Aimee Semple McPherson, of evangelistic, theatrical, and publicity fame, puts on a continuous spectacular performance in her spacious auditorium in North Los Angeles (California). She has succeeded in drawing thousands of admiring followers, from whom considerable wealth rolls into the chests of her organization. Since first she went onto the stage, she has experienced no difficulty in getting the attention necessary to maintain a good interest. But her efforts have centered largely in her temple services in Los Angeles, the movement in this place depending almost entirely on the power of dramatic personal appeal. It is a conspicuous fact that in her organization nothing is heard of a program of training men and women for a great work. There is no well-founded and consistently executed plan for developing an efficient corps of capable men and women to go out and face the needs of a suffering world.
Many such local movements have arisen under the scintillating leadership of an individual, only to disintegrate with the departure of the leader. In sharp contrast with such ephemeral emphasis, may be cited other types of organizations and emphases. Movements and organizations are really of abiding value, and possess elements of stability, only in proportion as they serve to mitigate the ills of mankind. Note one of the affiliated organizations of our movement in the work of Madison College (Tennessee), for instance, as bearing upon medical missionary objectives. One cannot but be impressed that this institution is motivated by an ideal of service for the underprivileged in the rural sections of the South.
Many young men and young women sent out by this institution go forth with a purpose of kindling, in some corner of the South, the same flame which their school has lighted in their own souls. They have seen earnest teachers sacrificing to give them a preparation to go out and do a similar work. They have received a picture, or pattern, of what is possible in other places. Thus, "second-generation" schools and medical units are springing up in various sections and taking their places definitely among the affiliated self-supporting agencies being used for the completion of our work.
A few weeks ago a young man from Madison, shortly to graduate from medicine, came to my office to talk over some of his problems. The feature of that visit which registered in my mind was the fact that he had a complete blueprint of what he purposes to do when he finishes medicine—locate in a needy region of Alabama or Mississippi where he will start work as a medical evangelist. A school, a small hospital, treatment rooms, and a church are all in the plan. He is working as definitely toward that program as he is toward his next year's work.
I think of our other educational institutions scattered throughout the world and of the noble work they are doing in training recruits for God's service. We have but few senior colleges in the denomination; yet from these, thousands of missionaries and other workers have gone forth. However, the thought impresses itself upon me, "What would be the-power of the product of the schools of this denomination if all were uniformly directed toward the ideal of purposeful achievement in definite lines of service for the finishing of this work ?" There are scores of graduates from our literary colleges each year, a similar number of nurses from our hospitals and sanitariums, and a hundred doctors from the College of Medical Evangelists. Do they all find the most useful place of service? Are they alT directed toward situations in which their presence will count for the most in the work of which we are each a part? To produce these potential workers, the members of this denomination spend many hundreds of thousands of dollars, yes, even millions, annually. In fact, each graduate represents a considerable financial investment, and constitutes a distinct potential worker in the cause.
Some classes of graduates represent an investment running into thousands of dollars, and there are but few who would suggest that they are not fully worth the investment. If every one of these workers were, let us say, a thousand-dollar bond, held in the name of the conference or institution from which he comes, what would be the attitude toward the care and safekeeping of that bond? Would such valuables be left lying about unaccounted for, with no thought for their safekeeping, or use? The transfer or investment of funds by our conferences in amounts of a thousand dollars is made a matter of careful conference-committee study and action. If a property of that value is to be transferred, it can be accomplished only after painstaking study and planning by the officers in charge. And this is rightly the case.
But in all seriousness, how are we studying to ensure the proper use of our investments in young men and young women? Are we as consistently planning for the most profitable placement of them ? Are we guarding them to ensure that they do not needlessly depreciate in value? Financiers carefully watch their investments day by day to see that there is , no misplacement or loss of their resources. Should we, or dare we, do less?
Is there a young college graduate in your church, in your conference, or about your institution, unsettled as to his future work, and struggling through the difficult problem of deciding his future course and life? You may say, "Yes, but I cannot offer him a salary in my conference or my institution. Our budget does not permit." Let me ask, Have you visited that young man in his home? Have you called him to your office, and in a sincerely interested manner, gone over his plans, his problems, his possibilities? He may be planning to settle down under the shadow of one of our large churches, where his presence and influence is not needed and will not be felt, where he will in a short time lose the fire and enthusiasm with which he may now be possessed. Perhaps your visit and counsel may result in his going into a new, unentered town or territory where he will become the nucleus of a new group of believers. Your investment thereby would not only be guarded, but would be yielding fivefold and tenfold returns.
Perhaps there is a medical intern in your city, or in your conference. If he is in an institution not of our denomination, he may be surrounded by an atmosphere laden with moral poison. His program may not permit him to attend church or other services regularly. Some of these men have but little time free from call. Perhaps you have misunderstood his absence from church. A church pastor recently complained to me that two interns stationed in a hospital in his city had shown no interest in church affairs, and added that he was doubtful of the Christian experience of such men. I visited the interns and learned that they were on call throughout the day and that they were free only every other night. These boys were also wondering why the local pastor or conference president had not looked them up.
Our churches, local conferences, and union conferences have large investments in their youth. Can we with a clear conscience take less interest in these young men than we would in thousand-dollar property investments? Such youth may become a power for this message in some locality where the organized work cannot place a salaried worker.
Perhaps within your church or conference there may be one or more of these denominational investments which are not being safeguarded or developed. At a time when limited finances make many desirable advances into new territory impossible, how can we disregard these possibilities lying unused and undeveloped?
