J. Edgar Hoover has stated that the number of junior delinquencies is rapidly climbing to an astonishing figure. State-guided institutions are filling up with boys and girls, while the seats in the churches once occupied by juniors and youth are being left noticeably vacant. There is scarcely a social worker or juvenile officer who is not alarmed over the situation.
A recent survey made by the Young People's Missionary Volunteer Department of the General Conference showed that 2,712 youth out of 8,963 were not baptized. These youth were between the ages of six and twenty-five, and were from Adventist homes in seventeen conferences. These are alarming facts when we realize that 57 per cent, or over half the youth of this denomination, are lost to this cause year after year. This is indeed a tremendous challenge to every worker, and one that calls for consecrated study and action.
There are three avenues through which the child may be guided from babyhood on to manhood ; namely, the home, the school, and the church. Each has a very definite and important place to fill in bringing the knowledge of the love of Christ to the boys and girls of this denomination. The failure of any one of these agencies to fill its responsibility places the burden more heavily upon the other two. The great question then is, Have any of these evenues failed in their responsibility, and if so what can be done to remedy the situation?
The first avenue through which the child passes is the home. It is the inherent right of every child to have a good home, but how few children today, in this tense, unsettled war age, have a home that is a home? The laxity of the home ties, the easy flow of money, the fact that so many mothers leave the home to work, and the loose trends of the immoral, worldly-wise youth of the neighborhood, are surely telling their tale of woe among our own young people. From an editorial in the Jewish Times, we read :
"The world has seemingly become pleasure-seeking mad. The evils which confront us do not have their birth anywhere but in the home. It is the parents who are largely to blame for their existence. . . .
"The very foundation of our morals is suffering. Religion, which should be the moral prop of human affairs, is being ignored ; the churches are empty or nearly so ; while the precepts and teachings are known in many of them by the few instead of the many. . . . Hypocrisy is largely taking the place of the realities and fundamentals of religion. Herein lies a field for the ministers to do good and productive work."
In the time of Israel, when the home failed, schools of the prophets were established. Today church schools are to be found in many Seventh-day Adventist communities for the one purpose of saving our youth and preparing them to be workers in the cause of God.
"The Lord would use the church school as an aid to the parents in educating and preparing their children for this time before us. Then let the church take hold of the school work in earnest, and make it what the Lord desires it to be."—Counsels to Teachers, p. 167.
It is the duty and privilege of the teacher to inspire the youth to better Christian living day by day ; to hold before them the joys of Christian fellowship in the great family of God and the church ; and to direct their minds to the greater joys of the home Jesus has gone to prepare for them. The salvation of these boys and girls is to be her aim and purpose.
This should also be the aim of the pastor, or minister, of the church. Much good might be accomplished if the teacher and pastor planned and worked together to see how they might best win these jewels for the Master. Under no circumstances should they feel that they must work separately, for where there is unity there is strength, and results will surely follow.
During the year 1941 the greatest number of baptisms was made up of young people around twelve years of age. More young people were baptized between the ages of eleven and fourteen than were baptized in all the other age groups in the years from six to twenty-five. These boys and girls are to be found in the elementary school, the most fruitful soil for the sowing of the gospel seed. During this time the important decisions of life are being made.
If the pastor has visited the school often and has become a friend to the boys and girls during their earlier years, they will enjoy participating in short Bible classes conducted by "their" pastor. These classes or inspirational talks might well be held once a week during the entire year. It has been tried with wonderful results. By the close of the school term most of these children are well prepared for baptism and will ask for the privilege of being baptized, because they feel that they are wanted' and needed in the church family.
The importance of the pastor's becoming personally acquainted with the boys and girls in the church cannot be stressed too much. We little realize the good that may be accomplished by a kindly smile of recognition or a word spoken in friendship by the pastor of the church. Elder George I. Butler became almost a hero in the mind of A. G. Daniells when he was a lad of seven years, because he was the first minister who smiled and spoke to him. He once said, "If we want our children we must live with our children." Never fail to smile and speak whenever you have the opportunity, for a child loves to be noticed and recognized. This is the best way to awaken confidence.
The young people's society affords a wonderful opportunity for the pastor to become acquainted with the other young people of the church. By his presence and friendly counsel, he can encourage the Progressive Class work and the band organizations. He may help to find openings for cottage meetings, and give needed help in preparing youth to lead them. This is the training field of the church for actual service. These young people will enjoy the feeling of belonging to an organization that vibrates with life and enthusiasm, where things are happening and of which they are a necessary part.
The pastor who will learn to "live with his children" will find that many of his "more important matters" will take care of themselves when he works for the young people of his church. The spirituality of the church as a whole will be greatly improved. Jesus said, "A little child shall lead them."
