Almost every State in the country was represented at an important conference on evangelism held at Winona Lake, Indiana, July 15 through July 21. Representatives of many religious groups were to be found among the five hundred or more ministers and evangelists gathered at this famous conference center. But there were no denominational differences, discussions, or barriers. It seemed to be the passionate desire of all present that there at Winona Lake a fire of evangelism might be started that would turn America back to God.
It was my privilege, in company with J. L. Shuler, of the Theological Seminary, to attend this conference. All who were present at these meetings received a mighty spiritual impact, which is certain to affect every sphere of their life and ministry. While the approach to, and understanding of, some doctrinal teachings was different from our viewpoint, yet one could but be impressed that these men had an all-embracing passion for Christ and a deep compassion for the souls of men.
Some of America's leading evangelists, men mightily .used of God, were present to give instruction and lead discussions on various phases of the evangelist's task. Among them were Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., founder and president of Bob Jones College and dean of American evangelists; J. H. Hankins ; John R. Rice ; Hyman Appelman, a converted Jewish lawyer who is said to be America's foremost evangelist today ; Jesse Hendley ; Robert Wells ; and Sam Morris, known to radio listeners as the Voice of Temperance.
Each morning, beginning at seven, these leaders, with vivid illustration, burning conviction, and challenging appeal, spoke on such topics as the following: A Passion for Souls; Preparing and Organizing for Revival ; The Biggest Hindrance to Revivals Today; The Only Person God Can Use for Revival; The Revival Harvest White Today ; The Evangelist as a Bible Teacher; The Kind of Preaching Needed; God's Plan for a Revival; A Visitation Program in Evangelism; The Place of Prayer in Revivals; Personal Work in Evangelism; How to Give the Invitation; What Conviction Is and How It Is Produced ; Conserving Results; The Results of Being Filled With the Spirit ; Clearing the Way for God.
Not much time was spent on the more mechanical aspects of evangelism, though the necessity of careful preparation and organization was stressed.
These men were convinced that preparatory work by church members in visitation, with suitable literature to prepare the ground, is absolutely essential today.
The main emphasis was upon the dynamic spiritual requirements. Said one speaker : "It takes more than advertising or singing or preaching to do the work God requires in these times. It takes weeping, agonizing Christians. . . . Every great soul winner has majored in two things—prayer and personal work. . . . One minute of real prayer is worth an hour of preaching." It was stated that during his great ministry Dwight L. Moody prayed with 75,000 people personally ! And indeed this whole conference was bathed in a spirit of prayer. The entire program was signalized by mighty intercessions. Some groups spent whole nights in prayer, seeking God's will and His power for service.
Hearts were broken with visions of the plight of a lost world. Underlining the clamant need of evangelism, one speaker mentioned that 6o,coo churches in America did not have a single convert in 1943. Today, with a lifeless, slumbering, powerless church, we need a revival to cleanse the blood stream of the nation. Speaking from Luke10:1-3, Dr. John Rice declared:
"The Lord says the trouble is not with the field, with the harvest, but with the laborers. It is the right kind of laborers that are few. The harvest was ripe in Jonah's day. But God had a bigger job getting the preacher right than He did getting a great city converted. The trouble today is often with us preachers. We talk about hard fields and hard times, and often this talk is just an alibi for our powerlessness and prayerlessness. God is going to do great things if He can get men who have the anointing of God upon them, men who have the Elijah fire."
Definite study was given to the conditions and spiritual needs of postwar days. A tremendous responsibility was felt for the returning millions of our armed forces. What a chance and a challenge for evangelists ! Thousands of these boys will return steadied and deeply impressed. They have been through experiences on the battlefield which have brought them face to face with the solemn realities of life and death. Now, thankful for deliverance, they are prepared to be helped spiritually. Never again in their lifetime will they be so susceptible to God's truth. What an opportunity! Brethren of the Adventist ministry, let us see to it that this challenge is accepted and this opportunity improved with all the power at our command!
The writer of that famous hymn "The Old Rugged Cross" was present at this conference. It was indeed a privilege to chat with George Bennard and hear a recital of some of the miracles wrought through the world-wide ministry of this beloved gospel song.
This conference would have been eminently worthwhile if only for three outstanding messages that were given on the need for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The first emphasized the thought that Jesus, our pattern, did not win a soul, heal the sick, raise the dead, or engage in preaching ministry until He was anointed by the Spirit; yet we rush into service without that anointing and wonder why we fail. We try to do God's business without God's power. We have too often substituted campaigns for consecration, pep for power, and human inspiration for the Spirit's infilling.
The second message stressed the command of Ephesians 5:18, "Be filled with the Spirit," as being a command as definite as any of the ten commandments. Though the Holy Spirit operates in the heart at the time of conversion, it is only when He gets such absolute control as to completely dominate the life that the infilling takes place.
Long shall we remember the closing day of the conference when hundreds were at the altar, their faces wet with tears, seeking the assurance of personal victory over sin. It was a most moving scene as, without any trace of fanaticism or emotionalism, these Christian workers claimed the Spirit's power and placed themselves at His disposal in renewed consecration.
We in the advent movement have the Elijah message. We, of all people, should have the Elijah power. Yea, we must have it, or we fail.
"Refinement, education!
We want the very best.
Our plans and schemes seem perfect;
We give ourselves no rest.
We get the best of talent;
We try our uttermost;
But what we need, my brother,
Is God, the Holy Ghost.
"It is the Holy Spirit
That quickeneth the soul.
God will not take man worship
Nor bow to man's control.
No human innovation,
No skill or worldly art,
Can give a true repentance
Or break the sinner's heart.
"We may have human wisdom,
Grand singing, great success;
There may be fine equipment,
But these things do not bless.
God wants a pure, clean vessel,
Anointed lips and true—
A man filled with the Spirit,
To speak His message through."
May God forgive us for our cold, formal, mechanical service. May the atomic energy of the Holy Spirit's power blast us out of our lethargy and set us ablaze for Him.
