August 2-6 is the date for the 1971 Lecture Series to be conducted by the Lake Road church in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

Our Purpose

We had different things in mind when we made plans for our first lecture series. First in mind was to edify the local congregation. We felt this would be accomplished in at least two ways. One would be the effective preaching of the word of God five times a day through a period of four days. Also we believed that by asking members of the church to open their homes for out of town visitors, they would be strengthened by their own service as well as by the association of fellow Christians. The members of Lake Road, as well as some from other congregations, responded excellently to this request.

The next thing in mind was to provide a week filled with study for a host of preachers around the country who could come, learn more of the Word they are dedicated to teach, meet fellow-workers, and go home with new zeal and more knowledge. Such is still our purpose in this work.

The Past

In looking over the names of previous speakers and their subjects, I do not see how it would be possible to have subjects more needful or speakers more capable. For example, last year Irven Lee spoke five nights on The Home and Sewell Hall spoke the same five nights on The Glorious Church. During the morning and afternoon meetings, we heard different speakers with a good cross section of lessons.

In 1969 Harry Pickup, Jr. spoke five nights on the theme, In The Days Of Thy Youth, and Ron Mosby spoke the same five nights on Qualities Of True Religion. Again, during the day services we heard different speakers with lessons well chosen, prepared, and delivered.

In 1968 Robert Turner presented a series of five lessons on The Holy Spirit, and Franklin Puckett presented a four lesson series on Teaching Methods of the Master. And in this series we also had several other speakers with lessons which benefited all who heard them.

Continuing to look back, the on disappointing thing I see about the three previous efforts in sounding forth the Word in such a way is the attendance. We did not expect our attendance to compare with any college lecture program, but we had hoped for better attendance than we had. Local attendance was good and some out of town visitors came from hundreds of miles away. But some homes available for sleeping were not needed.

We know we cannot offer the atmosphere of the college lecture programs, but we have offered, and continue to offer, the same quality of speakers and lessons. Our local Chamber of Commerce is active, but Dyersburg is not among the top ten vacation areas in the South. However, our building is air-conditioned and offers a quiet place to study the word of God. We wonder why more have not taken advantage of this opportunity.

Future Plans

The lecture series this summer with the interest, or lack of interest, shown in it, will determine whether or not we will continue such efforts in the future. You are going to help us decide what we will do.

This summer we are limiting the entire series to four speakers. They are: Eugene Britnell, Roy Cogdill, Doug Burgess, Sr., and Robert Jackson. There will be afternoon and evening sessions only. Their subjects and time of speaking may be seen in our announcement which will appear in this issue of this paper.

As before there will be some homes available for sleeping for out of town visitors. If these are all taken, or for those who prefer, we will be able to secure a certain number of motel rooms with rates running from $4.00 to $5.50 per person. We would like to see you in Dyersburg this summer.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XV: 33, p. 2
June 24, 1971