TOWARD the end of a wonderful ministerial institute a handsome young minister said to me: "The instruction received during this week has rekindled in me the old conviction of the honor of being an ambassador for Christ. I have now determined to stay in the ministry permanently. I have been a district leader for three years, but I was never quite sure whether it was the right thing for me to do. Before I went to college I was positive that I was called by the Holy Spirit to the work of the ministry, but in my senior year the Bible teacher discouraged me and tried to persuade me to prepare for a lucrative profession, a career outside our organized work. This teacher said: 'I have regretted many times that I ever entered denominational work, especially in the ministry. I am thankful, and proud of the fact, that my three sons did not repeat my mistake. If I could live my life over again with the experience I now have, I would not enter denominational work.' "
This young minister continued: "I was constantly on the verge of handing in my resignation, but now I am determined to be a soldier of Christ until the work is finished. The question is settled now once for all."
"The greatest work, the noblest effort, in which men can engage, is to point sinners to the Lamb of God."—Gospel Workers, p. 18. Therefore, loyalty to Christ's work and to His chosen ministry ought to be the main attribute of every minister in the different branches of denominational work. It is a great satisfaction that practically all our ministers and Bible professors are loyal Christians who esteem it a great honor that the brethren "laid their hands upon them," dedicating them to the greatest and noblest work of soul winning. Although the salary may be small and the world does not honor nor recognize them, in the sight of Heaven they are the greatest. They also will encourage our gifted young men and women who are good speakers and have a basic appreciation and love for people, and who are convinced they are called by the Lord, to prepare for the all-important task of soul winning.
It is true that professors in the Bible department and other qualified men will sometimes have to advise young men not to enter the ministry when it is apparent they do not have the qualities necessary to make successful soul winners. But it is grieving to the Holy Spirit when a humble, talented young man who has been blessed by God with all the necessary qualifications to make a powerful soul winner is persuaded to use his gifts in studying for a more remunerative profession. "Let every Christian educator . . . encourage and assist the youth under his care in gaining a preparation to join the ranks."—Education, p. 271,
It is a source of joy that our educators in academies and colleges are inspiring our young students to prepare to respond to overseas mission calls which require a spirit of sacrifice and adventure for the Lord. Young people of that type are the hope of the church.
It is gratifying to see all over the world scores of ministers' and missionaries' children following in the steps of their devoted Christian parents and preaching the gospel of grace. This indicates that these children were so convinced of the value of their parents' mission that they decided to follow in their steps.
A few months ago in Turin, Italy, I witnessed a sight that made an indelible impression upon my mind. Elder G. Cupertino, secretary of the Ministerial Association of the Southern European Division, and his wife were surrounded by their three sons, all of them ministers in the Italian Mission. How happy those parents were! The entire family in the work! Those parents did not regret being messengers of Christ. Surely in their childhood those three young men must have witnessed the wonderful work their parents were doing in helping the needy, caring for the sick and shut-ins, encouraging the youth to a noble lifework, and bringing people to a knowledge of the truth, and therefore they decided to surrender their lives and potential ministerial abilities to the service of their Master also.
It must be acknowledged that not all ministers' sons are called to the ministry by God, because Heaven may have bestowed upon them other gifts enabling them to become medical doctors, teachers, farmers, accountants, et cetera. But these, too, can testify to the love of Christ in their respective professions or work.
He who thinks lightly of or speaks against the ministry challenges the Lord's wisdom in saving the world by the "foolishness of preaching" the gospel of salvation. Let us honor our God-given ministry in our private lives, around the family altar, and in the church, so that our calling may be exalted before the world, and a great harvest of souls may be gathered in.
Walter Schubert
