Increasing Evangelistic Offerings
By: B. G.
Every evangelist wants to know how to increase his offerings, because finance is a vital part of the program. In his book The Shepherd-Evangelist R. A. Anderson says:
"There will be times when a specially large offering will be needed, and it will pay to get a little offering envelope printed for the occasion. Christ mas, Easter, and Thanksgiving are appropriate times for such special offerings. By giving out the envelopes a week or two beforehand, people are enabled to plan better." Page 493.
Every evangelist would do well, in anticipation of the coming Thanksgiving season, to have special two-color envelopes printed with a simple message like the following:
"My Thanksgiving Gift
"In appreciation of the spiritual blessings received at the Prophetic Crusade meetings, I cheerfully give to God this special Thanksgiving offering. $..........."
For your Christmas offering the wording might be changed to read:
"My Gift of Love
''In appreciation of God's many blessings and for His loving care and kind providence during the past year, 1 cheerfully give to the Prophetic Crusade this special holiday offering. $ ............"
Experience has proved that such offerings will be more successful when the appeal for them is deeply spiritual. When the appeal flavors of commercialism the results will almost invariably be disappointing.
In M. K. Eckenroth's Prophetic Crusade meetings in Atlanta in the fall of 1949 this special Thanksgiving offering increased our regular Sunday night offering some $350. In the Pitts burgh campaign conducted by George E. Vandeman in the fall of 1948, the special Thanksgiving offering amounted to $900, and the Christmas offering skyrocketed to over $1,100. The attendance at these two meetings was between 900 and 1,100. The regular Sunday night offerings usually totaled $250 to $300. In both of the afore-mentioned campaigns the appeals for these offerings were on a high spiritual level, and the people seemed anxious to respond, even to the point of sacrifice. It is not uncommon for interested people to give offerings of $25, $50, $100, and more, even before they are bap tized.
The special envelopes for these offerings should be handed out to the audience at the close of the Sunday night meeting just one week before the offering is received. Then during that week a letter with a spiritual appeal, including a word about the public meetings, may be sent to the names on your mailing list. This serves as a reminder of the special offering on the following Sunday. This letter should reach the people not later than Thursday, and might contain another offering envelope in case some were not present when this plan was presented. Rather than wasting envelopes, this is a good investment, for the extra envelope also serves as a reminder. It seems wise to take up these special offerings a week before Thanks giving and a week before Christmas.
On the night of the Thanksgiving offering it would be appropriate for the song leader during the song service to teach the people the special chorus "We Thank Thee," by Harold Miller. (See page 39.) Then later in the meeting and just before the prayer for this offering, this song could again be sung by everyone.
We can assure you that these special offering suggestions will bring you good results. And while planning for them read again the chapter "Finance, Faith, and Folly in Evangelism," pages 477-502 in The Shepherd-Evangelist.
The Lending Library
RUBY M. CREELMAN: Bible Instructor, Victorian Conference, Australia
A lending library of our attractive paper- covered books is a valuable aid in contacting interested people during a series of meetings. To sell a book is good, but to lend one is even better for mission purposes, for by so doing one is able to get names and addresses in a simple, natural way and to connect the name with the person right from the beginning of an evangelistic effort.
Some of the best kind of interests are obtained in this way. There are perhaps several reasons why this is so, one being that people have to be really interested in what they have heard before they will borrow reading matter about it. Again, to get people reading the truth before you are able to begin personal work with them makes the task of teaching truth much easier and more permanent when that time comes. Then again, it does away with the rather delicate situation of finding out where strangers live, and makes it possible to pay a visit at a later period without embarrassment.
We have found that the lending rather than the giving of literature in mission work is preferable, in that reading matter handed out without being desired enough to be asked for is seldom appreciated, or read only halfheartedly; but on the other hand, one is always assured of at least some interest when there is a request to borrow a book.
Of course, it is necessary for the evangelist to give the lending library a great deal of publicity, and for the books to be attractively dis played, before it can be really successful. It is wise to have a number of copies of books dealing with the evening's subject on hand to lend on request. The keeping of a library record book is essential, and some help may be needed before and after the meetings, but it is best for the Bible instructor to have the main responsibility of the work. She can then personally meet the majority of the people who make requests for the lending library.
A lending library is also a much more economical way of solving the literature problem, for these books can be used many times, and in more than one evangelistic campaign. We would suggest that each book be stamped with the words: "PROPERTY OF, TO BE RE TURNED," as a reminder that they must be looked after and given back. In this way it is possible to have returned most of the books circulated. Such a book always provides a good occasion to call and then make another friendly contact with the reader. It is also an opportunity to discuss the theme of the book, and if the interest warrants it, to arrange for personal Bible studies.
Upsurge in Child Evangelism
By: Louise C. Kleuser
More than a decade ago we became conscious that our denomination had a growing opportunity to adapt the Vacation Bible School plan now widely used by other denominations, to its own needs. During that time we have been constantly observing the activities of some of the evangelical churches. Several worth-while schools of this type came under our observation this summer while we were in the State of Ohio. Though these were not vacation schools of our own denomination, we learned much about their great possibilities. True, in conferences where camp meetings are con ducted, Seventh-day Adventist children have the best type of instruction; but only a small pro portion, besides those in the immediate vicinity of the camp, attend our camp meeting during the week. The favored few enjoy these yearly blessings, but what about the rest whose play ground is the street with all its demoralizing influence?
With the backing of our own excellent educational system, what wonderful vacation schools Seventh-day Adventists could be conducting! More than one evangelistic tent meeting has been steered toward success by these vacation classes. Many non-Adventist children could be readily brought into these schools. These children are the means for breaking down prejudice, and succeed where too often we fail in bringing their parents to our public meetings. Personally we long for the time when our evangelism plans will include in the team one who understands how to lead the children to Christ. During the present crime wave in the world what better name could we hope to gain for ourselves than being recognized as the people who delight in saving boys and girls?
The Montana Conference recently reported in its union paper the first vacation school con ducted in the Great Falls church. Children from four years of age attended. About thirty little ones received much joy and great help from the school. The report states:
"Visiting children from non-Adventist homes were present. Eleven was the count for the last day of the school. Six of these children are now being enrolled in Sabbath school, with others expected to attend later."
This report closes with a timely suggestion that this is profitable missionary work which could be fostered in many communities. It is too late to plan for a vacation school this summer, but we might well consider the plan now for 1952.
