Bible Marking Plan in Australasian Division

I do no like to recommend any method to the field until I have tried it out several times. Having now proved the benefits of the Bible marking plan, I pass on to you my observations.

GEORGE BURNSIDE, Ministerial Association Secretary , Australasian Division

I do no like to recommend any method to the field until I have tried it out several times. Having now proved the benefits of the Bible marking plan, I pass on to you my observations.

In Apia, Samoa, and Perth I believe it was quite a factor in maintaining an audi­ence of from five hundred to twelve hun­dred every night of the week, and it pro­duced an excellent harvest of souls. This is the way we work:

  1. The cheapest edition of the Richards' Bible is supplied to those attending. I avoid the word "join" lest some should fear they are joining a church. A red or blue pencil is also provided, according to the subject for the evening. For instance, when study­ing the Sabbath or the Ten Command­ments we use a blue pencil.
  2. The name and address of each per­son is written on the back of the Bible box (when they are first handed out), then the date is stamped on it each night as he or she enters the theater.
  3. The page of the Bible is announced, with the reference. This saves any hesita­tion on the part of those who are not fa­miliar with the Bible. The old method used in the Bible marking class, where the text only was announced, caused embar­rassment to many of the best people, and hence they would not take part.
  4. I tell the people just which words or phrases in the text to underline.
  5. The Bibles are handed in each evening after the meeting.
  6. After attending nine meetings they can then take their Bible home. (The number of meetings could be decided on according to the length of the series.)
  7. A very brief duplicated outline giv­ing the text, page number, and a brief com­ment is provided each night.

There are great possibilities in the plan, and I can recommend it.


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GEORGE BURNSIDE, Ministerial Association Secretary , Australasian Division

April 1963

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