A College Education for the Ministry by F. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1914

A College Education for the Ministry

By F. G.

THE following paragraph is taken from a letter written by a young man who attended one of our colleges this last year. It is impossible for him to be in school this coming year on account of financial obligations which he has incurred. He is at the present time engaged with a tent company, and purposes continuing in evangelistic work during the coming year. He says:—

“I am anxious to finish the college course; for I am not satisfied to try to render a life of service to the Lord without at least a college education as a preparation. If an individual can be of service in this work without completing a college course, surely he might be of much greater service with such a preparation. The Lord would hardly have given us our schools had he not desired his workers to be educated workers; and I am going to hold to the idea of continuing my school work, and shall keep myself in readiness to take advantage of opportunities to go to school.”

This paragraph certainly affords food for thought. First, the importance of thorough preparation for service in the great cause of truth. The third angel’s message, the last phase of the gospel for all time, is indeed worthy of the highest and best qualifications obtainable for its service. It is the greatest message the world has ever received. It comes direct from heaven. It is to go to all men. Why then should not its bearers seek that culture of spirit, mind, and manner which will enable them to present this Heaven-given message in the most convincing, forcible, and dignified manner possible? Second, what this young man is doing hundreds of our other young men can do. We have many who have entered the ministry without such a thorough preparation as this young man plans for himself. Some have not even completed a high school course. They are certainly no more hampered in attaining higher educational qualifications than is the one who wrote these words. And if the message demands high attainments of him, it demands no less of every other worker. Now when God’s work demands such qualifications, he will certainly assist those who seek them.

Many of our young men who have entered upon the ministry but who will be unable for a time to attend school to take advanced work, could derive large benefit by taking studies in our correspondence school. The courses of this school are given credit in all our other schools. This study will be an inspiration in itself to better work in the ministry. Bishop Quayle in one of his lectures on preaching says that all ministers should pursue some advanced study, such as language or mathematics, as a mental invigoration. Now if this is true of older men, it is doubly true of young men; and if it is true of the ministry, it is true of our Bible workers, and indeed of the workers in all departments of our cause.

F. G.