The enabling command to proclaim the glorious truths of the gospel was given to men who had no money, no political position, no wealth, no worldly greatness, no newspapers, and no radio. But they had the one thing needful—the divine presence of the living Christ. On His way to the heavenly throne to be honored by angels, principalities, and powers, our Saviour paused to give to His disciples the blessed truth that He was by their side as they went forth to proclaim His precious truth to the world. And He fulfilled that promise to them in a wonderful way as they preached the gospel to the Roman world in that generation.
Happily, this same promise applies to the messengers of the everlasting covenant today as they go forth to proclaim the last message of mercy to a world in the throes of death.
Christ's promise, is, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," and that promise comes ringing down through the ages today, as the message proclaiming the judgment hour wings on to certain victory. The three angels flying in the midst of heaven well represent. the work of the message today. In the radio work the message is literally flying through the air.
When we opened up our radio campaign here in Bradford, our conference president made certain valuable suggestions concerning the radio work, which we have found very helpful. They are as follows :
I. It must be different. There are many interesting religious programs on the air, and if this broadcast is-simply another voice added to the many now to be heard over the air on religious themes, it will fail to be distinctive. It will be the ordinary, commonplace religious broadcast, and, therefore, will attract scant attention, because it is a new voice, and is not known to listeners.
2. It must be distinctive. Surely speakers who have a great message can meet this requirement.
3. It must supply information eagerly sought but not given in other broadcasts. Only those who have the true message for the time can give this information.
4. It must answer questions that trace their origin to present world conditions. The world is groping in darkness, and many are eagerly seeking for light, as the clouds of war and sorrow hang low upon the horizon. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy ; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts." 2 Peter I :19.
5. It must bring conviction to the listeners that God has a message for this hour, and that He has chosen messengers who are declaring- that message.
We have tried to follow these suggestions in our work in Bradford, and they have proved to be successful. We have conducted a Bible school over the air, and have a fine class of students taking the lessons. Some have already been baptized, and many others will soon follow.
There opens before us the vista of a great work, with hundreds of souls saved, at very little expense, for the radio can be made practically self-supporting. This message is a personal message, our work is a personal work, and the radio brings us into the homes, by the firesides of the people.
The minister of a certain church called on a family of wealthy farmers in his community who were regular listeners to our program. They asked him many questions which he could not answer. Finally he said to the wife, "If you aren't careful, I'm afraid you will be a Seventh-day Adventist." She answered, "I am afraid I will, for I have never understood the Bible as I have since I have been taking these lessons." This experience could be multiplied many times.
Through the radio, we not only enter the individual's home, but also open the way to his heart for the message of mercy that will save him in the kingdom of God.