It was a memorable occasion, December 29 and 30, 1941, when the Bible workers of the Southeastern California Conference met in a convention at Loma Linda to counsel together relative to their own peculiar problems.
Among the subjects discussed was the desirability of following the suggestion made at the General Conference session in regard to using the term "Bible teacher" rather than "Bible worker" in designating ourselves. The former is a generally understood term, more descriptive of our vocation, and indicative of the scholastic standard demanded of our profession. The professional dignity of the Bible teacher as a specialist in the field of personal evangelism was also considered. The Spirit of prophecy designates this line of work as the "noblest," "greatest," "all important," and "highest of all sciences."
It was generally agreed that there is a great need for men Bible teachers in the field of personal evangelism. Men like to talk "man-to-man" in the matter of their personal salvation, and conventions often make it impossible for women to work for men.
The value of youth evangelism was emphasized, both for the sake of saving the children and youth themselves, and as a means of reaching their parents. The effectiveness of this work has been exemplified in mission fields and by certain denominations in this country.
Because all useful inventions have their source in God, and are for the accomplishment of His work, we should take advantage of those methods and devices that improve our teaching procedure, such as the use of blackboards, charts, cut-out prophetic symbols, picture cards, the projector with daylight screen and colored films, chalk talks, flannel Pict-o-graph, Story-o-graph talks, etc. One can make her own collection of slides by using an Argus A 3 camera and Kodachrome film and a copying frame.
Since many evangelists desire their associate Bible teachers to wear a uniform to identify them as members of the evangelistk company, there would seem to be considerable merit in the selection of a style of uniform that might be used with some adaptation by all the Bible teachers throughout a conference. The one quite generally admired is that which consists of a blouse, a plain skirt of a medium length, and a lined cape, all of the same material. This particular style is now in use by the women workers in connection with the tabernacle at Ontario, California. The cape is the McCall pattern No. 3659, view C, hut without hood or buttons. Instead, a small collar made of straight material is used, and a catlin frog.
The Need for a Co-ordinator
One suggestion discussed by the Bible workers was the need for a co-ordinator to correlate the various activities of church and conference. In all big business there is an individual whose work it is to bring about a unity of purpose and action and a harmonious co-ordination of all the various departments, so that there is little or no waste of time or effort. Would not a similar plan for the biggest business in all this world—that of fulfilling our Lord's commission in this generation—greatly help our marvelous denominational organization, which consists of many departments ?
Such a plan is worthy of consideration. At present any correlation of the various departments of our work is only incidental. In our local churches we find missionary secretaries urging our members into spasmodic campaigns for distributing literature. Too often these ravel out into indefiniteness. Instead of the campaign's resulting in the discovery of sincerely interested people, whose names are listed to be contacted by a personal evangelist, nothing further develops, for there is no follow-up work.
Colporteurs thoroughly canvass towns and cities, constantly meeting eager seekers for truth, and yet these names never reach the hands of the qualified personal worker. Again, patients who become interested in the truth at our sanitariums are often lost to personal follow-up work when they return to their homes. People who read our literature will write in to the conference office or to our publishing houses, but their names many times are not given to the personal worker for definite contact. In the relatively new field of radio, evangelism is largely carried on by correspondence, and we omit the very valuable element of personal contact. There is real need for a coordinator to correlate all the avenues through which personal contacts are made, and to make them available to the Bible teacher in the particular locality in which these prospects live.
Other topics of discussion were our duty and privilege of reporting to the union conference paper and the Ministry; care and tactfulness in what we say relative to national and world conditions, remembering that our citizenship is not of this present world order ; avoiding encumbering ourselves with other than our appointed work, by taking advantage of the conference ruling that requires us to obtain permission of the president to hold a church office : source material; how to answer new and strange doctrines ; how to present the Spirit of prophecy without its appearing to be an appendage'; and finally, our need to get together for the interchange of ideas and the exchange of study outlines.
Several present responded to the request to give a favorite Bible study, or one to which she had given much time in research. One explained how she gradually undermined erroneous ideas, and at the same time built a firm foundation of truth, without arousing antagonism. Another told how she presented Christ in every Bible study, and closed with a moving appeal.
