Suggestions for the Training of Leaders by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 19, 1914

Suggestions for the Training of Leaders

By E. M. Graham

The training of leaders is one of the most difficult problems we have in the Missionary Volunteer work. Usually a society is organized in a church in which there are no members who have had any experience in this line of work. In such a case the leaders who are selected are untrained, at least in the Missionary Volunteer work, though they may have had experience in other lines of work. What can be done to train them into effective Missionary Volunteer leaders?

It would seem that the chief burden of this training must rest on the State Missionary Volunteer secretary. Whenever possible, he should be present at the organization of each new society, and should personally instruct the leader, as well as the other officers, in his duties, should see that the leader is supplied with blanks, record books, and other requisites; and should stay long enough to give the new society a good start along right lines. Then the training should be continued by correspondence.

When it is not possible for the State Missionary Volunteer secretary to be present, he might be able to commission some experienced conference worker to act in his behalf in instructing the leader in his duties. If this also cannot be done, the training must be carried on by correspondence.

The training thus begun individually may be profitably continued by annual conventions and institutes to be held in groups of churches where possible, and in single churches where grouping is not feasible. These institutes should have the best conference help available, the State Missionary Volunteer secretary being present whenever at all possible, and taking a leading part in giving instruction. When possible to secure also the help of the union conference Missionary Volunteer secretary, this should be done. These conventions and institutes are valuable in the training of leaders, and even if no conference help can be given, they should be held, suitable papers on important subjects and other helpful matter being sent to the local officers to assist them in conducting a helpful meeting.

Our training schools should also have a share in the training of leaders for Missionary Volunteer Societies. Each school should have a society, conducted on the same general plan as church societies, the officers to be drawn from the students, but to have the help and guidance of the teachers, that they may learn the best methods of conducting this work. Frequently helpful articles on the work of Missionary Volunteer leaders appear in the Youth's Instructor and the REVIEW. The State secretary should take note of these, and when writing to the leaders, call attention to them.

It would seem that outside of the training that may be given in our schools, the burden of training leaders must rest chiefly on the union and State Missionary Volunteer secretaries. While it is a difficult work, it is a very important one, and lies at the foundation of a successful Missionary Volunteer department in any State. E. M. GRAHAM.