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Evangelism and Bible Conferences / 121

counties. He comments on the small congregation at New Stark in Hancock County and the struggling church in Medina County. There once were, he said, large congregations in Fairfield, Perry, and Hocking counties. And he went on to note that with proper effort prosperous churches could once more be built. Something of Coffman's dedication can be seen in his account when he says, "It makes one feel sad to find places like this where the church is declining and no special effort made to build her up."

The extent and influence of John S. Coffman on the Ohio churches was considerable. The following summary lists the twentyfour evangelistic services held in Ohio in sixteen different congregations. New Stark, 1889, 1891, 1893; Ada, 1887, 1897, 1898; Riley Creek, 1889, 1891; South Union, 1890; Bakers School (Medina County),. 1892; Canton, 1894; Pickerington, 1895; Turkey Run, 1895; Columbus, 1895; West Liberty, 1895; Wadsworth, 1896; Guilford, 1892, 1893; Salem, 1893, 1895; Grown Hill, 1893, 1896; Winesburg, 1893; Gulp's, 1893.2

The Herald of Truth for November 1, 1892, tells of "evangelizing work in Ohio." An Evangelizing Board for Ohio met at Elida and decided to visit the following places at regular intervals:


Kreider's Church near Dayton with twenty-five or thirty members every four weeks. Samuel Kreider is pastor.

Stemen Church in Franklin County with twenty-six members in charge of David Martin. Visits to be every six weeks.

Turkey Run Church in Perry County with nine members and Benjamin Huber in charge is to be visited every six weeks.

Guilford Church in Medina County with thirty members and Martin Leatherman in charge was to have a visiting evangelist every four weeks.

The Longenecker Church in Holmes County with a membership of forty was in charge of a Brother Kilmer and. this part of the brotherhood is due a visit every four weeks.

The Blanchard Church in Putnam County with a membership of twenty

five to thirty had no minister and a visiting evangelist was to be supplied every two weeks in the summer and every four weeks in the winter.


There is evidence that the churches were ripe for evangelistic effort.' In 1892 C. B. Brenneman made a tour of Ohio churches which tells of thirsty souls and expectant churches as the rule and not the exception. At the Salem Church near Orrville "zealous workers" and "dear parents" were encouraged to labor for an ingathering. In Medina County he found souls expressing a desire to


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