Well might it be for the church of Christ to emphasize the sound philosophy of organization as expressed in the words of the prophet Isaiah when he wrote, "Lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes." Isa. 54:2. The implication of this statement emphasizes a twofold program—first, the evangelistic, which enlarges and increases the attendance and scope of the church; second, the administrative, which organizes the church into a continuous program that deepens the spiritual life of each member.
For more than a century Seventh-day Adventists have been demonstrating to the world that they are ever lengthening their cords. The clarion call of the Advent message is to preach the gospel to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people"; and so until the Lord comes in the clouds of glory ours is a task of evangelism without which the church would be degraded to insignificance. Every means of bringing a message of hope to the masses of lost humanity should rate careful attention from each minister of the gospel.
However, the work of the gospel minister does not end when a person is baptized, for it is his task to strengthen the stakes. This suggests that a continuous effort should be made to deepen the spiritual life of each member. As it is dishonorable for a parent to bring a child into the world and neglect to feed him properly, or provide guidance for his growing life; so also is it unfair for the church to bring a child into its midst and then fail to provide him with spiritual food and direction.
In order for the ministers of our larger churches to guide their congregations rightly, it is necessary that some form of records be faith fully kept. In the smaller church it is possible to know each member by name, and also to be informed as to his spiritual status; but when the congregation totals two hundred or more, the wise minister should make notes about his calls.
The business world keeps careful and accurate records. The medical profession makes vigilant account of their patients' ills and improvements. Yet, when ministers deal with the spiritual progress of men and women, often all is left to a matter of chance memory, which experience often teaches is not reliable.
A few years ago a minister of one of our metropolitan churches regularly visited an in valid member of his congregation. On each pastoral call the clergyman faithfully read a chapter from his Bible and offered a sincere prayer. At the close of one such call the bedridden woman said to her minister, "I do appreciate your calls ever so much, and look forward to them with much anticipation; but, elder, don't you know any other part of the Bible but the ninety-first psalm? You have visited me five times, and every time you read the same psalm!" Not only are careful records a great asset to us in our work, but they help us to avoid many embarrassing circumstances.
Personal experience has demonstrated that two sets of records are necessary for a smooth- running church program. One set should be kept at the church office, which the pastor and the church clerk keep up to date. Then the minister should have his own file on which he can make notations. This file is not for public inspection, for the entries are of a personal character. (We use a white card, 4"x6", for the church file, and a colored card, same size, for the personal file.)
Simplicity is the first rule of church-membership records. Some are so complex that it takes almost as much time to keep them up as it does to make the calls. Such records cease to be the servant of the worker, but become his master.
What is necessary to make an adequate church-record system? What information should each card contain? Some may differ with me in their opinion, yet there are some fundamental points that it would be well to consider.
1. There must be a space for each name, ad dress, and phone number. Our names and ad dresses are typed into a blank space on the upper left-hand corner of the card. This is not ruled, for it takes time for a typist to register her typed line with a printed line.
2. Our records contain a space for the birth day and approximate age of the person. Then when the minister is planning his visits, he knows whether the individual is old, young, or middle-aged. Then too it is a good plan for the minister to send every member a handwritten birthday greeting. They will never forget such thoughtfulness.
3. On the left side of the card is a member ship record. This lists the organizations of the church, such as Sabbath school, Missionary Volunteers, Dorcas Society, and Men's Missionary Society. Thus at a glance it can be ascertained just what organizations of the church the recorded individual is supporting, or which he should be supporting. With this information in mind it is easy for the minister to invite the one whom he is visiting to come out to the Wednesday Dorcas meeting, or to the meeting of any other organization of the church.
4. On the right side of the card there is a "Talent and Interest Record." This includes the following information. Is the person a Sab bath school teacher? Would he help in the church office? Does he sing, and what part? How does he raise his Ingathering? Does he have hobbies? (The more people we can put to work, the smoother our churches will run.)
5. On the bottom of the card is a place for the person's occupation, business address and phone number. Also there is room to list the individual's family, the date he entered the church, and from what church he formerly came.
6. The back of each card should be left blank. This affords the minister a place to make notations as to the date he called, the text used, and if prayer was offered. It is also helpful to note the main subject of conversation.
Most of this information can be procured from the members by a questionnaire that is sent to them at the beginning of each year. The secretaries of the various church organizations can provide a list of their membership, so it can be noted what organizations the members are supporting.
It is amazing to see the careful records kept in the business world. These records pay business great dividends. God wants His work to be done in order and decently. By having system in our church we shall be surprised to see how much more efficiently our work will run.
