Pointer's to Progress

FINDING TIME TO READ

Finding time to read is a major problem in the life of every Seventh-day Advent­ist worker, and yet no matter how busy we are, the busiest among us is usually successful in finding time to do what he wants to do. Certainly every progressive worker wants to read and keep abreast of the times and continue to let his mental and spiritual development progress. The tragedy is that in our modern rush, in altogether too many in­stances, we are neglecting the reading of the Spirit of prophecy, which like the reading of the Bible presents new gems every time we reread its won­derful pages. But how to .find time to do it all? Here are a few suggestions:

1. One worker wrote recently that when he and his wife go on pastoral calls or long trips, his wife frequently reads to him while he drives.
2. Some have found it a valuable practice to keep several books in different places—perhaps one book in the automobile, one or two at the bedside, and a smaller book can even be carried in a pocket to have handy for moments while waiting for ap­pointments or for a train or a bus.
3. We have heard C. B. Haynes tell how when he worked in New York he made a practice of having a pocket Testament with him at all times. While commuting on the New York underground trains, hanging onto the strap with one hand and onto the Testament with the other, he was able to read the entire Bible through once a year.
4. Some of our workers are following the practice that H. M. S. Richards began a few years ago. The plan is to lay aside all secular and religious periodi­cals during the month of January and concentrate on reading the Bible through during the month; then read it leisurely for the second time during the remaining eleven months. Another good plan is to make room for an intensive reading program the first week of each month, or on certain days of each week.
5. One of our workers informed us that she likes to break in a new Bible by marking it with some theme in mind. In doing this she gained much by seeking to discover references and inferences to the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the texts referring to the resurrection created interest. Further suggestions for various themes might be such subjects as covenants, stew­ardship, conversion, health, sanctification, fellow­ship, song and music, angels, children, et cetera. In this plan one finds much value in pursuing themes of practical godliness.
6. Some pastors of other denominations have been successful in organizing responsible laymen in their congregations to do much reading for them. These laymen then turn over the marked book to the pastor, and sometimes, in addition, give him an appraisal, so that he can decide whether he wants to read the book himself or use the gleanings that his laymen readers have found for him.

These few suggestions we hope will be useful in stimulating our thinking to find ways and means whereby our reading time and efficiency can be greatly increased.

CLUBS FOR OUR MARRIED COUPLES

A number of our pastors have found it a good practice to or­ganize a married couples' club in their churches. Such clubs can be definitely evangelistic in that the husband or wife who is not an Adventist may often be influenced to come to a social function held elsewhere than in the church. These club gather­ings should be conducted on a high social plane, and might occasionally include a potluck supper, which adds to the social atmosphere of the evening. Here the men of the church have an opportunity to become acquainted in a friendly manner with the non-Adventist husbands in other families. Our sisters also can come in closer fellowship with the non-Adventist wives of some of the brethren of the church.

We believe that if such a program is conducted in harmony with the high calling of our mission, great good may come from these social contacts month by month. The plan can be commended to our pastors.

"NOT WITHOUT HONOUR"

When a young worker has grown up and been educated, entered denomina­tional employment, and finally given a number of years of service to the cause—all in his local home field—it is not uncommon for his fellow workers to continue to think of him as just a "local boy."

But take this same young worker and transplant him into a new field where no one, including the conference president, knows much about his back­ground except that he has been highly recom­mended, and things may begin to happen. He is then accepted on his own merits, and no one has any reservations when his name comes up for new appointments or responsibilities.

Why should this be so?

In the business world, firms often take pride in seeing a "local boy" make good and rise from errand boy to become president of the corporation. He is taken on his own merits, and the fact that he is a local boy is often considered an advantage. Why should it be different in the work of God?

All workers in the cause, including our best denominational leaders today, were at one time "local boys" and "local girls"—and some of them outwardly not too promising! Why should a worker necessarily have to be transplanted to be fully ap­preciated?

Would we not do well, in evaluating the qualifi­cations of a worker, to try somehow to forget that we have known him for years, and endeavor to consider without bias or prejudice his present per­formance and the results of his work on its own merits, rather than in the light of his background and early training? What good reason, if any, is there that a prophet should be "not without hon­our" save in the community or conference where he made his start in the work?