One of the most revealing and inspiring field contacts I have experienced in recent years took place in Houston, Texas, during the closing days of 1954. The short three-week campaign as conducted by Elders Detamore, Turner, and Holley, begun by sheer force of adverse circumstances in the Far East, has continued, under the blessing of God, with phenomenal success through twenty-two careful experiments. We wish to share an unbiased appraisal of this plan with our readers.
What these workers witness and what an observer sees are apt to revolutionize our concept of at least one phase of evangelism. A strangely encouraging conviction deepens that the gigantic unfinished task may be completed far quicker and in a far simpler way than we have thus far envisioned.
A Successful Reaping Program
At the outset we must correct one impression. The short campaign is not an attempt to encompass all the areas of evangelism. It does not attempt to take the full place of the longer conventional type of effort. It is primarily a reaping program, and do we not all agree that some such reaping plan is long overdue? For well over a century our ministers have been preaching, our laymen have been witnessing, our schools have been teaching, our publishing houses have been printing, our colporteurs have been selling, our mission program has been expanding, and then in recent years radio and television have extended our evangelistic horizons, and yet our most desperate need has been a successful reaping program. The art, the ability, and might I say, the courage to bring this widely sown interest to the point of decision are our great need.
For years we have quoted the phrase "the arguments have been presented." This statement was born near the turn of the century. The last movements, we are told, will be characterized not so much by argument as by the persuasive power of the Spirit of God. In every city, in most towns, and in many villages there is much existing interest, and there are backsliders. There are relatives of our people, and men and women of some intimate contact with the message, who under a concerted effort will respond to the appeal of the Spirit. It is primarily to reach these groups that we believe the Lord has raised up the shorter campaign.
It seemed to me as I witnessed the decisions of over one hundred people during a three-week period, and as I visited in the homes of the people and talked with the evangelistic team, that the very intensity of the program and its forthright urgency led to spiritual conviction among those who attended the meetings and who were visited in their homes. Yes, a genuine conviction for the truth was evidenced —as genuine and as fraught with reformation as is any conviction that is produced over a longer time.
Understandable fear arises in some minds as to the thoroughness of a work done in so short a time. Can a true Seventh-day Adventist be made in three weeks? is a good question, for a mental picture naturally arises of weeks and months of teaching and wrestling with problems and habits on the part of converts through the years. However, the majority of those who respond in three weeks are those who have known and loved and lived the message for years but who have drifted. Also many who take their stand do so from past conviction and teaching, even though they have never been in the church. The impact of the short campaign ripens the interest, reviews the message, and brings the necessary conviction to impel action. In the case of backsliders such urgency stirs the heart, arrests the backward trend, and wins the heart again for God.
Four Types of Backsliders
As in the practice of medicine, so in the spiritual realm: the more specific the knowledge of the patient, the more effective the treatment. We should carefully examine the different kinds of backsliders. First, there are the professional people, perhaps former teachers or workers who have become disaffected and have drifted from among us. These are difficult to reach. Often a professional pride grips them that only genuine conversion can break. Then there are those who have gone off into fanaticism. These, too, are difficult to reach in view of their love for the sensational or the critical. Again there are those who have stumbled over the mistakes of others. These are the ones who are frequently explosive when first approached. They need to air their grievances and troubling memories. By listening sympathetically, with no attitude of condemnation, much good may be accomplished. Often after a visit like this, such a person feels relief and release. After pouring out his heart his bitterness leaves, and he is ready to consider soberly his personal need.
The large majority of backsliders, however, are the group that have grown careless and drifted, those who at heart love the message, who would never be anything else than a Seventh-day Adventist. Many of these have attended our schools; some have married out of the faith; some have lost contact through moving; some have lapsed into worldliness and sin. These will usually respond when shown love, sincere interest in their souls, and an evident desire for them to return.
In other words, as in all types of evangelism, the personal contact is essential if the heart is to be reached. The more effectively it is done, the surer and quicker will be the results.
Intensive Visitation Essential
Our brethren in Texas are giving clear evidence that God will bless our attention to a thorough, persistent attempt to reach people where they are. Repeated visits until a man is found at his home or office are rewarding. And when he is found, only one thing matters —bringing him to God. The kindly yet purposeful visit will impress the heart and lead to serious thought. I saw souls, previously cold and noncommittal respond warmly and weep for their sins within fifteen minutes of time. The well-directed, urgent appeal of these brethren in their visitation program provokes some serious rethinking on the art of personal work.
