One of the outstanding genuine revivalists of the nineteenth century was Charles Grandison Finney. His natural gifts were not phenomenal, yet under the mighty hand of God he was the instrument for bringing thousands upon thousands to the Lord. In the conservatism that has become almost typical of the Adventist Church today, we might be tempted to label such revivals as emotional excesses of religious fervor.
However, there is a basic principle upon which Finney built his work that accords strangely with the delineation of true revivals given in the Spirit of prophecy. In his unique biography of Professor Finney, Richard Ellsworth Day writes as though he were a reporter attending one of the Finney revival meetings: "'What is a revival?' he [Finney] asks. 'A revival is a renewal of First Love among Christians, and the awakening and conversion of sinners.' " 'But' (he shouts now) 'a revival in the world is always conditioned upon a revival in the Church. . . . The first powerful action upon lost men is the looks, the earnestness and the daily deportment among Christians.' "-Man of Like Passions (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1942), pp. ll7, liS. On the place of prayer in revivals Day reports: "'Prayer' [Finney speaking] 'is not to change God, but to change us. Prayer produces such a change in us, and fulfills such conditions in us as to render it consistent for God to do as it would not be consistent for Him to do otherwise.' "-Ibid., p. 127. With telling vividness Dr. Day (a Baptist minister) proceeds to picture himself as one of the objects of the burning words of the mighty preacher who stirred thousands back in the 1830's: "'Do you really want a revival in your age?' "'Yes, 0 man of God, more than all the world.' " 'Then, take pencil and paper again. Write down your individual sins, one by one.' "(Not that, surely! Someone might find the paper, and what a mess it would be!) " 'Write them down, nevertheless. Your sins, your own sins; just like a merchant going over his books.' ... . "'Ingratitude. Did you always thank God for His favors? (Please, Mr. Finney, my face is flushed with shame.) Write it down! .. .' " 'Lack of love. Go over all the places where objects that perished with the using obscured His face. Go over all the instances where you gave your love to others.' "'Neglect of the Bible. Record such times as you remember, when for days you had no real pleasure in the Vord .... "'Neglect of prayer .... Write it down! .. .' "'Envy. You wanted a revival, but you wanted to be the star of its appearing ... .' "'Neglect of the home altar. .. .' "'Lack of concern for the lost. Be truthful now. Write it down.' " 'Cheap little sins you've cherished on the sly ... .' "'Write it all down! Slander, lying, cheating, hypocrisy, bad temper, filthy mind. Write it down, and as you write, a thousand shades of shame arise ... .' "'You say you wanted a revival. Now you can see why you never had one.' " Let us sit with Reporter Day as the final blows of truth pound against his already breaking heart: "'Do you really wish for a revival? Will you l1ave one? If God should ask you this moment by an audible voice from heaven, "Do you want a revival?" would you dare say, "Yes"?-"Are you willing to make the sacrifices?" Would your answer be "Yes"? " ' "When shall it begin?" Would your answer be, "Let it begin today!-let it begin here! Let it begin in my heart! Now!"?' "-Ibid., pp. 131-133. Here is evidence indeed that the secret of Finney's revival power lay in his insistence upon victory over every sin. Can we expect revival at a lower cost? Concerning the genuine revivals that preceded and included the great Second Advent awakening, the messenger of the Lord has written:
"Revivals brought deep heart-searching and humility .... Men and women prayed and wrestled with God for the salvation of souls. The fruits of such revivals were seen in souls who shrank not at self-denial and sacrifice, but rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer reproach and trial for the sake of Christ. Men beheld a transformation in the lives of those who had professed the name of Jesus. The community was benefited by their influence."The Great Controversy, p. 462. Dear brethren arid sisters of the Advent Movement, fellow workers, the Spirit of the Lord has assured us: "Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times."lbid., p. 464. This revival is long overdue. It calls for the same stern work of dealing faithfully with our sins that marked those true revivals of bygone days. The "final visitation of God's judgments" cannot be far removed. To borrow a recent Churchillian phrase: "I must not lead you to suppose that time is on our side." Only the present is ours. Time is fast running out. Will we be in the promised revival of "primitive godliness"? We need to be reminded that the oftproclaimed latter rain of the Spirit's power will fall only on those who have opened their hearts to the early rain of cleansing and reformation. Can we, shall we, dare we go to the Lord, with the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy in our hands, and ask Him to aid us in searching our hearts as with a candle? As the Lord points His unerring finger at the plague spots in our characters, will we be willing to pay the price of their removal? God grant us grace to deal earnestly with the sins already revealed to us, that swiftly, surely, He may bring His purifying work ever closer, ever deeper, in our lives. From our hearts let us pray: "Lord, send a revival . . . and let it begin in me." Thus will God's remnant be prepared to receive the latter rain and stand unconfounded before the Lord in the day of His great wrath against sin.
