Bible Instructor

Bible Instructor-Training Bible Instructor

Bible instructors as well as ministers are called of the Lord.

Bible instructors as well as ministers are called of the Lord. They need to be trained for their work, even as the minister is trained. There should be a wise selection of men and women for ministerial and evangelistic work. These workers should by nature indicate good judgment and a true understanding of humanity. It requires more than zeal to fill such sacred offices; working constantly for those who must first be led into an unpopular message calls for a strong personality, a decisive character. Those who must guide young people into various professions in our work should be conscientious in dealing with the convictions of the student. The Holy Spirit selects gospel workers of every kind, so that God's work will be well balanced and completed. Too often the future of His work is handicapped because faculty advisers fail to study a balance for training workers for the three main divisions of gospel service: the ministerial, the educational, and the medical. Again, faculty members are influenced by trends, and sometimes by pressures. It requires great wisdom to see God's over-all program for training workers. Conferences must recognize the need of workers for every type of gospel service. They must guide our college faculties to hold in balance the various types of training. There must be symmetry to our system of education. Without a wise study of this problem some departments might develop into unwholesome monstrosities that could bring embarrassment to God's work, while other needs would remain inadequately supplied.

A Survey of the Bible Work

It might be helpful to survey our present Bible instructor training. Those who prepare for this profession have no difficulty in being placed, for there is a great demand for women to fit into field Bible work. Because of a shortage of college-trained women, conferences have had to resort to emergency training. We must expect that many young women who enter the theological course will become ministers' wives. To say that our more recent training has done much toward developing better prepared ministers' wives would be stating it mildly; our colleges are doing an excellent work as they guide young people of personality by polishing their education. Here many are made conscious of what culture and training can do for ministerial work! Bible instructors and ministers' wives must be women of superior personality. A course in human relations is most important during these days of preparation, and. this training should be begun in our colleges. Some advisers who are not aware of the requirements and qualifications of a Bible instructor would like to fit into this line of service the misfits of other courses. This is poor planning, and it does not work. However, we must admit that some young people are confused when a definite course of training must first be planned. It is necessary for them to begin somewhere, and it takes time for teachers to observe the bent of such students.

Today we seem to discover in any college a handful of maladjusted young people. Failing to fit in elsewhere, they seek counsel about the Bible work. They may have begun a business course, or may be training in elementary education, or some other line of service. Still somewhat unadjusted, these types are restive and sometimes even unhappy. We would suggest to these young people that they complete the course they have begun. We know that if the urge for Bible work is genuine, they will discover a way to enter this service when their course is completed. We consider that either a training in business typing, stenography, bookkeeping, et cetera or a preparation for teaching children and youth is also very essential for the Bible instructor. Today we are doing a larger Bible work in our Bible correspondence schools, where a training in office organization is of advantage. Again, good teaching methods taught in elementary education are needed in the Bible work. But more than teaching ability is needed; there must always .be an earnestness, a Christian experience, and a readiness to help those who must be shown the way to Christ by means of this message. Consecration is paramount in Bible work.

Soul-winning Bible Work

Though college courses may help to train young people for service, the urgent need at present is for women with a true soul-winning personality-women who have had some experience in soul winning. In almost any conference we find women who can be drawn from the lay ranks, and when these are given a concentrated course of training they soon develop into fruitful Bible instructors. Though perhaps limited in some phases of technical education, they may have learned much in practical life. Today we may need business-trained women for our Bible correspondence schools throughout the world, and we may also utilize the ability of those who have the gift of teaching, but without a soulwinning zeal and a desire to go forth to win souls to the message, the worker is still handicapped. Souls are hardly won behind desks or pulpits.

There is a difference between Bible instructors and the auxiliary helpers who work in offices. Bible work is no easy task, but one who has been called to it prefers contact with the people. Eventually every lesson corrected by workers in our correspondence schools must be followed up by personal work. For this there is no substitute. In the selection of women who make excellent Bible instructors we have long ago discovered that those who have had training in colporteur work rank high. They are already trained to meet people and to get decisions-both important qualifications for the Bible work.

Conferences may well watch the colporteur ministry for Bible instructor possibilities. Again, our literature is a true training agency for non-Adventists to learn the message. Colporteurs know how to use it wisely. There is still a place for the training of evangelistic workers to connect with our larger evangelistic campaigns. Occasional field training schools are operated for developing Bible instructors for immediate service. Also there are courses given at our Seminary in Washington. Refresher courses there conducted have much value for missionaries on furlough and for experienced field workers. These agencies will be continued for the training of personal workers. Nor should we overlook the Home Study Institute course in Bible work. Many become very enthusiastic as they pursue Bible instructor training by means of these lessons. It has been suggested in some circles that the average young woman just out of college is too immature for field Bible work. Although the profession calls for experience, with few exceptions college-trained women are ready for their tasks. Observing this problem, we can assure our conference leaders that they need not hesitate to employ young women who are thoroughly trained.

However, they may each need a few months of real field evangelism before their work has a more practical stamp. We should bring another emphasis on the college- trained Bible instructor. Before her lies a larger field of service than that of the worker who has been speedily prepared at the home base. The work today needs women who are well qualified to train native talent in our overseas divisions. There are fields of specialization on the horizon, where the need is for the better educated persons.

Bible instructors are still in great demand. Right now eight conferences are inquiring of the Ministerial Association where good Bible instructors can be found. It is well for us to take a long and broad view of our evangelistic needs by training workers especially for our large cities. Already the elements of doom and destruction suggest that it is earth's last hour. Conferences will do well to guide our college faculties to fill an urgent need for training the necessary and varied talent that will fit into our city-center plans. Here personal workers of every type will be needed.


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus

March 1954

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

Features-The Bishopric of Judas. Qualities Indispensable to a Missionary

To aim so high; to fall so low! Judas Iscariot, like Lucifer, aspired to set his throne above the stars of God.

Editorial-"Having Great Power"

We live in an age of power-military power, political power, financial power, atomic power.

Pulpit-Pointers for Preachers

How to Deal With Heresies-Part III

Pulpit-Pointers for Preachers II

Exegetical Studies in Ephesians--Part II

Pastor-Shepherding the Flock

One of the outstanding genuine revivalists of the nineteenth century was Charles Grandison Finney.

Evangelism-Winning Men For God

Shall We Revise Our Views on Zionism?-Part II

Research-Report on the Eleventh Chapter of Daniel

The study group appointed by the Committee on Biblical Study and Research to give study to Daniel 11 gave careful consideration to a number of manuscripts placed in their hands by its chairman.

Shepherdess-The Indispensable Ingredients

There were innumerable occasions when we thought we would have enjoyed some of the luxuries that are so abundant in America.

Health Evangelism-Alcoholism--A Self-inflicted Disease Part 1

The disease theory, on the other hand, diverts the attention of the public from the industry to the alcoholic.

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up
Advertisement - SermonView - Medium Rect (300x250)

Recent issues

See All