The motivating purpose of the Bible worker should be to attract new converts to the truth, to instruct them in all the essentials of the faith, and to prepare them for baptism. Afterward, so far as circumstances permit, she should guide these new members in taking part in the varied activities of the church.
The Bible worker's duties include giving Bible studies and public talks, leading the prayer meetings when desirable, teaching Sabbath school classes, conducting children's meeings, and leading out or assisting in the young people's meetings. She should also be able to take out a group of people in the Harvest Ingathering and literature work. Within moderation, unless aged, she may need to do some handbill distribution. She should be able to play the organ and give counsel to families in distress. Among her other duties, she should keep an accurate record of literature given out and studies held, and also special meetings missed by prospective members, so as to guard against persons' joining the church without thoroughly understanding our essential truths.
The Bible instructor's work for the day naturally divides itself into three sections—morning, afternoon, and evening. Under normal circumstances the morning might be used for reading, correspondence, personal items, and study for talks or Bible readings, etc. Afternoons might be spent in visiting, Bible studies, etc. The evenings should be reserved for attendance at meetings, cottage meetings, and visits. The program should be fixed at the beginning of each week, preferably at the workers' meeting, on Monday mornings. A schedule is convenient for marking out the week's work, if the daily plan is carried out.
Finally, care should be taken that the worker's physical fitness be maintained. Proper diet, regular meals, and sufficient recreation are necessary to preserve the body in a normal condition. Regular habits are best, and all workers should arrange their work, whenever possible, so that at least one hour is free for dinner and the same for the evening meal.
At certain times the foregoing program may have to be upset, as for instance at the beginning of an effort. At that time for a few weeks, intensive visits, handbill distribution, etc., will interfere with the normal routine. In such cases the worker must be his or her own judge as to what items should be changed. In no case must spiritual needs be made subservient to a set program of hours of work.
