WHO within the Seventh-day Adventist Church had a deciding influence upon your decision to become a member?" So went question 7 in a questionnaire conducted through the Columbia Union Visitor. The purpose of the questionnaire was to discover, if possible, why and how and by whom people become Christians and members of our church.
No questionnaire is complete, and the findings are not always conclusive, but that which was revealed was at least indicative. Among the conclusions we drew were these:
1. A high percentage of those who responded to the questionnaire were converted to the church after childhood. They are, therefore, evangelistic products, and evangelism still pays. See question 1.
2. Our schools may not have the "holding" influence on our youth that we have always hoped they would. If not, why not? See question 3.
3. Friends and neighbors have a slight lead over other soul-winning influences that bring about a favorable decision. See question 4.
4. Books, more than all other types of literature put together, influence people to accept Christ more completely. Judging from accompanying letters and write-ins the most effective books in order are: The Great Controversy, Bible Readings., with Steps to Christ and Daniel and the Revelation totaling the same.
5. The ordained ministry is far ahead of all others combined in obtaining the necessary decision for Christ and baptism. This is as it should be, but it's nice to know it. See question 7.
6. Question 10 yielded many essay type answers, and it was interesting to discover that our people want to be soul winners. Moreover, they want us to teach them, to train them, to show them, to accompany them in soul-winning pursuits. If this is true, and we believe it is, it is incumbent upon all of us as leaders to do more toward fulfilling their desire.
May we be so bold as to suggest that:
1. Every pastor conduct a training class for his people. If he cannot or does not want to, perhaps an appeal to his conference lay activities and MV departments might bring help.
2. Wednesday night prayer meetings be devoted to training the church for action instead of preaching to the faithful few.
3. Our youth and our laymen be given every opportunity and encouragement in their desires to bring neighbors, loved ones, and friends to Christ and baptism. For your own analysis, we submit the questions and the numerical tabulations of our findings.
