All over the world, Brethren and Sisters often reflect deeply on this great question. How can we attract people to listen to the glorious Hope of the Kingdom? How can we get them to come to our meetings? How few seem to listen, to be influenced by our addresses, newspaper adverts, special efforts, and so on.
Many express the view that people do not want the Truth and that as far as some districts are concerned it is futile to invite the public; but God touches the hearts of many, and He is waiting for us to take out the Message. We have been given a dynamic work; -go”, “do”, “teach”, “preach”, “help”, “lift”. The very nature of this call to Christ’s work is a challenge to everyone who takes on the Name of Jesus.
For our pattern, we take Jesus. There is no greater. He walked and talked throughout Galilee, calling men and women to LIFE. He entered into their joys and sorrows. He helped them and healed them. He stooped to the lowly and lifted the fallen. He was guest at a wedding and the lifegiver at a funeral. He was healer to the sick and inspiration to the unfortunate.
Maybe we don’t always see our fellowmen in that way. Maybe we strive rather for spiritual perfection, for perfect knowledge before relieving others in their burdens. We read the Word daily (or I hope so) and rejoice in the wonderful language of the Bible, but afters fail to notice the everyday opportunity, for the word of sympathy, for the detour from daily paths to help some other one less fortunate.
This personal aspect has something to do with the lack of attention to our spiritual pleadings. And it is a most important one. It’s little use telling people of Bible doctrines, unless we buttress it with personal effort by going out of our way to show them the kindness that Jesus taught and impressing them with our sincere regard for them.
There in front of your window go crowds of people daily, to the Land of Silence. How much have you done to alter this, to save them going there? Here’s a challenge
We have from our Brother C. Frencl of the answers to this question. So recommend to our readers the full 1 Publicity League, which you must answer in your own mind. That it can be done was proved in the days of Jesus. Some did come. But how do we get people to come? How do we interest them?
Let us start with ourselves. Our numbers are painfully small and our meetings poorly attended. Even allowing for some who cannot be present, it is clear that many do not take their calling seriously or give it that place in their life which they should. So our meetings fail to impress even those who may be interested. The call to life was not for us to sit down and study only, or to say “We are the people”, or only to attend the Memorial meeting and go home, and so on. Surely the end in view should inspire those who profess the name of Jesus, and each should give the greatest effort and most diligent application to this all-important work. God is waiting for you brother and you sister to move.
Every effort an ecclesia makes should be planned even to the very details, and the one responsible for directing it must be a living example of enthusiasm, courage, tenacity and faith in God. Such a one will influence his hearers accordingly. And prayer to God works wonders!
Let us take for an example the weeknight meeting.
Call it a “Prayer and Praise” meeting. Get away from the name of “Bible Class”. People are influenced by titles of things. People think of a Bible Class as an association of people being lectured by someone in a Class. Rather do we wish them to join us as friends in a little circle of friends, that we may give them example, help in knowledge of God’s Word, influence, and friendship; to lead them to God and His Son. Ask God’s blessing on your meeting. Get your members to pray daily for this blessing. If they don’t pray, they will never influence anyone with their sincerity. The true Christian is a prayer, and he must have a burning desire to save others. Next, advertise your Prayer and Praise Meeting. How? Place a neat advertising sign outside your hall, or home. Have it painted neatly and tastefully. Don’t expect to influence others with your talk about Eternal Life by words roughly chalked up, or by a scrawl upon a soiled piece of paper. You wouldn’t do that in business life. How much more so in the greater business of God.
Then, as Jesus said, “launch out into the deep”: canvass the district. But how? Have a little “personal appeal” sheet run off monthly. Call it, say, “An appeal to our friends in Hopeville”. Take it along with you as an invitation, and leave a copy with them to read, if they do not wish to stop and talk. Tell them of your Prayer and Praise meeting, and invite them along. Offer to go and pick up old people by car if they show any interest. Leave an attractive card, a motto, a poem, or a daily reading chart with them. Stress the fact that you would be glad to welcome them to hear the Gospel in a friendly circle, at which questions may be asked, and where the Bible is read daily. Get them to ask questions. Stimulate their interest. Make them feel that you want them, and their children—especially young people. Give them a cup of tea at the close of the meeting, and encourage them to join in friendly conversation. Impress upon them that you are only trying to save them from eternal oblivion. In their sicknesses, visit them. Go out of your way to help them. Let them see that you are working out what you preach in the Prayer and Praise meeting, and slowly but surely it sinks in.
We have seen it act on many occasions. We have seen people changed in their minds, from scoffers to praisers, from cynics to worshippers. Get to their hearts and you will have their presence. It will need a door to door effort, but it will do the work. Get to know the names of people in your locality, and list them. Search the Rolls. Knowing their names is a great help. If they have a bereavement send them a sympathy card. If you can be of help do so. That is the religion of Jesus, who “went about doing good”.
Now, you have started the work, keep the effort going and results will come by prayerful continuance. Pay special attention to likely candidates for Sunday school, for the school is a mighty source of membership later and a great influence on parents. Don’t go into doctrinal points too quickly. Be simple and frank. Remember “milk first —meat later”, that is, unless the other person is a studious type and asks for deeper things.
Don’t criticise other denominations. That is a major error and it is the wrong way to get converts. Be tactful.
Stress the fact that you preach the original gospel of Jesus and the Apostles. The Hope of Israel is not a sectarian movement. It is the only truth, and we should urge this more so than we do. Finally, keep on. Do not fail. You have the Power of the Universe behind you.
Fellowship with the Maker and Brethren