“THE YOUTH ARE OUR HOPE IN MISSIONARY LABOR.”
By P. T. Magan
Millions of dollars are annually spent to convert the heathen across the sea. This is all right. I would not that a penny less were expended in this work. But my heart goes out in the deepest and most earnest longings for the children of my Seventh-day Adventist brethren and sisters. During the last few weeks I have visited the homes of scores of our church-members. Many of these homes and their inmates stand vividly pictured before my mind as I write. So many poor little children, with a forsaken, uncared for, and unloved look upon their sad faces! Their parents are wrapped in the things of the world, or in the theories of the truth; but the brightening presence of Jesus dwells not in their homes, and the love which said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven,” is not manifested in their lives. As some of these scenes rise before me, I can scarcely restrain my tears. But the saddest class of all are the youth. Many of these have not shown the interest they should in spiritual things. This has discouraged, and in some cases soured, the fathers and mothers toward their sons and daughters. Because these youth do not readily respond to religious influences, they are treated as if they were incorrigible heathen. I can never forget one poor boy whom I met at his father’s home several years ago. I was standing in front of the house as he came from the field with his team. Utter despair and hopelessness were written upon every line of his countenance. “He has no interest in the faith,” one of his relatives remarked in a passive tone. I could not help but feel that nobody had any interest in him. I looked into his large gray eyes, and longed to draw him to me, and to the Master. But his heart seemed to be closed. Not that he was hardened; if he was to others, he never manifested it to me. He was shrinking; he was timid. Nobody but one sister thought that he would ever amount to anything. He himself had well-nigh come to believe that life was going to be a sad affair and a failure. I felt that I must get him away from there. I must get him to school. I must place him amid different surroundings. I do not mean that his home was a bad one. It was far from that. But so far as he was concerned, it was a discouraged home. I can not, I do not, blame nor censure anyone. But I long to see this state of affairs changed. A few years have rolled away since I first met this boy. He is now a devoted Christian, with an aim and purpose in life. I have watched him, and have noticed the change with joy. Instead of that sad, hopeless look, there is a bright gleam in his eye, and the very expression on his face betokens courage instead of despair. I have known many similar cases. People do not mean it so, yet by many the youth are treated with absolute cruelty. They are not nursed and nourished as the younger members of the family of God. The words of God’s servant are not taken into account: “The youth are our hope in missionary labor.” What can I say that will arouse hearts to breathe a prayer to God for sanctified wisdom that they may know how to labor aright for the young? Here is a sentence, published a few years ago, in a little book, “Testimonies on Education:” “To a great extent, children who are to receive an education in our schools will make far more advancement if separated from the family circle, where they have received an erroneous education. It may be necessary for some families to locate where they can board their children and save expense, but in many cases it would prove a hindrance rather than a blessing to their children.” How sad this is; yet it is only too true. There are scores of youth in our churches who might become valuable workers if only some one would invest something in them to get them into one of our schools. A few years ago our schools were adopting worldly methods; but God said that they were prisoners of hope, and that they would come back again. Now, thank God, they have come back; and God is leading, God is guiding within their walls. The teachers stand ready, imbued with the Spirit of God, to meet and greet the youth.92 A larger proportion of the young men and women who attend our colleges than ever before are going forth as workers. Who will interest themselves in these youth?