Chapter III: Advertising

You will agree with me that if we should depend entirely upon Lord’s day preaching and upon protracted meetings, we would never reach all the unsaved even in our own community. God has not prescribed that our efforts shall be confined unto these methods. He has given us a general charge to preach the gospel to all the world. He expects us to use some intelligence and some good judgment in carrying out this command.

And, friends, he expects us to use every means which is at our disposal in order to make the job complete. Of course, I mean every Scriptural or legitimate means. For no other sort of means would accomplish the purpose intended. We would make a very serious mistake, then, if we relied upon any one method alone. God expects us to use every method that is legitimate within its nature in order to carry out this charge.

What are some of the other things which can be done along this line? First, we can make a greater effort to get people to come to the meetings—supplement the public meetings by putting on a special effort to get people to attend them. Newspaper advertising would be very helpful. Personal visits and invitations to attend the meetings can be used to good advantage. Another means of attracting people to the place where the gospel is preached, is publicizing reports of what is being done. Nothing succeeds like success. And _if a church will do what God intends for it to do, it will be news_!

One preacher blamed the churches themselves for not getting more newspaper publicity. He said “If there were a church which practiced what it preached, it would get its name in the headlines of the daily paper.” If you’ll stop to analyze his statement, you’ll almost have to admit that he told the truth. We are not seeking publicity for its own sake, but the Bible says “Let your light shine,” and condemns the putting of your candle under a bushel where no one can see it.

When the church does something which is worthwhile and would serve as a fine example for others, it is our duty to give it the publicity which it deserves in order that others may profit by the example. Such is authorized by the commandment, “Let your light shine, that others may see your good works and glorify God.”