Young People and the Missionary Campaign by M. E. K.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1914

Young People and the Missionary Campaign

By M. E. K.

“ONCE in the dusk a passenger looked out from the windows of a trolley car and saw the locomotive of a freight drawing alongside. As the engine began to pass on ahead, the fire door was thrown open, and a transfiguring glory swept up over the smoke, making it a pillar of fire by night. Poised on the plate between tender and engine stood the young fireman, all aglow, proudly waving his greeting.”

Here is a fit symbol of our youth. They stand there kindling furnaces of power. The old experienced engineers hold the throttle. The result is the movement of loads of help for a needy world.

In the following resolution the North American Division Conference Committee has expressed its confidence in the young people of the denomination, and has recognized them as an important factor in the giving of the advent message:—

“Whereas, Our young people constitute an important factor in the working force of this denomination, and should be in sympathetic accord with all lines of missionary work,—

“Resolved, That special efforts be made to enlist, organize, and train all our children and youth, both the isolated and those in our churches, to take an active part in the great missionary campaign beginning this fall.”

The only way that any resolution like this, passed by the representative men of the church, can become effective is by its being adopted and acted upon by our churches everywhere. It is for church officers to recognize the great value of the consecrated energies of the young people, and to take them into account in all their plans for the extension of the Lord’s work. They are ready for work, and hard work, too. Let us recognize their dignity and worth, and lay some special burdens upon them.

A special effort is now being made to enlist all our people in a great missionary campaign which shall continue till the work is done. Our lay members everywhere are asked to do personal work and distribute literature. There are thousands of persons living in close proximity to our churches. Periodicals, tracts, and books have been prepared for them. “Agents are wanted,”—those who, for the love of souls and for the sake of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us, will carry the message to the people.

And so there is a special need just now in all our churches. “That which is needed now for the upbuilding of our churches is the nice work of wise laborers to discern and develop talent in the church,—talent that can be educated for the Master’s service. Those who shall labor in visiting the churches should give the brethren and sisters instruction in practical methods of doing missionary work. Let there be a class for the training of the youth as well. Young men and women should be educated to become workers at home, in their own neighborhoods and in the church.”

So, as wise laborers, let us take hold of this work with new energy. Let the church elder and Missionary Volunteer Society leader plan together how to enlist all the young people in the great missionary campaign. Do not lecture. Do not scold. But in the spirit of Christ, seek to give “instruction in practical methods of doing missionary work.” Let the young people know that you are counting on them; and above all, that Jesus is counting on them. Let our motto be, “The whole gospel to the whole world by the whole church.”

M. E. K.