Although I have not used a mobile unit for evangelistic work, I have used such a unit for some medical educational work among natives, and I have had opportunity to observe two different mobile cinema units in action. I would like to tell you about them.
None of the units I have seen had sleeping accommodations built into the unit. However, that does not mean it cannot be done. Even where there is a long run between showings, as we might have here in Africa, the operators relied on the hospitality of the community for accommodations. One unit was operated by the Tea Growers Association, and went from one estate to another providing entertainment and tea propaganda. The other unit was operated by the Nyasaland Government, and in addition to entertainment provided films suggesting better housing and better living. My own experience consisted of going to some of our other missions close at hand, and also to some of the nearby states, where we would give a health talk, present a health picture, and perhaps show a local scene in motion pictures, such as a wedding.
All units I have seen used American equipment, as it seems best able to stand up to hard usage. Even the government-owned unit was using American equipment. This means that American style 110-volt current would have to be used. One unit had an American lighting plant, and the other used a British style, and a transformer. This latter would waste a lot of energy on transforming and also make the unit much bulkier. I used an American war surplus 214 kw. lighting plant, A.C., and a new 16-mm., 1,000-watt sound projector.
Although many of the pictures might be silent, one should invest only in a sound projector, for many silent pictures can be used, but sound films can be run only on sound projectors, owing to the sound film's having sprocket holes on only one side.
Since I used my equipment only occasionally, I did not have it permanently mounted, but used a three-quarter-ton pickup truck to carry the unit about. As long as I kept the canopy open I had no trouble with the air-cooled generator, but if I left the canvas sides down, there was not sufficient circulation of air, and the generator overheated and would finally stall. The government unit had several natives along for helpers, and had the equipment mounted on a three-ton flat-bed truck. It was not covered, except by a tarpaulin when the evening program was concluded. A large screen was mounted on the truck, and the power was run by a long heavy cable to the projector. The Tea Growers unit was mounted permanently in a panel truck, about 1/2 ton, but I believe their English lighting plant was water cooled; thus it was not so important whether it had a large air space around it. I did not see it in actual operation, but I believe the projector could be removed from the back of the truck if desired.
To anyone interested in developing a mobile unit for use in the mission field I would recommend:
1. Projector Ampro premier 20, sound 16-mm. unit, cost retail about $540.00 Alternate Bell and Howell, sound, 16-mm. unit. 600.00
2. Lighting plant probably a 2,500 watt, 110 volt A.C., 60 cycle 300.00
3. Vehicle 1/2 ton, either panel truck or pickup, depending upon the danger of theft, et cetera, in an open vehicle, and the amount of rain and moisture. If a closed vehicle is used, adequate ventilation for the generator must be provided.
Although the electrical requirements of the projector and sound unit would be only about 1,250 watts, the 2,500-watt unit gives ample pro vision for other units to be used at the same time, such as a few light bulbs. The generators usually drop in output after they get a little old, or need overhauling, and this would give plenty of leeway for mechanical weakness.
I found it difficult to get films that could be understood by the uneducated African and still meet the standards of our gospel meetings. There was too great danger of the films becom ing an entertainment instead of an appropriate part of an evangelistic meeting. The health films put out by the Department of Inter-American Affairs (U.S. State Department) and produced by Disney Studios were successful from a health education viewpoint. The evangelism had to be carried on by speakers in between films.
Fomentations Healed the Shoulder and opened the Heart
J. D. HENRIKSEN, M.D. Medical Secretary, West Nordic Union
During my visit last June to the northern part of Norway, where I attended the conference session, I became acquainted with a fine young minister, Alfred Lie, who was ordained at the meeting. In the discussion of the medical missionary resolution he told an interesting story. Later I interviewed him to secure more details about the experience he had while working two years earlier in Hammerfest, well known as the northernmost town of the world.
A man and his wife attended some of our evangelistic meetings. Later the evangelist, Brother Lie, missed them at the meetings, but learned that they lived out in the mountains and had difficulty in coming to town for his meetings. He succeeded in learning their ad dress, and one day went to their lonely home. He was happy to find both of them at home and not too busy to have a conversation. Now he learned that both of them, because of their hard work, had been taken ill with rheumatic pains of the arms and shoulders, and the whole situation looked depressing.
