Need of Suitable Local Leaders
that they shall manifest the spirit and energy and enthusiasm in behalf of the advent message which we see the Christian Endeavor and other like organizations manifest in their work. The first and fundamental part of their work, as indeed of all Christian work, is personal, heart-to-heart effort for the salvation of souls. “Young men and young women, can not you form companies, and, as soldiers of Christ, enlist in the work, putting all your tact, and skill, and talent into the Master’s service, that you may save souls from ruin?” “The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who can not err.” Thus “the restless energy that is so often a source of danger to the young, might be directed into channels through which it would flow out in streams of blessing.” We recognize that because of a lack of some outlet for their youthful energy, many of our young people never advance beyond the A B C of Christian experience. Need of Suitable Local Leaders
Many of the workers who have studied this problem of the young people’s work regard the question of suitable local leaders as one of the greatest needs. This was the conclusion reached at the Central Union Conference Young People’s Convention held this year. To be able to do the work designed for them, our young people must be “directed and encouraged.” One State worker says: “It seems to me that the great reason of failure in this work is the lack of persons who are really able to lead out and instruct the young people; many start well, but are unable to hold the interest of the youth.” Another says that the majority of the leaders lack stick-to-it-iveness, not having been taught to bear responsibilities. Different plans have been suggested to supply suitable leaders for our churches. One State worker suggests that some successful worker visit each company where there are young people, and labor long enough with them to know that the society is not being organized out of unorganized material, and to become so well acquainted that he can select the most suitable leaders. He should afterward keep in close touch with that leader by correspondence. Another worker suggests that we must “select, educate, and train live, tactful, all-round leaders for this work.” It was because of a feeling that we must go about this young people’s work with a spirit and energy that we have not yet manifested that led to the holding of the young people’s convention. One of the resolutions passed by this convention was “that an earnest effort be made at our camp-meetings this summer to train leaders for the home churches by instruction and actual work in the art of soul-winning.” It is also