I bought a book called, Pioneer Evangelism by H. M Riggle, I had to share some of it.

It is about the experiences and observations of evagelists at home and abroad. Very highly recommended reading.

I thought this section on the floating Bethel interesting:

"The prophet Zechariah predicted that the domain of Christ would extend "from the river even to the ends of the earth."  Bro. George T. Clayton conceived the idea that a gospel boat fitted with living-rooms and a chapel would be a splendid means of evangelizing the country.  His plan was to have the boat float down the rivers from Pittsbury, Pa. to the Gulf of Mexico and to hold meetings in all towns and cities along the way.

Accordingly he made such an outfit of a flatboat about 30 by 150 feet, and named it the "Floating Bethel". Being very zealous for the cause, my wife and I furnished considerable means towards its completion.

  When finished, it was anchored near Sixth Street bridge, Pittsbury.  The chapel was spacious, seating a few hundered people.  The roof was flat, and before services a company of singers would gather there and sing a number of attractive hymns.  Immense crowds of people lined the bridge to listen, and then some one with a loud voice announced the meeting.  Usually the chapel was well filled. Bro. Warner and his company spent several months on this boat, and a church was established in this city as a result.

Early in the spring of 18 94 the cables were untied and the boat started floating down the river.  My wife and I joined the company just before the started, and accompanied them on the first trip.  None of us had any experience in navigation on the Ohio River, and I am sure that had not the Lord specially protected us, we should all have been drowned.  The only means of guiding the boat were two very large oars on each end.  It often required all on board- men and women_ to work hard with these oars. By this means we passed from one side of the stream to the other.  During floods we were out all hours of the night tying and untying cables.  And as the flood receded we had to keep pushing the boat out, or in the morning we might find ouselves on dry land.  Once it lodged on a large rock in the center of the stream and swung around and around.  Had the bottom crashed in, nothing would have saved us.  At another time we discovered a falls ahead of us, and to go over it meant certain death.  We plied the oars faithfully and at the same time called mightily upon God for deliverance.  We reached the lock and passed safely through.

We stopped at about all towns and cities on both sides of the Ohio.  As soon as we safely anchored, we would gather on the roof of the boat and sing.  Through curiosity, great crowds assembled.  This gave us a fine opportunity to annouced our meetings and reach a host of people.  Many congregations were thus raised up in these river towns.  In this way the work was started at Moundsville, W. Va., and afterwards, through Brother Clayton's efforts, the Gospel Trumpet Company moved there from Grand Junction, Mich.