During recent years some of our pastors have taught a special Sabbath school baptismal class for visitors, and it has been a blessing to both the school and the non-Adventist guests.
Often the regular Sabbath school lessons have been used. Sometimes these lessons have been too advanced for these new interests, with the result that some pastors have had to resort to using material from other sources than the regular Sabbath school Quarterly. We have received many requests to provide a special Sabbath school quarterly to meet this particular need.
You will be interested to know that at the present time special lessons for the "Pastor's Sabbath School Baptismal Class" are in process of preparation. An announcement will be sent to the field when the lessons are ready for distribution. In the meantime we invite our pastors to write to their local conference Sabbath school secretaries and procure the new Sabbath School Leaflet, No. 15, which explains in detail all about this new procedure. The spirit of the class can be carried out even now before the special Quarterlies are ready for use. "The Sabbath school should be one of the greatest instrumentalities, and the most effectual, in bringing souls to Christ."—Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 10.
Occasionally, the pastor would do well to present the importance of, and the spiritual claims of, the Sabbath school to the entire church during the eleven o'clock service. The pastor has responsibility for the success of the Sabbath school. The church is a unit with various activities. The Sabbath school is one of those activities and is vital to the success of the church as a whole. The church pastor is pastor of the whole church, including the Sabbath school. Every Sabbath school officer and teacher is the pastor's assistant. Cooperation between the pastor and the Sabbath school officers means a successful soul-winning Sabbath school.
The pastor's help is invaluable in enlisting the interest of the church members in the Sabbath school activities. By occasionally remembering the Sabbath school, its officers and teachers, in public prayer, he will give evidence of his interest and sympathy. In pastoral calls, a mention of the Sabbath school will do much to encourage regular attendance, and reference to the lessons will promote the study of them. The pastor should recognize that the spiritual life of the members of his church depends largely upon their personal interest in the study of God's word. In no other way is the systematic study of the Bible by old and young so carefully and consistently planned for us as by Sabbath school agencies. By himself setting an example in regular and punctual attendance, by presenting the claims and benefits of the Sabbath school to members, he can do much to increase both interest and attendance. A pastor should realize also that in the proper encouragement of the children and youth in Sabbath school attendance and activities, he is making the largest and finest provisions possible for the future membership of the church.—The Soul-Winning Sabbath School, pp. 228, 229.
We solicit your united prayers in behalf of our worldwide Sabbath schools to the end that they will ever serve the church well and thus be instruments with the blessing of God to bring many to a knowledge of their Saviour. "The object of Sabbath school work should be the ingathering of souls."—Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 61.
