When plans were first formulated for a recent evangelistic campaign in Battle Creek, an attempt was made to rent the W. K. Kellogg Auditorium, the most popular and spacious auditorium in the city. We asked to rent this auditorium for three nights a week for a period of three months, but this request was refused. However, after some negotiation it was learned that we could secure the auditorium for ten nights. This, of course, raised a number of questions.
First, we questioned whether ten nights would give us sufficient time to arouse the interest of the people, and to gain their confidence to the extent that they would be enticed to go to our church building. Then there was the question of what subjects should be presented. Should distinctive truths pertaining to our church be discussed, or should we deal only with those truths of a general nature, assuming that most of those attending could be transferred to the church?
The other alternative was to conduct the campaign in the church from the very start. If this were done, it was believed that many who had religious prejudices would never come to the church to begin with, but would come to an auditorium where there would be no marked religious environment. Yet, if they could be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere in a secular environment, and if their confidence could be won by speaking on basic noncontroversial truths, it was concluded that many who otherwise would never come to the Tabernacle could be inveigled to come.
Consequently, vigorous plans were laid to take advantage of the ten nights which were available in this spacious auditorium. Such themes as the prophecy of Daniel 2, the origin of evil, the fall of man, the plan of redemption, and the new birth were discussed. The attendance was good, and the reaction was favorable. At the end of the ten nights in the auditorium our offerings fell short only four dollars of covering the rental expense.
Since it was at the time of the cold war between the East and the West, with the war being the main topic of conversation, Armageddon was the subject chosen for the first Sunday night after the transfer into the church. We also thought that we should have some extra ordinary feature in connection with this first meeting as a special attraction. A musical feature was chosen which consisted of a half-hour program of viola music by Dr. George Wargo of Washington Missionary College. Arrangements were made to fly him to Battle Creek, for this was the only way he could meet the appointment. In our advertising in the newspaper, on the handbills, and on the radio full advantage was taken of the topic so widely dis cussed, and the reputation of Dr. Wargo as a virtuoso of the viola.
The success of the opening meeting was most gratifying. The Tabernacle was crowded to the top of the gallery, and the offering was more than was necessary to cover the expenses of the musical feature. Most important of all, we were able to bring practically all the people who attended the lectures at the auditorium with us to the Tabernacle. Thereafter, the attendance and offerings continued to be very good, and at the close of the seven-month campaign the Lord gave us 114 souls.
I am convinced that in a city of any size where there is a reputable church building- in a good location and the evangelistic budget is limited, or where an auditorium cannot be rented for any length of time, the plan followed in our recent campaign can succeed.
