Missionary Volunteer Department

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 3, 1909

_Missionary Volunteer Department_

Second Meeting, May 18, 8 A. M.

THE time was devoted to the consideration of the topic, “How to Meet the Spiritual Needs of Our Young People.” Miss S. Lela Hoover, of Western Washington, presented a paper on this subject, speaking of the first great need of the spiritual life as being a spiritual birth. The Saviour must be a close friend in our life’s experiences; the youth must learn to abide in him. As the child would languish and die unless fed daily, so the soul that is born again must feed daily on the bread of life. Another necessity of the spiritual life is learning to do for others. This insures a happy, healthful Christian growth. But a prerequisite to Christian growth is the surrender of the will to God.

In speaking of how to meet these needs, she said: “The labor and responsibility involved in reaching the youth individually, and meeting the spiritual needs of each, are great. In order to do this we must have organization and systematic effort; we must have methods and plans; we must have ammunition, or the necessary material with which to work. Far more important than all these, is the Spirit of the living God. The key to the Missionary Volunteer movement, as I understand it, is co-operation with the Holy Spirit. This we must understand and apply, or our work will never be a success.”

Elder R. D. Quinn, in his discussion of this topic, showed the impossibility of giving to others what we do not possess. “The difference between the teaching of Christ and that of the scribes and Pharisees was that Jesus taught only the things which he had experienced.”

Mrs. E. A. Merrell referred to the danger of continuing to want, and yet never obtaining, because of failure to comply with the conditions. She said, “The only way to be a deliverer is to be first delivered.” Others voiced similar convictions.

Third Meeting, May 20, 8 A. M.

The discussion of resolutions on spiritual work for and by our young people occupied the morning hour. The home, the church, the school, the social circle, should each contribute to the spiritual welfare of our young people. The greatest need of our youth is a deep spiritual life, in order that they may meet the approval of God in their own lives, and be able to lead others to Christ. As young people’s workers we should recognize a change of heart and the reception of the Holy Spirit as fundamental in all work. To this end earnest evangelistic efforts should be put forth in behalf of the youth.

The foundation of all organized effort is prayer and personal work. For this reason we should encourage the formation of prayer bands in every church. The prayer band is the nucleus around which every successful society is formed. Brother Burdick, of New York, said: “A society is a good thing. It is a machine; but in these prayer bands the contact with the dynamo of heaven is made. There we get the power, and the machine is put into action.”

Experiences related by different workers emphasized the importance of the resolutions under consideration.

Fourth Meeting, May 23, 8 A. M.

A double male quartette presented a message in the song, “We Must Be Born Again.” Prof. H. R. Salisbury read a paper on “The Educational Features of the Missionary Volunteer Work,” in which the great importance of this phase of the work of the young people was clearly and forcibly emphasized.

The discussion by the secretaries and others brought out many illustrations of the value of this work, especially the Missionary Volunteer Reading Course.

Frederick Griggs: If we can get our young people down to good hard study, their work is going to be substantial. I see in this a great advantage for our educational work, since the reading courses will help the youth to form ideals, and give them a desire for a part in this work.

Lillie George: The Reading Course is perhaps the most interesting of all the lines of work in our field. The young people thoroughly enjoy it.

S. Lela Hoover: I have received many letters telling of the blessing which the reading of “Great Controversy” has brought to our young people, and of the determination that it has given them to be something more, and to do a definite work for the Lord.

Helen McKinnon: Nothing has interested our young people in Alabama more than this question of the Reading Course. One young girl became so much interested in Bible study in connection with

the course that she committed the book of John to memory.

Lesley Shoup: A young lady in our conference said that when she started the Reading Course, she was an Adventist only because her parents were. After reading “Great Controversy,” she is an Adventist because of her own experience. She has recently organized a society of ten members, and has really been the means of stirring up a missionary spirit in the church.

Mrs. Lee S. Wheeler: One of the workers in our conference says that the Reading Course has been the making of some of the young people.

Mrs. R. W. McMahan: I believe that the Reading Course is one of the strongest factors in maintaining the interest in our Missionary Volunteer societies.