The selection of a proper meeting place will contribute much to the success of the evangelistic effort. The importance of the right selection is emphasized in the following statements by Mrs. White:
"We cannot expect people to come out to hear unpopular truth when the meetings are advertised to be held in a basement, or in a small hall that will seat only a hundred persons. The character and importance of our work are judged by the efforts made to bring it before the public. When these efforts are so limited, the impression is given that the message we present is not worthy of notice. Thus by their lack of faith our laborers sometimes make the work very hard for themselves."—Historical Sketches, p. 200.
In conducting evangelistic meetings in small towns and rural communities it is not always possible to secure the particular type of meeting place we desire. Various types of meeting places that have been used successfully by our evangelists should be considered. The place of meeting may be a tabernacle, a tent, a schoolhouse, an auditorium, a lodge hall, or a theater.
Regardless of the size of the town it is well to keep in mind that the location of the meeting place is very important. The following suggestions are given regarding a town which has not been entered before by our evangelists.
1. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH LAYOUT OF TOWN.—It is unfortunate that at times our evangelists have not acquainted themselves with the layout of the town they are planning to enter, and then, after the meetings have begun, they discover that another section would have been more desirable. The evangelist should make a number of visits months beforehand to become familiar with the various sections. If a map of the town is available, it should be in hand as soon as possible. I have found it very helpful to obtain a map and then talk with someone who is familiar with the town, making various notations on the map for future reference. Almost every town has its desirable and undesirable sections. If you pitch your tent or build your tabernacle in a section that is considered undesirable, the chances are that your meetings will never be popular with the class of people you are trying to reach. "Plan to reach the best classes, and you will not fail to reach the lower classes."—Evangelism, p. 553.
2. AVOID MEETING PLACES OF QUESTIONABLE REPUTATION.—If the place you have in mind in-which to conduct meetings is used at various times for dancing and card playing, it is probable that many who should hear the messages will never come. It is always best to inquire about the hall beforehand. In many small towns women's club halls are available. Many of our evangelists have used them successfully.
3. EASY ACCESSIBILITY TO Au....—Anciently God placed His people Israel in Palestine in the midst of the nations, as expressed in Ezekiel 5:5. This location was at the crossroads of travel between East and West. It should be emphasized that a meeting place centrally located in a small town or city is much better than one in some particular section. The evangelist will discover that it is easier to draw people to the center of a town than to any other section of it. People will go downtown more quickly than they will go across town to hear the presentation of a topic of importance. A tent will attract more people if it is pitched on a large corner lot near or on the main thoroughfare of travel.
4. MAKE MEETING PLACE AS ATTRACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.—It should have eye appeal. Whether the place of meeting is a tent, hall, tabernacle, or theater, the entrance should be well-lighted. If the meeting place is a -tent, a string of electric lights can be used to good advantage to illuminate the outside as much as possible. A few well-placed floodlights, with the beams of light focused on the tent, will make it stand out. The lights should be bright inside the tent as well, but should not glare. Poor lighting does not appeal to the eye.
The meeting place should have a heart appeal as well as eye appeal. Perhaps the place of meeting in every small town cannot, because of local problems or because of lack of funds, be made as attractive to the eye as we desire, but by the grace of God it can be made and kept spiritually attractive. What will make it spiritually attractive? The burning bush attracted the attention of Moses because the presence of God was there. Men and women who are praying for a better understanding of the Word of God will discover within a very short time whether the message is being presented with the power of the Holy Ghost. It is the drawinopower of the uplifted Christ that attracts the soul of the sinner.
"'Those who will study the manner of Christ's teaching, and educate themselves to follow His way, will attract and hold large numbers now, as Christ held the people in His day. . . . When the truth in its practical character is urged upon the people because you love them, souls will be convicted, because the Holy Spirit of God will impress their hearts.' "—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 57.
The place of meeting should be kept neat and in order. Dusty chairs always make an unfavorable impression. The chairs should be arranged before every meeting.
5. DRAW UP A CONTRACT oR LEASE.—It is good generalship to be businesslike in contracting for the use of a lot for a tent site or when planning to use a building in which to hold meetings. A legal agreement will be a means of protection to both the evangelist and the owner of the lot or the building. Without a lease, or contract, the evangelist may be forced to move to another place at the critical time of the meetings, when our distinctive truths are being presented, and many who would continue to attend may never return to the new location. This is especially important in a small town where meeting places are hard to obtain and where prejudice thrives more often than in a large city.
