A good song leader, with a longing to see people give their hearts to God, is what many an evangelist is looking for to team up with him. We could name several such teams which have done a mighty work for God and are still doing great things for Him.
We are all aware of the important part the song leader plays in these teams. But what we are most interested in, in this discussion, is the question many of our young men are asking—What can I do, as an evangelistic helper, to make the mechanics of our team run more smoothly in the work of the Lord?
Let us take inventory and ask, What do I do besides sing? What can I do besides sing? What are my talents ? Do not bury them. Just because we are singing evangelists now is surely no reason for us to limit our growth and development along other lines of work.
Do you enjoy writing? What a grand and useful talent ! Just think of the many ways you can help in an evangelistic meeting, by writing reports for the union papers, also reports and advertisements for the public press. What minister does not appreciate having someone else assist him in this feature? Then there are the spot announcements on the radio. If you are a writer and enjoy that type of work, you no doubt can think of a great many other ways in which you could increase your usefulness in this field.
Closely allied to the advertising is the printing. If you have never used a printing press but have mechanical abilities, you may be able to learn to operate one. I visited a very good friend of mine recently, an evangelist in Texas, who had purchased a small flat-bed automatic cylinder press. He was enthusiastic about his press, not only because of the economy, but also because he could get the style and type of printing he wanted. The work I saw was as good as, or better than, the usual run of printing turned out by the jobber.
Another way in which the song leader can assist is with the public-address system. What "sorry" sounds often come from the larger percentage of these amplifiers in evangelistic efforts. The main trouble seems to be in the adjustments. The result is hardly ever soft enough, usually too loud and metallic. It is seldom just right.
The minister, thinking his voice too high pitched, wants to have it flattered by accentuating the bass. In doing this, on most amplifiers, the high frequencies are sacrificed, giving the voice a thick, Mushy, unnatural sound. Then when some of the listeners complain of not being able to understand, the volume is turned up, and we have all heard the results. If the song leader could listen to the evangelist, then tone the amplifier so that his voice sounds as natural as possible from the rear of the hall or tent, I think the greater part of the trouble would be overcome. This can only be done of course, if the amplifier is of fairly good quality.
These are merely suggestions to start us thinking. You, no doubt, can think of many more than I can, especially in fields in which you are most interested. It might be in carpentry, electricity, painting, holding Bible studies, or in meeting people and making contacts.
We could go on, but perhaps the suggestions offered may be of help to some singing evangelist just starting out. SurelY he should be doing something more than merely singing. What do you do besides sing?