Suggested Group Guidance Techniques-Part II Techniques for Group Guidance of Children
WILLIAM A. LOVELESS Pastor-Evangelist, Upper Columbia Conference
The Vacation Bible School
The Vacation Bible School affords an excellent opportunity to acquaint the community with the local church. Its objective should be to give spiritual food and Christian social experience to the children. It can become an ideal instrument for personal evangelism. If organized and advertised properly, the Vacation Bible School will draw many of the non-Adventist children of the community. One of our churches, after conducting a survey in the neighborhood, discovered an excellent response to the idea of a Sunday morning children's Bible class, and subsequently had a successful summer of neighborhood child evangelism.
The Vacation Bible School might best be scheduled for June or early July, so that it will be over before the height of the vacation season arrives. The ideal length would be about ten days-the ten weekdays in a two-week period. This would give the children adequate time to become acquainted with one another and with the teachers. Because the teachers are not paid for. their services it is usually advisable to finish each day's activities by noon. A program continuing from nine to twelve o'clock is suitable. Important to the success of the school is proper division of the children according to age and maturity. A child that is in the wrong age or maturity group will not enjoy or profit from the activities, no matter how well planned they may be. The number of groups will depend, of course, on the number attending. Here is a suggested breakdown that may be adjusted according to the school: Beginner 3 and 4 years old Kindergarten 5 and 6 years old Primary 7, 8, and 9 years old Junior 10, II, and 12 years old Intermediate 13, 14, and 15 years old Often the mothers of the younger children will want to attend and observe. All the parents should be cordially invited to visit the school, and many of them should be given some responsibility in it. Children up to two years of age can learn much by imitation if they sit on the laps of their mothers outside the circle of three- and four-year-olds.
Training of Personnel
When possible, the regular teachers in the Sabbath school could well be the teachers in the Vacation Bible School. Often non-Adventist children do not attend Sunday school or Sabbath school, and as a result of their association with an understanding and interesting teacher for ten days, they will want to continue the friendship thus formed. Sabbath school attendance in the children's divisions should increase materially after a successful Vacation Bible School. The principal of the school should be chosen with care. A local church school teacher may prove to be available and competent in directing personnel toward effective ends in the Bible school training. · It is the pastor's task to function as chaplain and counselor. When he is not actively engaged in speaking or group discussions, he should be available in his office for counseling.
Each age group should have a separate room because of the diversity of the programs. The superintendent of the age group introduces to his group the nature of each new activity; then each teacher under that superintendent directs the group under his care. (Much of the activity can best be done in small groups; hence there should be a teacher for each six pupils.) For example, if the activity for the primary gr0up is clay modeling, the superintendent would explain the activity and perhaps suggest possible creations for them to attempt. In many instances the superintendent may also serve as one of the teachers. Several months before the vacation school begins, the faculty should be elected and notified of the responsibilities it is hoped they will carry. The faculty can meet at biweekly training sessions, where the curriculum and group guidance methods are thoroughly discussed. Because children of diverse backgrounds will attend the school, in the preschool training sessions four guiding principles should be stressed as the desires and need of children: I. New experience-variety. 2. Affection-from parents, from teachers. 3. Feeling of security. 4. Recognition-feeling of belonging. After each daily session the faculty might well meet for a fifteen-minute discussion of the problems encountered during the morning and for a briefing, if necessary, on the coming day.
Curriculum and Program
The differences in pupils' ages will not permit establishing a standard curriculum for the entire school. The teachers, help the children and their varying abilities in crafts, storytelling, and other pursuits, will help to determine the program most profitable and suitable for the children. Being capable of only short attention spans an~ needing a variety of activity, the yoU:nger children would spend more time in sandbox activity, and with scrapbooks, coloring,to occupy their changing interests. The wise teacher could promote citizenship and personal satisfaction m these activities.
Vocational guidance and the dissemination of occupational information can be made a definite part of the school program for the interm:diate group . (ages 13 to 15). It might be desirable to obtain the services of someone who is trained to administer vocational aptitude tests to this intermediate group. The atmosphere of the Vacation Bible School should be stimulating but comfortable. There should be no pressure on the children in the form of grades that _would compare ability or in the form of the ideal school will provide motivation to work at capacity.
