Outlines for Evangelistic Distribution

On the opening night of an evangelistic series of meetings, I call for an expres­sion of some kind—the lifting of hands for an interest in the closing prayer, or some­thing of a general nature—in which all can take part. This is followed up each night during the first week, the call being varied a little from night to night, in order that it will not grow monotonous.

At the close of the second Sunday night of the effort, I make an approach something like this : "How many of you have really enjoyed the messages from night to night during the past week ? May I see your hands ? Well, that's fine ! How many remember all the texts that were used during the past week ? All such, may I see your hands? Well, I didn't expect to see your hands lifted in regard to that question, but now I am going to ask you a question to which I believe I shall see every hand lifted."

Without any pause whatsoever, I place on the screen a slide that shows the full picture of the outline I have used that very evening. They see the subject, for example, "The Return of Jesus," as well as the sermon subdivisions :

1. The certainty of his coming.
2. The Manner of his coming.
3. The Purpose of his coming.
4. The Signs of his coming.
5. Conclusion and appeal.

They also see the texts which have been used. After thus showing the outline, I say:

''Now, how many would like to have these out­lines ? May I see your hands ? Surely this is won­derful. Every hand seems to be raised! Now I am going to make provision so that you can have them. Furthermore, I am going to make provision so that you can have them on loose-leaf notebook sheets such as I am holding in my hand, and then you can file them in your notebook just as I am do­ing here before you at this time (I here insert the outline in the notebook), and have them for future study.

"Who would like to have these loose-leaf sermon outlines for the past week—and now, listen !—not only for the past week, but for each night during the next several weeks to come? If you would, place your name and address on a piece of paper."

(At this juncture, either printed cards or plain paper is passed out. Paper is preferred, as it does not look so formal, and people are not so skeptical in regard to it.)

"While the closing song is being sung—we will ask the congregation to remain seated—place your name and address on this blank piece of paper and hand it to the ushers at once, and a notebook, in­cluding the outlines, will be sent you without obliga­tion whatsoever on your part. We will repeat this process each week for the next several weeks by taking just a few minutes each Sunday night to accommodate any others who desire this special privilege."

Inasmuch as we do not tell them how they are going to be sent, we are at liberty to pro­ceed as we wish. We put the outlines in the notebooks, up to date, and the workers go from home to home in the territory already districted. Thus I am doing as I promised, "sending" them the outlines for the sermons. By using this method I secured almost a thousand names in one effort. Having an outline to deliver pro­vided a good reason for a worker to call at the homes each week. Each worker encouraged the people to study the outlines with their Bibles, looking up the texts. The workers were encouraged also to draw out the pros­pective candidate, to find his degree of in­terest, and report at our next workers' meeting.

In this way a constant check was kept on the most interested people. If the interest died out, the outlines and calls were discon­tinued. A class was formed from the most interested people, which terminated in baptism for the honest in heart. Progressive deci­sions were constantly made, and finally the last five sets of outlines were on "Instructions for Baptismal Class." About sixty outlines were used in all.

The people sign only once for the outlines. The workers, by their weekly visits to the home, know their regularity or irregularity of attend­ance. I have found that the riffraff will sign anything and everything you place in their hands, but constantly signing something is rather repulsive to the more intelligent class.

The outlines do not take the place of all other literature. They serve three purposes : First, as a means of getting names; second, as a means of providing the same texts and thoughts, so that people can keep the line of thought well in mind ; third, as a reason for calling weekly at the home to visit, check up on the interest, and give studies where ad­visable. Wherever it is considered expedient, additional literature, like Present Truth, is given on such studies as the interested need.