The Evangelistic Sabbath School Class

THE pastor's special Bible class can be a mighty soul-winning agency in the Sabbath school. Most of the non-Adventist visitors are ushered to this class, and it offers the pastor an oppor­tunity to get acquainted with people who are poten­tial prospects for baptism and church mem­bership.

There are several ways to increase the attendance of the pastor's special class. If he conducts evangelistic meetings or a radio program, he can invite people to visit his Bible class and can offer an attractive gift to all who attend. A copy of The Desire of Ages makes a fine gift. If this is more than the church wishes to give, a lovely picture of Christ can be offered.

The pastor can also urge the church members to bring their friends and rela­tives to his class. They can hold out the inducement of a lovely gift. When visitors attend the class they should by all means be registered in a book or on a card. This gives the pastor the address so he can make a friendly call or drop a note of apprecia­tion for their attendance.

In my personal experience I have urged the people who attend my evangelistic meetings to come to my Sabbath school Bible class. I tell them that I am starting a new class with no members as yet. This is an appeal to their kind hearts to help get the class under way by their attendance. I tell them that unless they come I will have no one to teach. With this appeal, plus the offer of the finest book on the life of Christ printed today, the people come to the class. The same appeal works on a radio program.

Another fine inducement to get people to attend is to offer a certificate of attain­ment. I have had lovely certificates printed. I hold one up in my meetings or Sabbath services and tell the people they will receive one of these certificates if they attend my Bible class for two or three months. Many people feel that they are getting a diploma, and it appeals to their human desire for recognition.

More could be said about getting people to attend the pastor's Bible class, but per­haps something should be said about the class itself. First of all, it should be con­ducted in the best available place, prefer­ably in a separate room. This will offer a cozy privacy and tend to bring in a more personal atmosphere. Where this is not practicable, then a section should be marked off near the entrance of the church. There should be signs on pews saying, "The Stanley Harris Bible Class" or "The Pas­tor's Bible Class."

The class itself should be friendly and informal. We usually have the people shake hands with one another every week. The teaching should encourage a response from the class. They should be supplied with the special quarterlies prepared for this spe­cial class when they first attend, and in­spired to study for themselves. Any re­sponse from these dear people should be acknowledged and complimented, no mat­ter how feeble it may be. The pastor should make the teaching evangelistic. Lessons should be drawn from the texts that sup­port the truth. Appeals should be made at the close of each class. The people should go away with a deep inspiration.

Some may feel that this special Bible class can only be successful in a large church, but this is not true. It has been our experience in some small churches of having half the main church auditorium fill up with visitors. This has been an amazement to the church members. They little realize the potentialities of the Sab­bath school evangelistic Bible class. In some cases it has been necessary to divide the class into three groups because it becomes so large.

There are others who may say that this can only be done in connection with an evangelistic campaign, but this is also un­true. There are cases where the pastors of churches have actually gone from door to door to invite people to help them start a new Bible class, and with success. Sabbath school Visitors' Day can often be used to start a new class.

If the pastor will start a soul-winning Sabbath school class, and urge his church members to help him build it up, it will grow if properly conducted. When non-Adventist visitors come to our church and are given a friendly greeting, and ushered to a real, live-wire evangelistic class that inspires them, they will come back. If the pastor will take the time to call on those who visit his class, or at least will write them a note of appreciation, he is on the way to winning a new convert to the truth. May God awaken us to the tremendous pos­sibilities of the pastor's Sabbath school class.