THE great evangelistic campaign organized by the Southeast Mexican Mission in Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan, resulted, with God's blessing, in the winning of 550 souls who were united to the church by baptism.
It was a total effort in the preaching of the gospel. Radio, television, press, preaching, and personal ministry were all used to give the message.
Territory
Merida, with its 200,000 inhabitants, is the principal city of the Southeastern Mission and has almost 10,000 church members. The church in Merida had about 150 members, the majority having been won to Christ in a prior evangelistic campaign some ten years ago.
Groundwork Prior to Meetings
Preparation and groundwork began eight months before the first meeting. Four methods were used:
1. Missionary mailmen. Sixty laymen worked with around 750 people, visiting their homes weekly and taking the lessons of La Voz Del Hogar correspondence course. One day before the meetings began, a large graduation of these students took place and they were the main nucleus of the attendance during the meetings. Prof. David G. Poyato, Mexican Union radio director, and Pastor Jeronimo Madrigal, Southeast Mexican Mission radio director, led out in this work.
2. Radio. The programs La Voz de La Esperanza and La Voz del Hogar were heard over local stations. The latter is a micro-program recorded by the evangelist.
3. Television. Two months before the meetings began, a television program recorded by the evangelist was shown. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the people viewed it.
4. Survey. A month before the meetings were to begin 12,000 homes were visited. The public was asked to answer a questionnaire on the subjects preferred. They were visited again and given an invitation to the meetings.
The Evangelistic Team
The team was made up of workers from the Mexican and Central American unions. Pastor Carlos Aeschlimann, the evangelist, was assisted by Pastors Estebean Lopez Porras and Pedro Arano Molina as associate evangelists; the local pastors, Jacob Savinon and Francisco Arguelles; fifteen male Bible instructors; and three female Bible instructors. In all there were 23 workers who labored in perfect harmony and with consecrated devotion.
Organization
A campaign of such magnitude required perfect organization. A committee presided over by Velino Salazar, president of the Southeast Mexican Mission, was in charge of the organization. The decisions regarding the evangelistic work were made by an executive committee presided over by the evangelist and made up of the chairmen of the various committees. The committees were: press and public relations; music and special programs; advertising; ushers; special arrangements; secretarial committee; gathering of materials; administration and finance; and pastoral problems.
The workers were divided into four teams. Each team had a leader as director and counselor. The leader distributed the work, checked the results, and helped in case of minor problems. Only the major problems were brought to the evangelist.
Advertising
Radio, television, and the press were used. Invitations were also sent to those taking the correspondence course and those visited during the survey. Posters were placed in stores and brochures were printed. Church members were urged to bring visitors. It was suggested they bring no less than five.
Gradation of the Evangelistic Work
1. Lectures. The first meetings dealt with social and Christian subjects. Meetings were held simultaneously in four different places. The evangelist spoke in two theaters in the city and the two associate evangelists spoke in two neighboring cities.
2. Bible class. A Bible class was organized following the first meetings. A Bible was given to those attending, and the evangelists taught a class in which the members were able to use their Bibles.
3. Baptismal class. Baptismal classes were organized for children, youth, and adults from the beginning. Twelve baptismal classes were held continuously.
4. Personal Bible work. Bible studies were held in the homes of the prospects by the evangelistic teams. A special course for the Catholic public entitled, "Home Bible Course," was used for the Bible studies. A special course, "We Believe," was used for the baptismal classes.
Subjects
The evangelist presented the following series:
a. Social subjects: Juvenile Delinquency; The Home; Education of Our Children; Happiness; Mental Health; Alcohol; Tobacco; Problems Faced by Youth.
b. Christian subjects: The Existence of God; Jesus Christ; The Bible; Prayer; The Origin of Sin; The Plan of Salvation; Repentance and Confession; Justification; Sanctification.
c. Eschatological subjects: Daniel 2; The Second Coming of Christ; Signs; The New Earth.
d. Distinctive subjects: The Three Angels' Messages; The Judgment; The Law; The Sabbath.
e. Ecclesiological subjects: The Twenty-three Hundred Days; The History of the Truth; The Primitive Church; The Fall of the Truth; The Truth Restored; The Adventist Church.
f. Future Life subjects: Life; The Mystery of Death; Resurrection; The New Life.
g. Strengthening subjects: Principles for Healthful Living; Spirit of Prophecy; Tithe; Church Organization.
h. Decision subjects: Baptism; New Creatures; Follow Me; et cetera.
Course in Evangelism
A course in evangelism was offered and classes were held daily. The subjects were: Evangelism: Carlos Aeschlimann.
Personal Evangelism: Pedro Arano Molina.
Pastoral Psychology: Carlos Aeschlimann.
Alfredo Aeschlimann, Mexican Union president, also taught classes on doctrine and worship.
Lay Worker Participation
Lay workers were a powerful element in the success of the campaign. They worked in the following ways: Ground work; inviting the public to the meetings; taking part in various committees; helping as ushers; special parts; assisting in pastoral work; giving Bible studies and preparing candidates for baptism.
Numbers That Speak
Correspondence course graduates 750 students
Visits in homes during survey 12,000 homes
Attendance at first meetings 2,500 persons
Interests receiving Bible studies 1,850 persons
Baptisms 550 persons
Cost of the campaign $15,200
Results
Six baptismal services took place. In one of these 124 persons were united to the church. In order that more than one thousand people could view the ceremony, it was held in three stages. The last ceremony in which all the workers were present was a memorable one. At that time 153 precious new believers were united with the church. Three ministers officiated simultaneously.
A church was organized in the city of Merida as a result of the campaign. A good meeting place was secured and now there is an organized church of more than one hundred members.
All that area was blessed by the campaign. The workers went to the different churches in the vicinity, held meetings, and organized baptismal classes. As a result, no less than two hundred persons learned the truth.
It will be a glorious year in the winning of souls for the Southeastern Mission. More than 1,000 souls had already been baptized by the third quarter of 1968. For the first time this mission is sure to reach its goal in baptisms.
The campaign in Merida meant not only the winning of hundreds of souls but also a powerful revival in all that area and a new spiritual experience for the participating workers.
Again it was demonstrated that the power of God accompanies the work of the preaching of the gospel. The fruit is ripe. We need to plan prayerfully for the harvest. A genuine revival of the evangelical spirit that characterized the primitive church is the answer to the challenge of this hour.
