How I would like to chat personally with each of our Bible instructors! That, of course, is impossible. But suppose we do the next best thing and talk over in this way the Bible work that is so near to our hearts. May I set the mood by saying that I have before me a map of the world. Perhaps distance lends enchantment—at least I am endeavoring to visualize many of you at your far-flung posts of duty.
Since Bible work is largely built around evangelism, let us begin on this note. Patterns of evangelism are constantly changing with newer trends, but there remains a strong emphasis on public meetings. The giving of the gospel requires a preaching ministry, both at home and overseas. In this connection the services of the personal worker are always in great demand. Gospel visitors and teachers are indispensable. In many areas the present emphasis may be on our Bible correspondence schools, where we find Bible instructors helping to organize this teaching medium for speedy soul winning. Those of you who have come from the field into correspondence schools already know the value of personal home contact. The making of Seventh-day Adventist Christians is hardly done alone from an office. It is the worker in the home who must develop the interest and reap the harvest. But the blending of contacts through the mail and in the home produces wonderful results in souls won to the Saviour and to the message.
There is still a dire need for a larger evangelism in the great cities of the world. Here the challenge to evangelize cannot be met by the timid, faithless, and conservative approach. We might compare the task to the erection of a skyscraper, which calls for dynamite and the noise of blasting and drilling. Giant bulldozers must do a work of preparation. Teams of skilled mechanics and workmen must cooperate before such a skyscraper stands complete. Some Bible instructors fit into this more intensive service of large city evangelism. Not all are qualified for this particular type of building for the kingdom, but how we do respect those who labor so strenuously to erect these great monuments for the message. Often they turn up enough interest to keep hundreds of laymen busy for the Lord long after a city campaign is ended. Let us speak courage to these workers!
Many cities and towns must carry on a less spectacular, more general type of evangelism. It is very popular among us at present, for it is less expensive for the conference, and uses the services of more of the church members. Here under the skilled direction of the pastor-evangelist and his Bible instructor our laymen are helped to develop a soul-winning personality. They are taught sound Bible reasoning and good teaching methods. Such efforts materially strengthen our churches, and are successful just to the extent that the message for this hour is carried appealingly into the homes of the people. Those leading out will see the fruit of their toil long after they are transferred to other fields of labor. In this type of evangelism many Bible instructors develop into skilled teachers of public Bible classes. This, we say admiringly, is no mean ability. Such teachers will be growing in influence in their communities.
Health Principles in Evangelism
Our prophetic message progresses as a sanctifying force that stresses personal holiness. This must embrace the teaching of health principles. There is a decided awakening among the medical men in our ranks to the opportunities of using their professional approach and influence in the proclamation of our special truths. Their wives and assistants join in this type of evangelism. And some of our doctors find it profitable to assist the conferences in employing Bible instructors acquainted with health-evangelism techniques. Real progress is being made in the use of special films and other interest-developing visual aids. Personal workers in these teams are most enthusiastic in their work. Their service breaks down prejudice and wins many friends for our work. At present it is a very productive phase of medical evangelism.
As our medical institutions expand there is an increasing need for the more skilled Bible instructor who becomes a chaplain's assistant as well as a Bible teacher to the sick and the nervous. Young women with nursing skills and perhaps some psychiatric training are in great demand. We must consider these urgent needs in the education and training of Bible instructors with special gifts. The few who are functioning so ably in such a capacity are enthusiastic about their work, different though it is from that of the Bible worker of past decades. A new emphasis must now be given to the training of institutional Bible instructors.
Bible Background in Office Work
During the past decade the expansion of industry and commerce has placed a premium on a thoroughly trained office worker. Many of the skilled office workers today are women. Our smaller conference and school offices have already taken on larger proportions in every respect. Because our denominational work requires more than a basic knowledge of the Bible, the intelligent secretary today is versed in Bible information. She understands research techniques as well as spelling and sentence construction. A Bible instructor course is a very helpful preparation even for those who are training for many types of office work in our cause. Bible instructors should be enlarging the vision of students preparing for work in our offices. Here we can show a guiding interest.
As a point of information we might here mention that a few Bible instructors are being lent to our schools in this present crisis in the capacity of teachers and school home deans. The ability to be so adaptable is praiseworthy, but we do appreciate the assurance that the hearts of these workers are still in the Bible work. One trained in reaching non-Adventists with the message has acquired a peculiar skill through years of service. This is our paramount need in evangelism. Bible instructors now temporarily teaching in our schools will be coming back into the field of personal evangelism. And in the meantime they will guide consecrated young people to choose Bible work as their life calling.
Bible Work Highly Respected
Bible work may not appear to be the most spectacular service in our cause, but it certainly is most effective and highly respected. Thousands have been won to our message by noble Bible instructors. This humble service bears heavenly credentials. The Bible instructor is one who will "contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." She is the essence of pure religion, and the last to compromise on standards and doctrines. Let us draw into the work consecrated youth who will loyally uphold these standards.
Only the other day I was reminded by a Bible instructor whose heart is still young that Bible work isolates a worker. The thought was expressed that the Bible instructor knows more loneliness than those whose professions center in our institutions and offices. True, the very nature of our service as Bible instructors means that we must live somewhat separated from our church members. Again, in our relationship to those who are learning the ways of Adventism, we also live with certain cautions and restrictions. To them we are spiritual leaders and teachers, lifters of spirits, and ever-helpful benefactors. Our own difficulties are never enlarged upon, if mentioned at all, to prospective members. While there is much to be said about this "isolation," yet this same Bible instructor mentioned how joyfully it is accepted because of the deep satisfaction that comes when souls are born into the kingdom of God. And how very true is this testimonial!
On rare occasions a Bible instructor may have heartaches over some misunderstandings arising in the circle of her associate workers. Although this can happen in any group of workers, our women are likely to suffer more keenly under strain. Fortunately these soul testings are few and far between, for workers in our ranks enjoy a true fellowship. Bible instructors have exceptionally well-poised personalities; they are also wise workers who forestall difficulties of any kind whenever possible. However, the enemy of souls has many discouragements, inducements, and attractions to deter us individually from performing such a necessary service for God. In God's school of character training we will find at times that the benches are hard. But nothing can separate us from the love of God. Each worker who is called to serve is accountable for the use of his talents. Firmly confident that right eventually triumphs, let us courageously and forgivingly stand by until the work is completed.
Growth and Progress
We are constantly searching for new means to make our soul winning more successful. The recent appearance of the Pictorial Aid for Bible Study has been welcomed everywhere. What a blessing this device will prove to be in presenting prophecy to our readers! May we kindly suggest that our workers teach our laymen their new skills in the use of this visual aid. With us, they yearn to become more capable in leading people into our message.
With joy we may report that today we are meeting a new experience in Adventism, for many leaders of other Christian groups are looking at our special doctrines with new interest and tolerance. God is giving us favor as we uphold the fundamentals of the Christian faith. We do well to emphasize our teachings concerning the Godhead, and to build solidly on the righteousness of Christ as our only means of salvation. We also do wisely to emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit, letting Christians know that as a people we earnestly long for a copious outpouring of His power before Christ's return. The Spirit of God is being poured out upon all flesh, and many are receptive to the message. God is opening hearts and homes to the personal worker. What a glorious hour for soul winning! Bible instructors, both men and women, let us press the battle for God to the very gates of the enemy's domain, finding and gathering in every honest soul we can for His soon-coming kingdom.
L. C. K.
