Sister Margaret Persons has charge of Rescue Mission and takes part in opening the services, though she is not herself a preacher. Sister Pauline shares some of the administrative duties. Mrs. Parsons is about sixty years old, Pauline somewhat younger. Mrs. Parsons' husband, Coy, plays electric guitar for meetings; other musicians include at least one other guitarist--a boy in his late teens--and a pianist. The musicians arrive early and spend half an hour or so warming up before the service itself begins. The seating inside is a mix of pews and benches that look to either be homebuilt or commandeered from old railroad depots, offering room for over one hundred people. The walls bear several dimestore pictures of Biblical scenes and a watercolor of a mountain landscape--painted by Mrs. Parson' son--covers the wall behind the pulpit. The pulpit is on a low stage, facing up a central aisle. During a service, the musicians occupy the right end of the stage, extra pews the left. There are two folding chairs against the wall behind the pulpit. Preachers for the two Rescue Mission meetings were Ray Townsend, on April 10, and Richard Owings, on June 5. Townsend, about fifty years old, was preaching a three-meeting revival. He had recently closed his own church, the Faith in Jesus Tabernacle on N.C. 268 in Caldwell County. Townsend's congregations at Rescue Mission numbered about fifty.

Owings is a professional evangelist. His June 5 meeting drew over one hundred people. Where preachers and laymen alike usually were casual clothing at Sonship services, Owings came dressed in a shiny black suit that made him a stereotypical Preacherman.

The first recording begins as the musicians are warming up. Presently the church bell is rung, and Sister Pauline steps up behind the pulpit. As she speaks, Margaret comes up to stand with her.