The first requirement for a minister who wishes to hold new converts in the faith is to get himself right with God. (Testimonies, Vol. IV, p. 396.) Christ came to this world to teach men how to live a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice; by His life He gave the correct example for. a gospel minister to follow. He labored constantly for one object—the salvation of men. (Ibid., Vol. II, pp. 439, 44o.)
Men called to the work of the gospel ministry should feel a burden for souls. Submerging their own interest, they should heed the exhortation concerning properly feeding the flock, found in I Peter 5 :2-4. Yet, in spite of this strong admonition, the Spirit of prophecy maintains that ministers "accept their wages with scarcely a thought as to whether they have done most to serve themselves or the cause; whether they have given their, time and talents entirely to the work of God, or whether they have only spoken in the desk, and devoted the balance of their time to their own interests, inclination, or pleasure."—/bid., Vol. IV, p. 373.
Mere preaching from the pulpit is insufficient. New converts need to be educated like pupils in school, for many theories and ideas must be unlearned and new ones substituted. People become bewildered and perplexed as they see they have had erroneous ideas concerning Bible subjects. To keep another day of rest besides the one they are used to, and to change the grease in their frying pans, constitute jolts more drastic than they may otherwise receive in a lifetime. Some new converts are greatly distressed and need the tenderest guidance and the most sympathetic help.
Another duty of a minister is to keep the church free from disgrace caused by the evil actions of some of its members. God's ministers should not condone sin. Iniquity cannot be passed over lightly. Actions of unconverted church members create a big stumbling block to new converts. Mrs. E. G. White points out that all Israel suffered a fearful calamity because Eli was remiss in dealing with the wickedness of his own sons. Wrongs that dishonor the cause of truth must be removed.
When the minister is right with God and the church is free from disgraceful conduct, the minister's duty toward new converts becomes much easier to perform.
One of the things a new convert must be taught is to watch lest he fall back into the sinful paths he has recently forsaken. He must be taught to watch so that he does not become discouraged and disheartened by ridicule, which is bound to come from past friends and associates and frequently from closest relatives. If he wishes to keep out of worldly entanglements, wrongdoing, and superstition, he must watch. At Miletus, Paul called the elders of the church together and warned them of what they would meet. Acts 20 :28-31:
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall gfievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears."
By watching, new converts will grow out of spiritual babyhood into strong manhood and womanhood in Jesus Christ; they will learn how to overcome temptations and eliminate their own imperfections of character.
Above all else, the minister must teach new converts to pray. At first such prayers may be very halting, but power will grow with practice. Mrs. White admonishes that "before leaving the house for labor, all the family should be called together" for prayer. Where the father is absent, the mother should substitute and plead earnestly that God will keep them during the day. (Testimonies, Vol. I, p. 397.) It is the minister's duty to see that family altars are established in the homes of new converts, so that in the morning their first thoughts may be of God. Worldly labor and self-interest should be secondary. By humble, sincere prayer, and the reading of God's Word the new convert will have his convictions reinforced daily.
"Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend." Through prayer the new believer —will obtain evidence of God's love and care for him. He will feel that God is his friend. He will also learn that if he regards iniquity in his heart God will not hear him; but if he seeks God with his whole heart, earnestly, fervently, agonizingly, God will hear him. By praying to God daily, the new convert will gain a more intimate knowledge of His will. It is the minister's duty to teach all new professors of the faith to commune with God. But watching and praying is not enough for the Christian. New converts must also be put to work. On this subject the messenger of the Lord says:
"Just as soon as a church is organized, let the minister set the members at work. They will need to be taught how to labor successfully. Let the minister devote more of his time to educating than to preaching. Let him teach the people how to give to others the knowledge they have received."—/bid., Vol. VII, p. 20.
The minister should help all church members to see that they are under obligation to work. for God. And especially should new believers be educated to become laborers together with God. Ministers need to use wisdom, caution, and love, as they teach their members to work for the salvation of neighbors and friends. New converts must also be taught that self-sacrifice must be practiced every day. Mrs. White emphasizes that many things which have been cherished must be yielded; and that many duties, disagreeable though they may seem to be, must be performed. Business and social interest, leisure, honor, reputation must be held in subjection to Christ's superior and ever-paramount claims.
All these teachings which continue after baptism must, of course, have been begun before baptism. Before the candidate is received into church fellowship the minister has a duty to perform: he should hold special meetings with all who contemplate taking such a step, and show plainly the claims of the Lord upon them. But the law of God is not all that should be set before the new convert. The need for healthful living likewise should be stressed. A well-balanced Christian life requires physical as well as mental care. On this subject Mrs. White wrote:
"There are more souls lost from poor cooking than you have any idea of. It produces sickness, disease, and bad tempers; the system becomes deranged, and heavenly things cannot be discerned."—Ibid., Vol. II, p. 373. (See also Vol. IX, p. 160.)
And in regard to dress her instructions are, "All should be taught to be neat, clean, and orderly in their dress.. . . . When a church has been raised up and left uninstructed on these points, the minister has neglected his duty."—Ibid., Vol. V, pp. 499, 500. At another place Mrs. White mentioned that "unbelievers look upon Sabbath.
keepers as degraded, and when persons are neglectful of their dress, and coarse and rough in their manners, their influence strengthens unbelievers in this conclusion."—/bid., Vol. I, p. 276. God's messengers should say to the people, 'Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
All believers, ministers and laymen alike, in these last days must work more diligently. All must consecrate themselves fully, to put aside all sin, if they wish to find entrance into the earth made new. (See ibid.,pp. 260, 261.)
