Letter to Christians

By L. E. Ketcherside

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     Dear Brethren: My two weeks spent with the faithful little group at Gerald was pleasant, and I trust, profitable. That is a very hard area in which to work. I hope to return for another season of labors with them at my earliest convenience. They are worthy. Visit them over the Lord's day when you can possibly do so. Thanks to all brethren who visited our meetings. Your presence meant much to all there.

     I am now working with contractors in an effort to get bids on the new basement to be used by the small group that will remove from Middle Brook to Bismarck. They have purchased and paid for two nice, well-located lots. It will be a gigantic effort for them to complete and seat the basement, as they are but few in number, but I plan to contribute the carpenter work and interior finish. Can do that during the day while teaching at night. That will save them considerable money to be used for most essential purposes.

     I am pushing the use of visual aids in this area to advantage. I am getting some audiences that I have been unable to get heretofore. I am convinced of the practicability of this method of teaching. I believe my investment in the equipment will show good returns for the Master, and that is the goal I have set.

     As the winter is coming on, I have assembled a number of Bible Quiz books for use by the entire family, and especially the children. These books are inexpensive. They sell in groups of two and three for $1. There are 25 books in the collection. One small sectarian group is pooling funds to purchase the entire lot at a cost of $10. The lady spokesman for the group remarked, "These youngsters will make up the church of tomorrow, if there is to be a church of tomorrow. Their training must begin now!" Her foresight is to be commended. Brethren, who will be the attraction in your home during the winter months, the Cisco Kid or the Lord Jesus Christ? What aspect will the church of tomorrow assume insofar as you are concerned?

     A scriptural correspondence course is badly needed in every community, and will receive wide acceptance in most communities. I believe I can enroll hundreds for such a course in this area within just a few weeks. However, it requires more time and funds than I have to accomplish the work. The actual cost of producing and mailing the lessons would be about $1 per year, per enrollment, if lessons are issued twice per month. This, of course, is inexpensive mission work, but is too expensive for an individual to undertake. Wealthy congregations of the South are sending out thousands of such courses free, and are immersing scores in many communities in return. We have scores of brethren, both male and female, who claim to be too incapacitated to render any kind of active service to the Lord. With the proper kind of urging, I do believe they could be activated to the extent of licking a few two-cent postage stamps and applying them to prepared correspondence lesson sheets twice per month.

     Elders and leaders, have you ever asked the membership of your congregation how many lessons they would be willing to personally mail out twice per month at

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a total cost of 5c per lesson. That would be 10c per month? I believe you will find that the sisters will agree to mail out about five lessons for each lesson mailed out by a male member -- and I am not running for election either. I just find more of our sisters more active than I find male members. However, I fully appreciate the fact that we do have many very fine, active male members that are doing commendable work for the Master.

     Brethren, if you have some 35 mm scenery slides that you would like to sell, I would like your price on them. I can use them to advantage in getting audiences for gospel teaching. I cannot show religious scenes to public school classes in this state but I can show them the beauty of God in nature and invite them to view the scripture scenes at the evening service.