Whether one is a local pastor beginning a " series of meetings, or an evangelist who has been invited in to conduct a campaign, he faces the problem of organizing the church for the proposed paign. The simplest and yet most thorough method of solving the organization problem, I have found, is the use of a mimeographed information sheet.
One or two Sabbaths before the opening meeting it is well to preach a rallying sermon, building up the interest and the spirit of the church toward the meetings soon to start. This sermon should indeed be spiritual. It should include an appeal and should serve to rally the support of the members to the respective fields of evangelistic service—handbill distribution, ushering, choir singing, telephoning, etc.
The most effective way that I have found of presenting the importance of these lines of service is to include in the sermon one or more actual experiences of conversion resulting from various types of endeavor. Conversions have resulted from a handbill; surrenders have been settled by a hymn; decisions have been made because people have been impressed with the sincerity of the ushers; whole families are now faithful church workers, brought to the opening service through an anonymous telephone invitation; etc.
At the close of the sermon, needless to say, the speaker will make a consecration call, asking the members to lay all on the altar of sacrifice, more fully to prepare the way for the working of the Spirit of God in the city.
After the altar call, when the people have returned to their seats, you add, "And now we have about ten minutes of very important items to care for—matters which are of extreme importance in preparation for the opening service. I hope not one of you will have to leave. Please bear with us these few minutes as the ushers pass out these blanks. Just hold them a moment, and we will go over them together." (Text of blank shown in column I, and telephone announcement below.— EDITOR.)
Remarks Made Regarding the Blank
"I hope EVERY person here today will, without fail, fill out one of these blanks. I do hope not one will neglect this, please ! All right, let us go down through these items together :
"I. Will you pray daily for the meetings? I feel certain every individual here will be willing to write 'Yes' in that blank. Now we wish to form a prayer circle throughout the day, so we can know that someone is praying for the meetings every hour of the day. Which hour best fits your daily program? Mark that down in the space provided, please.
"2. How many nights will you endeavor to attend? I find that many of our members like to-set a goal for themselves of attending two, four, or five nights a week. How many nights will you endeavor to attend each week?
"3. And next, Will you endeavor to bring out at least one friend each week? Certainly that is not asking too much. Surely, as we approach the very borders of eternity, that is not too high a goal to set. Will you not write 'Yes' in that blank and ask God to help you bring out at least one friend a week?
"4. Will you help in the choir? Now, friend, we are not calling merely for professional singers or church choir members. This is an evangelistic choir, and we want every one of you to help in the choir who can sing at all. The larger our choir, the more representative it will be of our great message. Now, won't you be willing to serve? The first practice will be here in the church at five this afternoon, and we hope so much to have a large choir. I do hope that everyone who can sing at all will be willing to serve in the choir. As you check this item, please put down which part you prefer to sing. If you are uncertain, leave that last space blank.
"5. Now for those men who are willing to help in the ushering. We want all the men who are not singing in the choir to check this, for we need plenty of help in ushering and greeting the people. We plan for the ushering to be dignified and well organized. Men, please give us the assurance that you will be willing to serve as an usher if needed. Thank you.
"6. And now, ladies, how many of you are willing to help in the nursery? We want all who are willing to assist in the nursery to check this. Two ladies will be in charge, but we want a list of others who will be willing to help if needed.
"7. Use my telephone to invite others to the meetings. Are you who are fortunate enough to have telephones willing to use them in calling names on assigned pages in the directory? Surely it is a good plan to use your telephone in missionary service. We are furnishing a sample which you may use as a guide in your telephoning." (See page 7. On the next Sabbath hand a slip to each of those volunteering to telephone, telling them which pages of the directory they are to cover. Also advise them to call residence numbers only.)
"8. And now we come to the most difficult item on the list, and yet one of the most important and effective—passing out handbills. I know that it is not easy to go out week after week, rain or snow, or sunshine, with one hundred or two hundred handbills. It is hard work. But how much this means in bringing people out to the services ! We need every person in the audience to help in this great endeavor, and if all will lift, it will not make a heavy load for any one person. I hope that every one of you will give us your support. This particular field of missionary work will show in a concrete way how genuine your interest is in this campaign. Now, how many of you are willing to pass out handbills weekly? Will you please stand, all of you? Yes, choir members too—everybody. That is fine.
"And now, how many announcements will you try to be responsible for each week ? Designate the number. Also tell us whether you prefer territory near your home, or would you be willing to work an assigned territory in another part of town ?"
[From the information on these blanks you will be able to perfect the territory organization by the next Sabbath.]
"9. Please note which newspaper you read. It will help us in determining the advertising strength of your local papers.
"10. Which is your favorite radio station? We need this information in case we are able to obtain time on the air.
"Now please put down your name, address, and telephone number, and the ushers will collect the slips. You may keep the telephone announcement to use next week end. Tear off the blank at the bottom for listing backsliders and interests. If you do not have these names and addresses today, try to get. them this week, for certain, and turn them in to me next Sabbath." [Our next discussion covers the care of these names.]
Then follows a word of appreciation for the warm and loyal response of the audience, just before the benediction. This leaves the audience in a co-operative spirit—a spirit so essential to the success of your meetings, as "workers together with Him."
Elder Detamore's method of approach to backsliders will be covered in a forthcoming issue, and the text of the card he uses in this connection will be given at that time.—EDITOR
