The radio provides an instrument designed of God to broadcast our message effectively in these last days. Foreseeing that -the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few," God has helped man in harnessing the ether waves to hasten the third angel's message to every nook and corner of our world. Twenty-five years ago our evangelists felt that they were doing well if they could speak to a thousand people at one time. Today, by radio, we may have an audience of from fifty to a hundred thousand over a local hookup. Over a national network we may speak to the nation and the world. By such efforts, properly financed, and with plenty of free literature, we may soon have thousands of interested people listening to present truth, and if we keep in touch with these interested ones, and follow up this interest, many of them can be won to the message.
Hundreds of small cities and towns and many large rural sections have heard part or all of the message. But the great majority, of the people in these isolated sections have never seen a Seventh-day Adventist worker. At our present pace, it would take us a long time to take the message to the various towns and hamlets. But a district leader may now step to a microphone and address twenty-five or more counties at one time over his local radio station. Even in cities in which we have large churches, we may reach people by radio who would never attend our meetings. Shut-ins, certain business people, and Catholics (who are not permitted to attend Protestant meetings), may sit in their homes and listen to our message for this time. Thirty years ago this was impossible. Truly, this use of the radio is a blessing !
Advertising the Radio Effort
There are many and varied ways of getting the public ear—some good, and some questionable. Let us consider four reliable ways of advertising a radio program.
1. Local Newspaper. —Representative church members can induce their local editor to advertise the broadcasts in the newspapers. The evangelist should furnish the article.
2. Handbills and Posters.—Distributing handbills from house to house is doubtless the most effective method, but this costs both time and money.
3. Personal Invitations.—The scattered members can interest many families by wisely suggesting that they listen to the "Voice of Present Truth," or the "Bible School of the Air" at a certain time. Members should be can-
tioned not to mention denominational names or differences in doctrine.
4. Rio Talk Itself.—If the radio talk is on God's message for this time, the God of that message will interest His children scattered abroad. If the messenger himself is thoroughly endued with the message, interest will develop. The evangelist should stress the fact that the greatest movement of the age is not the English versus the Germans ; not the Greeks versus the Italians ; not the movements of the nominal churches and the nations ; but the onward march of this great movement toward its goal of world evangelization. An invitation may be extended to the listeners to join this movement, -stating that we are already working with more than 800 languages and dialects. When people hear of this last-day "wheel-within-a-wheel" movement, they will have something to talk about, and the radio program will thus be advertised.
Some say we should present only the general phases of the message over the radio, since such subjects as the Sabbath will not be allowed on the air. However, if the Sabbath is to be presented in a fuller way as we near the end, will not the radio doubtless be one of the mediums for this purpose?
Presenting Testing Truths Over Radio
The question arises, How can we present the testing truths for this time over the radio ? We are to "adorn" (Titus 2:10) the weightier doctrines with the gospel flowers. But we should not let the beautiful things of the gospel hide the real kernel of our warning message. Of course, we must study how to proceed cautiously and wisely. In presenting the Sabbath, for example, make it clear that it is found in the four Gospels and in the books of Acts and Revelation. Tell how Jesus and the early church kept it. Keep the example of Jesus and Paul constantly before the radio audience. Show from the New Testament :
I. In all four Gospels the Sabbath is the day just before the first day of the week.
2. The Holy Spirit led Jesus and the New Testament Christians to keep the Sabbath. (Luke 4 :1, 14-22; Rev. :to.)
3. Gospel writers persisted in calling it "the Sabbath day" from ID A. D. to 95 A. D.
4. In the book of Acts (this side of the cross) there are eighty-four references to Sabbathkeeping.
5. Grace and Sabbath observance go together. (Acts 13 ; Luke 4 :1, 14-22.)
6. Soul winning and Sabbath observance go hand in hand in the book of Acts.
7. The Sabbath was the assembly day for New Testament Christians. They came together to worship and hear the word of God. (Acts 13:42-44.) Christ was the theme in all those Sabbath meetings.
8. The men and women of Pentecost kept the Sabbath.
In every talk stress the importance of following Jesus and the New Testament. In tactfully presenting the change of the Sabbath, let religious authorities present the proof. It is not necessary to say anything against the mother church or her daughters. Just show that the prophecy of Daniel 7:25 states that a power would think to change a command of God that has to do with "time." Without much comment, quote Protestant and Catholic authorities to show who did it.
In touching upon the mark of the beast read from the Bible that the beast is to be a religious power seeking worship. Who is it ? Here let Father Enright tell the audience what Protestants call the Catholic Church. Along with this Catholic writer, quote a few Protestant authorities, and the beast will be located without the evangelist himself saying anything. It would be well to stress the fact that you have no quarrel with any church—that you are only quoting prophecy and history to establish who the beast is.
In answering the question as to what the "mark" is, read from the Bible what God's seal, or mark, is. Then let Catholic authorities inform the listeners about "their day"—their "mark of authority" in religious matters. Moderate things a bit with Doctor Hiscox's statement about what a pity it is that Sunday comes down to us with a "mark." Then tell them that they may receive a free tract telling much more on the subject. Here not only urge them to send for free literature on the power of apostasy, but stress the desirability of a personal visit from the speaker. Impress upon them that eternal life is involved, and that a postcard invitation will bring the radio evangelist right into their homes.
A file should be kept of all letters received and requests for free literature. It is also a good plan to keep a separate list of all persons who have accepted the Sabbath and other phases of the message. After the testing truths have been presented, a questionnaire may be sent out to all interested listeners. This questionnaire should cover all the vital points of the message, but should be brief and to the point. Quote Matthew 4:19 to 22 in the questionnaire. and state that in view of the seriousness of the times, all should act immediately in following the New Testament. Assure these interested people that it would be a real pleasure on your part to call personally at their homes and help them with any Bible questions they do not understand.
The fact that a minister is a radio speaker gives him more prestige with, the people. Most people, if not prejudiced, would consider it an honor to have a radio evangelist visit their homes. Families who have been won to the truth may be of great assistance in helping find other interested people who would throw open their homes to the evangelist and God's message. When visiting these homes, be like Joseph Bates of old—stay with them and take up point after point of the message until they say "yes" to the whole truth.
