Evangelistic Department Article
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It is generally admitted by those in a position to know that the most needy, and in some respects the most difficult field in the home land if not in the world is the Pacific Coast States.
Our evangelistic efforts have been in this section during the past year, extending from California to Washing. About four months was [sic} spent in three of the larger cities, San Francisco, Portland and Spokane.
The visible results as compared with past years are possibly less, for it becomes more and more difficult to reach men every year, but from the standpoint of quality we have never witnessed a more thorough work in our experience than we have seen done in some of the places. In each instance the strong and far-reaching work was preceeded _sic_ by a great volume of prayer.
One pastor in writing to us concerning work, inclosed his church calendar, in which we saw the statement that seventy-eight people in his church had pledged themselves to pray for a revival. This fact led us to accept the call, for we felt sure something worth which would take place, and we were not disappointed.
Revivals never happen, they are always the result of conditions met. Any church willing to may the price may have a revival.
It is our custom to hold two services each week day excepting Saturday, and always three or four on Sundays. We have given during the past year three hundred and eighty addresses and Bible lectures, averaging more than one for each day of the year, besides committee meetings and personal work. we aim to make the work constructive. Our afternoon classes for the edifying of the church have run as high as one hundred and twenty-five in attendance, and always grow in interest and numbers, giving evidence that the people want the Word. At the close of each series we attempt to organize a permanent class for Bible study with the most competent teacher available. By this it may be seen that the work of the bible Institute is not confined to Los Angeles and its suburbs, but extends all along the coast, where hundreds are organized in classes fro systematic Bible study. we have witnesses the conversion of hundreds of souls, among all classes. In some instances whole families were saved, husband and wife and children coming to Christ and establishing the family altar in the home. In two services men and women were so convicted that they came forward in surrender while the message was being given. One old gentleman seventy-two years of age having manifested an interest by raising his had for prayer, when approached personally came trembling to the front in open confession and came out into a very bring, joyous experience. He went home and made out his check for twenty dollars and sent it in for the "free-will offering," which we took as evidence of the genuineness of the work.
We have seen as many as ninety-four confess Christ in a single meeting. A beautiful woman who had risen for prayer one night failed to respond with others to the invitation to come forward. we stepped down and extended a personal invitation when she broke down and between her sobs said, "My little ten-year-old boy came home today and asked me to go forward with him and become a Christian He is not here tonight and I do not want to go without him." The net night mother and son were there and both came to Christ. "A little child shall lead them."
Another interesting came was that of a business man, a plumber, who became burdened for his employees and brought them to the afternoon and evening services, saying, "boys, I want you to go with me and your time will go on just the same." As a result, one by one these men was gloriously saved, also the wife of one who was married. That plumbing shop is now opened every morning as seven o'clock with one half-hour of Bible study and prayer. we do not anticipate any strikes in that shop. He would recommend this plan to other employers as a feasible way to solve labor problems.
We have made a special effort to get those Christians, who have come from other states and failed to identify themselves with the church, to come out in open confession and line up with the hcurch, and many have responded in every community.
The month of July was given to teaching at Mount Hermon, California. About two months have been devoted to special work among the young people's societies, from which many are responding to the call for consecrated laborers and preparing to carry the Gospel to every section of the State.