The Young People

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 8, 1905

At the eleventh session of the ministerial institute held at eleven o’clock, May 26, M. E. Kern read a paper upon the question “How to Save and Utilize Our Young People,” the larger portion of which is given herewith:—

The Problem

The young people’s work in its broad sense is, to my mind, the greatest internal problem facing the church. We are living in a time of special peril to the young, and how to save them to the kingdom of God, and for the service of this message is, indeed, a mighty problem.

We are face to face with the fact that the great army of young people among us is melting away; that there is a tremendous tendency for them to leave the truth; that young men and young women who have been brought up in the

truth are seeking their pleasure and their work in the world. What shall we do to remedy the existing conditions? Shall we be able to turn our dear youth from the allurements of the world to God? Can we lead them to fill their minds with the Word of God, rather than the trashy imaginations of modern story writers, and quit weeping over imaginary tragedies, and weep with Jesus over a lost world? Will they turn from things temporary to things eternal, suffering affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season? Will the church arouse to the needs of these youth? Do we realize the truth of the statement that “very much has been lost to the cause of God by lack of attention to the young”? “No other work,” we are told, “is so important as the training of the youth.”

As individuals and as a conference, what can we do to assist in the solution of this great question? We desire most earnestly to see these boys and girls give themselves to God; and the cause needs the youthful ambition, energy, and fresh enthusiasm of these young men and women.

The Schools

The schools are inseparably connected with this young people’s problem, and in many respects hold the solution to it in their hands. If our parents realized that the most important work committed to them is the work of training their children; if all the teachers, from the primary to the training-school, had one purpose, and one only, before them,—namely, the restoration of the image of God in the souls of their pupils, and the preparation of workers for the proclamation of the message of Jesus’ coming,—we should, I am sure, see a different state of things to-day.

Our people should be taught to appreciate the value of education, and our schools should be strengthened year by year, and should be manned by men and women who understand young people, and whose whole hearts and lives are in this message, and who are willing to spend and be spent in its service.

Organization

The young people’s work as usually spoken of does not include the school work, but is an effort for the youth and by the youth in the churches. More than a decade ago we were instructed to organize companies of young people for such service as they can perform. It was said that “those who really love Jesus should organize, something after the order of the Christian Endeavor Society, for the purpose of doing what could be done for the salvation of souls.” The reference to the Christian Endeavor Society is probably to their spirit and energy, and to the faithfulness, alertness, and devotion of these young people.

“Young men and young women, can not you form companies, and as soldiers of Christ enlist in the work, putting your tact and skill and talent into the Master’s service, that you may save souls from ruin? Let there be companies organized in every church to do this work.”

“Will young men and young women who really love Jesus organize themselves as workers, not only for those who profess to be Sabbath-keepers, but for those not of our faith?”

“Let young men and women and children go to work in the name of Jesus. Let them unite together upon some plan and order of action. Can not you form a band of workers, and have set times to pray together and ask the Lord to give you his grace, and put forth united action? You should consult with men who love and fear God, who have experience in the work, that under the movings of the Spirit of God you may form plans and develop methods by which you may work in earnest and for certain results.” I believe that upon the following of this instruction depends the salvation of thousands of our young people. “The law of service is the connecting link which binds us to God.” “Those who reject the privilege of fellowship with Christ in service reject the only training that imparts a fitness for participation with him in his glory.”

In the effort to carry out the instruction of the Testimonies and in the organization of societies many perplexities have arisen. Societies have sometimes been organized simply because it seemed to be the proper thing to do, but with little thought of the objects to be sought. Some such societies have become strong companies by proper instruction, while others have drifted with no proper guidance until they became a great perplexity to the church. In this way some church officers have been turned against the young people’s work. But we must never turn against that which the Lord has directed us to do. On the other hand, we should set to work by earnest prayer and study to rectify our mistakes. I believe in order and organization, but form and organization are by no means the most important thing. That which is emphasized especially in this call to organize is soul winning, and without this thought to guide and control, nothing but failure can result.

Personal work has been emphasized as the work to be done by our young people. “All should realize that we are to seek counsel of God, that by well-directed personal efforts, we may save souls for whom Christ died.”

The church has been directed to form small companies as a basis for Christian effort, and when there are only two or three, they should be united as a band of workers. If our young people would work in this way in earnest and for definite results, no harm could result from their coming together in larger companies to relate their experiences; but such a meeting would serve as a place where further instruction and inspiration might be received.

The Need of Suitable Leaders

This brings us to one of the great questions in connection with this work,—the need of suitable leaders. To be able to do the work for our young people that should be done, they must be “directed and encouraged.” Of all people, the youth need wise guidance. They start well, but too often lack good judgment and stick-to-it-iveness to make a continual success. The almost universal cry from the local societies is the need of suitable leaders. In some cases well-meaning but misguided persons have utterly failed. From page fifteen of the “Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work” we read: “Who will take the youth separately and talk with them and pray with them, and make personal appeal to them, beseeching them to yield their hearts to Jesus that they may be as a sweet savor to Christ? As we view the magnitude of the work, and see how little it is appreciated, we feel like groaning in spirit, and exclaiming, ‘Who will accept these great responsibilities, and watch for souls as they that must give an account?’”

Conference Leaders

In view of the special importance of the work for this class, it becomes necessary that some one should be chosen in every conference who has a burden for this work, and can find relief only in faithful, earnest labor for the lambs of the flock,—some one to study and plan and instruct others, as well as labor for the young people. The work should also be strongly organized in the General Conference and in each of the union conferences.

