It is not necessary for me to write at length in behalf of the Adventist youth of the world field, for they are already speaking for themselves. Since the first North American Youth's Congress held in San Francisco in September of last year, there have been a new light in the eye and a new melody in the heart of Adventist young people. The spirit and objectives of this great congress have combined to inspire and encourage our young people the world around. Since the San Francisco meeting, there have been approximately forty similar youth's congresses held on a union-wide scale in various parts of the world. Our hearts rejoice as we hear such reports as the following:
CHINA DIVISION: "The inspiration from the San Francisco Youth's Congress has reached China, and we would like to capitalize on the idea and get our youth together in China for a great inspirational gathering. We expect to set a date soon for an all-China youth's congress in the late summer of 1949."
INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION: "This summer twelve 'Share Your Faith' congresses have ignited a new evangelistic flame in the hearts of our young people of Inter-America."
BRITISH UNION: "The thrillino. British Union Youth's Congress held at Watford recently is ushering in a new day of evangelism for the young people of Great Britain."
SOUTHERN EUROPE: "Our great youth gatherings in Portugal, in Austria, and on the eastern frontier of Czechoslovakia this summer have brought new inspiration and courage to our great army of Missionary Volunteers."
EAST NIGERIAN MISSION: "We had 378 baptisms for the last quarter of 1947. Seventy-five per cent of these were won by the Missionary Volunteers."
GERMANY: "The revival among our young people contributes greatly to the inspiration of the churches."
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: "Over half of all OUT churches have evangelistic services which are being conducted by the young people."
JAPAN UNION MISSION: "May 9 the Missionary Volunteers in Tokyo began a public evangelistic effort of six nights a week. Four young men are doing the preaching. There are 4,000 handbills being distributed every week. They ask us, Please pray for God's blessing upon this work.' "
FINLAND: "There is such a revival among our youth, especially in missionary lines, as we have never witnessed before."
NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION: Taking up the torch that was lighted at the San Francisco congress, the seven great union-wide youth's congresses conducted in North America this summer have kindled an evangelistic zeal in the hearts of thousands of our young people in the homeland. Approximately fifty junior students at the College of Medical Evangelists have been busy this year in house-to-house evangelism. In literally scores of cities and towns of North America young people's evangelistic efforts have been in progress this year. From Yakima to Long Island and from Goose Creek, Texas, to Wheelock, North Dakota, young men and young women are bringing forth fruit for the kingdom of God.
Although we are inspired by these great youth meetings, we are not satisfied that they should become an end in themselves. They point us to a great need in our young people's work. Now as always we look to our pastor-evangelists and church officers to lead the flock in the detailed organization of soul-winning plans. The great need now is for pastors and evangelists of vision to direct this new consecration and new enthusiasm of youth into practical outlets. We endeavored at San Francisco to emphasize the practical, and incidentally to foster interdepartmental cooperation in this way. We conducted three soul-winning workshops daily—public evangelism, personal evangelism, and colporteur evangelism. These sessions provided demonstrations by the young people in practical and proved soul-winning procedures.
This same pattern has prevailed in a greater or lesser degree in all the youth's congresses held since then in various parts of the world. A notable example was the British Union Youth's Congress held in Town Hall, Watford, England, during July. It was the general opinion that the three evangelism workshops conducted there were among the most gripping and practical offerings of the congress. Each workshop was very well organized, had its own printed program, and was packed with demonstrations of practical value.
Now we must pick up where the congresses leave off, and train our youth in the practice of holding cottage meetings, operating the still film projector, practice preaching, literature distribution, and so forth. Many alert and capable pastors, teachers, and church officers are doing this wonderful work now and reaping good results in winning precious souls, awakening a sluggish church, electrifying the youth, and at the same time winning the confidence and loyalty of hearts of young and old. Will you join them? In order to get the maximum results in following up the youth's congresses we would make the following suggestions.
I. Attend your M.V. Society. It is urgent and vital that you fellowship with the prospective and younger members of the flock. Perhaps no other hour spent during the whole week will yield greater returns.
2. Meet regularly with the society executive committee. You are a member. Inexperienced youth need your counsel and the effective tie-in with other church activities which your presence will provide.
3. Use the young people in the services and work of the church. Adventist youth have demonstrated that they are anxious to be led in soul-winning endeavor and church activities, such as the following:
a. Welcoming at church door.
b. Ushering.
c. Platform duties, such as hymn announcements, general announcements, offertory and other public prayers, and sermonets for juniors.
d. Home Bible studies.
e. Literature distribution.
f. Sick and new member visitation.
In the last war, when the Allies clasped hands and undertook the great Normandy invasion, taking the battle to the enemies' land, keeping the secret D day appointment, and invading the great European stronghold, there was a cloud lifted from the hearts of millions of men and women. From a million throats went up a shout of joy. Today as we see young men and women of the remnant church on the march for Jesus Christ, and so many of our youth taking the offensive for God, the church has reason to rejoice and take new courage.
