Recent, well-attended Bible instructor institutes, with two of the California conferences in each area participating, brought great inspiration and much practical help to the personal workers in these particular fields. It was my privilege in November to meet with the Bible instructors of southern and southeastern California at Loma Linda, and with those of northern and central California at Berkeley. This interesting and profitable contact gave new assurance that our denomination is making progress in the development of evangelistic workers.
Several days were spent at each institute in a discussion of the needs and problems peculiar to the Bible work today in the very territory where our message early gained a strong foothold. I greatly enjoyed my pleasant contact with these noble, consecrated women who visit in thousands of homes in California. I was deeply impressed with their earnestness and unflagging zeal for the message.
The devotional meetings each day were conducted by several Bible instructors, who presented messages from their own spiritual needs and convictions. These became seasons for reflection and powerful occasions for bringing new vision to all present. We often felt the nearness of God, and blended our prayers in renewed consecration to the great work to which He has called us. We truly felt the sacredness of our calling and the seriousness of the hour for the finishing of our work.
At each of these two institutes we proceeded in a systematic manner to develop a daily program for the study of the pertinent problems which pertain to the Bible work. More up-to-date contact methods stimulated new interest in making approaches for the message. Our Bible instructors freely entered into each point of discussion on finding open doors, and finding willing hearts with whom to study the Bible.
We next learned that doctrinal truth requires logical build-up; and that through those weeks when the message is sinking into the soul as well as the mind, a practical Christianity must also be developed. Doctrine and practical truth must then be well balanced with prophecy. Prophecy provides a most inspirational setting for teaching our present-truth message, and the challenge was frequently heard to hold fast to those peculiar prophetic teaching skills which so definitely marked our pioneer Bible .work. Occasional demonstrations helped to make more clear the points we desired to emphasize. Younger and less-experienced workers were thus helped by the trained Bible instructors in attendance. These workers could tell of the success of many a method which they followed On Spirit of prophecy counsel.
It was most stimulating to enter into the discussions which stressed decision for the full obedience to our progressive message. Many new plans for gaining decision were jotted into small notebooks for future reference. Problems peculiar to racial and national groups also received sympathetic guidance. Our Bible instructors felt that each hour was a precious feast of good things.
It is very evident that our health institutions in this section of the, field have provided substantial background for our evangelistic work, and that our Bible instructors have learned to capitalize on their influence in our evangelism. At Loma Linda we were greatly favored by having Mrs. Margaret Williamson and her helpers present to discuss the development of our sanitarium contacts. L. E. Niermeyer and his wife were perfect host and hostess, who entered into every problem with sympathetic interest. At this institute we profited greatly by excellent demonstrations for presenting prophetic subjects and the Spirit of prophecy to those who are finding their way into our truth.
One of the outstanding benefits of the Berkeley meetings was our visit to the "Quiet Hour" broadcast, with its Bible class study conducted by Mrs. Esta Wyrick, Bible instructor at this evangelistic center. A little field tour showed us our other evangelistic centers in that area. A visit was made to the new Oakland church. We were also shown the auditorium of that city which is to be used for a future series of meetings.
Study was given to the place of the Bible instructor in various types of evangelistic meetings. We were impressed with the broader aspects of a Bible work which must learn to keep pace with modern thought and life. We cautioned each other that we cannot afford to become set in our own ideas and methods for reaching people. There is place for much and varied talent, and Bible instructors should welcome the talents of youth who today have had many special advantages in preparing for a versatile Bible work.
These Bible instructor institutes in Loma Linda and Berkeley were not without those little touches of hospitality that add graciousness to Christian fellowship. We became better acquainted with one another while learning much about our profession. Plans were then formulated for several occasions of this kind during the year at workers' meetings and similar gatherings, when our Bible instructors could receive new inspiration and broaden out in the atmosphere of professional fellowship. As we bade farewell we assured each other that the Bible work is an honored calling, and that its best days are still before us. Invigorated for the task ahead, we feel that these profitable seasons of instruction will mean much to our personal evangelism in California.
L. C. K.
