THE question of successful evangelism presupposes the qualification of the speaker—his personality, mentality, and spirituality. Granting all these to be satisfactory, there are still other things to be considered in the conducting of a series of public meetings for the saving of souls. The foremost thoughts when an evangelist enters a city for this purpose, are not only how he can reach the masses, but how can he get hold of the better classes? By this is not necessarily meant the wealthy, for wealth is not the standard for determining the best class of people. Rather how shall the thinking, honest seekers after truth, who may or may not be dressed in the most modern styles, be reached? There are many diamonds in the rough.
Let us first of all know and believe what cannot be denied by those who believe our message, that we have the greatest thing on earth to give to the people. It is a first-class message and the last to be given to the world in the generation in which we now live. Believing this, we shall not try to keep in some obscure corner of the earth where only the Lord Himself will know where we are. There is no place too good or too central in which to give this truth. We should seek for the most reputable, advantageous, and strategic position in which to attack the enemy. The place we secure for our meetings will have much to do with the impression the people will get of our work; disadvantages enough will naturally arise with the presentation of the truth without our creating them and thus closing avenues of approach to the people through poor judgment in the matter of selecting a place.
Besides the securing of a suitable location for an effort, such as a reputable theatre or hall, it is evident that it would be poor business not to do adequate advertising. The commercial world recognizes the value of this, and we may learn lessons from them. If they see the necessity of strong advertising in this age of competition, then surely we ought not to be behind. No one can expect to succeed who does not advertise. In fact his advertising must be commensurate with the size of his effort. Large posters, which nowadays are no more expensive than newspaper advertising, attract the attention of the people every day of the week. It is a good plan to have such placed in the most advantageous parts of the city a week or two before the first meeting. Street-car advertising, where such is possible, is also as good, if not still better, than the posters. The writer has used this in the large efforts he has conducted in the United States and Canada to good effect. The newspapers come next and should not be neglected.
Programmes must not be overlooked. This, as we all know, is very excellent. To place a complete programme in each home is a most effective means of arousing an interest, especially with the very fascinating titles that we give to our subjects. These shi-uld not only be delivered to the homes once or twice during the series, but should also be given out at every meeting.
Securing an audience to start with is very necessary, but holding it is still more necessary. The advertisement draws the people the first time, but it takes the speaker to hold them. His personality, his knowledge, his method of presentation, will all enter into the attractiveness of his meetings, to say nothing of the singing and music that should accompany every evangelistic series. In the presentation of his theme, the evangelist must be true to his advertisement and satisfy his audience on the subject of the occasion.
There are, perhaps, three stages to a series of lectures. One has to win the confidence of one’s audience. If they continue to attend it must be remembered that they have yet to decide what they are going to do. If each meeting satisfies them they will gain confidence in the speaker. The repeating of many scriptures in support of one’s points is the only way to convince an audience that the speaker is conversant with his subject.
Having gained the confidence of one’s audience one enters into the second stage. This is the laying of the foundation for what is to follow. These foundation themes should not be crowded one upon another, but sandwiched in between other less difficult themes so as not to give the people spiritual indigestion. It is well to get their sanction to these foundation themes, to find out how much of the presentation they are really grasping. The arguments which may be eventually brought against the testing truths should be dealt with before coming to the tests, so that when the testing truths are dealt with there will be nc gaps through which to flee.
The evangelist should also assure himself that when an individual accepts the truth it is the whole truth and not a portion of it. When it is accepted in this way the convert usually remains steadfast. The writer, who has had years of experience in getting people to accept this message, has found that a very small percentage, perhaps less than five per cent, have given up. Someone may ask if those who have accepted are truly converted? The answer to this is evident. Though we cannot read their hearts, yet by their fruits we know them. Obedience to the truth and continuity in service for the Lord is all the evidence anyone has of genuine conversion. Let us pray the Lord that more may be led to accept the truth for this time.
