Our Summer’s Campaign by I. H. EVANS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 29, 1915

Our Summer’s Campaign

By I. H. EVANS

Most of our conferences have now started their season of tent work. I think there has never been a year in the history of our work when there have been so many tents pitched as this summer. Nearly every conference is greatly increasing its field efforts this year over any preceding year. The conferences are running from six to as many as thirteen tent efforts this summer; and we are living in times when we have a right to expect large returns.

In the history of our work there has never been a time when we could preach with such power on the leading themes of the third angel’s message as at the present. Before our very eyes the signs of the end are continually taking place. The world is in a serious mood concerning current events. Thousands know our position on prophecy; they have heard many of our workers speak on the signs of the times. They are looking to the teachers of our faith for a reason, and are asking, “What do these things mean?”

Our weakness in our efforts in the past has been the shortness of the tent season. Owing to the inclemency of the early spring weather this year, many have started their efforts nearly a month later than usual. The question may reasonably be raised, Do we have to close our tent efforts as early in the fall as we have been accustomed to in the past? Is it possible to conduct a winter tent effort, finishing our work deliberately and fully before pulling down our tents?

On this point, I should like to quote a few words from a letter from Elder C. G. Bellah, of Missouri, under date of June 7. Among other things he says:—

We have just organized a church of thirty-six members here, with seven keeping the Sabbath who are not yet members. Townley is a little place of about five hundred, and a good rural population. There has never been any work done here before.

Mrs. Bellah and I pitched our tent and began meetings Nov. 17, 1914, she doing Bible work. We continued for six weeks in spite of snow, sleet, and cold rains, and never missed a night. Then we had to attend a workers’ meeting; but we came right back, and pitched the tent again, this time in the snow. It was bitter cold, but we could do no better, as the only available hall had just burned.

We have been here six months, and have missed only two night services on account of bad weather. The interest was so great that people came through rain, sleet, and snow.

Last night we closed, getting eight new members, making, as we said, thirty-six. Others will come in in a few days, as we shall be here over another Sabbath. We have had baptism three different times, and shall baptize six others in a few days.

We appreciate this winter tent work. People cannot stand outside—it is too cold. There is no running in and out during the service. Tent stakes hold well in frozen ground, and snow on the tent looks fine.

The tent, thirty by fifty feet, was kept well heated, even with the temperature ten below zero. We had a big heater on each side of the tent, and six inches of dry sawdust on the ground. We fastened the bottom of the wall to the ground, and the top to the curtain.

For six months the attendance has been about two hundred, and never but once or twice less than fifty or sixty. Of course it has meant very hard work. This is my first experience in tent work, and consequently I have had to work out all the subjects from the ground up.

At the beginning of the year my faith was strong enough to ask for only twenty-five converts. Later we raised it to fifty, and now I feel almost like saying that by God’s help we shall win one hundred souls to Christ during 1915.

Now the point is this: Can we not lengthen our tent season efforts by fixing up our tents with good heating stoves, and having the comfort of the people in view? If this could be done, I see no reason why every tent company should not expect to raise up a good church of Sabbath keepers. Surely we must work with increased activity, and with greater results than ever before, if we reach the goal for 1915, increasing our church membership to 80,000 believers. We shall expect great results from the season’s efforts this year. To this end let the entire denomination continually seek God in earnest prayer.

I. H. EVANS.