The Pressing Call for Preachers and Bible Teachers by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 15, 1912

The Pressing Call for Preachers and Bible Teachers

By A. G. Daniells

THERE is to-day the greatest demand I have ever known in our cause for preachers and Bible teachers. In one respect this is very encouraging, but in another it is very perplexing and painful.

We are all glad that our cause is advancing, and that its demands are increasing. We are glad preachers are wanted for the cities, and Bible teachers for our colleges and academies. But when the calls for these workers are repeated and pressed hard upon us day after day, the situation becomes unbearable, and one feels that great efforts must be made without delay to develop the kind of preachers and Bible workers called for.

One reason why we have difficulty in responding to these calls is because of the steady and rapid extension of our work. During the last twenty years we have opened many mission fields in heathen lands. This has made it necessary to send a large number of our most efficient young men abroad to carry forward the work in those lands. And as the work under their leadership has grown, they have called for many more good workers

to assist them. Thus the demand has outgrown the supply.

But another cause of our present inability to meet the demands for preachers and Bible teachers is no doubt due to a failure on our part to make the earnest effort we should to develop this class of workers. We have not kept this great need before the students in our schools as we should. Our young men have not known nor felt the need of preparing for the ministry, and for Bible teaching in our schools, city missions, and large sanitariums.

The time and the demands upon us now make it imperative that we give greater prominence to our evangelical work. Our young men should be made to realize that this cause is calling for a large number of consecrated, efficient preachers and Bible teachers. And our young women should realize that there is great need of good, competent Bible workers in our cities. This must be kept constantly before our young people, and they must be encouraged to choose these lines of work. They should also be encouraged to make thorough preparation so that they may be able to render the most efficient service possible.

This important question has been given more attention of late by the faculties in our colleges and academies, but it must receive greater emphasis still. But while these institutions are taking our young people through their grades, we must call for those who have finished their regular school work, to consecrate their lives to the ministry, and to secure the further preparation they may need.

This matter has pressed so heavily upon the hearts of the trustees of the Foreign Mission Seminary that they have been shaping all the plans of the Seminary to give our young men and women every possible advantage. They have eliminated the lower grades, and have arranged to give advanced work in Bible doctrines, prophecy, and history, also church history. They have provided a regular lecture course on organization, foreign missions, the publishing work, the Sabbath-school work, religious liberty work, medical missionary work, etc.

A very important provision of the training provided is the practical work to be carried on by the students under the leadership of teachers. Young men and young women give Bible readings and hold cottage meetings in the city. The young men who are preparing for the ministry conduct public meetings in suburbs, in halls, and schoolhouses, and also fill appointments in our different churches in and around the city. The importance of students for the ministry engaging in personal efforts to win men and women to Christ while pursuing their studies is coming to be realized by the best theological seminaries.

In view of the great demand pressing hard upon us for efficient preachers and Bible teachers, and in view of the advantages possessed by the Foreign Mission Seminary to give adequate instruction to our young men and women, surely no time should be lost in beginning and hastening the training required. We want young men who believe God calls them to the ministry, and who wish to give their whole lives to that work. We want consecrated young women who long to win souls to Christ, and are willing to forsake all else for that work.

There should be no delay in this matter.

A. G. DANIELLS.