When opening an evangelistic campaign in any place, it should be the purpose of the evangelist to bring the important message we have for a lost world before as many people as possible. Even in sections where the evangelist has encountered little or no prejudice, it remains a fact that only a very small percentage of the population ever hear. Yet all must be warned. All must have a knowledge of the truth for this time.
How to bring the message to all the people in the section where the campaign is conducted should have serious study. While the use of an attractive handbill is valuable, in that it announces that meetings are being conducted, it does nothing more. Its value is short lived, and it is expensive. The name of the speaker, the place and time of meeting, the title of the lecture or sermon, are about the only things the handbill tells. Ho vir many people who receive these weekly announcements know what we really preach ? Stories quickly circulate about any evangelist and his message ; thus many individuals never come out to hear him. How much better it would be if they could receive firsthand information about the meetings conducted, and the important phases of the last warning message for the world.
In devising the Prophecy Speaks News, I had to consider these factors. Such a newssheet can be used successfully regardless of the size of the evangelistic company. In most efforts held in small towns the evangelist generally has to do all the advertising for the effort himself. In my planning and execution of a newssheet I made several discoveries which may be of value to our fellow workers.
COST.—I found that the newspaper in Radford, Virginia, did job printing in addition to putting out a daily paper, and that our newssheet would run about the same price as the handbills. One issue (i,5oo) of the Prophecy Speaks News cost $25, printed on good-quality paper. I could have had the newssheet printed on regular newsprint, but I was certain that the better quality would add dignity
JOURNALISTIC EXPERIENCE.—Having had no previous journalistic study or experience, I wondered whether I was attempting something impossible. I began to study the newspaper style of writing, and found this to be a great help. I feel that a course in journalism is of inestimable value to our ministers in general.
FRONT-PAGE LAYOUT.—Each week the front page carries an article on the coming Sunday night lecture. I usually reserve the left side of the front page for a report of the previous Sunday night's topic, thus giving an opportunity to those who did not attend that meeting to know what was preached. This does away with any false report which may have been spread by our enemies. I also reserve a small space on the front page to list the topics for the coming week.
The wording of the headline is important. It sums up in a few words what the article gives in detail. As there was no Sunday issue of the local newspaper, we found it advantageous to give out the newssheets early Sunday morning. Our workers often noticed people reading these newssheets on the way to Sunday school.
A picture in a newspaper is most important. It catches the eye. It is a good plan for the evangelist to use various cuts of hiinself, and of the song leader for variety.
BACK PAGE.—On the back page I run a weekly Bible study, calling it "Your Bible Says —." I have a very definite aim these studies, and that is to bring before the people truths readily accepted by most denominations, laying a good foundation for the later truths which make Seventh-day Adventists.
The upper right-hand cortTr is reserved for "The Question Corner." I try to answer some question which I think will be of interest to everyone. Each question is answered in a way that will acquaint the reader with a phase of our message which is not touched on in any other part of the newssheet. The bottom of the back sheet I reserve for the display advertisement of Sunday night's meeting.
I have limited the Prophecy Speaks News to a front and back page. Enough can be printed on both sides of this single sheet to give all the necessary information about the meetings and the message being preached.
USE OF CUTS.—The little cut of the Bible used in "The Question Corner" of the newssheet was obtained from T. K. Martin, Review and Herald artist, and is available to all our evangelists. I have used a number of his cuts in the layout of the newssheet, to good advantage.
Richard Harris, a theological student who was associated with me in Radford during the summer campaign, rendered a great service by making drawings from which many of my evangelistic cuts were made. The cuts used in the "Mark of the Beast" advertisement were made from his drawings.
LENGTH OF ARTICLES.—The newspaper figures about forty words to the newspaper column inch. The first issue of the newssheet took longest to prepare, as it was necessary to count the words in the space I desired to use. This original typewritten copy I kept on hand as a guide for the following week. After a short time I was able to write without checking on the number of words.
I am convinced that the newssheet has a tremendous advantage over the regular handbill. In it we not only give people the invitation to come and hear but also give them the message in their homes.
