[Marjorie Lewis Lloyd is well known in denominational circles for the unique and inspirational books she has written and for the gospel songs that have come from her pen. She is also an accomplished organist and for some time served in that capacity with the Quiet Hour radio program conducted by J. L. Tucker in the San Francisco area. She has also served for a number of years as a Bible instructor.
Recently she came to our office from the Northern California Conference, and we are happy to introduce Sister Lloyd to the readers of THE MINISTRY. She is now serving as the copy editor of our journal. The accompanying article written by her while she was still in the active field of personal soul winning will be read with real interest.—Editors.]
Every young worker is eager, as the door opens into the service of the Master, for practical instruction in personal work. Whatever college or seminary courses are available, are wonderfully helpful, but probably no one thing will do more to fill the need than the privilege of observing a successful personal worker in action.
Observing several such workers has taught me a number of things—some of them so important that I just felt I must share them.
I have learned, first of all, what I suspected long ago—that knowing the rules is not nearly so important as knowing the Lord. Knowing the principles of salesmanship, as adapted to gaining decisions, is helpful. But it is not nearly so important as knowing, and actually living, the life you are trying to sell.
Study, like sharpening the scythe, is a needed preparation for the Lord's work. But the determining factor in success or failure will be the hand that wields the sharpened scythe. If we wield it, we shall cut, and wound, and sometimes destroy. And surely we shall fail. If the Spirit of God wields it, sheaves will stand ready for the kingdom.
In the home the successful gospel visitor does not call up the rules he has learned one by one. He does not consciously follow through with any prescribed procedure. Instead, he lifts a humble, admittedly needy heart to the Lord as he enters the home, asking that the Spirit of God may speak through him. He knows that this individual is different from every other individual, and that his need must be met in a different way.
Whenever the worker is not speaking, it is his privilege to be praying silently to his God, asking for the words he needs. It is the worker's contact with God, not his skillful use of the rules, that brings success.
And observing has taught me something else —something that goes back even deeper into the worker's heart preparation. I am convinced that the most important single factor in a personal worker's success, second only to his contact with God, is the confidence of the people, old acquaintances or perfect strangers, in his own personal Christian experience and sincerity. Nothing can take the place of that confidence. And it can neither be purchased nor learned in any seminary in the world.
The People Know!
As workers we are much more transparent than we think we are. People are not so easily deceived on this point. They have a way of detecting whether a sermon comes out of a book or out of a prayer. They sense whether or not we mean what we say. They know whether we are really interested in them or not. They detect it all too soon if a worker's interest in souls is actually an interest in his own reputation as a soul winner. Too many workers have fooled themselves into believing in their own sincerity. But the people—the people have known all the time.
Sincerity is not something we can put on. People know when our words do not come from the heart.
I lived in a beautiful spot among the oaks. I love oak trees. But I love peaches, too. It would be nice if peaches grew on oak trees. So suppose I should take a crate of big, luscious peaches and fasten them on the oak tree with Scotch tape. The result is not satisfactory. The fruit cannot be put on. It must get its life all the way from the roots of the tree.
So it is with sincerity. We may try to tape it on with flowery words, but such efforts are as flimsy as the Scotch tape.
What is it that makes a church member, or a stranger, have complete confidence in a worker? What is it that makes one say, "That man talks as though he believes the Lord is coming"? What is it that makes another say, "Some pastors seem to be interested in the leaders of the church, but this man seems interested in all of us"? What makes a stranger thank the Lord in her prayer for "sending these loved ones to me"? What is it that makes people know that a man hates sin but loves every sinner?
A worker's prayer will often be an indication of his acquaintance, or lack of acquaintance, with the Lord. A man just naturally speaks in a different manner to a stranger than to a close friend. And our prayers often indicate to the people whether God is to us a casual acquaintance or an intimate friend. Our prayers too often indicate, without our knowing it, the degree of our sincerity and of our love for souls.
