1. What I wish the conference president would do to assist me in my work. As a rule, the conference president is not in sufficiently close touch with the Bible worker to enable him to recognize her problems and to plan for her needs. I wish that this unfortunate chasm in co-operative endeavor might be bridged for safety and permanency. Perhaps one means to this end would be to include in the program of each workers' meeting the allotment of one hour a day for the Bible workers' round table discussion of experiences and problems, in which the conference president participates.
2. What I wish the pastor of the church would do. My pastor is a genuine Christian, wholly consecrated to the church and the upbuilding of God's cause in the earth, and is therefore always ready to do anything in his power for the success of my work; consequently, my wishes at this point are very few. But it may not be amiss to state what every Bible worker appreciates in her pastor:
a. He should ever be ready to manifest a courteous interest in all visitors at the church service, especially in those who have come at the solicitation of the Bible worker. The attitude of the pastor toward these newcomers means much in establishing confidence and creating a desire to attend services regularly.
b. He should ever bear in mind that it is seldom, if ever, that a service is held in our large churches at which there are not visitors present, therefore the discourse should touch the needs of such as well as of the regular church members. The pastor faces an audience hungry for the bread of life, and the spiritual food offered must be fresh from the throne of grace, imparted by the Holy Spirit through the human instrument. If this is not the case, souls will turn away empty, and may become lost in the dark, cold world.
c. As one means for establishing friendly interest in those who attend the services, whether for the first time or as a regular habit, the Bible worker appreciates having the pastor at the church door to shake hands with the people as they pass out.
d. The pastor who is willing to accompany the Bible worker in visiting specially interested cases, renders help which is greatly appreciated.
e. If the pastor finds it consistent with his church work to conduct an evangelistic effort once a year, this serves as stimulus to greater things in the Bible work, as new interest is aroused which calls for personal follow-up by the Bible worker.
f. Passing out to the audience, at frequent intervals, cards which provide for requests for literature, is a help in bringing new names to the Bible worker.
g. When the pastor conducts a series of evangelistic meetings, it is a help to the Bible worker to have the Covenant Cards distributed at the time the Sabbath question is presented, and again just before the close of the series, as this affords opportunity to those who are slow in responding to reach final decision, and also reaches those who have more recently begun to attend the services.
h. It is a real help to the Bible worker when the pastor takes charge of the baptismal class, thus relieving her of this vitally important phase of instruction, and making sure that the candidates are brought up to the standard which the, pastor holds.
3. What I wish the church members would do. The Bible worker especially appreciates the friendly interest manifested in her readers, and a cordial word of welcome to the church service extended to them. It helps in many ways to have our readers convinced that we have the strong support and friendly interest of the church members. They can also render great assistance to the Bible worker by endeavoring to secure the names of interested people who desire Bible studies, also by personal visits in the homes where the leaven of friendship and the power of example are needed to better the living conditions, and by earnest prayer for and with the worker.
4. What I wish the conference committee would do. How often have I wished that the conference committee could realize how much it would help if they would —
a. Place Bible workers where they are best adapted to existing conditions. The Bible worker's personality and training should be given due consideration, lest she become as unhappily situated as " a square peg in a round hole."
b. Provide the help which the developed interest demands. This help may be the services of an additional Bible worker, or possibly the need calls for a minister to establish the interest and to conduct a public effort. A failure to care properly for the interest which the Bible worker has earnestly sought to develop, so often results in failure and loss.
c. A meager allowance for necessary expense in connection with the Bible studies, would be a real help. Bible workers have expenses which are entirely outside a personal nature, as for example, the furnishing of typewritten or mimeograph copies of each Bible study, to be left with the reader for review of the lesson. Not all, of course, follow the plan of providing their readers with a clear, concise outline of the study; but where this is done, or where some other plan for the accomplishment of the same end is followed, an allowance of $10 a year to cover the expense would serve to very good advantage.
5. And finally, may I express what I wish the Ministerial Association would do to aid the Bible workers. We should like to have a Manual of Instruction prepared, which would set forth all essential features of the Bible work,— its origin, recognized place in the work of the third angel's message, possibilities, scope, training, methods, experiences, etc. There is general recgnition of the need of uniform standards governing the Bible work, and also uniformity of plans and methods, which would obviate the necessity' of each Bible worker's following her own methods, or having no definite method at all, as is the case at the present time. We should welcome a Manual of Instruction, bearing the indorsement of the General Conference Ministerial Association, to serve as our guide.
