Present-Day Ideals in City Missionary Work
By David Paulson
The evangelization of our large cities is the missionary problem before us that overshadows all others. Hence it is of the greatest importance that we should study earnestly and prayerfully every ray of light that has been shed upon this question, so that, if necessary, we may5meet new situations by new methods. We are admonished that in God's work there is to be no fixed scheme, but that it is to be progressive.—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, pages 127, 128. The personal example of Christ teaches us what message to give, and what work to carry on in our large cities. He “went from city to city, and from village to village, teaching the truth and healing the sick.”—Review and Herald, April 7, 1910. Evidently we should not aim to have converts complacently remain in our large cities, for we are told that the inhabitants must be startled by this message, “Haste thee, flee for thy life.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, page 36. The immediate importance of this is emphasized in the statement, “What is done to warn and prepare men for the day of judgment must be done quickly.” Since the Christian physician studies his Bible and deals with suffering humanity, he will, if a faithful and conscientious student of nature and her laws, become prepared to respond to this instruction: “Let the medical workers present the important truths of the third angel’s message from the physician’s view-point.”—Review and Herald, April 7, 1910. That no tame and ordinary presentation will accomplish this work is suggested by the following quotation: “Ministers of God’s appointment . . . must bear messages of a character so out of the usual order that the people will be aroused and warned.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 109. If we ever warn the inhabitants of our large cities, the Spirit of God must in a special manner lead and direct; but that does not relieve us from the responsibility of adopting the most sensible plans and methods. “Those in responsibility must plan for the carrying forward of a broad, well-organized work. . . . Every agency must be set in operation, that present opportunities may be wisely improved.”—Review and Herald, April 7, 1910. The following statements present this more in detail: “God is calling not only upon the ministers, but also upon physicians, nurses, canvassers, Bible workers, and other consecrated laymen of varied talent who have a knowledge of present truth, to consider the needs of the unwarned cities. . . . As physicians unite with ministers in proclaiming the gospel in the great cities of the land, their combined labors will result in influencing many minds in favor of the truth for this time.”—Ibid. The importance of the establishment of a training-school is brought out in the following statement: “City missions must be established where colporteurs, Bible workers, and practical medical missionaries may be trained to reach certain classes.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 137. A suggestive hint regarding the organization of the work is thus given: “Let workers be carefully selected, to labor two and two in the cities, in harmony with the counsel of experienced leaders, and under the direction and commission of Jesus Christ.”—Review and Herald, April 7, 1910. It seems much easier to have the workers labor under the direction and commission of the leaders than for these leaders to give the counsel and help that will enable the workers to secure such an experience in divine things that they can successfully labor under the direction and commission of Christ. The rank and file of the laymen are to be enlisted in this work. Church-members “are to labor quietly and in humility, carrying with them wherever they go the atmosphere of heaven.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 20. “By doing house-to-house work, by giving Bible readings in families, the worker may gain access to many who are seeking for truth.”—Id., page 38. The following statement gives one cause of the cold and backslidden condition of so many church-members: “It is by neglecting your daily opportunities that you become fruitless and withered.”—Id., Vol. IX, page 129. It is only as the city worker catches the spirit of Caleb and Joshua that he can accomplish anything in these cities that are “walled to heaven;” hence he is admonished not to “be intimidated by outward appearances, however forbidding.”—Id., Vol. VII, page 38. For God will stand by the side of his servants in these difficult places. “Angels from heaven will cooperate with them, and many will be brought to a knowledge of the truth.”—Review and Herald, April 7, 1910. From the foregoing quotations it must be evident that to a large extent our modern cities will not be warned as was Nineveh. But in addition to the house-to-house workers there is a call for “capable men who can present the third angel’s message in a manner so forcible that it will strike home to the heart.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, pages 99, 100. Of such men it is written: “Most startling messages will be borne by men of God’s appointment. . . . We must also have, in our large cities, consecrated evangelists through whom a message is to be borne so decidedly as to startle the hearers.”—Id., page 137. As to their method of presentation, “the use of charts, symbols, and representations of various kinds” is advised to make the truth stand out clearly and distinctly. But there is to be no “theatrical performance.” There are to be no “preliminaries that are more after the order of the world than after the order of heaven.” In the success of this work the workers are “not to depend on worldly singers and theatrical display to awaken an interest;” for “how can the heavenly choir join in music that is only a form?”—Id., pages 142, 143. In reference to the worldly competition that the city evangelist is called upon to meet, the following is to the point: “In the cities of to-day, where there is so much to attract and please, the people can be interested by no ordinary efforts.” Hence the workers “must make use of every means that can possibly be devised for causing the truth to stand out clearly and distinctly.” “Yet at the same time they must carefully guard against anything that borders on sensationalism.”—Id., pages 109, 110. As to the financiering of this city work, we are encouraged that “means will flow into the treasury; strong laborers will be raised up.”—Review and Herald, April 7, 1910. “The Lord desires that moneyed men shall be converted, and act as his helping hand in reaching others.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 114.