It is obvious to nearly everyone that a sing' ing evangelist is a necessary asset to a successful evangelistic effort, so I need not dwell on the reasons why he is so indispensable to the campaign. Along with his main duties of promoting the gospel by music, there are several other tasks that are often placed on his shoulders. Therefore, in selecting a singing evangelist, these things should be borne in mind, and if possible someone should be secured who is capable in other lines, so as to use the available personnel to the fullest extent, and thus economize on the employment of extra help.
Anyone with a simple knowledge of arithmetic and bookkeeping should be able to keep an accurate record of the income and expenditures connected with the operation of an evangelistic campaign. The singing evangelist can be given this assignment, and largely relieve the evangelist of business matters. It is of the utmost importance that such records be kept and properly reported.
It has been thoroughly demonstrated that the singing evangelist can also take care of all the publicity required for conducting the meeting. After getting the information from the evangelist, he can be of great help in putting it in shape 'and taking it to the newspaper office for publication. When he is taking care of the paid ad, he can intercede for the printing of a news column concerning certain phases of the meeting, and can assume the responsibility of putting some news about the service in the paper at every possible opportunity. He should supervise the printing of placards and handbills and see that they are properly distributed. As an integral part of the evangelistic personnel, he should make certain that this work of publicizing the meeting is done with the utmost care and thoroughness.
When it comes to visiting interested people, personally, in their homes, no one in the evangelistic company is to be excused—not even the evangelist himself. Usually when a person who has been attending the series of meetings plays host to one of the evangelistic group, he considers it an honor. After seeing and hearing the music contributions evening after evening, and having been moved by the music of the services, the interested one feels pleasure and gratitude on having the song leader come into his home. A discussion of some of the favorite songs especially enjoyed by the person may prove to be an entering wedge ; then a tactful discussion of some topic already presented might be entered into, after which a cordial invitation to continue attendance might be extended. Upon preparing to depart from the home, the worker should offer a brief prayer, asking God's blessings on the home.
The singing evangelist should not feel that this important work is beneath his dignity ; rather, it should be a cherished pleasure and privilege. In my experience as a singing evangelist, I have enjoyed the pleasure of seeing many souls accept this truth after I had visited with them one or more times in their homes. Some of these people are now actively engaged in the work of soul saving, and are bringing' others into the fold. They trace their interest back to a song that particularly impressed them or to a visit to the home which formed a warm, Christian friendship. As a result of this acquaintance, the discourses became doublyinteresting, and finally conviction came to their hearts, leading them to cast their lot on the side of truth.
At one time, while directing the music in a large city effort, I detected a strong tenor voice somewhere in the audience. We were in need of such a voice to help in the choir, and so I began to scan the crowd to see if I could find the person to whom the voice belonged, and hoped that I would be able to persuade him to help us. I chose that hymn,"Sweet By and By," and watched to see who would repeat, "by and by" knowing that the tenors would have to do this. I soon detected the person. He was a fine-looking young man. Immediately after the benediction I found my way to his side, talked with him, and found him to be intelligent, and willing to help in any way possible. He met with us in our rehearsal that same evening after service, and has become identified as a church worker in the cause of God.
In another meeting held in a city of some size, a young man was attracted by our music. He was the pianist and choir director in the largest church in that vicinity. He came to the piano after the service one evening, and I invited him to play some of our hymns, because they were new to him and he liked them. Then I sang a few solos as he accompanied me. He invited me to his home; I carried my music and trombone along, and we had a delightful afternoon together. His father was a minister of another denomination. Under persecution at home and protest from fellow church members and neighbors, he joined our cause, was baptized and went to Oakwood, where he received training to labor in the cause of Christ. The personal touch, and that constantly, is what helped greatly in his decision for right.
It may seem that we have outlined a strenuous program for the singing evangelist, but if he is spiritually, mentally, and physically alert, it has been proved that he can successfully carry on as singing evangelist, campaign business manager, publicity director, news reporter, Bible teacher, and personal soul winner.
