In its ever-rigorous search for new areas of ministry, Evangelical Amusements has decided that the northern states of this country have been ignored for too long. There are vast groups of unchurched people, bundled up and burdened down with parkas, snow, sin, mittens, ice, face masks, and wind. How do you reach them? Use snowmobiles.
A snowmobile can go where the snow culture is. And it’s faster than cross country skis. A large sm with a wide ski base has enough room to carry the tools of the evangelistic trade—a Bible and an offering plate—as well as cooking gear, a rifle, a fishing pole or two, maybe even a tent.
Also, a snowmobile doesn’t make you as winded as skiing. How could you have breath enough to preach, if you are huffing and puffing from ski exertion? A preacher needs all the wind he can get.
You do have the problem, though, of gasoline. Carry an extra gallon or two. It’s no fun to be stranded in the North Woods alone, with just your sm as companion. Anyway, it’s a bad witness to seem so unprepared. People up north cover all contingencies. Survival is the snowword. For those stewardship-conscious preachers, just remember. You may be spending money on gas, but you’ll save on hotel and food bills.
Once you’ve got your snowmobile, you might think you’re ready to set out on your preaching itinerary. A word of caution, however. An sm is not a car. Or a cycle. Or a motorboat. Steering is not easy. But with practice you can avoid spruce trees, rocks, roots, and the local rabbit or grouse. (There are better ways to kill your dinner. That’s what the rifle is for.) A traveling prayer might be in order, as well. And don’t let the speedometer go to your head. So it says the sm can go eighty to a hundred miles an hour. Remember that sound principle of moderation in all things, snowmobile speed included.
Now, who is the targeted audience? Other snowmobilers, first of all. But don’t look for them in the morning or the afternoon. You may spend all your time on your machine. But most sm-ers work for a living, so they take their rides at night. Remember to pack a flashlight.
Then, there are the ice fishermen—a hardy breed. If you want to evangelize them you’d better get used to the cold. Evangelical Amusements doesn’t recommend Southerners to go into this ministry. Try not to beat the fishermen onto the lakes, though. They know when to drive their trucks onto the ice. You may snowmobile yourself right into the water.
A final piece of advice. Keep an extra supply of Delcos on hand. You wouldn’t want your battery-operated socks to go dead in the middle of the invitation.
EUTYCHUS IX
Classified Humor
I have just read your December 1 issue and was particularly amused with your new look in the classifieds. Amused, since even before Mr. Lawing moved to make the classifieds “interesting,” they were causing me an occasional laugh. Who says Christians don’t have a sense of humor? The classifieds prove they do.
RON RIESINGER
Mc Allen, Tex.
CHRISTIANITY TODAY is a valuable and deeply appreciated magazine, and efforts to improve the classified ad section are well intentioned. I love jokes, wit, and humor. I strongly object, however, to the so-called humorous ads by Lawing. They are not funny or humorous. The reader feels like he has been “taken in” or “suckered” upon reading those ads. They are not in keeping with the tradition of CHRISTIANITY TODAY. I, therefore, urgently request you to stop the fake ads at once. Thank you for your consideration of my request.
ROBERT W. MAYES
First Presbyterian Church
McMinnville, Tenn.
Kudos For Two
I wish to compliment CHRISTIANITY TODAY on the two articles I read in the December 15 issue. Item number one: (News, page 38) “Jim Jones: Man Who Would Be God.” I found this most interesting and well written. This article really brought things to light and made me understand how such a cult can get started. This was the devil’s doing from beginning to end. Item number two (News, page 41): “PTL: Please Toss a Lifesaver.” … Again, this article was well put together.… I receive five or six magazines every month but I must say CHRISTIANITY TODAY tells me more than all the others.
W. C. SCARBERT
Aurora, Ill.
Disagreement Filed
I greatly appreciate CHRISTIANITY TODAY. I applaud the interview “Medical Ethics and Stewardship of Life” with Dr. Koop in your December 15 issue. Your “Born in a Barn” editorial (Dec. 15) has an objectionable attitude for me. It somehow says a believer should feel guilty unless he goes to “extraordinary lengths to confine himself to poverty, danger, exile, and unimportance at Christmas time.” The author implies that there is something wrong with living in the “white-dominated North American continent”; or that it is unholy to live in “comfortable suburbs”; or that it would automatically be righteous if “undocumented workers” from Mexico came into the U.S. at will.… The exhortation to be obsessed with identifying with the poor, the third world, and certain ethnic groups or you are somehow unchristian and exploitative represents a shallow analysis. We need not to be beaten with this double standard any more.
RICHARD JORGENSEN
First Christian Church
Tujunga, Calif.
Return to Nam
I applaud the November 17 editorial pointing out the lack of an evangelical outcry against the butchery taking place in Cambodia. Perhaps a reason for this lack of concern is that the name Cambodia brings us back to Viet Nam and a national feeling of guilt. Yet, this is no excuse for the Christian. We seem to have forgotten that Christian voices in the past caused reform to take place. Thank you for stirring me up. I am drafting a letter to my congressman today.
JOHN J. SCHULTZ
Portland, Oreg.
In your November 17 editorial regarding Cambodia you make passing mention of not wanting another Viet Nam. For those of us who were there, Viet Nam can be a very compelling reason for staying out of Cambodia. Keeping a Christian attitude toward other human beings is a difficult task when you are in a situation where your enemy has little to no respect for human Life. My heart goes out to those who suffer in Cambodia just as it did to those in Viet Nam. I find, however, my compassion is tempered with a sense of reality.… As a Christian, I must voice my protest over the taking of innocent lives in Cambodia but as a nation I do not think we are ready to give another 500,000 lives in a no win war. These opinions are my own and do not necessarily represent those of the United States Navy or any other governmental agency.
MARK H. MASCHO, JR.
Otis Air Force Base, Mass.