There are many ways to vary this program. Moving pictures, special reports, and health demonstrations by nurses, doctors, or dentists, would vary the school program and make it more interesting. A commencement program can be held at the close of the school, featuring the work that has been done by the various departments. This program would bring to the church many .guests, borne perhaps for the first time.
Advertising and Finance
For several weeks before the opening day an announcement should appear in the church bulletin regarding the school and its various activities. The pastor should write a letter to the church members and friends telling them ·of the school. Members might submit names of neighbors and friends. An attractive sign can be put up in the church yard a week in advance. The right kind of advertising ensures a good attendance in the school and a favorable impression on the community. If the church board feels that the investment is worth while, it can vote funds from the -church treasury for the school. The various departments of the church or Sabbath school could unite and finance the project. A special offering could be taken. A small fee could be charged for each child; this is, however, not the best plan, because some families cannot readily afford the fee, especially if there is more than one child in attendance from the family.
An excellent way to follow up the Vacation Bible School is to organize a Pathfinder Club. If such a club is already active in the church, it can be introduced to the new pupils before the Bible school is over. The pupils of the Bible school are tied in, by invitation, with the Sabbath school and the progressive class work, which is a very healthy program for young people. [Pastors interested in conducting Vacation Bible Schools in their churches may receive additional guidance and helps from the Sabbath School Department of the General Conference, which has been charged with the responsibility of promoting this type of child evangelism.-EDITORS.]
Christianity Discussion Groups for Youth
The purpose of discussion groups on Christianity is to prepare Adventist children and youth for a wider service in the church and in the community through a practical understanding of the principles of Christianity. This activity might be termed "a problem-centered course in Christianity" and could be used as an outline for a baptismal class organized at the close of a Week of Prayer in a church school, or with modification it could be used as an adjunct to a Week of Prayer series for such a group. In the suggested outline Steps to Christ is used as basic reading. The success of the course depends upon the preparation and thought the pastor gives it before he begins. If the pastor lectures exclusively, the course will not be so successful as it will if he starts a group discussion on the topic for the day by presenting a problem. It is advisable at times to ask the group to prepare some problems for discussion. To promote democratic self-supervision, the group should at each discussion elect a chairman for the coming discussion. It is the job of the chairman to keep order and to recognize those who want to speak. The ideal size for the group is set with a top limit of from eight to twelve members. In a larger group there is a tendency away from free discussion. The pastor should encourage expression of opinions and should not show alarm at whatever might be said. He can subtly guide the discussion into the most profitable lines of thought. The class should begin with a prayer, offered when possible by one of the youth. Below is a sample of the kind of work the class could do, based on various chapters from Steps to Christ. The questions would, of course, vary according to the specific problems that the students themselves present.
Chapter: "The Sinner's Need of Christ"
PROBLEM: Would you naturally be good if you didn't learn evil practices from other people? (The idea that it is necessary only to develop the good that exists in man by nature is a fatal one.) · Discussion: . . . "It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken."-Steps to Christ, p. 18 (pocket ed.). PROBLEM: If you inadvertently lose your temper and swear when the hammer slips and hits your finger, can you obtain merit and favor by helping someone when you have regained your temper? Discussion: ... " ... in vain all efforts for the uplifting of humanity, if they neglect the one source of hope and help for the fallen race."-Ibid., p. 21. Chapter: "Repentance"
PROBLEM: Has anyone ever repented to you? Have you ever repented to anyone? How did you feel before and after? How do you feel toward someone who repents of something done against you and then repeats the offense? Does God turn His back on us until we have repented? Discussion: . "The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he can heed the invitation of Christ .... It is the virtue that goes forth from Christ, that leads to genuine repentance." -Ibid., p. 26. "Multitudes sorrow that they have sinned, and even make an outward reformation, because they fear that their wrong-doing will bring suffering upon themselves. But this is not repentance in the Bible sense."-Ibid., p. 23. Chapter: "Confession" PROBLEM: If you took money from your mother's purse and she didn't know it, and you felt sorry, to whom would you confess, your mother? God? or both? Discussion: ... "If you have given offense to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge your wrong, and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God." -Ibid., p. 37. PROBLEM: Is saying, "Forgive me of my sins," enough when we pray to God? Discussion: ... "But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty."-Ibid., p. 38. PROBLEM: After you have confessed to God, how do you know that you are forgiven? Discussion: ... "And it is written, 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' " -Ibid., p. 41.
These two types of group guidance, Vacation Bible Schools and discussion groups, can do much to win and hold our children and young people to the truth.
