and more effectively together the longer it carries on as an unbroken group. Operating under this plan, everyone has a definite work to do, and lost motion is reduced to a minimum. If we really expect to evangelize the cities of North America, why do we not have many such strong companies constantly at work ? A strong campaign does not necessarily mean an expensive campaign, but a campaign conducted by a well-balanced, trained group, doing thorough and fruitful work.
Such an effort must, of course, have the sympathetic support of the local pastor and conference workers, or it should never start. A local conference cannot always afford to employ such a company, but if the group is organized on a regional, union, or a still wider basis, each local conference can support the group while it is working in its territory. This makes it possible for strong campaigns to be held even in the cities of numerically weak conferences.
The radio program which our company conducts is coming along well. In September we received $too a day from radio listeners, which increased each month up to December, and for that month we have just had the report that more than $5,2oo came in. Of course, December is Christmas month, and we do not expect to receive that much in January. But it shows that the people will respond if they have a chance.
H. M. S. RICHARDS. [Pacific Union Evangelist.]