The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-01-16
''COSPEL TEAMS"
MOVEMENT IS
NATIONWIDE
Organization, Started by Lay
men as 0utgrowth of Billy
Sunday Meetings
CONVERSIONS TO DATE
TOTAL ELEVEN THOUSAND
BY Automobile and Train Teams
Visit Neighboring Com
munities
an THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.

BY THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.
"Gospel Teams OF laymen, strict
liz lay effort for aggressive evan
Gelistic work, are the latest form OF
religious enterprise 10 command ma
tional attention An outgrowth or the
\ Billy Sunday meetings In Wlchlta
three years ago, the organization OF
these teams has spread so rapidly
among laymen that they recently held
national convention, with more than
1000 delegates present
Apart from the inherent interest OF
the work done by-these apostolic lay,
men, there Is the significance OF the
fact that the sheep are leading the
Shepherds; for the solicitude for
preaching the gospel TO these trouol-
Gus times seems more marked among
the laity than among the clergy them
selves. A symptom OF this fact was
The recent great convention OF New
York state ministers at Rochester I'M
der the direction and at the invita-
| ticn OF the Laymen's Missionary move
ment. Ii is commonly said that the
pulpit is losing ITS zest for preaching
u straight gospel invitation whereas
II Is undoubted that the laymen are
providing into this field.
The idea OF anything like Gospel
Teams" Is usually associated with res
cue mission workers and fervent con-
yerts, whose zeal Is more praise
worthy than their knowledge A
striking characteristic OF the present
work Is that il is led by men who are
leaders in business, political and So
cial life. For example, Henry Allen,
editor OF the Wichita Beacon, and Pro-
gressive candidate for governor is
one e the moving spirits OF the Wich-
ita Business Mems Gospel team, the
parent organization, William Allen
White editor of the Emporia Gazette,
was led into active Christian work at
q meeting held by one OF these Cos
pei Teams" The general organiza-
ton Is called the National Federation
OF Gospel Teams. Claude Stanley, oil
Wichita, is president and West Good
win. OF Cherryville. is secretary
While Kansas Is still the center OF
the movement, il has spread widely
and rapidly. There are more than
300 snch teams in existence, and they
have reported total OF moro than
Al 900 conversions Possibly the most
dramatic incident in connection with
this extension work of laymen, al
though they were not formally organ
lxen as Gospel Team, was the visit
OF 500 Scranton trail-hitters TO Phila-
delphia TO stir up interest in the Billy
Sunday meetings.
Gospel Automobilina.
This idea OF deputation work by lay
christians is commoner in Asia than
IN America. On the mission fields OF
the Orient ii is quite usual for young
kirls TO go out conducting Sunday
schools and holding gospel meetings
have seen in India and in japan
Regulations OF young men who have
been out on extended tours OF exact
ly the same sort OF work that is being
done in Kansas.
Like fresh breeze from the west
In time when Christian effort was
becoming parched with over-profes
sionalism. and when the accepted idea
OF religious work was TO hire some
body TO do IL. comes this innovation
from the west. IL is a real reaction
against the stereotyped and perfume
tory forms OF religion. Al the base
OF the idea is the conviction that un-
ealaried and unprofessional laymen
have responsibility TO obey the great
commission. So these teams work
not only in their own neighDorhood
but also travel hundreds OF miles 10
visit other communities paving their
own expenses as they go. so far as the
churches visited will permit There
is never any compensation given TO
any OF the Gospel Team" workers
Since so many OF the laymen> pos.
sees automobiles, wide territory has
been opened near every city and town
Tor this work. II is possible with q
SQUADRON of automobiles 10 cover sew
eral meetings on one Sunday and re-
Turn In time for business, MONDAYS
nn q cgfA he,
pei Team" auto parties are taking tho
place of the old purpOseless automo-
bile trips. Since the cardinal princi
pie of the plan Is that the workers
shall have a meeting for prayer be
tore they appear IN public il is often
necessary 10 hold prayer meetings in
the automobiles az they 20 bowling
along the country roads
Closing the Deal
Business fashion, these lay gospel.
Frs go after definite results They
are not satisfied with making a good
impression. They want 10 close the
ccnfract That is why IL 900 CONVEX.
Mons have already been reported by
fhese self-supporting, selfdirecting
iaymen. Business methods plus the
spirit OF religious conservation bring
notable results.
II must not he thought that this
scheme merely creates new order
or unequipped and unordained men to
enter the pulpits and do the preach.
ing. These gospellers do not preach.
Their brief addresses--usually several
nj the one SerTice-are in the nature
or Testimonials. Thus, while the lead
er OF the team directs the proceed
-inEs. the members go down In the
cChRregation and work among the In
0IsiGnals present. securing decisions
for the Christian life. More definite
and bueiness.like the plan could hard
M be
An Apostolate 81 Lsymen.
The personnel OF these "Gospe
T<ams" Is as diversified as American
christian manhood. Il, runs the gamut
81 business men from day laborers Il