THE DECISION films are a final link in the It Is Written plan of evangelism. Designed primarily to follow up interests created by the television program, they are planned to bring to any group, large or small, the atmosphere of an actual reaping meeting. Their purpose is to create decision consciousness that will lead directly to final and full commitment to truth.
The It Is Written television series, if it is to be effective must be followed up. Interested persons need to be gathered into groups and led to take the final steps along the path to decision. It is only natural that such leadership should be undertaken by Elder Vandeman, for he is the personality who has entered the homes week by week on the screen. He is the one in whom they now have a measure of confidence. Any other man attempting to follow up the interest, regardless of his talents and power as a public speaker and soul winner, has the disadvantage of not being, known to the people.
Now it is not necessary for Elder Vandeman to follow up the interest personally in every area. We believe that in the production of these color films we actually have a double advantage. They present the personality in whom the people already have confidence and who is therefore best qualified to appeal to their hearts, while at the same time drawing them into close fellowship with the local pastor so he will be able to personally lead them not only to full decision but into church membership.
Surprising as it may seem, reaction to these films is in some cases more favorable than to a public appearance, since the impact of a close-up picture on a large screen is comparable to the impact of TV in the home. Some have expressed disappointment at the great distance between the speaker and the audience. They are accustomed to the intimacy of TV. This decision-film plan capitalizes on that intimacy.
But the decision films do not and cannot stand alone. They are a part of a plan. That plan envisions and requires a careful Bible study preceding each film. That Bible study may be given by the pastor, Bible instructor, or other qualified person.
The reason for this is clear, and it is twofold. To put on film an actual reaping meeting as conducted by Elder Vandeman in the large cities, including special music, the message with the full-text background, and the appeal, would require the production of a film from an hour to an hour and a half in length. This would not be possible expensewise, nor would it be practical, for it would utterly fail in bringing about the personal fellowship with the local pastor, which is imperative. Therefore each decision-film service consists of a Bible study given by the local representative and followed by Elder Vandeman's personal appeal on film.
What They Are Not
These films are not an emergency fill-in. Never under any circumstances should they be used to fill an emergency when a pastor fails to prepare a prayer meeting or when an MV Speaker fails to show up. These films are not entertainment. They are not a program. They are participation films, involving the actual response of individuals to appeals and altar calls. Never should they be used except when such participation is envisioned.
They are not an evangelistic spearhead, not primarily a presentation for first-nighters. They should not be used to excite or initiate an interest. Rather, they should be used in decisive, final meetings with men and women who have had considerable exposure to the message by way of It Is Written, the Voice of Prophecy, Faith for Today, evangelistic efforts, Bible studies, Bible courses, Take His Word, or extensive reading of our literature. Relatives of Seventh-day Adventists and backsliders might be invited.
Where and When to Use Them
The decision film plan may be used in auditoriums, halls, churches, homes—wherever groups of interested persons, ready to make a decision, can be gathered together. We think first, naturally, of the larger groups where the local evangelist or pastor can reap a harvest.
And though these films will be most effectively used where Elder Vandeman is known by the telecast, it is amazing how helpful they can be in any decision or reaping series. They do not necessarily have to follow the It Is Written television films. After all, Elder Vandeman brings the principles and messages that have been tested in the crucible of the fires of evangelism in many parts of the world, and his experience has been molded by contact with some of our greatest soul winners.
The emphasis, however, should not be placed alone upon widely advertised public meetings, important as they are. It is true that the larger meetings draw more people to each single showing, and thus save wear on the films. But still larger success can be had if wise planning is laid to use the films in decision Bible studies in the homes, with small groups of people or families who may not be able or willing to come out to a meeting.
Keep in mind that television interests have not been created through public meetings. They have been created and nurtured by a device in the home, where men and women sit and lounge in the informal atmosphere of the living room. Such persons might even come more quickly to a Sabbath morning service, just to see what it is like, than to an evangelistic meeting. Their prejudice may now be broken down. But remember that their interest, however wholesome, may not yet be so deep as to inspire the slightest desire to change churches. And knowing that we are Seventh-day Adventists may make them a little reserved about attending any service that seems to be evangelistic in nature.
But in personal visitation it is possible to share the word regarding these new films in a way that will excite curiosity and genuine de-' sire to see one of them. And when they have seen the first one, they will likely want to carry on with the plan. Invite them to the meeting place. Arrange transportation if needed. But if they do not react favorably to the suggestion of a public meeting, arrange to show the films in their own home or the home of friends.
In other words, all your reaping eggs should not be put in one basket. You need not depend upon the auditorium alone or the homes alone. Schedule the film plan nightly. Use them in a hall one night a week, and schedule them in the homes the other nights. Work the plan to the limit, and you will be amazed at the results.
Not only ministers and Bible instructors will find this combination plan effective. In addition to this primary use, doctors and other professional people among our capable laymen can extend the influence of the films. But they too must precede each film with the proper Bible study. Only in that way can the maximum results be realized.
Outlines of the studies to be used with the films, as well as work sheets on which the people write in the texts, are available from the General Conference It Is Written office.
Preparation for a Decision-Film Series
1. The church must be praying. "Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good."—The Desire of Ages, p. 362.
2. Advertise. An advertising folder has been prepared that may be adapted to the needs of large or small groups. The newspaper might be used. TV can effectively be used for advertising these meetings. Correspond with your area It Is Written office for counsel on this. But personal visitation of all available interests is the most effective advertising of all. There is no substitute for this means of gathering people together.
