TO THE unfinished task!" "The challenge of evangelism in the seventies!" "To win Great Britain for God!" This was the heart-cry of twenty-eight ministers, dedicated laymen, and a friendly church as they launched England's first Field School of Evangelism. E. C. Banks, of Andrews University, represented the University. George E. Knowles, on loan from the Oregon Conference, served as evangelist, with Colin Morris, of the South England Conference, as associate evangelist.
Watford's Stanborough Park church was the location chosen by the South England Conference committee, with Pastor E. H. Foster, conference president, as chairman, for this four-week evangelistic endeavor with the Watford Town church uniting in the joint venture. From June 13 to July 11 this meant for the ministers a daily schedule of morning classes in evangelism, afternoon and evening visitation, and nightly meetings. For the laymen it meant attendance each evening. It meant 87,000 handbills put through letter boxes, scores of bus and window posters placed, plus many personal contacts.
This united effort on the part of minis try and members bore fruit as 650 people packed the Stanborough Park church on the opening Friday night. Of these, more than one hundred were non-Adventists. Even more gratifying was the fact that this remarkable non-Adventist attendance held at ninety with a nucleus of seventy-five interested ones attending night after night. As one man put it: "I looked at the leaflets and saw such titles as 'Blood on the Moon, 'Why Does God Allow Suffering?' and 'Mystery Number 666,' and I just had to keep coming."
Another factor in the continued success was a children's meeting held in an ad joining room under the leadership of Miriam Efford, the area Bible instructor Many young couples were able to attend because of this built-in baby-sitting feature. The children's meeting provided more than entertainment, for the little ones also received instruction geared to their level. The enthusiasm of the children for their evening program helped to keep their parents coming.
Such united efforts can only bring positive results. At the end of the third week some seventy decisions had been made by persons choosing to unite with Christ and His church. By the end of the fourth week Pastors Ernest Logan and I. Kinnerslev had baptized twenty-four. Many more were in the Bible class in preparation for baptism.
In all these decisions the Lord's hand could be seen working above and through feeble humanity. Take, for example, the case of the agnostic who first came as a favor to an Adventist friend, and nothing more, but was somehow impressed to continue attending. He was baptized into God's church on July 12 and is planning to attend Newbold College in preparation for the ministry.
Or observe the working woman who some time before the meetings planned her holiday for the period from June 13 to July 4. These dates coincided perfectly with the meetings, and God used them to lead another soul to the foot of the cross.
But now listen to the story of a layman's witness: A certain Adventist doctor and his wife were used of God in leading a soul to the Saviour. For three months the doctor and his wife prayed for their neighbor. Next they invited the neighbor to their home for dinner. Then came the meetings. An invitation was given and accepted. And three months of earnest prayer climaxed in a baptism.
Ten students from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University joined hands with fifteen ministers from the British Union to unite their labors with the area pastors, Ernest Loo-an V. Llewellyn, and Ivor Kinnersley. The enthusiastic participation and support of laymen under the direction of the lay activities leaders of their respective churches was an important factor in the success of this coordinated program of evangelism.
On the Sunday night following the close of the campaign Pastor Rnowles and a number of the Field School participants conducted a two-hour program at Speaker's Corner in London's famous Hyde Park. The crowd for this occasion was attracted by an acrobatic performance by Don Watson, of Andrews University. A kitchen chair served as a soap box for two hours of oratory covering many phases of our message.
Many were the blessings of this Field School; but most of all, we have caught a new vision of the potential for evangelism in Britain, for as the Lord's servant tells us: "There is a great work to be done in Eng land. The light radiating from London should beam forth in clear, distinct rays to regions beyond." Evangelism, p. 415.
Plans are being laid by the British Union committee under the leadership of B. E. Seton, president, for two Field Schools during the summer of 1970. One will be held in Cardiff, Wales, and the other in Belfast, Ireland. If you have friends or loved ones in either of these centers who should be contacted, please send the name, address, and information to:
Field School c/o Dr. E. C. Banks Andrews University Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103
Field School British Union Conference of SDA Stanborough Park Watford, Herts., England.
