Every church leader with true vision who has an understanding of the times hears two urgent calls in this mighty hour: First, the call for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation in the remnant church; second, a call to greater evangelism, that God's last message may be quickly given to the unwarned millions. Soul-winning evangelism is the chief objective and the fundamental feature of our organized work, and the primary means of proclaiming God's saving message to the populous cities and to mankind everywhere.
It is evident that our time for soulsaving work is short. We are now entering the era of the last, unprecedented crisis of the ages. Fast-fulfilling signs point with ever-increasing evidence to the soon coming of Christ. We are swiftly approaching the final zero hour when the irrevocable decree of Revelation 22:11 will go forth to all mankind. Two billion people, including every living soul on the earth, will have their destiny suddenly fixed for eternity while going about the ordinary pursuits of life. Multitudes are now in the valley of decision. "There are thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions, who are now making their decision for eternal life or eternal death." —"Testimonies," Vol. VI. p. 406.
The Need Imperative
All this constitutes an inescapable call to more aggressive, intensified evangelism. A greater evangelism, far exceeding anything ever seen in the history of the church, will take place under the latter rain in the closing days of probation. Our young men now entering the ministry ought to receive such practical training in public evangelism as will prepare them to be mightily used by the Holy Spirit in the time of the latter rain to bring in hundreds of souls. These young men need to be given actual field training in evangelism under the guidance of an experienced evangelistic teacher. Here they can study firsthand worth-while methods and successful technique in holding efforts which it has taken able preachers years of study and effort to learn. This knowledge can be quickly passed on to student-preachers in an intensive, practical three months' course, that they in turn may speedily develop into strong workers, going far beyond anything yet done in this movement.
The importance of correct preparatory training is set forth by the servant of the Lord in these words: "The future usefulness of young preachers depends much upon the manner in which they enter upon their labors."—"Testimonies," Vol. I, p. 443.
There is already a pronounced shortage of capable evangelists who can successfully present the message to the masses in our cities. In view of the well-nigh universal trend of our ministers to settle down in pastorates, and in view of the passing from the field of many of our able evangelists by ill health or death or by their taking up other lines of work, it is evident that unless we train our ministerial graduates as able evangelists, we shall face a grave shortage in the type of worker most needed in this supreme hour of opportunity.
Conference- presidents and committees who have to do with placing young interns in the field are fully aware of the unbridged gap existing at the present time between the training received in school and actual, successful evangelism. Because of the crowded, complex program in the college ministerial course, it is impossible for the student to get sufficient field training in actual conduct of evangelistic campaigns. Hence the obvious need for a Field School of Evangelism where the student may observe and participate in a complete evangelistic effort with all that it involves,—advertising, visiting, Bible studies, altar calls, baptismal-class work, etc.
Unless our young men just entering the ministry are given field training in safe, sound, thorough methods, there is grave danger that they will do their work in a shallow, superficial way, preaching after the pattern of popular, sensational evangelists in other churches. We must not allow our untrained evangelists to lower the recognized standards of the remnant church by baptizing converts prematurely, without doing thorough instructional work for them.
In stressing the fundamental spiritual ideals that should characterize our evangelistic work, the servant of the Lord has told us:
"A new order of things has come into the ministry. There is a desire to pattern after other churches, and simplicity and humility are almost unknown. The young ministers seek to be original, and to introduce new ideas and new plans for labor. Some open revival meetings, and by this means call large numbers into the church. But when the excitement is over, where are the converted ones? Repentance and confession of sin are not seen. The sinner is entreated to believe in Christ and accept Him, without regard to his past life of sin and rebellion. The heart is not broken. There is no contrition of soul. The supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus.
"The Old and New Testament Scriptures show us the only way in which this work should be done. Repent, repent, repent, was the message rung' out by John the Baptist in the wilderness. Christ's message to the people was, 'Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.' Luke 13:5. And the apostles were commanded to preach everywhere that men should repent.
"The Lord desires His servants today to preach the old gospel doctrine,—sorrow for sin, repentance, and confession. We want old-fashioned sermons, old-fashioned customs, old-fashioned fathers and mothers in Israel. The sinner must be labored for, perseveringly, earnestly, wisely, until he shall see that he is a transgressor of God's law, and shall exercise repentance toward God, and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ."—Mrs. E. G. White, MS. No. 111, quoted in Review and Herald, Nov. 29, 1934, p. 3.
Mode of Operation
It was voted at the Southern Union meeting in Chattanooga that the Field School of Evangelism should be conducted in the early spring of each year in connection with an evangelistic effort in some city agreed upon by the union committee. This series of meetings, seven nights a week, is to continue for twelve weeks, or longer if the interest warrants. The territory of the city selected is to be divided into a number of sections corresponding to the number of young ministers who are sent for training. Each evangelist-in-the-making is to serve as captain of his respective territory, directing a group of church members in placing announcements and literature in each house from week to week, and after the second week of the effort, in conducting Community Bible Schools.
The names of interested people who desire literature on the subjects presented -will be taken near the close of the first week of the effort. These names will be grouped according to the districts already created, and the students in the field school will spend their afternoons answering these requests for literature, studying with the people in their homes, and personally working with them in bringing them to a full surrender. Written reports of these weekly visits will be made on record cards furnished; and oral reports of results will be made to the union evangelist at the council of teacher and students held on Friday forenoon of each week. When the time comes for these interested persons to make their decisions, the union evangelist will accompany the student evangelist in his personal work, assisting in the work of bringing hesitant souls to full surrender.
Further details regarding the weekly schedule and classwork of the field school have already been noted in the June Ministry. At the close of the course, examination will be given on the studies pursued. The answers submitted will be reviewed by the union president, the local conference president from which the young worker came, and the union evangelist. A grade of A, B, or C will be assigned, grade A being given to those making from 90 to 100 points; grade B for 80 to 90 points; and grade C for 70 to 80 points. In this examination, credit will be given up to forty points for degree of adaptability, faithfulness, and efficiency manifested in visiting interested people, leading them to final decision, and properly preparing them for baptism.
Those who receive a grade of A, B, or C, will be given a certificate, signed by the afore-mentioned examining committee, showing that they have satisfactorily completed the course in field evangelism. The grade received will be taken into account by the conference committee in planning future work.
(To be continued)
