Our Pastoral Program

Evangelism does not stop at the baptis­mal font. It embraces both soul winning and soul building; the one is spiritual con­quest, and the other spiritual construction.

By VICTOR W. ESQUILLA, Pastor, Columbia, South Carolina

Evangelism does not stop at the baptis­mal font. It embraces both soul winning and soul building; the one is spiritual con­quest, and the other spiritual construction. The new meml5er is only a babe in Christ. Surely when a little life is born into this worId we do not leave it there. No, indeed! How ten­derly and solicitously the mother, father, broth­ers, and sisters minister to it. Its food must be right, and its development is watched and guided day by day.

Fully as precious as the tiny babe is the new convert. He is only a babe in Christ, and just so, the household of faith—brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers in Christ—are to minister to him, Many souls are lost to the cause be­cause they had insufficient care when they were just getting on their feet spiritually.

When the evangelist preaches this message, it comes to the hearers for the first time as something new and startling. Even after ac­cepted, the truths need to be presented again, and perhaps over and over in sermons and per­sonal discourses, so that the points become dis­tinct and the ideas become fixed in mind.

Perhaps the evangelist must leave and cr on to another field; then the local pastor who has been with the effort must take over. New be­lievers feel confidence when the ones they have become acquainted with in the effort continue to minister to them.

The local pastor should take over immedi­ately. Perhaps it is well to counsel with the evangelist as to ways and means, but at any rate there must be no lapse or lull in the pro­gram. From a schedule of evangelistic meetings every night, meetings should be conducted at least on Sunday nights, and if possible on Fri­day nights. No opening should be permitted wherein Satan can get a foothold to lead the interest away from the message.

Minister means to minister. Jesus said, "Ye are My disciples if ye are servant of all." He came not to be ministered to, but to minister to others. And right here is where the minister does his best work. He must be a master en­gineer. His it is to plan to put his church to work—working for the new converts. (And thereby they will be gaining strength for them­selves.)

New members must be visited regularly.

Changing from the old way of living to this present program, which is so different from their experience in any other church, will not be easy. There will come in doubts, trials, testings, temptations. Satan will be on the edge, getting in his bid wherever he can. Then the godly counsel of the pastor or good brother or sister is needed. Not once but often, again and again. The church should be praying to be led to the aid of the struggling ones. "Watch," was what Peter said, "as they that must "give ac­count." The messenger of the Lord gives this divine counsel:

"After individuals have been converted to the truth, they need to be looked after. . . . These newly con­verted ones need nursing,—watchful attention, help, and encouragement. These should not be left alone, a prey to Satan's most powerful temptations ; they need to be educated in regard to their duties, to be kindly dealt with, to be led along, and to be visited and prayed with. These souls need the meat apportioned to every man in due season. No wonder that some become dis­couraged, linger by the way, and are left for wolves to devour. Satan is upon the track of all. He sends his agents forth to gather back to his ranks the souls he has lost. There should be more fathers and mothers to take these babes in the truth to their hearts, and to en­courage them and pray for them, that their faith be not confused."—T estimonies, vol. 4, p. 68.

The pastor cannot do this alone ; he must or­ganize his flock to help him. They are not to go and gossip. Let the pastor be very careful in his selection of helpers.

A minister's pastoral work should be organ­ized in such a way as to divide this responsi­bility among the church officers. This will not only make for efficiency but encourage the of­ficers as well. It has been my custom during my ministry to divide the entire church mem­bership among the church officers for the pur­pose of visiting regularly, and also to promote all campaigns in the home. At the regular monthly church board meeting a report is given, and the pastor should then, at his earliest convenience, visit those who may be discour­aged. This plan is followed in addition to the visits of Sabbath school teachers to absentee members. In Gospel Workers we are told:

"If pastors would give more attention to getting and keeping their Pock actively engaged at work, they would accomplish more good, have more time for study and religious visiting, and also avoid many causes of friction."—Page 198.

Then as to the attendance at religious meet­ings—this must be watched carefully. Someway the minister must check with the Sabbath school secretary, or have a list of his own, and see that the new members attend faithfully.

Should any be absent, they must be visited im­mediately. Even one day should not pass with­out some word from them as to why they were absent. They must be made to realize that they are wanted and should be at church; that the Lord is there to meet them and give them the strength they need for the coming week's trials.

The coldness of some of our churches is piti­ful. Everyone longs for attention and fellow­ship and sympathy. So many times we discuss our hats, our food, and what not with our bosom friend, and at the same time some heart is bleeding for recognition and a few kind words. Have you seen them standing on the outside of the ring, longingly looking for a per­sonal word? Pray the good Lord, that He will give you the gentle healing words to make them feel one with you.

The pastor can get the new ones acquainted during a social hour where all can become ac­quainted, and I mean ALL. This does not mean just a few cliquing together, but let each church, member "buddy" a new convert, and feel re­sponsibility for his entertainment. Do not leave the new members sitting alone.

The pastor must initiate the new members into the daily study of the Sabbath school les­son, and also the use of the Morning Watch Calendar. In the old life they perhaps never thought of morning worship. Power for Today is an excellent book to enrich the morning wor­ship. If the pastor can keep them studying, it is helpful to their progress. A course in Bible by correspondence or something of that sort is helpful, also some of the courses of the Home Study Institute.

Since they will now be refraining from the type of reading that they have done in the past, our good papers must be provided, such as the Review and Herald, Youth's Instructor, Our Little Friend, and others. The pastor must see that these are available for each one. Tithe pay­ing must be carefully explained and brought to the attention of new converts. The blessing in it must be pointed out to them.

Young converts should be brought to the Missionary Volunteer meetings, and the chil­dren enrolled in the church school. The older young folks should be sent to an academy or college.

The pastor who is a true shepherd will lead the new members step by step into a closer fel­lowship with the Master. As soon as possible he will see that they are given some work to do for the Lord. It is by working for others that one grows spiritually. So, just as soon as possible our babe in Christ must learn to work for others. When he begins to do this he will find he must /earn to pray. The pastor in a short, right-to-the-point sermon should empha­size the factors that contribute to answered prayer. Point them to our good books on prayer, especially Steps to Christ, and the chap­ter there on "Prayer." Permit me to direct your attention to the following statement taken from volume 9 of the Testimonies:

"The best help that ministers can give the members of our churches is not sermonizing, but planning work for them. Give each one something to do for others. Help all to see that as receivers of the grace of Christ they are under obligation to work for Him. And let all be taught how to work. Especially should those who are newly come to the faith be educated to become laborers together with God."—Page 82.

"Every one who is added to the ranks by conversion is to be assigned his post of duty. Every one should be willing to be or to do anything in this warfare."­Ibid., vol. 7, p. 30.

It is said that a mother's work is never done in that it continues on as long as life lasts. Just so the true pastor of the flock is never through. His is a ministry of prayer, work, and faith, not to be finished until we all stand upon that glorious sea of glass, and the glad reunion of soul with soul takes place.


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By VICTOR W. ESQUILLA, Pastor, Columbia, South Carolina

July 1948

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