The opening moments of an evangelistic song service, or of any song service, for that matter, always constitute a crucial time. I have felt for a long time that I can judge the success of the whole song service, and sometimes of the entire meeting to follow, by the way I can or cannot get the congregation to sing the first number in the song service. And I often tell the congregation just that, for I sometimes ask them to repeat the last stanza or chorus of the opening song, or ask them to stand in an endeavor to get them to do better. Or I will give them a little "pep talk" just before we sing the last stanza. If this is done in an earnest, friendly way, they come to feel that they are sharing the responsibility of making the meeting a success, and they will usually try very earnestly. Get them, somehow, to feel that the song service is their part of the meeting.
The first song of the song service must be carefully chosen. By a wrong choice the song leader can easily make it next to impossible for the people to get into the spirit of the meeting right from the start. Most singers like to "warm up" before they sing—indeed, the more one studies voice, the more he feels that a warming-up period is imperative. It is a good idea to keep this in mind with a congregation too.
I have recently tried one or two ideas that were helpful. Naturally we cannot take a congregation through a set of vocal exercises in a song service, as we might a choir. That would be out of place. In the Pittsburgh campaign. where it was my privilege to be associated with George E. Vandeman, of the General Conference Ministerial Association, I have had the congregation stand on Sunday nights and sing the doxology, "Praise God From All Blessings Flow," to open the song service. At first thought some may feel that this seems too much like a church service. I believe this would be true were the doxology used to open the meeting after the evangelist enters. But it works very nicely to open the song s6rvice.
The people always join in warmheartedly. It is something they all know. It is written in a good key, with a comfortable range, and automatically serves as a "warm-up" number for the voices of the people and for their hearts as well. It makes church people feel at home, and brings back memories to others. It works beautifully in every way. After this as an "opener," they are seated again, and we proceed with some good gospel song that they all like.
On a week night I often open with the ref-nark, "My, I am so happy to see such a large number out early again tonight. It is always an encouragement to me personally to see you come out so early each evening. It shows you are interested in the music, and that does my heart a world of good. I just feel that tonight we ought to think of this meeting as a sort of midweek praise and prayer service, so let us all stand and sing 'Sweet Hour of Prayer.'" (Give number in songbook, of course.)
Here again they will respond beautifully, and again it will help to get your song service off to a good start. "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is another fine number to use to open the song service. In fact, there are many excellent, warmhearted opening numbers that can be used. Let us give earnest, prayerful thought to the choice of such an important number.
I feel that too many times a song service has been spoiled right from the first by trying to get the people to sing a number which is too rousing at the very beginning, when everyone is still getting mentally adjusted to a new hall, new faces, and a new atmosphere. Some are discouraged, some are tired; others have had too much to eat; and as a general rule, you defeat your own purpose if you try to have them sing something like "The Glory Song'? right off. However, there are always exceptions. If the song leader can be alert and sense the temperament of his audience for that particular meeting, it will be a boon in helping him to conduct his service.
On various occasions, as I have walked out on the platform, I have sensed that this was a night when the people would really sing. One just seems to feel something "in the air," and at such times they will pick up a number such as "Marching to Zion," or even "The Glory Song," and sing it wonderfully right at the start. But this is the exception and not the rule, and will more often be the case after the first few weeks of a campaign. As a general rule, such numbers must come rater on in the song service. In fact, there is a very definite moment in the son service to use your most rousing number. That is the climax of the song service. This we will consider in the next discussion in this "Successful Song Service" series.
It is an excellent plan now and then, right after the opening of the song service, to raise your right hand in a gesture suggesting silence, bow your head, and offer a very brief prayer such as, "O Lord, we thank Thee for this privilege of again meeting together and singing praises to Thy name. Help us tonight to sing some song and say some word that will help someone on the way to the kingdom, and draw us all closer to Thee."
The song leader must be the master of the situation right from the start. He must be calm and composed. He should have spent time in prayer and meditation. Then, as he steps out onto the platform with the assurance that heavenly agencies are at his side, he will have a successful song service.
