THIS is a day when the church must take its young people into account when giving consideration to its future. The Spirit of Prophecy has challenged and admonished that "God has appointed the church as a watchman, to have a jealous care over the youth and children, and as a sentinel to see the approach of the enemy and give warning of danger. But the church does not realize the situation. She is sleeping on guard. In this time of peril, fathers and mothers must arouse and work as for life, or many of the youth will be forever lost."—Counsels to Parents and Teachers, p. 165.
An unusual opportunity "To Save From Sin and Guide in Service" the youth of the church is provided in the 1960 MV Week of Prayer. The church has come to such a time as this with a responsibility to avail itself of every means to save and to hold and prepare its young people for the glorious part they are to play in the destinies just ahead. Think of the potential power wrapped up in this youthful army. What an asset the vigor and the vitality of these young people could be!
The 1960 MV Week of Prayer is charged with an urgency that perhaps no preceding week has had. Sinister influences would swing our youth away from the church and out into the world and thrust them into experiences which would deaden their spiritual sensibilities. Whatever the church is to do for its youth must be done now. "The lambs of the flock must be fed. The Lord of heaven is looking on to see who is doing the work He would have done for the children and youth."—Ibid., p. 42.
The importance of Missionary Volunteer Day, Sabbath, March 19, cannot be overestimated. It should be a time when the burden of saving our young people is placed upon every member, old and young alike. It should be a time for strong spiritual appeals and renewed dedication. The experiences of this day should lead the whole church into deeper consecration and into more earnest efforts in behalf of our youth.
I wish to appeal most earnestly to our worldwide ministry in behalf of our young people. Every effort should be put forth by our pastors everywhere to see that the church has the advantages that youth has to offer in the finishing of the work. Pastors, church officers, and parents should unite in prayer to this end. Let there be a revival of the family altar in the home. Many a youth in after years has been held steady through temptation and discouragement because of his memories of experiences at the altar of prayer in the home.
May God make the 1960 Week of Prayer a time of great blessing and victory not only for our youth but also for the whole church.