Gospel Workers' Department by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 4, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 27.

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Gospel Workers' Department

By A. G. Daniells

Their divine calling, qualification, and preparation. Methods of labor, plans, etc.

Conducted by A. G. DANIELLS

Council of City Evangelists

Importance of Gospel Workers' Maintaining a Deep Religious Experience

THE CHAIRMAN: "The topic for the consideration of the council this morning is the question of fostering and developing the spiritual life of our gospel workers. This is the most important question we shall discuss; for it is the most important of all questions relating to gospel workers. No one can impart to another what he himself does not possess. The greatest of all the secrets of success in soul-winning work is the personal spiritual experience of the worker. Every gospel worker should realize this, and be encouraged and assisted by every fellow worker to maintain a truly spiritual life.

"It takes time, and intelligent, well-directed effort, to maintain one's devotion and spirituality. This is a very busy, strenuous age. Ministers and other gospel workers feel the pressure. We all know how we are rushed with our work. The advertising, the visiting, the preparation for preaching and for giving Bible readings, the care of the tent, the preparation for music,—all these duties press us so hard that there is a great tendency to rush ahead with our work without taking sufficient time to commune with God and get the spiritual help we must have to do successful work.

"There is danger, too, that there will not be that close association of workers in prayer and personal devotion that there should be. I have had experience in two directions in this matter. I have labored with ministers a whole summer in tent work where there was very little effort made to assist and encourage one another. On the other hand, I can recall very definitely, and with great pleasure, my experience with some other ministers who often went away to pray together. It was our custom to go to the fields or woods daily for prayer and counsel, and I now look back upon those experiences as among the best and most encouraging in my ministry. They brought great help and blessing to me.

"But our workers in the large cities are handicapped in this respect. In these cities one can hardly get alone in the woods, so I should judge that the tendency would be to make the best of it, each living to himself. In this there lurks a real danger. It is easy for an influence to come in to chill our fervor. Misunderstandings arise which naturally lead to criticisms. There is nothing like daily prayer together to keep us in close spiritual union. Prayer together for one another creates mutual confidence and brotherly sympathy. Then when the minister stands before his audience, he feels that he has the prayers and best wishes of his associates. He knows they are not sitting there as critics, but that they are deeply anxious that he should do well. This, we all know, is a source of

encouragement to any speaker. So I believe that ministers should keep in very close, sympathetic touch with one another.

"Their associate workers, too, should have this spiritual support and encouragement. Bible workers should be encouraged to pray with one another, and should come in close contact with the ministers. The tent master should not be left out. He should also realize that he is doing something for the Lord. He is at least a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord. So let him feel that he has your confidence and your interest. The whole company,—magazine sellers, paper sellers, nurses, everybody connected with the revival or evangelistic effort,—must be bound together in the bonds of spiritual life and Christian love."

W. W. PRESCOTT: "How do the brethren manage in actual experience to get the time to do all the things that should be done,—advertising, arranging for the music, preaching at night, study, prayer, and counsel?"

L. S. WHEELER: "I do not believe that, as a class, our laborers take the time they should for systematic study. In these strenuous times, and in this most strenuous work of our message, there are so many things to take up the time, so much to do, so many calls to make, that the tendency is to neglect personal improvement,—the mental and spiritual as well as the physical. In the most successful days of Methodism, John Wesley required his ministers, who were generally a humble and uneducated class of men, to carry on a systematic course of study; and in this way there was developed a very successful class of evangelists. I have felt this need in my own life, and I have tried to cultivate my mind and store up a knowledge of the Scriptures."

B. E. MILLER: "Referring to Brother Prescott's question, I find it is a perplexing problem for us to solve in our tent efforts, especially when we are alone, and have to preach every night. About the only way we can find time for everything is to systematize our work, so that when a certain day comes, we know what to do. Monday is my advertising day. If I do not retire too late at night, I make it a practise to arise early enough to have time for study before breakfast. I plan to use the forenoon for study if I can find the time, and the afternoons for visiting the people. Monday is a poor day for visiting, especially in the large cities, as that is the day most people go shopping. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I try to spend as much time as possible visiting the people. In dividing the work that way, I can manage to get through fairly well; but if I neglect to plan my work carefully, I find that I am compelled to leave many things undone."

C. H. EDWARDS: "In my experience, I have seen the question raised by Brother Prescott answered but once. The first year I was connected with a tent effort, Brother C. M. Snow and myself were the boys. Before we went out, it was quite a question with the conference committee how best to develop the young men who were to be connected with the tent efforts. Professor Caviness, now in Mexico, was on the conference committee. He said he believed that young students who went out from the school ought to be taking a course of study during the summer, and the ministers ought to do so, too. So the conference committee, in connection with some of the teachers in the school, laid out a definite program for the tent company. The first thing was that we should rise at six o'clock, and devote one hour to private devotion. From seven to eight was for breakfast and family worship. From eight thirty to nine thirty, one day in the week, was to be devoted to the study of D'Aubigne's 'History of the Reformation.' The next hour was to be devoted to a study of the Testimonies, of those parts, primarily, which pertain to the work of the ministry. The entire forenoon was divided into one-hour periods of study. Two hours were taken for dinner and preparation for the afternoon's work. From two to five, all the workers were to go out visiting. We followed this systematic course of study and work all summer, and it proved very helpful to us, both mentally and spiritually."

A. V. COTTON: "I consider the question of association of workers a very important feature of our work. I like to keep in close touch with my workers. I have never yet been able to systematize my work as perfectly as I have desired to. With regard to my Bible workers, I make it a rule to give them the forenoons for certain domestic duties which they must attend to, and for study and prayer. I meet them at the tent at one o'clock for counsel, at which meeting we plan the work for the afternoon. It may take us an hour to do that. Then we have a season of prayer before we go out. I meet them at least three quarters of an hour before the evening service to receive reports of the work of the day, and for a season of prayer. We allow a half-hour before the evening service in which to meet the people as they come into the tent. The minister should live near his tent. This brings him right into the community of his effort. If he lives a mile or two away, he must lose much time going back and forth, as it is many times necessary for him to go to the tent during the day."

G. B. THOMPSON: "It is my conviction that, as gospel workers, we are not as careful as we should be to maintain the fervent spiritual experience needed to make our endeavors successful. It is important that we should devote time each day to study for the culture of the mind. It is our duty to be vigilant in work. But it is absolutely necessary that we maintain a deep spiritual experience. This can be done only by communion and association with God. We must lay aside all other books for a time each day, and live with the Bible. We must separate from men and cease from work, that we may be shut in with God by secret prayer. Unless this is done, much of our study and labor will exhaust us without giving us souls."

A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman; THADDEUS LEGG, Secretary.