Missionary Volunteer Department
By R. A. Underwood
M. E. KERN - - - General Secretary
MATILDA ERICKSON - - - N. Am. Div. Secretary Cooperation of Conference Officers and Others in Young People's Work
THE principle of cooperation is fundamental to success in all human endeavor. The animal, vegetable, and commercial kingdoms are built upon the principle of cooperation, and no less is the intellectual and spiritual development of man dependent upon cooperation. Without cooperation man's best efforts are but failures. Hence the success or failure which will attend the efforts to help the young will depend upon the degree of cooperation given by conference officers and others to those engaged in this work. We may not fully grasp the importance of parents, teachers, ministers, and conference officers uniting with the efforts of those selected to labor especially in the most fruitful field of all Christian endeavor—among young people. It is not necessary openly to oppose the young people's work to be a hindrance to the efforts made for the youth. Indifference, or the attitude of watching the efforts of others with a question mark, is all that is necessary to place one in the ranks of a modern Sanballat at the gateway of spiritual advancement among the young people in a church or a conference, especially so if the person has considerable influence. If we could measure the possibilities of the human soul, if we could realize the dangers that beset the pathway of the youth and understand the desire on the part of many for help, our indifference or spirit of questioning would be changed into earnest, sympathetic endeavor to help the young in the formation of right thinking, action, and character building. There is need for a life-saving crew composed of parents, church and conference officers, including all the conference workers, to rescue many going the downward path to eternal ruin. It is not enough that each local and union conference select suitable persons to give time and strength to labor for the young people. There ought to be a strong, united effort on the part of all conference workers to bring into sympathetic touch the young people of this denomination with our organized work, and as far as possible see that they are in training for service. It is a hopeful sign that Mal. 4:6 is being fulfilled. The human heart calls for sympathy; especially is this so of the young. Our hearts must be large and full of sympathy born of kindness if we help the youth. The good impulses of the young must be nourished, their wayward tendencies checked, their laudable ambitions encouraged, while new aspirations and purposes must be planted and cultivated in the soul. In the past, great loss has come to this cause, and to the young people, because we have not exercised a wise, aggressive policy to enlist the talent among the young people and harness it for service. The great demand and need of the cause of God today is more burden-bearers, and those capable of carrying heavy responsibilities. How is this crying need to be met? Where shall leaders in all departments of this cause be found? They must be found among the growing young people. We have not outlived the inspired message written for our learning: "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Lam. 3:27. Our mission fields and conferences need an efficient ministry and leaders in various lines of work. If this demand is met, the young among us must be trusted with weighty responsibilities. Years ago I was urging the conference in which I was acting as president to place in the ministry and Bible work all the available trustworthy young people possible. Two good brethren from another State came to me and said, "Elder Underwood, we have a word of counsel, and you will not be offended if we give it?" I replied, "Certainly not." They continued, "We are fearful that you will spoil these young men," naming several who were at the last General Conference either as delegates from a foreign land or bearing burdens in the general work. "You are placing too much responsibility upon them; they are in danger of having the big-head," etc. I said, in reply, "Good brethren, I wish I had ten thousand such young men to spoil. I would do my best to spoil them for everything except to become laborers in the cause of the third angel's message." The great apostle gave his son in the gospel an important charge which should be kept today. "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy." "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Every worker in this cause ought to be a recruiting-officer to enlist the young in its service. The efficiency of a laborer in his riper years depends largely upon his experience in his early life and the burdens he then successfully carried. No one can prescribe just how, in each case, one is to cooperate in the work of developing the young for service. In most cases the first step is to create a desire on their part to become of service in this work, and to become fitted to do the very best work possible for God and their fellow men. A school of training is necessary in most cases. In order to help the young, one must become a child himself. Luke 18:17. We must make the young our companions as far as possible in study, in labor, and recreation. We cannot drive the young, but rather lead them in right paths. We should place before the young a vision of life's possibilities and its responsibilities. If we are able to lead the19youth, we must have their confidence so they will trust us, and we on our part should trust them with increasing responsibilities as they are able to carry them with safety. We must extend a helping hand to those in discouragement and to those who have fallen into sin. A devotion born of love to develop strong burden-bearers among the young people, will be cooperating with God and angels. To this work Heaven's approval will be given. R. A. UNDERWOOD.