Open-Air evangelism has always held a definite place in the program of soul winning. In every age of the Christian church there have been those who have taken very literally the injunction of Christ to go out into the highways and byways and compel men to come into the kingdom. The Lord Himself did most of His work in the streets and lanes and open fields of Palestine. In training the apostles to carry the good tidings of salvation, He laid down as one of the very clear principles of His soul-winning program the preaching of the gospel to the passing multitudes. The Christian church was born in an atmosphere of open-air evangelism. It was when they lost the true significance of the church and fell away from the truth, that they felt under compulsion to build huge edifices for worship to the neglect of this vigorous program of evangelism.
When the reformers came with their clear-cut message, they were often found in the fields and in the streets, pressing God's claims upon the multitudes. In fact, history furnishes no more thrilling story than the record of these Spirit-filled men, whose eagerness to bring men to the kingdom of God urged them in many cases to leave the pulpits of their forefathers and go out and uplift Christ to the masses. George Whitefield and the Wesleys were noble examples of this kind of evangelism, and since that time thousands of others have followed their example.
Spurgeon, while preaching to the largest congregations in England, also went out into the open air that he might unfold the treasures of truth to the multitudes, many of whom would never go to a house of worship. He said he did it for his own soul's sake, as well as for the sake of the lost. We are able to contact men of all types in this method of evangelism, and some of the finest converts we have won to the message have been found right in such meetings. We have found this method most successful in such cities as London and New York, and smaller cities may be worked with the same gratifying results.
Four years ago we organized the "King's Crusaders" at La Sierra College, and now another branch has been organized at Washington Missionary College. Here at the nation's capital we are finding an excellent avenue of service in some of the parks and crowded thoroughfares.
There is no finer avenue of service and no better field of training for student preachers. To meet the challenge of the unbeliever, to grip him and hold him, and at last win him to the kingdom, is a joy that must be experienced to be realized. Open-air evangelism provides such opportunity. The King's Crusaders, as these open-air preachers are known, are comprised mainly of junior and senior theological students, and enthusiasm for this work is not wanting. Those who have already tasted the joys of this work are eager to continue. At one of the Sunday night meetings a preliminary service is regularly held in the street,. and a good interest is being thus developed.
As we enter the closing scenes of this world's history, a definite message is to go with a power that is to enlighten the whole world. We may well long for the day when the moving multitudes in the great cities of earth will hear the clear call of God in a ministry of open-air evangelism, which will, we believe, hasten the outpouring of the Spirit of God. For such an hour as this, we must be preparing.
In subsequent issues of the Ministry we plan to outline some of the technique which will ensure success in this interesting field of endeavor. Watch for these items.
R. ALLAN ANDERSON.
