The problem of maintaining our membership accessions is one that should interest every student in ministerial training. It is equally as important for the Bible instructor as for the minister. Statistics of the last few years suggest that this problem must be gripped by every Seventh-day Adventist worker. These days are portentous with instability, and the remnant church is not entirely escaping the inroads of worldliness which characterize the Christian church at large. True, our peculiar and reformatory tenets of faith provide many safeguards against backsliding, but it remains that the faith of all is being terribly shaken in this crisis hour. Only as the Christian builds his refuge on the eternal Rock can he hope to stand in the coming conflict. New converts must indeed become Christ drawn and truth anchored.
Our age is one of quick decision. The spirit of the times must take hold of evangelism as well as of secular life. Time is indeed short for the remnant, for we are already years behind in our task. There is urgency in the proclamation of the everlasting gospel. Our speeding to hasten the day of Christ's return to this sin-cursed earth grows out of the very nature and pressure of these tremendous times. But while We must labor tirelessly and incessantly in the face of eternity, our soul-winning program, nevertheless, must be sound and our work most thorough.
Winning converts to the message is far more difficult today than it was twenty years ago.
Sin is more deeply entrenched. Many hearts are dulled and immune to truth. New cults and isms are arising constantly to discourage and confuse the truth seeker and honest of heart.
As never before, the Christian must be fortified with Scriptural truth. We are past the age of church revivals, and few know the experience of regeneration. There are many types of so-called revivals, but they only tend to mystify the diligent student of prophecy. It is now imperative that thpse who become Christians be thoroughly instructed in present-truth docrine.
The problem of holding our members becomes the more acute because there is affiliated with it another problem which we dare not overlook in our denominational evangelism.
Regrettably, the whole Christian body has caught the spirit of our times, and is worshiping at the shrine of statistics. The loud clatter of secular machinery has tended to drown out the voice of the Holy Spirit. Self-seeking and vainglory have entered the sacred precincts of the church, and human accomplishment has been glorified.
The remnant church has not entirely escaped this spirit. As our talents began to increase as well as our means, our emphasis shifted toward the strength of skill and organization. There has come also the danger that inexperienced workers will draw some revivalism patterns from the more superficial religions they have observed.
The solution to backsliding and membership losses is found in the church's recognition of an indoctrination program which helps potential Seventh-day Adventists to be drawn to Christ. Right here is a field of study for every seminar member. When the future ministry of our church unites with those who are already evangelizing according to this pattern, then converts to the message will hold fast their experiences until the end.
