The Better Life Picture Roll

A new way to keep abreast of all new developments in soul winning.

J. ERNEST EDWARDS, Secretary, General Conference Home Missionary Department

Recently a new plan for the pictorial presentation of Bible teachings was developed by the Home Missionary De­partment. Although this inexpensive evangelistic aid was primarily prepared for overseas use, it will interest evan­gelists, pastors, Bible teachers, and instructors. Knowing that the readers of THE MINISTRY desire to keep abreast of all new developments in soul winning, the editors have ar­ranged this interview-type article.

What is the Better Life Picture Roll?

The Better Life Picture Roll is a picto­rial presentation of Bible truth in chart form. Each of the thirty-two subjects, in four-color pictures, illustrates one impor­tant Bible doctrine. The pictures are in the setting of Bible lands, or have been inter­nationalized to assure viewers identifying themselves as being included in the picture. The roll is without text, thereby eliminat­ing the translation problem. However, there is ample white space at the bottom of each sheet for crayoning any words in any language or dialect desired.

What is the significance of the name Better Life?

Following careful study, this title was se­lected to accentuate the educational aspects of this pictorial aid, which is based on the teachings of the world's greatest Book. It is recognized that one is assured the better life for citizenship here and above by fol­lowing the instruction of the Bible.

What need in the field initiated this project?

A few years ago an overseas division pres­ident, commenting on the Sabbath school Picture Roll, mentioned that this was the most practical approach to interesting peo­ple in the Bible, but he pointed out that this avenue did not provide a doctrinal presentation of our message. He suggested the development of a new type of picture roll—one that would depict the cardinal points of our message for use by workers and laymen in a more complete coverage of Bible truth. After consultation with the Ministerial Association, the Home Mission­ary Department surveyed the divisions to ascertain the need for such a roll. In large sections of the world field there is no elec­tric power and the use of a battery system for projectors is expensive. The possibility of producing such a soul-winning device was explored with the Review and Herald Publishing Association.

What was the response to this proposed doctrinal picture roll?

Every division was interested in this evangelistic teaching aid as demonstrated by their orders for 15,000 and their invest­ment in this project. The division sub­sidized the picture-roll project to reduce the cost to the workers and laymen. Typical of the letters from overseas are the following:

SOUTH PACIFIC: "Our native missionaries in the South Pacific Islands would not know how to present the truth without Sabbath school Picture Rolls. They go out into a district, hang their Picture Roll up on a tree, and in no time they have hun­dreds of natives gathered around looking at the pictures, and from these pictures they tell the story of Jesus and His soon coming. But we are in real need for just that type of evangelistic aid that a doctrinal picture roll would bring us. It will fill a vital place in our work here."

SOUTHERN ASIA: "The picture-roll idea is old and tried. It is simple. It will work in India. Our village workers and many lay­men around the field are using the Sabbath school Picture Roll already, but this will greatly help our laymen in their evangelism."

Does the Spirit of Prophecy recommend the use of charts in the presentation of truth?

"Instruction has been given me clearly and distinctly that charts should be used in the presentation of truth. . . . The use of charts is most effective in explaining the prophecies relating to the past, the present, and the future." "These charts are object lessons to the people. . . . The Lord uses them to impress minds."—Evangelism, p. 203.

What method was used to assure the mis­sion fields that these pictures would fit their needs?

A representative committee of mission­aries from six world divisions spent days in careful scrutiny of sketches and pictures. The customs of many places and religious attitudes were carefully analyzed before fi­nal selection. The pictures chosen are in the setting of Bible lands, or have been in­ternationalized. It became necessary for the Review and Herald Art Department to give study to depicting some phases of truth that, as far as we know, had never be­fore been graphically portrayed. Subjects that were difficult to illustrate were under­taken, such as The Unpardonable Sin, The True Church, Standards of Christian Liv­ing, What Must I Do to Be Saved? and The Eight Aspects of Healthful Living. Of the thirty-two pictures, twenty-two were espe­cially planned for this project.

In what ways can these picture rolls be used?

These picture rolls are now being used in these different ways:

  1. As a visual aid in less civilized areas for presentation of truth by laymen. It has been proved that what one sees and hears makes a fivefold deeper impression than what one hears alone.
  2. As charts in Bible classes in our mis­sion schools.
  3. As a guide for instruction in baptis­mal classes even in areas where projectors are used in teaching truth.

Has any instruction been prepared to guide one in the best use of each picture?

In the guide booklet is a suggested method of presentation, and in many cases a simple Bible study outline is given beside each of the thirty-two miniature pictures. It is prepared so that the instructions can be adapted to fit the need of various regions.

What is the comment of the Ministerial Association on this new evangelistic project?

Elder R. A. Anderson has expressed the interest of the Ministerial Association in this project. "We are just as happy as you that this Better Life Picture Roll project has developed and that this evangelistic tool is now being widely used in nine divi­sions. This new Bible teaching aid will mean much to our laymen in their presen­tation of truth."

What are the expected results from the use of this picture roll?

A letter from the Southern African Divi­sion stated, "We feel absolutely confident that this material will be put to good use, and may well spark the largest evangelistic effort that has ever been seen in this field."

It is believed that this Better Life Picture Roll will be a valuable soul-winning tool in the hands of workers and laymen of the various world divisions, and will result in reaching more souls with our message and greater baptismal returns. This inexpen­sive equipment in the hands of workers and laymen may well be a means of preaching Christ and His truth to more people in more villages, partially solving the problem of a completed work. "All-out" evangelism is the call of this hour, and we believe that our workers and members can present the truth more effectively by the use of this simple teaching aid.


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J. ERNEST EDWARDS, Secretary, General Conference Home Missionary Department

November 1959

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