01.05. The Campaign

5 THE CAMPAIGN Every revival campaign should bring souls into the Kingdom and members into the church. The writer of the Acts of the Apostles said, "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." First they were saved, second they were added to the Church. The last night of a revival meeting is one of the best times to receive members. The people are there. Their interest has been increasing throughout the campaign. The young converts are on fire with zeal and enthusiasm to go all the way with God. The pastor has made many new contacts and has a better grip on old acquaintances. The evangelist is there to help, and it is easier to get people to come in then than at any other time.

Don’t Wait Where the pastor can get the co-operation of the evangelist, It is a mistake to put off the reception of members until a later date. The time taken to prepare for the reception of members, and time occupied in taking them in, never hurts the revival or hinders the last service, I have known it to help greatly.

There are some very definite reasons why we should "strike while the iron is hot" I have known people who would have joined at the close of the revival and I believe would have made good members; before an opportunity was given, some group who did not believe in church membership would talk them out of it, or friends prejudice them against our church.

Remember, a good fisherman always strings his fish.

Another very vital reason is this: It keeps our church believing in and anxious for revivals.

We need that. When our folk fall to see definite results for the church from the campaigns, they begin to lose interest and may even oppose having an evangelist. The Church of the Nazarene was born in revivals, and when we cease to have them we will go spiritually as the old-line churches have gone. For this reason, if no other, I think a pastor would be wise, even if he had a group ready to join, to wait until the close of the revival to receive them into the church.

I would rather take in ten members on the last night of the meeting and lose half of them than to wait ten days and not get any.

TroublemakersSome think it is dangerous to urge new people to unite with the church or take them in too soon alter they are converted. However, it has been my observation that it is not the new converts and seldom the new people who cause trouble.

Troublemakers are usually found among members of long standing who have lost the grace of God out of their hearts -- people who have become sour and critical, yet still profess to have an experience.

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