Dr. Robert Sumner passed away in December 2016. The Biblical Evangelist newspaper is no longer being published and the ministry of Biblical Evangelism has ceased operation.

The remaining inventory of his books and gospel tracts was transferred to The Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles and may be ordered here.

We are 40 Years Old!
Dr. Robert L. Sumner

WE ARE 40 YEARS OLD!

By the Editor

Does the reader cry out, “No way! I’ve seen your picture and it has been a long, long time since you saw 40”? True, but we are not talking about the editor’s age.

This Year of Our Lord, 2006, marks the 40^th anniversary of the founding of this magazine, The Biblical Evangelist. Two decades ago, on our 20^th anniversary, we had a campaign to raise $20,000 to pay off the office building that we had at the time. It was a success, and a great part of that victory was due to a dear brother now in Glory, Bill Parmerlee, and his wife Mary, who survives him. He offered matching funds that made it easier for us to raise $10,000 and win the victory! God bless his memory. He helped many Christian ministries, usually in the background and seeking no honor. Few knew what he did.

We had no idea how we were going to raise $20,000 back then and we have even less knowledge how we will raise $40,000 now. But God helped then and we are counting on Him to help us again. We are totally in the dark as to what brother, or couple, or church, could offer matching funds this time. Is it you?

Our first issue, 40 years ago – I’m looking at a copy right now – had a different name (the first issue was called The Regular Baptist Evangelist), but it was shortly changed to the one it still has, The Biblical Evangelist. From the very first issue we have been dedicated to promoting revival, evangelism, and missions.

Revival? Yes, the main featured article was a sermon from one of America’s (and the world’s) foremost revivalists, Dwight Lyman Moody, “Aggressive Revival Effort.”

Evangelism? Yes, there was a front-page message by the editor, “New Testament Evangelism,” explaining what such evangelism really is and what part revival plays in evangelism. This first issue also had a front-page editorial, “Echoes From Kansas City.” Our organization had co-sponsored an evangelism conference in Kansas City and this was a report on the nearly 100 full-time ministers from 10 States – in horrible mid-winter weather (last day in January, first day in February!) – had been helped by the 14 or 15 major sessions in two days. On an inside page was a report about “Evangelism In the Schools.” And the first book review of this magazine featured Why Our Churches Do Not Win Souls, by John R. Rice. We also listed the schedules of the four men on our staff at the time: Evangelists Russ Farrell, Reginald Matthews, Bob Smith and yours truly.

Missions? Yes, while not featured as strongly as revival and evangelism, there was information about several of the editor’s books translated into Portuguese in Brazil and Missionary Bob Collins reported on one them, EVANGELIZAÇÃO: A Igreja em Chamas (EVANGELISM: The Church on Fire), adding the news that plans were underfoot to place a copy in the hands of all the ministers in the Independent Presbyterian denomination of Brazil. Later, when I was preaching in that country, I met a former Roman Catholic priest who had become a fervent evangelist for Christ that had been greatly influenced by this book and was promoting it everywhere he went.

An additional mission emphasis was in a report from Pastor J. Don Jennings about one of our staff member’s mission conference at his church, saying the 4-day meeting with Dr. R. L. Matthews “produced more lasting results than any meetings of longer duration” that he had experienced in his 4½ years there. We had put Dr. Matthews on our staff, paying his salary, just to promote missions and he did a terrific job everywhere he went.

That first issue also featured some columns we still have today: Off the Cuff, Book Reviews, Letters We Love, and two no longer featured: “Precious Promises” Powerhouse (later complied in a book still available from us for $8, postage paid) and Remarkable Remarks (brief quotes of notable sayings, something absorbed in the “This & That” feature of the current Off the Cuff).

That we have never lost our first vision is indicated by the issue you are now reading.

We Need Help!

Should we continue this printed ministry? Everyone we talk to or who writes us responds like the young lady whose sweetheart had just proposed marriage, “Yes, yes, yes!” While we appreciate immensely the verbal support, it is going to take more than talk to keep us going.

Since this is being written in mid-December it is not possible to give readers a report on how we ended the year. However, our office manager in Raleigh sent me the report of our indebtedness at the end of November. Hold on to your hat (or your seat) and I’ll give you the grim figures. As of November 30^th we were in the red a total of $20,106.58, including bills due the first of December.

That is why we are making the anniversary year slogan, “$40,000 for 40 Years!” If we can raise this amount it will pay off our bills and probably help keep us going another year or two. Is this ministry worth the sacrifice?

Mrs. Sumner and your editor think it is and we have agreed to give a substantial amount. (I have never appealed for funds for any organization with which I have been associated without giving myself. To me, asking others to do something I wouldn’t do would be hypocrisy – and that is one thing of which even my enemies haven’t accused me. I always put my money where my mouth is and in this case it is to raise money to keep this ministry afloat.)

What about it? Will you help us?

What Will You Do?

Maybe you could provide the matching funds we mentioned at the start. Perhaps you couldn’t provide the full matching $20,000 (we think some of our readers could, if God led them to do so), but you would be able to launch the “match” with a sizeable amount. Others could make substantial one-time gifts. And, to be honest, everyone could give something – even the poorest of our readers.

Pray about it. And let me know. This is a special fund so earmark your gift, “$40,000 for 40 Years” campaign. And God bless you for it.

One of the things we want to do if we raise the money is to put the editor’s book, Hell Is No Joke! back in print. To all who give $100 or more to this fund, we will send a complimentary copy if and when it is reprinted.

Let me hear from you!