A Willing Heart by E. A. Sutherland

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 4, 1902

A Willing Heart.

By E. A. Sutherland

God is looking for willing workers. He commissions angels to search through the length and breadth of the earth for young people who have a willing mind. I say young people, because at this time there is a vast field of usefulness before every young man and woman. In a special sense the burden of carrying the gospel to the world preparatory to the soon coming of Christ rests upon young shoulders.

God's word is not unadvisedly given in which He says, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Christ himself completed His work before He was thirty-five. Think of it, and ask yourself if you are well started in your service for Christ.

As I travel among the churches; as I receive letters from young men and women now engaged in secular pursuits; as I meet public-school teachers, earnest, well-educated young people, able to move in the best society, gifted with talents which God could use to better advantage elsewhere, my heart longs for power to impress upon them the thought that God's work needs their undivided attention.

Thirty thousand children in our own land waiting for teachers! Thousands outside the Church that must be trained in the next few years! If you who are teachers do not enter this work, who will take it up? God has invited us for years. His Spirit is in search of willing minds. Whenever these are found, a laborer is added to the list.

Emmanuel Missionary College has been planted by the hand of God to train workers. It has no other object. Its spring term will begin March 19. The work of this term bears directly on the need for trained teachers. Preparatory work for those who need more than can be obtained during the summer will be given during the spring term.

The coming summer months will doubtless see a greater effort than has ever been put forth by our denomination in the training of workers for both the home and the foreign field. It is a privilege to have youth and vigor now. If you have these, and have also ability to teach, you are doubly blessed, for through Christian schools God will reach thousands of souls.

“If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” We would be glad to hear from every one who has been called to teach.

E. A. SUTHERLAND, Berrien Springs, Mich.