He who never before had given physical treatments took his courage in both hands and asked them whether they would like to have him help them by giving them fomentations and massage right there in the home. He was allowed to do so, and after five treatments the woman's pains disappeared. The evangelist continued visiting the home to treat the husband. At every visit he took time to give a Bible study, and God blessed both the work of his hands and his message. After a while the husband and wife accepted the truth, were baptized, and became faithful members of the church.
Other patients were also treated, with good results, and when they asked how much they should pay, Brother Lie invited them to con tribute to the building of our new clinic for physical medicine in Tromso. A poor fisherman, who had been successfully treated for a "frozen shoulder," freely gave fifty kroner to this enterprise.
As I parted from this young evangelist, he promised with a convincing smile to continue practicing medical evangelism and thus open hearts' for our message.
Our ministers should be encouraged to use this method, since there are many places where simple physical therapy is very much needed, and at the same time hard to find. About this work the Spirit of prophecy says:
"The Lord will give you success in this work, for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, when it is interwoven with the practical life, when it is lived and practiced. The union of Christlike work for the body, and Christlike work for the soul, is the true interpretation of the gospel." A Call to Medical Evangelism and Health Education, p. 7.
The term "August evangelism" is one that is well known in West Africa. However, we do not confine our evangelism to any one month. Evangelism is something that must be carried on throughout the twelve months of the year. Naturally, those who are employed as evangelists take a leading part. August, however, is one month when we endeavor to have an all-out evangelistic crusade. At this time every layman, every institutional worker, every schoolteacher, and all other workers join hand in hand for this evangelistic crusade.
This plan was instituted several years ago by Pastor J. Clifford, who was for many years the superintendent of our work in the Gold Coast Mission. Following him as leader of the Gold Coast Mission, I found it to be an excellent plan, and I am happy to say that now the plan is being carried out, with some adaptations, in most of our fields in the West African Union.
Planning the Campaign
In the Gold Coast Mission, as is the case in most other missions, the entire field is divided into fairly large districts. Each district leader has under his direction some evangelists and usually a number of mission school teachers. Many of the latter carry heavy evangelistic responsibilities and look after one or more churches in addition to their teaching. The district leader calls his workers together and lays plans for conducting as many efforts during the month of August as can possibly be cared for and followed up. Efforts are not held in areas in which it would be impossible to provide a worker to follow up the interest after the converts have taken their stand, even though such areas may appear very promising. The district leaders are urged, there fore, to hold the efforts (1) in places where we have churches that have possibly never been strongly established or have become weak; (2) in a new area, possibly near a school, where the responsibility of fostering the interest of the new company could be assigned to one of our teachers; (3) near the station of an evangelistic worker, or in a remote area where there is promise of a new interest, and where an evangelist can be transferred from a strong company or organized church to the new area to follow up the interest. The important point is that definite plans be made before the effort is started for adequate follow-up.
Proper precampaign planning must be carried out. The chief of the town or village must be visited and his friendship won. A survey needs to be made as to the approximate number of English literate folk in the area and also of the approximate number of vernacular readers, in order that English and vernacular literature will be available for those who can benefit by it. In village campaigns, precampaign printed advertising is not necessary. The advertising can be done by the chief, as described later. In more highly civilized villages and towns, however, posters and circulars may be a practical means of advertising the meetings.
At the time when the actual campaign is to begin, the workers and laymen are on the spot and have probably done considerable visiting with the village folk before the meetings actually begin. Advertising in the native village is simple. After you have made friends with the chief you relate your plans to him and ask him whether he would be so kind as to beat the gong just prior to the set time for the meeting. This is done in several ways. It may be done by having the town crier go through the town announcing the meetings. Many times it is done by use of the native talking drums, and again it may be given by having a lad beat on a piece of railroad iron, an old brake drum, or other iron that will give a good ring when it is beaten with a smaller piece of iron. At any rate, it is given so it can be heard throughout the village, and it is a "presidential" invitation to everyone in the village to come out to the regular meeting place for the village.
