There is much strong leadership talent in the lives of the young men coming from our colleges which might be discovered and developed during the early days of internship. Our young people appreciate a well-organized program of evangelism wherein there is no uncertainty as to the part they are to act. Organization is essential when two or more workers associate in an evangelistic endeavor, if the largest results are to be reaped. A field school of evangelism can be conducted so as not to stifle a young man's leadership ability when working as an associate, but rather to encourage its development.
It is quite possible to overorganize so that our organization interferes with our efficiency. Nothing causes the wheels to drag in evangelism more than a program of voluminous reporting and book work, which takes up a large share of the workers' time. Yet it is essential that a careful case history be kept of each individual attending the meetings. It is necessary that the evangelistic company know about the progress of each prospect, and that a record be kept of all decisions made. Otherwise, the majority of prospects slip through our fingers, because we do not know where to give our personal attention.
I have tried several plans of cataloging the interest, endeavoring to find the method which gives the personal worker the best advantage in following up that interest. I have tried card file systems, but found that while the information was fully recorded, it remained in the office and was not in the hands of the personal worker when he needed it the most. I am convinced that there is no best method, but that each man needs to evolve a system of book work to suit his own method of working. However, I wish to present the following plan as especially helpful in training young men in the detail work that is necessary in public evangelism.
I prepare a printed form on a small sheet of notebook paper, a copy of which appears with this article. A supply of these is given to each worker, and with it a good quality notebook binder which fits easily into a woman's purse, or which can be carried in a man's pocket, or in a small Bible case. As each name is turned in, for literature, for the printed sermon, or for some other free offer, that name is given to the individual in whose territory the address happens to fall. The name and address is recorded at the top of this form, and also the intials of the worker holding the name. When the worker calls at the home with the promised piece of literature, he ascertains a number of facts which will be valuable in future contacts.
It is hardly possible for the worker to cover a large number of homes in one day, and yet remember the details about each family he has visited. Therefore, the moment he reaches his car or is out of sight of the house, the worker fills in as much information as he has gleaned from his visit. For instance, the name of Alice Walters is turned in. The worker is at a loss to know whether this person is a lady sixty years old or a girl of sixteen. In the home contact the approximate age can be arrived at, the occupation, the members of the family, the denomination, and other items of information can be recorded after each of the first few visits. In working with an individual, it is necessary to know whether he is a Christian of long standing, or whether he is a backslider. It is helpful to know what contact he has made with this message before and whether he attends the meetings Sunday nights only or week days also. People's hearts are warmed at cordial personal references, and remembering little items of interest is helpful when making future contacts. All this aids greatly in providing the necessary human support when the individual is passing through the crisis of decision.
Three Attendance Records Kept
This form might be prepared to suit the evangelistic program of any worker. I have arranged for three records to be kept—attendance at Sabbath meetings, at the Bible school, and at the baptismal class. In these smaller meetings it is possible for the worker to check up on his own people and record their attendance. It is desirable to list the dates when visits are made in the homes of the people. On the reverse side, space is provided for the dates of requests for literature.
The next part of the form is very important. It does not list all the essentials of Seventh-day Adventist faith and practice, but it does list the essential doctrines publicly presented. It is the worker's business to discover and record acceptance of these principles and doctrines. In this way it can be seen which of the doctrines the individnal needs special help on, and which he readily accepts. I find that it is helpful to record the progressive decisions that are made, thus noting progress in accepting the message.
The value of such a plan is at once apparent. The worker not only receives a list of interested people with which to work, and knows how often they return to the meetings, but a fairly accurate record of attendance is set up without the people's sensing it. Also, the work of gathering and recording the interest rests equally upon the workers, and does not consume hours of time on the part of a hired secretary or all the workers when they gather for counsel.