While he is visiting an interested person a successful personal worker will not be thinking about a new car, or his wife's anniversary present, or the next call he is going to make. Just as the Saviour would have died for any one of us, so the worker should focus his attention on that one. While he is in that home he will think and feel and speak as if he were working for only one individual in the world—the one before him.
Sympathetic Pastors
It is a joy when a Bible instructor is able to bring interested persons into the pastor's office and know that they will find a pastor who is interested in them, in their problems. He will listen patiently and sympathetically, giving them time for all of their problem, and making them feel that it is most important to him and to the Lord. He will take time to learn enough of their background to enable him to understand their point of view. If he must reprove, it will be with the utmost tenderness.
In the home, or in his study, he will put the interested ones at ease, meet them on their own level, adapt his vocabulary to their walk of life. And he will make them feel that they, individually, really count with God.
He will never argue, never antagonize, never push. He will not invite an argument by letting his face betray that he is thinking up a good answer to their objections. In answering their questions he will let the Bible speak. His own opinion does not count. God's opinion does.
I have observed that a successful worker does not use all the available texts to answer an inquirer. He often chooses one text that gives a clear, concise answer. Then he prays, and expects, that the Spirit of God will use it. To use half a dozen texts where one would suffice will often serve to so divide the emphasis that the desired result is not obtained.
It is often helpful, in answering an inquiry, first to ask a question that will clarify the nature of the confusion that exists.
For instance, if someone asks about original sin, one may counter with the question, "What does original sin mean to you?" The answer will show where the difficulty is. And it is easier and more direct to correct the flaws in an existing conception of truth than to give a complete exposition, and perhaps miss the needed point. Often, when the inquirer has stated his understanding of a matter to begin with, he can be led by tactful questioning to see the logical result of his reasoning, and to bring out, by his own answers, its flaws.
Earnestness
But it is not enough to convince. The personal worker must have an earnestness that compels to action. His manner, the depth of quiet persuasiveness in his voice, must show that he is dealing with matters that he knows are of eternal consequence. It is one thing to convince a person that the seventh day is the Sabbath. It is an entirely different thing to present it in a way that will lead him to keep the very next Sabbath.
Just in this connection it might be added that if a worker expects the people to feel that the matters being presented are of eternal consequence to them, .he must give evidence that they are just that to him. His life, his manner, must show that being a minister of the gospel is to him a very sacred, solemn privilege and responsibility. A single flippant remark may destroy the very confidence necessary to gain a decision.
The worker who endeavors to obtain a decision will be wise to choose a chair at an angle, rather than directly across, from the interested person. This gives an opportunity to study the individual closely without being noticed. Watching the facial expressions carefully will help him to know how the individual is reacting. The tightened lip, for instance, will be a red light, warning him of a developing antagonism.
While the deciding one is thinking, the worker will wait silently, and watch, praying earnestly. The use of silence is as important in personal work as the rest is in a musical composition. There are moments when to speak is to interrupt the voice of the Spirit.
But the worker need not depend on facial reaction alone to indicate progress. A wise use of direct questions is effective. The formula for gaining decisions is not to preach a short, individualized sermon and then leave the home with a "God bless you," hoping it has taken effect. Carefully timed—yes, Spirit-timedquestions help immeasurably to bring a decision to the surface. A statement from the person as to what the Lord requires of him is worth far more than a similar statement from the worker.
If the interested one can be led to offer a prayer, it will help to seal a decision. It will also be a valuable indication to the worker, for often the prayer will reveal the degree of heart response more accurately than anything that has been said.
The worker must be quick to recognize a decision, and careful not to talk beyond it. Too many words are as ineffective as too few. Here again the Spirit of God must be in control.
And always the worker must be patient. All the interested ones will not be in the next baptism! But it is so easy to push too hard and too fast, until we push the one we wanted to help completely out of our reach. How much better to work carefully, and sometimes slowly, keeping them still in our sphere of influence. A mistake here is tragic. Some of us have had to cry out to God with bitter tears that He would not let one be lost because of our mistakes.
How infinitely patient is the Shepherd with His undershepherds!
