To see some of our church plans through the eyes of a layman at times is very revealing. The brother who here presents this privilege to our ministry is an intelligent, active, and sincere Christian, who was recognized as having a firm Christian experience when he joined our faith from another group. He does not capitalize on the weaknesses of the church nor censure the workers; his observations are written in a friendly spirit.
Not so long ago this Adventist brother of a few years' standing attended some inspiring non-Adventist evangelistic meetings. His heart was warmed, and he was impressed to be more diligent in attending the prayer meetings of his own church. When he carried out these convictions he was disappointed to see how few of our members were in attendance. He of course had expected to find the pastor leading out. Instead, an affable young brother tactfully explained why the pastor was not present: he found it important at present to spend his time visiting the people. The brother remarked in his friendly letter to one whose counsel he had learned to prize, "But why should the pastor do this on prayer meeting night?" Later in the meeting the pastor's substitute explained that the pressure of a church campaign during the next few weeks would make it necessary to "close down the regular prayer meetings to reach the church goal before Christmas." Again our brother queried such reasoning.
Just before the annual Week of Prayer this earnest layman was confined to his bed because of illness. It gave him time to think. He prayed longingly and humbly for a richer Christian experience. When the Week of Prayer Review arrived he immediately previewed its readings, especially the one on the prayer life. Somehow it brought new courage and direction to his prayer-hungry soul. He wondered to himself just what would happen in his own church during the coming Week of Prayer. He felt that God would richly bless His people. Though physically weak, he planned to be present at each of the evening prayer meetings.
At the first one the pastor himself led out. The reading stressed the prayer life of the Christian, and our brother was richly blessed.
But before the group entered into a season of prayer the pastor suggested that this portion of the meeting would be for "just five minutes," urging that those who wanted to pray express their petitions in a few brief sentences. On this point we will quote from our brother's letter: "Five minutes devoted to such an important prayer call seemed shocking! Had not the Week of Prayer reading that evening stressed prevailing intercession? Of course our public prayers should generally be brief, but why this hurry?
In these portentous times, in this decisive hour, where was our prayer burden?" Continuing, our brother observed: "We are convinced that no church will ever receive spiritual power by mere activity. All our organizational skill cannot substitute for humility of heart and the consciousness of God's presence in our church work." No, this believer is not a fanatic; but he senses most keenly a prayer apathy on the part of some of our leaders. And it is far more pronounced when it is apparent during the Week of Prayer!
We have learned the background of this brother's experience. Some years ago in his native land bombs were falling all around him. During those war days he led out in church welfare service on a large scale. Then nothing mattered except a strong faith in God. He and his family learned some hard lessons out of this disturbing war. He told us that men and women were led to pray out of the anguish of their hearts for spiritual as well as for physical needs. He mentioned occasions when the mighty power of God visited praying groups while great buildings were being shaken. He has longed to find a group of like-minded praying believers in these more peaceful times. The burden of his heart is where to find them. He so longs for another modern Pentecost.
We are aware that church leaders are busy men, and that a pastor may have justifiable reasons for finding a substitute to lead the prayer meeting. What does give us concern, however, is that our hurried ways as workers too often appear to our believers to indicate a lack of spiritual emphasis. Our Week of Prayer "tradition" has been built up through the years because we have sensed our utter dependence upon God. Today our need of prayer is far greater than it was at the beginning of our movement, and it is unwise to break down the confidence of our believers in its importance. Our hurried ways may wrongly interpret our own Christian experience, but with humility of heart let us be sympathetic with our earnest laymen who sense the pressure of our times.
