We have asked several pastors with whom Fordyce Detamore and his team have worked, to answer some questions regarding the permanency of this program. These men have naturally had close personal experience with the plan, and we are glad to share their viewpoint with our readers.
From R. L. Winders, pastor of the Waco, Texas, church:
The first time I heard of Elder Detamore's short evangelistic campaign, even while Elder Detamore was conducting them in the Orient, my heart was thrilled, for I felt within myself that surely this is another evidence that God is quickly finishing the work.
"It was my privilege to visit briefly some of his campaigns, while I was .spending full time in the longer efforts. As I visited these meetings and saw the workings of the Holy Spirit, . . . I made up my mind that I would like to go through a whole campaign with him.
"The opportunity came in October, 1954, at Waco, Texas, where I had just been called as pastor. Waco has a metropolitan population of around 125,000. We had a church membership of 136. The meetings were held in a new three-pole tent at the edge of the business section on the main street of the city. I worked closely with every detail of the meetings. . . . I did this, not only for the success of the meetings, but that I might learn all I could about the plan. As I sat on the platform each night, the tent looked full. As I shook hands with the people as they left the tent, I was impressed with what they had to say about the meetings, and that many were coming out seven nights a week.
"As the result, a total of forty-nine came forward to surrender their lives in obedience to the full message. . . . Of these, thirty-four have become members of the church, thirty-three by baptism, one on profession of faith. . . .
"This is not all I could say or would like to say. It is rather hard to shut off my enthusiasm for the short evangelistic campaigns. I have determined to try them myself at the first opportunity. The greatest appeal to my heart that comes from the short campaign is that it will help to finish the work sooner, so we can all go home."
From M. W. Deming, pastor of the College View, Lincoln, Nebraska, church:
"The two weeks that Elders Detamore and Turner spent here at College View were very profitable. I understand that Elder Detamore has since lengthened his campaign out to three weeks. . . . Percentage wise we haven't experienced any greater loss among those baptized in the shorter campaign than among those baptized in longer campaigns. And we certainly believe that the longer campaign still has its place. . . .
"We felt it to be definitely a decision meeting, helping to reclaim backsliders and also to bring across the line people with whom we had studied and who were on the fringes and needed something extra to get them across. I believe in the program one hundred percent."
From B. K. Mills, pastor of the Galveston, Texas, church:
The Detamore-Turner-Holley evangelistic team has made quite an impact on our Texas Conference. This unique departure in evangelism, which allows a team to reap results in so short a space of time, enables us to grasp the picture of a quickly finished work.
"This short, concentrated program funnels through its meetings all the interested and potentially prospective candidates for the purpose of bringing them to a favorable decision. Backsliders are of special concern to Elder Detamore. Along with the pastor he seeks them out and entreats them to return to the fold so that they may again identify themselves with the message they once loved.
"An intensive visitation campaign, from ten o'clock in the morning until meeting time in the evening, stopping only at noon to eat a sack lunch, Is a great contribution to the success of the meetings. It allows the evangelist to contact personally a large number of people and quickly appraise their spiritual needs. Drawing from his wide experience he can usually give them the help and counsel they are seeking.
"Through meetings conducted every night for twenty-two nights, beginning on Sunday and ending on Sunday, supported by a baptismal class under Elder Turner's direction, the candidates are prepared for baptism. Continuing with the Sabbath school lessons and a series of meetings in the church by the local pastor, these new members soon become fully grounded and oriented.
"Those of us who have been privileged to have the Detamore-Turner-Holley team visit our district covet the hope that they will be able to return for another series. It is a real education to the pastor and a wonderful inspiration to the church."
We asked W. R. Holley, business manager of the Detamore team and an able pastor, to share his reaction. He wired as follows:
"It is my opinion that this three-week evangelistic program has possibilities among us that stagger the imagination if treated as a reaping program. If each conference had a team to visit its cities and districts, assisting our local pastors once a year, I believe any conference could at least double, and even triple, its baptisms."
