THE statistical report of the General Conference presented 1961 Autumn Council is, to my thinking, very revealing. As usual, this report is not entirely flattering to the progress of our work; but on the whole it is most encouraging. A few blank items indicate trouble spots, if not mystery; but what else can be expected in such an upset and unpredictable age? What a stack of information and current denominational history! Personally I prefer working at the base, where a worker gains experience from the data furnished, rather than be responsible for the tabulation, but God bless the statisticians!
Naturally I compare the report's items and columns. Each section is of interest, but not all of like interest; those pertaining to departments of service in which I have personally functioned mean the most to me. This is not entirely selfish. I began with a tabulation comparing evangelistic and institutional workers. Each of the two groups shows advancement for the period. We might wish, however, that the evangelistic group in the future would indicate greater strength. Figures may tell a story, but in between the lines of a tabulation we may read why, at a certain time, one or the other of these classes received greater emphasis. The lesson for us here might be to keep symmetry in the building up of our departments.
The table listing data for workers sent overseas by our denomination has always been intriguing. It seems to claim priority. In the report under discussion we recognize a great challenge to maintain our traditional zeal. Frankly, here we could have done better. Is the decline, though slight, indicative of a loss of vision on the part of candidates for appointments? If so, we should return to our "first love." Heaven holds us responsible for the use made of the great institutions we have raised up for the purpose of training personnel.
Should we not remember the slim years for drafting mission appointees? These, however, were rich in youthful dedication and unselfish ambition. The question must be posited: Are we losing the spirit of missions? Or are we contenting ourselves with preparation for a service that will receive the recognition of the world, yet not meet God's plan for evangelizing abroad? While stressing efficiency and equipment, we dare not lose out in dedication to a world task and growth in spirituality.
Our Evangelizing Agencies
I have happy memories of years of stimulating service when I helped to build strength into our educational work. Akin to it is the great Sabbath school organization that also I was privileged to serve. I am not unmindful of those hard years when our resources and buildings were inadequate for the gigantic and
magnificent task to be performed. In more recent years, however, the cause has developed extensive projects to build better schools and train more efficient instructors.
Our progress has been marvelous, as seen by the light of this recent statistical report. Our Missionary Volunteer Department published the phenomenal figure of 1.2 million Bible studies and meetings held by the youth during 1960. As I studied this item of the report I prayed that God would roll a greater burden upon our youth to dedicate their trained talents to public and personal evangelism. This item tells the story of a great potential body of ministers and conference field Bible instructors. This area is where we must watch our denominational work, so as to build symmetrically for the future.
It is largely the preaching and teaching of the Word that makes for spiritual and financial prosperity in the cause. Although all our projects are evangelistic, not every agency is dedicating its full time and strength primarily to evangelism. Though we train scientists we must not eclipse evangelism per se. Nor should we confuse our thinking by diverting the attention of the ministry from the sole task of preaching the message. Neither should we seek to persuade young people called of God to preach the Word, to fill the enlarging ranks of other professions. With no desire to compare ourselves among ourselves in professional value, we merely plead for a program of service that keeps the ministry a distinctive calling of God.
The Cry of the Multitudes
America must never forget that its evangelistic progress in reaching the great cities of its land must keep pace with similar city work overseas. More young men today should train to reach these Gibraltars. This is becoming one of the less attractive gospel tasks because of its magnitude. It takes young men of godly skill and superhuman strength to live with the crowds and be ever buffeted with defeat. Men of faith alone may claim gospel victories.
Whatever contributing agencies in the work can offer to supplement the ministry, the concentration eventually must total evangelism. While both areas require attention, these dark cities cry out louder than the dark counties, because of the masses to be reached. Here the denominational investment in radio and TV is important in reaching people behind their locked apartment doors. The now well-developed Bible correspondence schools furnish a commendable and larger service in spotting the interest. But we will need many more personal workers and Bible instructors to realize the evangelistic harvest God has in mind.
Training Bible Instructors
Let us discuss another phase of the Fall Council report. Personally I was encouraged by the figures, which totaled about 600, for Bible instructors. Our first Bible instructor report, furnished in 1943, showed 237 in denominational employ. Within a few years we had reached the 700 mark. Could we glamourize this figure to take in all the unsalaried helpers, including such efforts as demonstrated by our Missionary Volunteers what a report we could produce!
But Bible and personal evangelism cannot be dramatized. It is the hardest and least attractive work in the entire gospel program, unless the selfless and tireless worker has faith enough to visualize a harvest for God where there is yet none. I say with the confidence of experience in this often-overlooked Bible teaching service that it is a most satisfying and rewarding gospel service for both men and women. When an interest is developed, from whatever point it may have begun, the personal worker used of God is the climaxing agent. There is no more glorious experience for a worker than to be the instrument God uses to lead someone to the decision to accept Christ.
As a final point of emphasis I would set forth the need of the hour to keep personal evangelism in the area of the rarest skills in our work. This service is greatly enhanced in the Spirit of Prophecy's presentation of the closing scenes of history. We may therefore wisely encourage our young men and women to enter the ranks of the Bible work. God will have an army on the gospel battlefield concentrating on teaching Bible truth, and that will help to enlighten the world. I appeal that in the educating of our future workers we build up the importance of the Bible work so that our youth will want to train for skill in personal Bible teaching.
We must prepare for this in our colleges and seminaries, and when such preparation has been given, then we may confidently wait on God's Spirit to direct His call to our consecrated, skilled, and waiting youth. Because every agency of our manifold evangelism requires Bible instructors, let this branch of service be developed symmetrically with all other professions.
When this Heaven-directed personal work receives the combined attention of every educator in our denomination, then the Bible instructor's work will progress with other departments of our work.
