One Great Need in the South
By I. A. Ford
DURING the past few days the undersigned has been studying the needs of the work in the Southern field. He has looked at the question not only in the light of the real situation as it exists at present, but also in the light of what the Spirit of God has been telling us should be done. The South is a peculiar field in many ways. Public effort does not produce the results that personal contact with the people does. The people are inclined to move slowly, and it requires more than a series of discourses to bring them to a deciding point. This characteristic, in some respects, is excellent, as it shows that they are not a changeable people. But our business is to bring before them the truth in such a way that they will see that it is the truth, and accept of it, and be saved through it. One of the most successful ways of doing this is by the circulation of our literature. When one reads himself into the message, he has the opportunity of weighing every point, and considering it carefully. Past experiences have demonstrated that this is the most successful way of laboring. About three years ago, when attending the camp-meetings in the South, we asked for an expression at the various meetings in regard to the manner in which the people had first heard the truth, and we found that over half of them had first received it from the canvasser. And had we space, we could mention whole companies that have been raised up almost exclusively through the efforts of the faithful, consecrated canvasser evangelists. The spirit of prophecy tells us that but little can be done without this; and again, “This is the very work the Lord desires his people to do at this time.”21 In the light of these truths, there certainly should be many fold more canvasser evangelists in the Southern field to-day than there are. Think of the possibilities before us in this work, and then think that to-day only about eighteen or twenty canvassers are at work in the whole Southern Union Conference. Who is responsible for such a situation? Let each one answer. A thousand canvasser evangelists are needed now. We hope to see scores of our people come to this field and help us at this time. It is a good field. We would be glad to speak of this point if we had space. The Spirit of the Lord says it is the “most fruitful field.” Again, “All who enter the work in the South may be sure of God’s special blessing attending them.” We believe there are many of our people who will be glad to enter the Southern field this year. All such will receive a most cordial welcome. We shall be glad to correspond with any who are interested in that work, and to give any information within our power regarding the South. Address the writer at 1025 Jefferson St., Nashville, Tenn. I. A. FORD.