The question naturally is asked, How does the evangelist know the progress of the interest, if these charts are in the hands of the workers? I receive my information in two different ways. As soon as names are turned in and recorded by the worker, he in turn hands back to me all names appearing for the first time. I then prepare an Elliott ,addressograph stencil. On the rim of the stencil there is sufficient room to record the name, the initial of the worker in whose territory the name belongs, and code letters indicating the degree of interest. These stencils are then arranged in alphabetical order and used each week to address postal cards bearing the printed program for the following week.
As an advertising medium to keep interested people coming throughout the series, this can hardly be improved upon. The material placed on this card can be more pointed than it would be wise to insert in newspaper ads. Especially is this valuable during the closing weeks of an effort, and it is comparatively inexpensive. As to the evangelist's knowledge of the degree of interest, this is provided by a weekly report which each worker compiles from his personal work charts. This includes the number of names given to him, the number of those personally visited, and other information, including a 'list of names which, in the estimation of the worker, need the assistance of the evangelist or a more mature soul winner. Appointments for these visits are then made for the week. Young people in this way are taught the value of the organized recording of information. They see how necessary it is to know the details about each personal contact. Such a plan ensures careful, thorough work in preparing men and women for baptism.
One of the prerequisites to successful and continuous evangelism is that a man be able to control well the finances entrusted to his use. [think that we are doing young men a most important service when we teach them the methods of gathering sufficient money to carry on a campaign and how to expend it wisely. Much embarrassment can be saved an intern if the procedures of effort finance and methods of conference reporting are made clear to him.
I follow the plan in city-campaign evangelism of choosing one of the workers to take complete charge of the offerings and the income from the sale of books. He takes this money and in the presence of another worker counts and wraps it for banking. This is then taken to the bank and deposited in the name of the effort account. Each week at the workers' meeting he turns in to the evangelist an itemized report including the amount of the offerings for each night, literature sales, and the cooking and Bible school revenue, and balances this amount with the total of deposits, plus the money kept on hand. He attaches to this report all deposit slips. The evangelist then is safe in that no question can ever be called in reference to this handling of effort money.
I permit each associate worker to purchase the needed items for his department, and each one in turn hands me his vouchers as I pay him the money. Such a plan simplifies the bookkeeping and lessens the work for the one responsible to the conference. I follow the plan of purchasing large ledger sheets with single debit and credit columns. I fill these out in duplicate, number the vouchers in harmony with the items entered, add up the columns of expenditure and the columns of income, and review this procedure with all the workers to familiarize them with the plan.
It would be most valuable to young men to receive a carbon copy of a typical month's report during an effort in which they co-operated. I believe this would encourage careful bookkeeping on their part of all conference funds received.
Since there are so many questionable and sensational methods of raising money during an effort, I find it helpful to encourage associate workers in methods of money raising in harmony with the dignity of our calling. I never make what are commonly called strong-or lengthy appeals for money. I personally believe that the giving of money on the part of the evangelist and asking the audience to match it, telling amusing stories in order to raise large offerings, and similar practices are out of place in our meetings. Rather, I think an audience appreciates very little being said about money. I merely commend an audience for what they have given, lay before them the need, and confide in them a few of the figures which show the progress of effort finance.
It impresses an audience to know that none of the money given in the meetings goes to any in-, dividual. Care should be taken here not to give the impression that the evangelist is in need of money. It can be stated that the evangelist and workers' salaries are taken care of by another source. An occasional thank offering for the inspiration received during the series of meetings does much to encourage substantial offerings, Such methods produce much in the way of large offerings, and a good impression among the people who are able to give.
One principle I strive to make very cleat to beginning workers is that while they are associated with a city campaign in which it is necessary to use large sums of money for auditorium rental and wide publicity, the same principles of evangelism work in smaller spheres of influence and with smaller beginning budgets. Never should our workers be led to think that evangelism can be a success only with a large corps of workers and a large budget. It is true that judicious spending of a sufficient amount of money is needed to decorate a stage or auditorium appropriately and to advertise a meeting adequately, but these same principles will work with a smaller budget in a smaller city, with fewer workers.
(To be continued in January)