3. Thoroughly study your Bible presentation. It must be enthusiastic, earnest, and filled with conviction. Prepare for it. Know it well. If preparation is fresh and thorough, with up-to-the-minute illustrations and renewed conviction in your own heart regarding the truth you teach, then your presentation will be brief, pointed, and powerful. Do not preach, however. Teach. Let the people participate. They are to fill in the texts. They are to take notes. Plan to let them use their Bibles. Every successful soul winner knows that if these few pointed suggestions are followed, the people will be enthralled by your study and will love you for it. It is in this way that you will endear yourself to the hearts o£ the people. They will never forget your studies and their participation in them.
4. Preview the film to be shown, if you have not previously seen it. It will help you to know what to expect.
5. Make sure that the projectionist is thoroughly familiar with his machine and its threading devices. The finest film prepared at tremendous cost can lose its effectiveness and accomplish little or nothing unless slavish attention is given to a few simple precautions. The room should be thoroughly darkened, with no light to distract. A good projector should be used, with sound properly adjusted and sharp focus achieved. The gate should have been thoroughly cleaned to remove lint. The machine should be properly threaded so as to synchronize the lips of the speaker with the sound. The screen should be adequately large for the audience.
A Typical Decision-Film Meeting
It is suggested that there be no song service. There need be no special music. In other words, it may be best that this meeting bear little resemblance to the traditional evangelistic service as such. If the meeting is conducted in the traditional way, the people will expect a sermon. And a sermon in this particular setting will not so effectively teach the people what is needed for final decision.
Rather, have organ music or use taped organ melodies of a gospel nature while the people are gathering. Follow with one familiar hymn and an earnest prayer. An offering may be taken, or the routine might be varied by asking folks to place gifts on the plate as they leave the meeting place. In order to break away from the traditional meeting type and prepare the heart for earnest and deep personal study, it might be wise to try some of these innovations.
Then get into the Bible study in earnest. Your study should be no longer than twenty-five or thirty minutes. Thorough preparation and deep conviction regarding the message will help you to say it briefly and well.
And now ask everyone to tuck away their work sheets and quietly relax as Pastor Vande-man reviews what they have learned and brings his part of the evening message.
At the close it may not be wise to turn the lights on at once. A few quiet words from you at this point, re-enforcing the decision, sometimes all joining in prayer, will mean much.
Keeping the sacred, quiet moments intact is an art God will help each man to achieve. If no complete call is made, dismiss the meeting. Shake all hands. Talk quietly and earnestly with all who desire to do so. Let the people leave without social chatting, especially if the meeting is in a home.
On full decision nights linger, pray, and talk with everyone. But better still, make sure that you visit those homes in the next day or so to further consolidate the decision.
How to Encourage Response
The purpose of these films shown in connection with a persona], live Bible study is to create decision consciousness. Full decision to give one's heart to Christ and to join the church does not come alone by asking for hands to be raised or for something to be written or even by making an altar call, however important these physical commitments may be. It is rather the total impact of a decisive Bible study and a conviction-filled message that creates the atmosphere of decision. Even then a physical act of commitment may need encouragement.
Right here is the crux of the matter. The impact of the films will be seriously dissipated if they are treated as something simply to be watched. The aim is to achieve the atmosphere and the results of a live appeal. The films invite participation. Unless that participation is gained, they might better not be shown. But the people will need encouragement.
Therefore it is suggested that previous to the meetings, perhaps in the Sabbath service, never in the decision meeting, you talk quietly with our own people and solicit their support. Ask them to be the first to respond to the calls that are made. If they lead the way, others will find it easy to follow. Encourage our people to respond to every appeal that they can legitimately find it in their hearts to respond to.
For instance, if hands are asked for indicating a desire to prepare for the kingdom, all can join. And their response will encourage the more timid. Even the altar call for conversion may be the very thing needed by some of our own people. A forward move at that time may encourage and release the floodgates of decision for others.
When the films are shown in a home, some adapting of the plan will be needed. People will not come forward to the altar in a home. But God will help you to adapt. You may want them to quietly stand or step forward, perhaps pressing into a circle. A simple gesture from you at the right point will indicate what you wish them to do. Such a gesture of invitation will also be important in a hall or a church.
Our own people will, of course, lead the way in filling in the texts on the work sheets, and in turning in the stubs from night to night. And they should share in whatever attendance awards are given.
What Could Happen
What could God do, with or without the films, if every man were to gather in all available television interests, with twenty or thirty or fifty interested people attending—depending on the area—and an equal number of our own people supporting him with their presence and prayers? What could happen if our men would stand before these people and answer their questions and talk to them informally, teaching the truth in a plain, simple way, coming close to their hearts? What could happen if we really probed the depths of the reaping possibilities God has opened before us?
You know what would happen. The spirit of evangelism would grip the church and bless the minister's heart, and give him sheaves for his labor. This program of reaping would become what under God we believe it can be—a new experience in Adventist evangelism. The results of such a program of total evangelism, saturated by a spirit of prayer in our churches, could only be measured in terms of the latter rain.
It is a long road from screen to harvest. But the Spirit of God can teach us how to shorten it. And every man of us can share in the results!