The successful age-old technique of asking questions is used to the soul's advantage. The Master Evangelist used this method extensively. There have been many books written about this divine art, such as Questions Jesus Asked Clovis G. Chappell, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press), The Art of Asking Questions (Stanley Le Baron Payne, Princeton University Press), and others. A question stimulates thought, deepens conviction, and brings to light the hidden reserves of the individual you desire to reach.
As our brethren in the Detamore team step into the home and kindly press such questions as, "We are visiting some of our old friends who used to be with us. . . . Who was it that baptized you, Mrs. ________ ?" they find an immediate spark of affection, for nine times out of ten a disaffected or careless backslider holds a warm spot in his heart for the one who baptized him. Then again: "How long were you faithful?" "You still believe the truth, don't you?" "Have you wanted to come back?" If met with, "It is a long story," our brethren say, "I am sure it is, but I did not come to hear it. I am here to tell you that we love you and want you back." However, if they feel they must tell their story, it is heard with sympathy. One of Brother Detamore's favorite questions is, "Do you still pray?" Of all the penetrating words none seem to strike a chord of sweeter spiritual memory than these.
Aside from the very clear impression that God evidently honors the urgency of the approach and the impressive immediacy of the appeal, one need not wonder as to the success that attends the effort. Each worker in the team makes ten to twenty and sometimes more visits a day—pointed, purposeful visits, and many on Sabbaths. This spells success in any type of evangelistic program.
I recognize the danger of overemphasis, and yet we must repeat—the art of Spirit-filled, effective visiting is the practical aspect of successful decision getting in any approach to evangelism. And hours—long hours and persistent hours—are the practical feature of it. However important our multiplied activities may be, we must remember that in our division of responsibilities the more effective the visiting, the more decisions we receive, and the more the church grows. We may be chained to an overwhelming program of administration in the church or district. We may be burdened with this project and that project, but, my brother, the successful soul winner has discovered that to succeed in our primary business of winning and keeping men, a minister's time and activity must be so arranged as to permit much personal contact. It is wonderful how much we can do when we put first things first. In our visiting program our vision is keptclear. Here our courage rises; here we learn what.:16 preach.
Follow Up by Local Pastor
As in any type of evangelism, the lasting value of the short campaign depends largely upon the extent and thoroughness of the follow-up procedures. A special Sabbath school class for these newly interested people is organized and taught by the local pastor. Classes for preparation and follow-up instruction are arranged and home visits continued. Loyal effort is placed behind a move to surround these new believers with every evidence of church care. Since a short campaign does not disrupt the normal functioning of pastoral responsibilities for a long period of time, it is possible to bring fresh, concerted effort into establishing and holding the reclaimed and the new believers.
In the Detamore-Turner-Holley program no tried and true principle of soul winning is overlooked. The sermons, the altar calls and appeals, the baptismal class—all invite discussion far beyond the reach of this article. Much of this valuable material appears in this quarter's selection of the Ministerial Book Club, Thine Be the Glory. (Here is another good reason for reading this excellent volume from cover to cover.)
The pictures that accompany this article tell a significant story. Many MINSTRY readers will recognize the team. Their unselfish and happy association witnesses to the true spirit of their ministry. Not shown in the pictures are Mrs. Holley and the local pastor's wife, who welcome the people at the meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Scott, the young couple pictured on this page were united in the message but a few hours before this picture was taken. He, a believing, nonmember husband, was won to the truth and joined a very happy wife in the church. The couple on page 26 are an example of new interest. Mr. and Mrs. Morris had never heard of Seventh-day Adventists before January of 1954. He is a successful businessman with as many as ninety men working for him. His decision led the way, his wife followed, and after a period of instruction they were united with the church. They have been growing in the message for more than a year.
Be sure to read the two articles immediately following this discussion, giving the evaluation of local pastors on this plan and presenting an outline of subjects used by Fordyce Detamore, as well as the questions listed on the exhaustive "visiting information" sheet. Next month we shall consider another aspect of the short campaign idea.
