Seite 69 - Testimonies for the Church Volume 6 (1901)

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After the Camp Meeting
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Bible study with those who come to the meetings, and in visiting the
people at their homes, telling of the blessings received at the meetings
and inviting them to come. No doubt it will be difficult to secure a
sufficient number of workers to carry forward the work successfully.
But the results will justify the effort. It is by such earnest and energetic
efforts as these that some of our camp meetings have been instrumental
in raising up strong working churches. And it is by just such earnest
work that the third angel’s message must be carried to the people of
our cities.
Sometimes a large number of speakers attend a camp meeting for
a few days, and just when the interest of the people is fully aroused,
nearly all hurry away to another meeting, leaving two or three speakers
behind to struggle against the depressing influence of the tearing down
and removal of the family tents. How much better it would be if the
meetings were continued for a longer time; if persons would come
from each church prepared to remain a month or longer, helping in the
meetings and learning how to labor acceptably. Then they could carry
a valuable experience to their churches when they return home. How
much better if some of the same speakers who aroused the interest of
the people during the largest attendance at the meeting would remain
to follow up the work by a thoroughly organized protracted effort. To
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conduct meetings in this way would require that several be in progress
at the same time, and this would not permit a few men to attend all the
meetings. But we must remember that the work is to be accomplished
“not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6
.
The work should not stop when the meetings on the camp ground
close. Doctrines have been presented that are new and strange to the
people. Those who are convicted and who desire to accept the truth,
will have to meet the most determined and subtle opposition. Ministers,
friends, and acquaintances will put forth every effort to catch away the
seeds of truth sown in the heart. We must not leave the seed to be thus
caught away. We must not allow it to wither for want of moisture.
Changes tend to weaken the influence of the meetings. Continue
the meetings on the camp ground whenever practicable. But when
it seems advisable to move, let the large tent be removed to some
favorable location, and let the services in it be continued. A mission
should be established. Secure a suitable place, and let a number of