Shop Work was a ministry where regular services were help in shows and factories by various people.

Car Barn Work

Car Barn Work was a field of evangelistic work for early Biolans. Biola workers aggressively cultivated contacts among the manual laborers in the various railways of Los Angeles, who came together in large numbers at depots and storage/maintenance facilities.

The June 1910 Institute Items column from The King's Business has a striking report about one of the car barn meetings, from which much can be learned about their normal way of doing car barn work. Under the title "An Incident in the Work Shop: Burining (sic) Their Idols," the author reports "At the car barns where we hold meetings with the motormen and conductors we start the service directly after the 10 o'clock roll call for assignment of runs for the extra men. In one place most of the extra men are called out, thus leaving from nine to fifteen for attendance. During prayer at the Institute before leaving for the service we were more than usually burdened for these men, knowing what little opoprtunity (sic) they have to attend the churches. Having the assurance the Lord was with us, we started out. God opened the way, for without the customary song to begin the meeting, we commenced with a testimony, the Lord having so ordered it that between "runs" we got both regular and extra men, about fifty being present. One of the mission workers led off in telling how the Lord had saved him from a life of sin and shame and h ad kept him for sixteen years. The we followed with the gospel message and appeal to make a stand for Jesus Christ today and accept Him as their Saviour and Lord. With heads bowed, twenty men decided for Christ. Several men of their own accord began unloading their pockets of tobacco, cigarettes, pipes and cigars and piling them on the tables. It was suggested by the office man that he keep them for trophies but the men said "no," they would have a bon fire. They proceeded to place papers in the stove on which were piled the things that to their newly awakened consciences now meant uncleanness in their lives. The men had learned the heavenly language that one of the (sic) shouted "Glory to God," and some responded "Amen." These men now avail themselves of every opportunity to attend the meetings and some are doing personal work among their fellow workers.http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/1/6/16