South Africa is geographically isolated from the throbbing, populous centers of the world. This isolation tends to a detached viewpoint, amounting somewhat to suspicion of, and prejudice against, outside cultural and religious influences.
Often skeptical of things from abroad, the Europeans here in Africa must be approached conservatively and tactfully. Some are intellectually indifferent to religion, while others are reactionary and Calvinistic. Generally speaking, they hesitate to come out to attend something new. As they are slow to hear and cautiously deliberate in investigation, it takes considerable time to win them to a decision. Once having accepted the message, however, they prove to be loyal and consistent Seventh-day Adventists.
After many years' experience in the field of English evangelism in South Africa, I feel to recommend the following general principles for the carrying forward of our work among peoples of similar background :
1. Be conservative in dress and deportment, avoiding all sensationalism in personal as well as in public approach.
2. The advertising should be extensive but modest. Avoid the sensational and lurid choice of titles.
3. Be careful to make the titles true to the subject matter to be presented. Avoid the temptation to capitalize something engrossing the public mind as a trick to gather an audience. Sooner or later the audience will walk out on you. Be true to your subject.
4. Personal modesty will lead the evangelist to cover himself by the display of the message. Advertise the message rather than the man. Advertise only the goods you can deliver.
5. Avoid the trend of unduly substituting still or motion pictures for the drawing power of exalted Bible themes.
6. The illustrated lecture series, while drawing the crowd, does not usually produce good results in souls. It seems to sap the dynamic power of the evangelist by causing him to lean on a mechanical device rather than on the power of the Holy Spirit. The type of hearer that is attracted by this method does not seem to face up to the. test and stand for the message.
7. The truth should be presented in simplicity and doctrinal fullness. There should be no "watering down." The message, when faithfully presented, has life-changing power. Conservative people appreciate the persuasive earnestness and straightforward delivery of a true man of God.
8. Because the people are deliberate and cautious, the evangelist should not close up his effort with a bang and move on. He should rather try to hold on to a dwindling attendance, and thus save all possible. The best results in South Africa often come from three to six months after the evangelist opens the effort.
9. Personal work is the secret to abiding results in South Africa. As much, if not more, can be done for conservative people by the one-soul or one-family audience.
10. A good Bible instructor, therefore, is the evangelist's greatest help. He or she should intelligently teach the subjects already publicly presented, and be ready to help the interested make up subjects missed. Repetition, with personal application and prayer, is essential to lasting results. We believe that the Bible teacher can profitably commence this work from the second week of the effort.
11. The evangelist himself should be guided by his Bible teachers in his visiting and personal work. He should be active and busy among the interested people. Public work arouses interest, convinces the intellect, and deepens conviction, but it is the personal work that brings lasting decisions and helps souls over the line.
The results of an evangelistic effort are not governed entirely by the public attendance. We have observed overflowing crowds, with little or no lasting results. On the other hand, we have experienced small attendance with upwards of sixty per cent taking a definite stand for the message. Conservative and intelligent people do not need to be entertained. They love to hear and study the truth as it is in Jesus.
When public evangelism and personal work join hands, abiding results follow. It is here that plans are co-ordinated, each ease sympathetically discussed, and prayed for. These meetings become a Bethel, and the worker's own spiritual experience is deepened. It still "takes the overflow of the heart to give the lips full speech."
