How the Workers View the Work
By M. E.
[If you are anxious to see the youth saved for service, do not fail to read what the Missionary Volunteer secretaries say about the young people's work in their respective conferences. Experience is confirming the message first sent us eighteen years ago, saying, “We have an army of youth to-day who can do much if they are properly directed and encouraged.” What the secretaries say will help you to seize your opportunities to lead young people into Christian service. Other secretaries will later tell us of their work.— M. E.] The organization of the Missionary Volunteer societies in Kentucky has been a blessing to our young people. The privilege of studying Bible doctrines for the past year has caused us to know on these points what otherwise we would not have known in years. Then there is the great advantage of the Morning Watch Calendar, containing three hundred sixty-five texts, which are learned during the year. The Reading Courses that many have taken up are an inspira tion and an education. Instead of the youth feeding their minds upon demoralizing reading, these courses are helping them to choose that which is good. As the result of our camp-meeting efforts for the youth, two young women are engaged in periodical work, and a young man is doing Bible work. The Missionary Volunteer work in Indiana is helping to hold and train our young people in various ways. It is developing in them a missionary spirit to carry the truth to others through the printed page, through missionary correspondence, and by personal effort. Some have engaged in periodical work, earned scholarships, and are now in school, preparing for greater efficiency in the cause of God. Some are taking the Reading Courses at home. We hope to be able to push this part of the work more vigorously. The Missionary Volunteer work is an all-round work. It has a strong influence in a social way in holding together those of our youth who are not established in the message. Through personal, correspondence, society, and camp-meeting work, our young people in southern Idaho have been led to see the joy and peace of the Christian life, and to realize that it is something they can not do without. Seeing this, and entering that life, they desire to have others know of it; and realizing that “before they run,” they must have their “tidings ready,” they are anxious to prepare for service. The Reading Course aids in this, also giving them a permanent desire for good reading-matter. The Morning Watch is a great encouragement to our youth. The attendance of young people at camp-meeting has been greatly increased by Missionary Volunteer work, and the encouragement received from the associations and from the meetings has led some to enlist for service in the work of the third angel's message, as they have received a broader view of the work and of its importance. The Missionary Volunteer work has been a blessing to the New York Conference. It has been a universal experience that the young people who were helped to overcome their timidity and bear responsibilities in the young people's societies, have made good workers in the church and the Sabbath-school. Those who have taken the Reading Courses are anxious for more education, and most of them are in school, or taking correspondence school work. The prayer bands have had a wholesome influence on our camp-grounds. Some one is especially interested in every young person on the grounds, and gives him an opportunity to be helped. The Missionary Volunteer work in Arkansas is growing, the reports of the last quarter showing an advancement of over one hundred per cent above that of the previous quarter. The subject-matter taken up in the societies is such that many are realizing the benefit of the study. The programs in the Youth's Instructor from time to time are just what we need to prepare us for active service. Another feature of interest to all is the Reading Course. Fifteen persons in one society alone are taking this work. The lives of these noble men fill us with a desire to do active missionary work. The Morning Watch is another potent factor for spiritual growth.