The literature ministry is to be closely associated with the work of public evangelism. Really, it is a vital part of our appeal to those who are learning their way into the truth of God. That which the preacher declares from the platform is remembered to some degree by those hearing the message, but when the individual reads the same truths in a tract or book, the impression received in the public assembly is deepened. Many years ago this counsel came from the Lord:
"In every effort such as you are now making, much more good would result from your labors if you had appropriate reading matter ready for circulation. Tracts upon the important points of truth for the present time should be handed out freely to all who will accept them."—Life Sketches, p. 216.
For years we have been seeking to carry out this God-given instruction to some degree at least, and wonderful results have followed. Whether we have done all we should is another question. However, it is a fact that where this counsel has been followed, souls have been won to the truth. One would naturally conclude that if we did more of this type of work, even larger results would be seen.
This counsel is for literature used directly in connection with public efforts, so as to fasten the truths in the minds of the hearers. Another aspect of the question is the distribution of tracts before an effort begins, with a view to preparing the ground for such a public appeal. The Testimonies give this instruction on the circulation of these messengers of truth :
"God has placed at the command of His people advantages in the press, which, combined with other agencies, will be successful in extending the knowledge of the truth. Tracts, papers, and books, as the case demands, should be circulated in all the cities and villages in the land. Here is missionary work for all.
"There should be men trained for this branch of the work who will be missionaries, and will circulate publications. . . .
"Very much more can be accomplished by the living preacher with the circulation of papers and tracts than by the preaching of the Word alone without the publications. The press is a powerful instrumentality which
God has ordained to be combined with the energies of the living preacher to bring the truth before all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. Many minds can be reached in no other way."—Id., p. 217.
In an endeavor to strengthen the evangelistic work in the Caribbean Union territory, we are seeking to bring about a closer_co-ordination of the work of our church members and that of our evangelists. Arrangements are being made to conduct between thirty and thirty-six special evangelistic campaigns during the latter half of this year. Some of these will be fairly large, at least for this territory; others, however, will be of a smaller character. In any case, it is our purpose to follow the same procedure with them all, especially as the special efforts are to be held in areas where we have churches or groups of believers.
The plan provides that during the month of July a special tract campaign will be put into operation. Two tracts have already been prepared for this purpose—one on the "Second Advent of Jesus" and the other on the "Signs of the Times." We purpose using two others also, so that altogether there will be four in the series.
It is our plan, in using these tracts, to cover the entire area we expect to reach in the evanaelistic effort. This area will be charted and divided into sections. Church members will be chosen to go by twos to these sections. The plan will be to cover the entire area with the first tract in one week. The homes visited will be noted, and any from which there is no response will receive the first tract the following week. Week after week this plan will be followed with the other tracts in the series. As the visiting progresses, interests will undoubtedly develop, and these will be noted and reported to the evangelist. This information will be kept in the usual way in a card index file.
On the back page of the tracts, particularly the third and fourth of the series, it is planned to give information concerning the series of evangelistic meetings to be held. The address and time of the meetings will be announced. Wherever it is possible to make contact with the people in their homes on the occasion of these visits, personal invitations to the meetings will be (riven at the time the third and fourth tracts of the series are distributed.
It is hoped that in this way we shall be able to build up a goodly list of interested people even before the meetings begin. In many of these islands the coming of the Lord makes a strong appeal, and we hope to capitalize on this fact in these series of evangelistic meetings. We hope this plan will interest our own church members more deeply in the evangelistic campaigns, and we are laying plans to draw from the church members a few of the brethren who may be able to conduct cottage meetings, and a few sisters who may be able to give simple Bible readings.
