Winning Hearts | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 15, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 19.

Winning Hearts.

Teaching speaks through the affections. I once asked a minister how he had such a singular influence over certain boys in the Sunday-school. "By taking walks with them," said he. Were not those circuits round Galilee which Jesus made with his disciples walks that he took with them to prepare them for their work? It was not the walks, but the friendship, and kindly interest, and the trust that knit together that minister and those boys in chains of gold. Season with the salt of kindness the routine of verbal instruction. The truths that your scholars may not wholly appreciate will be clung to for your sake before they have mastered them for their own. "Why do you prefer to hear Mr. Brown above every other preacher?" was once asked of an old colored woman. "Because he visits and talks to me at home," was the laconic but all-satisfactory reply. Beloved teacher, do you belong to that band who talk of Christ to your scholars out of love to the Saviour, and with the purpose of winning each to the Saviour? If not, why not?

Edwin House tells of a church where the uniform custom is for the whole day's exercises to have reference to the Sabbath-school lesson—the morning sermon and the evening prayer-meeting continuing the theme. He speaks in terms of highest praise of the plan.