November, 1944
361
-*-Photo by Harold M. Lambert
How
to Make Teamwork Count By Lt. Marshall B. Shallis* ■
YOUNG stenographer in a factory near Igmdon became burdened for her fellow work
To her surprise, she discovered one or two other Christians who had a similar burden. They began to pray together. Later on, permission was granted for an article, - “A Call to Christians,” to be inserted in their Work bulletin. Over fifty professing Christians, of all denominations, at tended the first meeting, and an ag gressive work of evangelism was be-, gun. “This factory seems a different place to us since Christ has been in vited inside,” one wrote. In this simple way, a Gospel Team was born. Thus may a Team be born in the place in which you work or live. ’ The solitary soul-winner is often at a disadvantage and is hesitant to begin an aggressive witness alone. Fellowship of kindred . spirits is essential and is God’s plan for us. Ever since the Master sent His Wit nesses forth in twos, "stringing to gether” has been a prime desidera tum in evangelism.' With the passion for soul-winning consuming your spirit,' you may be sure you can do much, in harness with others, that it would be difficult for you to do alone. A Team serves to aggregate, the diverse talents and
part-timetlabors of busy people a n d to enable those who , love their- neighbors for Christ’s sake to carry the gospel to them. Team Strategy A Team may be one of two kinds. It may be composed of a number of members, able to present Christ by word and song in churches, in street meetings, in jail's, or wherever op portunity is given. Or it may Consist of no more than two persons, deter mined to present their Saviour in their place of employment or to the com munity in which' they live. The policy or strategy of the Team will need to be prayed over with much care. Whether the organization is large or small, the basic con stitution should be as simple as possible: a few Christians in happy Christian comradeship, agreeing to give themselves to working together in the gospel. Of equal status as brethren, they will recognize and re spect spiritual gifts among them selves. Such topics as „relationship with the management, if it be in a place of business, or a war plant; the type and circumstances of meetings; the attitude toward unsatisfactory Chria-
ers. As far as she kn e w , she Was. the only Christian in all that huge plant. The very vast ness of the need and opportunity overwhelmed her. Then she took courage as she considered the parable of the corn of wheat. Weary of abiding alone, it fell into the ground and died ; whereupon it was' lonely no longer, but brought forth ,much fruit. She saw that one lone Christian who was willing to yield himself utterly to God, to focus his life on soul-winning within his place of em ployment, could still, as always, be come the firstfruits of a harvest of lives redeemed unto God. She resolved to be that corn of wheat. * Officer of the British Navy, Lieutenant Shal- lis is the author of ah article, “ Teams NOW for Christ, which was published in the June, 19bk, KING’S BUSINESS and which has called forth much grateful commeht from readers. We are informed by cable from England lhat the present article is more the work of'the Independent Gospel Teams than of* Lieuten ant Shallis perspnally. As one of the organ r izers .of these Teams, he writes: “ We purpose, if the Lord will graciously enable us, to pat ourselves at the service of fallow Christians in any suitable way. How com we help you? Please write and tell us. Our^publications will be supplied free upon request, as long as the supply lasts.” Address Independent Gospel Teams - BM/1GT, London, W.C.I., England*
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker