Missionary Work for Children by EDITH M. GRAHAM

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 28, 1915

Missionary Work for Children

By EDITH M. GRAHAM

EDITH M. GRAHAM

CHILDREN love the things in which they are interested, and which they have been permitted to assist in building up. They are naturally active, and anxious to do things. Their energy must find some outlet.

One of the saddest things in this cause is the continual drift of the children of Seventh-day Adventists into the world soon after they reach the age when they can direct their own movements. It would seem as if there was no power in this message to hold them, but we know the power of God is in it. Therefore there must be some other reason for this lack of interest in the truth of God. Is it not possible that it may be found in the home training of the children?

In some homes the daily routine will be somewhat as follows: The reading of a short passage of Scripture followed by a short prayer, for morning worship; departure of the children to public school; return in the afternoon; out to play with companions, or employed in household tasks; home work; and bed; conversation at meals on commonplace matters; on Friday evenings a little time given to the Sabbath school lesson.

In such homes during six days of each week hardly a thought about the message enters the children's minds, which are largely filled with thoughts of school and play. Therefore the deepest, because the most frequent, impressions that are being made on their minds are those which draw toward the world.

Would it not be well to change this, and keep the truth constantly before the children, so that it will engage a large part of their thoughts? This can be done by enlisting them in the great army of workers for God in finishing the gospel work. True, it will take some of the time of the father and the mother, but the results will well repay.

Helpers for Jesus

Let the father and the mother call the children together, and talk the matter over with them. Let them tell the children that Jesus is waiting to come and take his people to be with him, and that the thing that keeps him waiting is the unfinished work of letting every one know that he is coming. Let them tell the children that Jesus asks every one to help to finish this work quickly, and ask them if they will not become helpers for Jesus. They will almost surely say that they want to help. Then tell them there are two ways in which they can help; one, by letting people who live near them know that Jesus is coming, by giving or selling them tracts and papers; and the other, by earning money to send missionaries to other countries to tell the people there.

Plans should be laid for regular home missionary work for the children. Perhaps the mother can arrange to spend one afternoon a week going with them to sell magazines or the weekly Signs, or to distribute Present Truth Series, Family Bible Teacher leaflets, or tracts from door to door. The father may be able to plan to give some time each week to this work. As far as possible the work should be done regularly, and the children made to understand that God's work is of the greatest importance.

Before setting out, the children should be told some things they can say as they give the literature away. The parents should then briefly pray that the angels of God will go with them and bless the work.

On returning from each round, the parents should help the children note down what they have done, in their Morning Watch Calendar report blanks. They should constantly remind them that every figure put down means a way opened for the Holy Spirit to reach souls. When the reports are all made up, parents and children should bow together, and each ask God's blessing on the work done. Once a week a report should be handed to the church Missionary Volunteer secretary.

Each morning at family worship the work should be remembered. It would be a good plan to select some neighbors for whom especially to work, and to pray for them daily by name. The children should be encouraged to work for other children.

Money for Missions

Equally careful plans should be laid to help the children earn money for foreign missions. Wherever it is possible, they should be given land to cultivate for this purpose. This helps to develop their bodies and minds as well as their spiritual faculties. The parents should help in making the land productive, in selecting profitable crops, and in finding a market; but they should not do the work. They should frequently inspect the gardens, and show a deep interest in their welfare. All should join in praying that the seed sown may bring in good returns.

Children who live in towns and cities can earn some money by the sale of our literature. Boys who have a taste for carpentry can be taught to make little conveniences for the use of housekeepers. These have a ready sale, and most boys enjoy this work, for they take pride in turning out something that is useful. The girls can make garments for babies, also tea towels, and many other little things that wives and mothers are always buying. If the articles are nicely made, useful, and offered at the regular market price, there will be no difficulty in selling them, as people are usually willing to encourage children in mission work.

Parents should keep their eyes and ears open for all the interesting reports of the progress of the message, and talk them over with the children at mealtimes and on other suitable occasions.

If some such plans as these could be followed in the homes of Seventh-day Adventists, it seems likely that the children would become strongly attached to the message. Their week-day activities would give added interest and force to the instruction received on the Sabbath. They would know that they are a part of the most mighty movement the world has ever seen. The attractions of the world would then have no weight with them.