Should the Bible instructor carry on regular Bible studies during the evangelistic effort, or will her work mainly consist of making contacts with the people and keeping them attending the meetings? There is much to be said on both sides.
If the Bible instructor has been working in a city, giving studies prior to the beginning of an effort, she will not want to lose contact with these interested ones. If her readers are able to attend the meetings, then she will have no difficulty in keeping in contact with them. But on the other hand, if readers are situated so that they cannot attend the meetings, or if they are well along in a series of studies, then the Bible instructor will need to continue the studies until the readers have been led to a decision. In this event her readers will then be ready for the first baptisni in the effort.
Whether or not the Bible instructor carries on regular Bible studies during the effort may be a question; however, she will endeavor to keep those on her calling list abreast of the public meetings. Her first call on those whose interest has been aroused by the effort will be short, and often she may not even enter the door. The object of this call is to inspire the people to keep coming to the tent or hall. So she will mention the topics to be considered by the evangelist each night of the current week and especially try to arouse an interest in "tonight's" subject.
At the evening meetings the Bible instructor will make it a point to greet and shake hands with those upon whom she had made her initial call, endeavoring as soon as possible to be able to call them by name. It will not be long before she will be invited into the home when she calls, and then she can really go to work: She will avoid asking Mrs. Blank, "How did you like the sermon?" But she will ask her whether the subject was clear and whether there are any questions in her mind regarding it.
The worker will answer questions and clear up any points that were not understood, but she will be careful not to answer questions on any subject not yet presented by the evangelist. If questions on future subjects are asked, she might answer, "That's a good question! No doubt there are many people wondering about that same thing. Why not put it in the question box? I believe I have a question card right here in my handbag. Would you like to write it out and drop it in the question box, so that the evangelist can answer it tonight?" Such questions give the evangelist an opportunity to arouse an interest in topics to be used in future meetings.
The worker will endeavor to keep each one she calls on interested in the progress of the meetings. Unless she does this, it will require much more time and effort later on to bring these persons to a decision. She will help Mrs. Blank to take her stand on each point as it is presented. If she does this, it will not be hard for her to make her decision on the Sabbath and other testing truths of the message.
If Mrs. Blank, who has been attending each night, is absent one evening, let her know that you missed her, and tell hey how sorry you are that she did not hear that interesting lecture. Make her realize what she has missed. For example, you might say, "I am so sorry that you had to miss that sermon on heaven. It was one of the most interesting lectures that Evangelist Green has given. He showed us where the redeemed will spend eternity and that we shall be real people in a real world. Why, did you know that we are going to have a mansion in that holy city and that we're going to have a home in the country, too? We are going to build our own homes in the country, and we are going to raise our own gardens, too. Oh, I wish you could have heard it."
Help for Those Who Missed Meetings
By this time, because of your enthusiasm, Mrs. Blank is sorry that she did not come to that meeting. You may continue, "It is too bad to have to miss a single meeting. It is like breaking a link in a chain. No doubt you have noticed that one subject is closely related to the others, and when you miss one topic, you have lost a link. By the way, Mrs. Blank, if ' you wish, perhaps I could give you just a few of the high lights of what Evangelist Green said, so that you will understand it."
Your reader will feel that it would be asking too much of you, but she surely would appreciate it, if you have time. So you proceed to give her a short Bible study on the subject.
Mrs. Blank now agrees that what Miss Bible Instructor told her was very interesting—and if this is a taste of the good things presented, then the lecture must have been wonderful. While Mrs. Blank is sorry that she missed that meeting, she is now determined that she will not miss another of the series. In this way the Bible instructor can do her part in helping Mrs. Blank to pick up the lost thread of topic interest, and at the same time keep her coming to the meetings. Of course, this should not be done if the individual attends the meetings only occasionally, as some do, because there would then be too much to cover in Bible studies. Such interest should be handled by the Bible instructor, who would give a series of Progressive Bible studies of her own.
The worker must constantly keep her finger on the pulse of those on her calling list, watching their development and counteracting any influence which might tend to detract from their interest. Especially is this true when the Sabbath is presented. She will know when Mrs. Blank is troubled over the Sabbath and will help her in making the right decision. Turn to the book Gospel Workers again and read: "My brethren and sisters, in your ministry come close to the people."—Page 37. "Many a laborer fails in his work because he does not come close to those who most need his help." —Page 190.
Since the Bible instructor knows that Mrs. Blank is deeply concerned over the Sabbath, she drops in, between her regular calls, when in that neighborhbod. She says, "I was just passing by, Mrs. Blank, and thought I would drop in a moment and see how you are." Only a friend "drops in" when passing by; hence, the bond between Mrs. Blank and Miss Bible Instructor is strengthened. They become friends, and Mrs. Blank will naturally turn to this friend when she needs help and counsel in making her full decision.
Perhaps Mrs. Blank's minister has been to see her, or one of the members of her family has been trying to overthrow the Sabbath truth. By "dropping around" between calls, the worker has the opportunity to counteract this influence before it has time to get a foothold. She can instantly detect a change in Mrs. Blank's attitude, and it is not long before she can find out in a tactful way where the trouble lies. She can then help remedy the difficulty, and again Mrs. Blank is in harmony with the message.
At the proper time the Bible instructor should invite the evangelist to visit Mrs. Blank. After all, no one can help Mrs. Blank to make a decision better than the evangelist who first aroused her interest.
After the Sabbath is presented and the people are invited to attend Sabbath services in the tent or hall, the Bible instructor will make it a point to drop in and see Mrs. Blank near the close of the week, preferably on Friday. "I brought you a Sabbath School Quarterly, Mrs. Blank, on the lessons we are studying in our Bible school. I thought you might like to look it over, so that you will be familiar with it." This gives the worker an opportunity to urge Mrs. Blank to attend the Sabbath services. Such a, personal invitation is often effective. When Mrs. Blank comes to the Sabbath service, greet her and make her feel at home. If possible, sit with her during her first Sabbath service, so she will not feel alone. At the close of the service, introduce her to some of the church members. See to it that she enjoys the "service so much that she will want to come again.
Throughout the series of meetings the worker carries these interested ones on her heart. She prays for them by name in her private devotions, as well as in the workers' meetings. She must also pray with and for them when they are in the valley of decision.
The Bible instructor is just the "tool" which the Lord uses to cultivate the soil in which the evangelist has planted the seed. But only God can cause the plant to bear fruit. Only He can change the heart; only He can lead this soul to a decision. If the worker will stay close to this source of all power, if she is willing to be a tool in the hand of God, then God can use her effectively to bring souls to Christ.
