Evangelistic Canvassing in West Virginia by W. W. E.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 31, 1914

Evangelistic Canvassing in West Virginia

By W. W. E.

There are blessed opportunities and possibilities in real evangelistic canvassing as illustrated in the following communication from H. F. Kirk, field missionary agent of the West Virginia Conference. After expressing appreciation for three workers recently added to their colporteur ranks, he gives one day’s experience while in the field with Brother Snyder, one of the new workers. Those who read this most interesting experience must recognize the great difference between this kind of work and the ordinary “book agent” methods. Brother Kirk says:—

“We went out as Jesus instructed the disciples to go—two and two. We worked together, and as we went into the homes and opened the pages of truth contained in ‘Great Controversy,’ while one gave the canvass the other prayed. The Spirit of God worked on the hearts of the people, nearly all of whom readily gave their order.

“We prayed earnestly before beginning work that the Lord would send his angels before us, believing that he would, and our prayers were answered. One woman said she had been reading her Bible all day; and of course we readily took her order. Others spoke of religious subjects which they had been talking about.

“In one home especially, where we had prayer with the family, the Spirit of the Lord came in in such measure that the mother and daughters broke down and wept. When we saw how God was cooperating with us, our own hearts were touched, and we also shed tears with them. They begged us to come back and stay overnight. We did not promise, but went on and canvassed until almost dark. In one home we were invited to eat supper with the family, which we did, and took their order for a book. We stayed there about an hour after supper, and then went to a prayer meeting that was to be held in a near-by country church. There were about one hundred persons present, and I assure you we had a testimony of praise to offer, for the Lord

had blessed us with orders to the amount of $29.15 for the first day, and with experiences which to us were of much more value than the money we shall get for our work. The family with whom we had prayed was there, and we could not resist the urgent invitation to go back and stay overnight with them. We sat up until after midnight, singing hymns and studying the Bible. Next day the neighbors began to use their telephones, and we received four standing invitations to come and stay overnight.

“During the two days we were together we were not charged for a meal nor a night’s lodging. We took four orders the second day and had some good experiences.”

Brother Kirk concludes with an invitation for earnest workers to join them in West Virginia in this blessed soul-satisfying and soul-saving work.

W. W. E.