South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-24
LAY EVANGELISM
MEANS SUCCESS
Rev. 7. J. Parsons Says Every
Christian Should Read
Chapter of Acts.

II every Christian i'm the churches
participating i'm the simultaneous
evangeustic campaign would prayer
fully read the chapter Of acts in
which it says Then the Spirit said
unto Philip go near and join thy-
self TO this chariot" then the COM
ing campaign could be nothing but
success" said Rev. r. J. Parsons.
pastor of the Quincy street Baptist
church. Sunday morning i'm MS ser
mon on the subject "Phnippian
Evangelism" In part he said:
"Philippian evangelism is what
we call Jay evangelism. because Sc
is done 10y one who is not an or
dained preacher Of the regular min
istry In evangelism God is no re-
specter Of persons. and frequently
He has sisnalIy blessed the labors
OF men and women from the rank
and file of the church membership.
W hat we need just now is that the
men and women OF cur churches
shall realize that If there is TO be n
great revival they must not sit back
and expect the ministers and evan
gelists TO do all the work. Breth-
rem i'm the pews. YOU may not be or
dained TO occupy a pulpit. but you
are fore-ordained 10 be evangelists.
and carry the good news Of saliva
ton 10 your fellow men at this time.
Philippian evangelism is preach
ing the gospel TO the individual A
congregation Of one may not be
very inspiring 10 a preacher in the
pulpit, but il has this advantage.
that no one is looking around TO SEQ
who the preacher is hitting; il also
compels the preacher 20 be definite
and preach with a purpose our
Lord was evidently partial 20 indi-
vidual evangelism. for i'm that way
He won the woman OF Sychar.
Matthew. ZaCcheus. NiCOdemus and
others. God has honored this meth
cd. for some of the richest exper-
fences Of ministers have been when
presenting the claims OF the gospel
10 an individual Friends. remem-
Der what we read in James $50:
He who converteth the sinner from
the error OF his way shall save a
soul from death. and shall hide a
multitude Of sins Eternity alone
Will reveal the full measure Of
Philips work when he preached TO
the colOTed man from Egypt.
"Philippian evangelism is CONVEX
sational preaching. There is no set
sermon. no room for display OF ora
tory, no operate singing. no organ
preludes. The congregation can talk
back and ask questions. Perhaps
Philip thought someone had made
a mistake when he was sent from a
great revival in Samaria TO go out
into the country 10 talk 10 fellow
he had never seen before. 10 is a
great privilege 10 look into the soul
of a fellow sinner. and have a
heart-to-heart talk with him on the
greatest need Of his soul We don't
do enough Of that kind OF preach
ing.
"Philippian evangelism is Biblical
preaching In Philips case the in
quirer had his Bible along with him.
We are apt 10 misjuGge our man.
We may ask about hi health when
he is thinking more about his saliva
ton, and wonders why we are not
more concerned about his soul.
Don't beat about the bush and apoI-
ogize for putting first things first.
He preached unto him Jesus self
righteous people may prefer some
other subject, but a spirit-c0nvicted
sinner needs and war Is Jesus"