It is also well, if a singing band is available, to have this group go from street to street and compound to compound, singing hymns of praise and inviting people to come to the meetings. It is a very fine gesture to send the singing band to escort the chief and his retinue of sub chiefs out to the meeting place. This adds a little extra prestige to the chief and will stand your work in good stead in days to come. By this method in the ordinary "bush village" you can get practically 100 per cent of the villagers to attend the first meeting. In more highly civilized towns and villages the gong-gong does not bring out everyone, but the singing band, visiting the compounds and inviting the people to the meeting, will do a great deal to assure you a good crowd. Once the series of meetings is started, it is up to the leader and his workers to continue with the singing band from time to time, with announcements and personal invitations, and above all with a well-presented evangelistic sermon, to keep up the attendance.
The Series of Meetings
As these evangelistic crusades are put on by our laymen, whose time is limited, and by teachers, who have only four weeks' vacation between the two terms of school, they of necessity must be concentrated, spearhead-type meetings. When I first heard of this kind of evangelism I was not very much impressed, but after being on the spot and directing the activities myself for two years, I found that this is an excellent method to win the Africans to Christ. In order to get the most out of the three or four weeks' effort it is important that the meetings be held five nights a week, if possible. Since many of the people are heathen, it is important that the series of studies begin with simple explanations of God, the Creator and Upholder of all. Everything must be made simple and illustrations from the Africans' life must be used in order that the people may understand. While they are heathen people, yet they do know of a Supreme Being and worship Him, they say, through the fetish and juju sacrifices to their gods.
God and the Bible must be interwoven constantly in all the meetings in order that the new converts will be led (1) to believe and worship God, (2) to believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God. The prophecies do a great deal to achieve these two results. It can readily be seen that not all the subjects that would ordinarily be covered in an evangelistic effort can be compassed in this short effort. Several fundamental truths, however, can be included, and if the people know of God and know and believe in God and the Bible, if they learn of Jesus Christ and accept Him as their personal Saviour, and gain a knowledge of some of the main doctrines, they have come a long way toward becoming good Adventists later. Calls for decision are made from time to time.
If during the course of the meetings a European can drop in, even if he does no more than arise at the beginning of the meeting and re quest the villagers to listen to this worker who is connected with the mission, it will do a great deal to strengthen the hands of the African leader and his associates. The other Africans are eager to know whether this message the African preacher is proclaiming is just some African theory of his and not connected with an over-seas church. Once the European has made his appearance and identified himself with the African worker, the latter's hands are greatly strengthened; and if the overseas worker actually takes the evening meeting, and then makes an appeal for the villagers to surrender their hearts to Christ, many usually take their stand.
It is interesting to see how they indicate their decision. When the appeal is made, and the Spirit of-God works upon their hearts, and they are asked to come forward, you will see them coming one by one. They are asked to go to the evangelist. He will have a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, and if they are literate, the converts will sign their names. If they cannot write, they will come forward and touch the pen or pencil that the evangelist is holding and thus indicate their decision and give the evangelist authority to sign their names. From then on they will very seldom abandon the meetings, and in many cases they will not even attend a service of another mission society. They feel they have "put their name on the dotted line" and have agreed that they want to follow Jesus and to be taught the truths found in the Bible.
Binding Off the Effort
At the close of the meetings the evangelist will have quite a group of names of those who have come forward and thus "given their names." These are enrolled in what we call a hearers' class. They are given a card saying they are a member of the Seventh-day Adventist mission in the hearers' class. After the meeting is closed the laymen and teachers go back to their posts and the evangelists and teachers who are chosen to follow up the interest will hold a baptismal class once or twice a week. (We are using for the hearers a series of studies prepared by the Southern African Division that includes about forty lessons.) This course may last a few months or up to one year. After they have completed this series of studies, have accepted all the doctrines presented, are paying their tithe, have put away extra wives, if they have them, and are living lives in conformity to the Bible, they are then advanced to the baptismal class. The period of time of this class is usually one year for people coming out of heathenism.
We are hoping that this year in the West African Union during our "August evangelism" campaign three thousand to four thousand people will surrender their lives to Christ and begin studying toward baptism. But what is this among forty million people who know not Christ? Remember "August evangelism" in West Africa in your prayers. The field is white to harvest, but the laborers are few.
