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Do Church Officers Understand?

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 14, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 3.

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Do Church Officers Understand?

By M. E. Kern

Most of the letters received at the Missionary Volunteer Department office express gratitude for the special efforts now being made for the young people, and ask for suggestions and help. A recent letter from an academy principal says: “I believe the department by its consistent and constant work has done a great deal for our youth. I find that our workers generally are turning more to the young people.”
Once in a great while we learn of some criticism or opposition. Friendly criticism we welcome, because it helps us to make progress. We should indeed be sorry, however, to know that any one opposes the general idea of our Missionary Volunteer movement, for we believe it is of God.
Recently a conference Missionary Volunteer secretary wrote: “The young people in our conference need a great deal of help and encouragement, especially from our church officers; but I find many who have little or no interest in the work, except to repress and hinder. They seemingly fear that if they grant the young people any privileges at all, they will run away with them; so think it better to grant none. As a result, some are crowded out of the society of the church.” I was glad for this other word which he added: “In some places I find these conditions are due to misunderstandings.” Aside from the spiritual lethargy with which Satan is endeavoring to stupefy us all, which of course always causes us to neglect the work, I feel that in most cases any opposition or neglect of the Missionary Volunteer plans must be due to misunderstandings. So I sometimes ask myself, “Do all our church officers understand?”
Years ago this instruction was sent us: “Very much has been lost to the cause of God by a lack of attention to the young. . . . When the youth give their hearts to God, your care for them should not cease. Lay some special responsibility upon them. Make them feel that they are expected to do something. The Lord chooses them because they are strong. Teach them to labor in a quiet, unpretending way for their young companions. Let different branches of the missionary work be laid out systematically, and let instruction and help be given, so that the young may learn to act a part. Thus they will grow up to be workers for God.”—“Gospel Workers,” pages 278, 279. The Missionary Volunteer Department was organized to help our churches and conferences to carry out this instruction. We have abundant evidence that the results sought are being realized, to a limited degree at least. By the full and hearty cooperation of church and conference officers the denomination will realize more and more the blessed results of the special efforts now being made.
Let us as church officers ask ourselves again that searching question which the Master asked Peter that spring morning by the Sea of Galilee, “Lovest thou me more than these?” And let us consider anew the admonition of Peter’s risen Lord, “Feed my lambs.” That blessed command still comes direct from the great heart of the Master to his undershepherds, bidding them to take care of the lambs—“my lambs.” Many have strayed and been lost on the mountains of sin for lack of intelligent care at the proper time. But God is calling us back to our duty. He is saying to us, “No absorption in personal affairs, no interest in great church campaigns, nor even enthusiasm for the great missionary advance of the church, must take the place of careful, painstaking, and intelligent effort for my little ones.”
But young people must be led, not driven. And what they need is encouragement, not scolding. When you see something that can be commended, commend it. “Just an earnest whisper in the ear of a young boy or girl who has given some stammering testimony, may decide the child’s whole future.”
And never be guilty of repressing their enthusiastic efforts to help, even though you feel that it might have been done better. Remember that young people like to have some definite tasks all their own, something they can point to as a Missionary Volunteer achievement—and in this they are not so different from their elders, either. “Any teacher knows that what the pupil does for himself and on his own initiative is worth, ten times over, the best and wisest that he can do for the pupil.” So it is in our Missionary Volunteer work: we older ones might conduct the meetings and plan the work much better than inexperienced youth, but let us be careful not to do it; for young people, as others, must learn to do by doing.
Will not all our church officers for the year 1915 take time to study the young people’s work, and to make special efforts for the lambs of the flock during the year? Will you not reread the article in the REVIEW of Nov. 26, 1914, “A Word to Church Elders Elect,” and the articles on plans for 1915 in the REVIEW of Dec. 17, 1914? Below is a list of the Missionary Volunteer series of leaflets and the prices. Will you not procure such of these as you think will help you to understand the Missionary Volunteer work, or will be a help to your young people?
NO.
2. “From Which Fountain?” A leaflet on reading, giving a list of more than one hundred books worth reading. 2 cents.
3. “Early History of the Seventh-day Adventist Young People’s Work.” 4 cents.
4. “Organization.” 3 cents.
13. “Guiding Principles for the Young, No. 1.” 2 cents.
14. “Read, Think, and Pray.” ¼ cent.
15. “Parents’ Meetings.” With special reference to camp meetings. 3 cents.
19. “Messages to Young People.” Testimonies. 2 cents.
21. “Standard of Attainment” (revised). 2 cents.
27. “A Near-By Mission Field.” 3 cents.
30. “Cigarettes and Success.” 1 cent.
33. “Our Influence.” 3 cents.
34. “The Cooperation Called for in Young People’s Work.” 3 cents.
35. “Marrying Unbelievers.” 3 cents.
36. “Leadership.” 2 cents.
37. “Under the Yoke of Service.” 1 cent.
38. “What the Young People’s Work Has Done for Me.” 3 cents.
39. “How Others Fought to Win the Prize.” 5 cents.
40. “The Morning Watch.” Free.
41. “The King’s Pocket League.” 2 cents.
42. “What We Promised Each Other.” ½ cent.
43. “Camp Meeting Missionary Volunteer Work.” Free.
44. “The Marriage Altar.” 2 cents.
45. “A Visit to the Schools in Nyasaland.” 2 cents.
46. “With Our Missionaries During the Revolution.” 2 cents.
47. “Personal Work.” 2 cents.
48. “Secretaryship as a Life Work.” 4 cents. Order from your tract society.
And remember that the Missionary Volunteer Department is organized to help you in your efforts for the young. Anything we can do we shall gladly do.
M. E. KERN.