The Summer's Campaign in the City of Buffalo by F. C. Gilbert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 16, 1915

The Summer's Campaign in the City of Buffalo

By F. C. Gilbert

For several years we have tried in various ways to solve the problem of reaching the Jewish people. As the brethren and sisters know, to reach the Jews with the gospel is a hard problem. But they must be warned, and somehow they must learn this truth. While to a large extent our work has been done and must still be done with the printed page and through publicity work, the living word must be preached whenever a hearing can be secured.

We have found from experience that the Jews are more friendly as they come to know Seventh-day Adventists. It is a wonderful thing for a Jew to learn that a Gentile believes in and keeps the Sabbath. A year ago this past summer we pitched a tent in Cambridge, Mass., where there are many Jews; and when we came to the specifically Jewish questions, as the Sabbath, we advertised in a way to attract the Jews. The Lord blessed the work in that city, and a number of persons accepted the truth, among whom was one Jewish young man.

This year, after counseling with the committee of the Jewish Department and the Western New York Conference Committee, it was decided that we locate for the summer in Buffalo. This is the tenth city in population in the United States, and has about fifteen thousand Jews.

I have felt for some time that the Jewish problem is really a city problem; and if we can find a way to solve our Jewish problem, it may aid in solving our city problem. It was therefore decided that in conducting this tent effort, workers of different nationalities should be associated with us. We had two German workers, one Jewish worker, one English Bible worker, a tent master, and my daughter, who acted as pianist and did the stenographic work.

We were convinced that we ought to do more than hold an ordinary tent effort. Desiring the cooperation of the members of the Buffalo church, we told them what we hoped to accomplish. The Spirit of the Lord came in, and we had a blessed consecration service. After the people had given themselves to the Lord, we read from the Testimonies what ought to be done for the cities, and showed how the brethren and sisters could help. In about twenty minutes they had given nearly all that was necessary for this special campaign. (The church at Burt, N. Y., also gave financial support to this Buffalo effort.) We then suggested that if we could get fifty persons who would give ten hours a week for eight weeks, we could warn the city. We assured them that if they would cooperate, we would reach every home, every office, and every business block in the city with this message. There was a splendid response.

In counsel with the president of the conference, we decided to get out a special bulletin for the campaign, in which we should include every feature of the message. We named it the King's Bulletin. It had sixteen pages of the size of one of our regular magazines, and cover.

We organized a Bible class for the church, and gave daily instruction on how to work for the people. We also had this class read Volume IX of the “Testimonies for the Church.” This was done by reading four pages each week day, and twelve pages on the Sabbath. In this way the book was read through in eight weeks.

The church sought the Lord daily for wisdom and guidance, and God heard and answered prayer. The city commissioner gave us the privilege of placing a large banner across the main street, advertising the lectures. The four leading papers of the city gave us space, and about sixty articles were published. This space was given to us gratuitously.

We districted the city into twenty-six sections, and each person was held responsible for the visiting of every home or building in his territory. In harmony with the Testimonies, we had the people work two and two; in this way the sections were thoroughly worked, and the workers did not go alone.

The churches within a radius of thirty miles caught the spirit of the campaign, and brethren came in from the country around to assist in the work. We further suggested to the brethren and sisters that while giving away these bulletins, they should ask the people for an offering.

Aside from a few Italians and other foreigners, the whole city was covered in twenty-three days. We placed in the homes of the people and in the business houses 1,020,000 pages of reading matter. The workers received nearly $120 in voluntary offerings while distributing the first 20,000 bulletins.

As soon as the bulletins had been scattered, we noticed in the meetings an increase in interest, in attendance, and in offerings. The evening audience was a steady one, the same people coming night after night. Altogether we placed in the city, in addition to the 1,020,000 pages of the King's Bulletin, 236,000 pages of Jewish literature.

The whole campaign, including the expense of the lot, advertising, printing, lighting, and everything else connected with the effort, cost about $1,100. With what offerings our people gave, we raised every dollar for the campaign, and nearly $150 besides, so that the whole effort did not take a dollar from the conference treasury.

Twenty-five persons took their stand for the truth. The tent collections were $425, besides nearly $120 from the sale of the bulletin. Among those who took their stand for the truth were three Jews, and as far as I have been able to learn, all who accepted the truth are steadfast. Elder Shoup is carrying on the work, and the last I heard, a goodly number were ready for baptism. I understand that still others have accepted the message. We are sure that as a result of the work being done by Elder Shoup and the workers associated with him, many others will unite with us.

If any of our workers or people would like to secure a copy of the King's Bulletin, we will gladly send one on receipt of a two-cent stamp.

We believe that our cities can be warned. May God roll a greater burden upon our hearts, that we may seek out the lost, both Jews and Gentiles, and finish the work the Lord God has given us to do. F. C. GILBERT.