Shall We Encourage Youth to Prepare for the Ministry?

Should I plan on complet­ing the ministerial course and running the chance of getting a place, when workers have been dropped because of budget limitations?

By H.T. ELLIOTT

The world has come upon unfortunate days financially. In all lands the worried, per­plexed peoples are turning from one plan to another to relieve their distress. The very at­mosphere seems vibrant with the strain and stress of man's desperate struggle to gain eco­nomic advantages.

The financial situation of the world is re­flected to some degree in the diminished in­come of the church. In the last few years not many new workers have been added to confer­ence pay rolls. Thoughtful young people, see­ing these conditions, have asked, "Will there be a place for me? Should I plan on complet­ing the ministerial course and running the chance of getting a place, when workers have been dropped because of budget limitations?"

It is true that the income of the church is affected by the uncertain economic conditions of the world. It is not so easy now to find a place of paid employment in the work of the church as it was in the days when money was more plentiful. But youth should not turn too easily to some secondary interest or calling in life. The church has withstood the days of depression as well as or better than many great business concerns. For many years back the church has maintained an average of about one paid worker for every fifteen members. If con­ditions of living become stable at any level (it may not be an electric refrigerator, a radio, or an automobile-owning level), the salaries of workers and other costs of the organized work will doubtless be so adjusted as to maintain an average worker strength equal to or above that in the past.

And if it is difficult because of financial con­ditions to secure employment in the church work, it is equally difficult to find secular em­ployment under present world conditions. If you doubt it, ask the host of unemployed in any line of service.

In addition we must be candid and say frankly that it requires a little more prepara­tion, a little more ability, and a greater ear­nestness and faithfulness to duty, to get started in life's career nowadays than was required of youth in days of financial plenty.

But over and above all such considerations as these is the cry of the sin-sick world for sal­vation, for God. As long as the world stands, its need of the message of God will be para­mount. In the early days of the advent mes­sage men did not inquire about a place of employment in the work. When the pioneers began to proclaim the advent faith, we had no tithing system, no conferences,—in fact we had nothing to give men assurance of support. The early pioneers earned their own livelihood and much of their expense for travel and print­ing by hard labor.

Their hearts had been moved by the Spirit of God with a burden for the lost of the world. Their souls were aflame with the message, and they could scarcely have been restrained from proclaiming it. Whether paid or unpaid, they preached as the Lord directed them.

It may be that one of the lessons to be learned by the church as a result of the de­pression will be that of carrying on the work with less dependence upon money. It may be that some trained in ministerial courses may have to earn their own living as they proclaim the word of God. Some are already doing ex­cellent work as lay preachers.

But whatever may come, be very reluctant to turn aside from the call of God in your heart to the gospel ministry. It is the highest call that ever comes to man for service. A sense of loss and defeat will come to him who turns aside from it. Until the very end of this world the Lord will have need of ministers of His word. These are principles we may well place before our troubled youth when they come to us for counsel.

Washington, D. C.


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By H.T. ELLIOTT

September 1934

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