The city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, has for years been considered a prejudiced, conservative Catholic and Lutheran center. Our work here has made slow progress for the past twenty-five years. It was felt to be almost impossible to get people to come to public meetings, which have been held at various times with but little success.
We hardly knew what method to follow when we came to this place. We began to distribute literature, mostly Signs of the Times, making personal visits and holding Bible studies in private homes as the way opened. In fact, we had to make opportunities. The first year we had no baptisms, but the work was being established. By the second year a number of persons accepted the message, and the church began to grow, reviving old as well as new members. The church building soon became too small; and we were obliged to look for a larger place.
The way opened for us to purchase the First Presbyterian Church in the very heart of the city for $18,000 in cash, with all equipment. This sum was mostly raised within six months, and we were able to move into this larger church in July, 5946, free from debt.
In connection with plans for dedication of the church, November 57, 1946, it was decided to experiment in holding a short revival effort of two weeks, speaking only on topics of general interest, avoiding purposely any subject of a controversial nature. We were indeed fortunate to secure the services of Carlyle B. Haynes for these meetings. The effort was a real success. People came out, wrong attitudes and impressions were changed, and we came to be looked upon in a different light.
Previous friendly contacts with editors of the La Crosse Tribune made it possible to have all our write-ups on general topics accepted for publication. During the Haynes' meetings the newspaper published sermon reports equivalent to a booklet the size of Our Lord's Return. This brought the attention of thousands to our work.
The church was dedicated on the last Sabbath of the series of meetings. The newspaper gave us two columns with a large picture of the church on the front page. Our work was pictured in vivid phrases and the Seventh-day Adventist church given its right place. In April a group of fifteen was baptized as a result of direct and indirect outgrowth of these meetings, together with the follow-up work.
From May 57 to 24 we were privileged to have Melvin K. Eckenroth, of the General Conference Ministerial Association, conduct a brief series of eight meetings in our church for the city people. The attendance was excellent throughout the week, and the people of all faiths began to realize that Seventh-day Adventists have a message of importance'.
For this effort we had no song leader or Bible instructor, and had other handicaps, but in spite of all this, the effort was a success. These meetings are being followed up by visits and Bible studies, and the Bible correspondence course.
Not all ministers can draw crowds. No preacher should be jealous if a better preacher comes to his church for revival meetings. Few ministers are evangelists. Many would like to be, but really there are few. Why not draw on these men to stir the city for a week or two, and then follow up the interests thus created?
These short efforts do not tire or prejudice the public. It is rather soothing to suspicious listeners. The attendance is maintained and in most cases increased, so that the last meeting is the best and largest of them all. After the effort the people talk about the good meetings and look forward to the next series. Contacts are made by the minister in charge as well as by the members of the church, and all together try to bring many into the Bible school which follows. All doctrinal subjects are taken up in the Bible school, or privately in the homes of the interested ones, and there they make their final decision for the truth:Follow-up work is not easy, but that is what brings the results.
These short efforts are inexpensive. The two we had in this city cost us on the average of $250 each, for advertising, radio spot announcements, literature, music, etc. This is indeed an economical and effective method of work. In our last baptism twenty-two were immersed. Some of these were from a near-by church. We are just ready to have another baptism, which will double the membership of the La Crosse church in a little over two years.
Our church here 'believes in and supports this type of evangelistic work, and the members have co-operated most heartily to make the meetings a success. Other activities have also been given impetus. The church not only paid for the purchase of the church building, with some help from the conference, but spent three thousand dollars this last year for repairs and for installing a baptistry. A few years ago the collection plate had to be passed more than once to get even enough money to buy a ton or two of coal.
Other denominational churches follow the same method of holding short series of meetings to draw crowds into a hall or large church. They, of course, do not have the message we have, nor do they follow up the interest created.
