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D u r in g th e se days of political interest, you have probably been impressed with the tremendous effort being expended for various parties. Apparently no sacri fice of blood, sweat and tears is considered too great in the promotion of elections. Perhaps only those on the inside of such an operation actually know and appreciate the great amount of money, time and energy it takes. In fact, it may seem that it is a paradox to speak of “ Cam paigning with EASE.” But the truth of the matter is that when it is done properly and in an organized manner, it IS easier! Enthuse Inspiration is caught rather than taught. Before we can expect to convince others that Sunday School is the most worthwhile hour in the week, we must be sold on the idea ourselves. Ask yourself where you can invest your life and reach more people for Jesus Christ per capita, per dollar, and per hour, than through the Sunday School. The first requisite for campaigning for Christ through the Sunday School is enthusiasm. And the best way to produce this vitality is to talk, think, pray, and live Sunday School yourself. The first thing you know, your fellow-workers will catch your spirit, and the whole staff will become alive because you generated a spark! Enlist But this is not a one-man campaign . . . that is, for long. It may have to begin with you, but you cannot do it alone. So select the most likely person around you, and begin to cultivate him. Expose him to the glow that radi ates from your own conviction that Sunday School is the “ biggest job in the world,” and soon you will become a committee of two. Then, allow the principle of multiplica tion to take over until you have a staff of enthusiastic co laborers. This beats the old method of tricking, bribing, shaming or demanding, produces better campaigners (and is easier, too). Could it be that you have not because you ask not? But do not attempt to skip the first step, and immediately try to enlist helpers without first inspiring. Educate Zeal must be accompanied by knowledge. After you have succeeded in sharing your enthusiasm for Sunday School endeavor, you may find that you need to train and educate workers for the various tasks involved in this great enterprise. In the area of promotion, most of us are sadly lacking in general know-how and specific tech niques. The fields of public relations, promotion and ad vertising require training to be done effectively. But the methods are almost unlimited: telephone, sound trucks, pjns, flyers, posters, stickers, hats, armbands, etc. Be sure to investigate many techniques, determine which will work best in your situation (taking into' account your finances, talent and personnel), then train your workers in their use. For example, people may be friendly, talka tive and extroverted, but expert visitors must be trained. Extend Wise salesmen call on the live prospects first, and then extend their efforts to the less promising. There is
probably no sequence which will fit every situation, but consider the following possibilities: rolls of regular mem bers of the Sunday School, church, youth groups, etc. Then enlarge the list with relatives of those you are already reaching; associates such as playmates, school mates, business associates, neighbors, etc. Next in the. scale may be those in geographical proximity, the PTA, scouts, etc. Finally, though not least rewarding, is the list of new families taken from utilities company files, Wel come Wagon, Chamber of Commerce, moving companies, etc. The possibilties are almost limitless. Start at the cen ter with the most likely prospects, and extend your in What has been taken many times for indifference, lack of cooperation, and carnality, may be discovered to be a genuine problem to which there is a solution. For exam ple, many of our people who claim they cannot help us campaign for Sunday School, really cannot . . . at least under the present conditions. But perhaps we can alter the circumstances so that they CAN cooperate. If there are small children in the home who need care, then let us supply the baby-sitters (do you have some teen-agers who need an area of Christian service?). Perhaps there are expert campaigners who need transportation, and others who can drive but feel that is their only contribution. If leadership will think from the worker’s viewpoint, and make every attempt to solve the worker’s problems, it will discover that the worker will be much more cooperative in attitude and action. In brief, “ enable your people to cooperate with you!” Evangelize Keeping the major task of the church ever in focus is vital if it is to accomplish its mission. In these days of complexity it is easy to lose one’s sense of direction and get “means” confused with “ end,” We reach, we teach, we train, we serve for the purpose of winning boys and girls, men and women to life in Christ. The evangeliza tion of the lost, in its fullest sense, is still the supreme mission of the church. And, lest the Sunday School lose its sense of direction, this goal must always and ever be reemphasized. Entreat Recognizing this overwhelming responsibility with which we have been charged, and realizing the vast forces of the opposition, the church is practically crushed by weight of the impossibility of the task to its knees in entreaty that the Lord of Hosts will intervene . . . and that the Lord of the Harvest will thrust forth His laborers . . . and that the Lord God Omnipotent will display His mighty power in these difficult but challenging days. Let' us turn from being problem-conscious to power-conscious! While the world is campaigning for that which is “ corruptible,” may the church be campaigning with even greater vigor for that which is “ incorruptible.” We repre sent the greatest cause in all the world. We campaign for the greatest Person in all the world. May we serve with the greatest devotion in all the world. fluence. Enable
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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