EVANGELISM—public, private, and personal—is the supreme mission of the church. To this awesome task the total energies of the church are dedicated.
In Atlanta, Georgia, H. L. Cleveland and his associates were mightily blessed of God in their public campaign of 1960. At this writing 285 souls have embraced Adventism for the first time by baptism. There are scores still interested. Two hundred and fifteen were baptized in one day. This is the largest single baptism in the history of the Southern Union. Many business and professional people were included in this harvest. Among these is the librarian of the Atlanta University system.
Brother Cleveland is pastor of the Atlanta church, with all of the administrative duties that this entails. In their present building five hundred believers worship upstairs and an additional two hundred m the basement. Brother Cleveland informs the Ministerial Association that he plans four more major efforts in that city.
The evangelist was in attendance at the evangelistic council held in Washington, D.C., in May, 1960. He is enthusiastic in his appreciation for the spirit and counsel of these sessions. He decided to try the nursery plan suggested at the council. Two neatly pitched tents were used for this purpose. A large red-cross sign identified them as the nursery and emergency tents. As many as seventy-five children were cared for in one evening while their parents heard the gospel undisturbed. Brother Cleveland also states that he is adopting the prayer meeting plan that was discussed at the council.
Workers in this campaign were humbled by the many marvelous manifestations of God's presence. Two hurricanes passed close by but did not stop the services. Then there was the schoolteacher whose conviction brought conflict at home, but who persevered. Now all is well. Also the young woman whose mother objected when she requested baptism, but later, witnessing the change in her daughter, consented. The sick were healed, evil habits were abandoned, troubled souls found rest. A prominent citizen who had privately believed Ad-ventism for some thirty years was baptized.
The influence of this meeting was felt throughout the Southern Union. An estimated thirty ministers visited the meetings to catch their inspiration. Adventist laymen in nearby cities commuted regularly and thrilled to the power of the gospel.
The tent was pitched on the campus of the Booker T. Washington High School. That these grounds were made available was in itself a miracle. The principal of the school, a God-fearing man, gave permission although such a decision concerning school property was without precedent in Atlanta.
The baptism was held in a new baptismal pool between the beautiful new conference office and the elementary school building. The sight was inspiring. Six ministers baptized concurrently for more than two hours to accommodate all candidates.
The president of the conference, J. H. Wagner, has made public evangelism the number one program of his conference. Though finances are limited, he has not hesitated to invest by faith in this fruitful work. Whenever this is the case, there is a corresponding quickening of the pace as enthusiasm spills over to the constituent ministry. Evangelist Cleveland has listed the president of the conference as his associate evangelist.
Others assisting were Ralph Franklin, Fred Neely, and Song Leader McCoy. Bible instructors were Mrs. Betty Cleveland, Mrs. Silas McCIamb, Mrs. C. Cunningham, Mrs. Summers, Mrs. Palmer, and Mrs. Persons.
To the editors of the Ministry the Atlanta campaign is present evidence that "the harvest is ripe," and is a clear call to greater faith in future effort.—Editors.