Educational

There is need, it seems to me, of a great educational campaign in behalf of our young people. Our people, from parents to ministers, need to be aroused to the dangers that threaten the young, and to the necessity of earnest labor in their behalf. “Much has been lost,” we are told, “for lack of attention to the young.” “The members of the church will have to settle with the Master for their indifference and neglect of duty.” The overseers of the church, the older members, and the ministers have been instructed to give attention to the young. But many, perhaps the majority, do not know how to take up this work. They need instruction by those who make a careful study of the problem, and know how to succeed with young people. This educational campaign should be carried on through our papers, and by means of leaflets on the salient points of this work, and through the aid and co-operation of General, union, and State conferences.

The young people’s work presents problems peculiar to itself, which demand most earnest prayer and study. It is my opinion that not every one can be a successful leader in this work. We need special workers, and we must develop them. The State takes the matter in hand, and requires a certain proficiency of those who would administer to the bodies of men. Shall we be careless and indifferent in the preparation of soul-physicians? “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently.”

This brings us to another line of educational work. It has occurred to some that we must educate and train young people for this line of work. In “Testimonies for the Church” we read, “We should educate the youth to help the youth, and as they seek to do this work, they will gain an experience that will qualify them to become consecrated workers in a larger sphere.”

In our missionary work in Union College this year we divided the young people into bands, each band studying and doing a special line of missionary work, such as branch Sabbath-school work, periodical work, ministerial work, Dorcas work, etc. One of these bands took up the study of the young people’s work, and, although broken into considerably by various hindrances, several of the young people are quite well prepared to go out into the churches surrounding their homes, and do earnest, faithful work for the young people. This has opened before us a new line of thought and effort. If we can only get all our young people to do something in working for their fellow youth, what a blessing it will be!

To recapitulate: (1) we have a mighty problem to save our young people to the kingdom of God; (2) the schools should be operated by men and women whose whole hearts are in this work, and who understand the young people’s problem, and the preparation of workers for these lines of work; (3) the young people’s organization should be simple, and its central thought should be soul winning; (4) one of the greatest needs is that of suitable leaders; (5) the adolescent, of all persons, needs wise leadership and patient love and direction in his work; (6) the young people as a special class need special effort adapted to their needs; (7) there should be one or more in each conference to give their whole time to this work; (8) there should be some one in the General Conference and in each of the union conferences who will spend his time and energy in the study and direction of this work; (9) there is need of a great educational campaign in behalf of our young people, that parents and workers may understand better the problem, and how to labor for the young; (10) every well-directed effort for the young will pay in the souls of young people, and in the advancement of the message.

“With such an army of workers as our youth rightly trained might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be given to the world.” What a thought, that the right training of the army of young people among us would bring this work to a speedy close! Let us do something more than we are doing.

“With such preparation as they can gain, thousands upon thousands of the youth and those older in years should be giving themselves to this work.” And we have the assurance that “already many hearts are responding to this call of the Master Worker, and their numbers will increase.”

There is much pent-up energy in the lives of the ten thousand youth among Seventh-day Adventists, which, like the power of harnessed Niagara, will turn the wheels of this message if once brought into line. Shall it not be our privilege at this conference to take such steps as to direct the energy and enthusiasm of our youth into the channels of the world’s need for this time? Brethren, has not the time come for the message of Elijah to be fulfilled? Is it not time for the hearts of the parents and children of this people to be melted together in love, and for them to go forward a united host to victory and to the kingdom of God?

F. Griggs: It has been clearly set before us that one of the great hopes of our work is our young people. We all recognize the fact that as we grow older, we do not have the enthusiasm and power that we had when we were younger. Youth is a time when the ambitions and the purposes of life are largely formed. If the purposes and ambitions then formed are those pertaining to the cause and work of God, that work will be uppermost in our minds. And in the formation of these ambitions and purposes our schools have a very important relation. Character is said to be the sum of all our habits. If this be true, and it is, how necessary it is that we form right habits. But habit is formed only after many repetitions. If we place our young people where there is continual repetition of right principles, and fixed ideals, and where they themselves repeat over and over again these same principles and ideals, we have them in a channel where a right character is formed, and where right purposes are before them.

I can call to mind many young men and women who have come to our schools as very crude material, who have been polished and refined, and established in the work of the Lord. Our schools are ordained, under God, to do exactly this work. Every church-member has laid upon him a sacred commission to see to it that every young person has the benefit of these schools. I believe that when our people rise as one, and see that our young people are trained and educated for the work of the Lord, they will then be doing one of the most important works that God has given them to do in connection with the young people.

It is often said that the duty of educating young men and women rests upon parents, and there it is allowed to rest. I grant that the primary duty of educating young people does rest upon parents; but I grant also that one of the primary duties of the church is to see that these young people are educated.

When we take hold of this work for our young people and children and train them for the cause and service of God as he has ordained that we should, the work in foreign lands will be greatly advanced. We want the enthusiasm of the young people, and they need our counsel and help. We want the energy of the youth to be trained and directed as a mighty factor in the closing of this work.

G. B. Thompson: There are two things that to my mind are fundamental in this whole problem: one is that our young people need to know the third angel’s message, for unless they are acquainted with the great fundamental pillars of this truth, their work for life will be a failure; and the other is that they need something to do, and the Lord calls upon leaders, laborers, and church-members everywhere to plan work for our young people who are consecrated to God.