OUR pastors have been using this program with excellent results. In one of our smaller areas four families have been coming back to church since the CONCERN kits were taken to them. This is a wonderful program and will surely bring results."
This is a portion of a letter written by Pastor Paul Matacio, of the Illinois Conference, and received in our mail on the morning of the twentieth of March. This is just one of many we have already received that indicate that where the CONCERN program is being properly followed it is meeting with wonderful success. Here are some others:
"We are very happy for the way the CONCERN program is going in the Missouri Conference. A number of our former members are now attending church regularly as a result of this program. Naturally the reports are -just beginning to come in from the field but from what reports we have been getting we are very encouraged with the program." --A. V. McCLURE, President, Missouri Conference.
"We very much appreciate the good materials that have been provided for this CONCERN program and we are finding a ready response here in our field." W. D. WAMPLER, President, Alabama-Mississippi Conference.
"I feel that the CONCERN program that has been outlined for the current year is proving to be a blessing here in our field. When it was presented to our people at the workers' and officers' meeting they responded quite readily and generously. It is very meaningful to seek the lost sheep and bring them back to the fold. They seem to be catching the spirit." --C. E. DUDLEY, President, South Central Conference.
From one of his pastors we learn that he presented this program to his church and followed the suggestions outlined in "Concern Guide Lines." In one week they made contact with sixty people and the following Sabbath most of them, were back in church. It was an amazing response. Elder Dudley in reporting to Elder Pierson said that even the pastor was surprised.
While at the Michigan Conference workers' meeting in February one of the pastors reported that the first two families visited by a CONCERN team were in church the next Sabbath.
Elder O. D. Wright, of the Pennsylvania Conference, reports that they, too, are having unusual success, with a good many former and missing members back in church following a visit by the CONCERN team. Why not try it in your church, Brother Pastor?
The CONCERN Program
CONCERN has to do with reclaiming missing and former members. This is the first organized attempt that has been developed on a denominational scale to seek to restore to the church the straying and lost ones. God led in the development of this program and He is greatly blessing its use. The program, briefly summarized, is divided into three sections:
1. Reaching the missing and former members.
2. Receiving them into fellowship.
3. Holding them in a faithful relationship to the church.
To assist the pastor and his church board in developing this program properly a special guide has been prepared called "Concern Guide Lines." This outlines the plan in detail, quotes from the Fall Council action that authorized the program, and gives definite suggestions as to how proper and effective contacts can be made with the missing and former members.
In addition a special pamphlet is avail able for all the members of the church en titled, Consider One Another. This contains quotations from the writings of the servant of the Lord giving reasons why members leave the church and how they may be re stored to faithful membership. This is a valuable piece of material and should be placed in every church member's home.
There are tens of thousands of missing and former members scattered over North America. It is time now for all our churches to unite in endeavoring to reclaim and restore them to fellowship in the church wherever possible.
The recommendation is that a survey be made by the local church board in counsel with the pastor to discover all missing members and former members living in the area. Prime sources of information for this survey may include church records, lists provided by literature evangelists and Ingathering contacts, and names submitted by church members. All our members in North America should carry a responsibility upon their hearts for these people. Any member knowing of any former or missing member should write to the conference president, giving the name and address of this individual or notify the pastor of the nearest church.
The second phase of this program is the development of CONCERN teams within every church. These should be appointed by the church board in counsel with the pastor and should receive special training for their work in behalf of the missing and former members. Elder F. W. Detamore's book Finding His Lost Sheep is suggested as a training guide for these teams.
The recommendation is that the CONCERN team take our CONCERN packet in which is an lp record with a personal appeal from Robert H. Pierson, our General Conference president, and H. M. S. Richards, Sr., Voice of Prophecy speaker, with appropriate music, to the home of the missing or former members. This record has a tremendous heart appeal and many have already responded to it. In addition to the record, the packet contains a copy of the Review and Herald prepared with CONCERN especially in mind, a union conference paper, a current Sabbath School quarterly, and an eight-page insert with a beautiful message of appeal illustrating the church and its function. A personal letter by the conference president, or the local pastor is also included.
Member Preparation
A special effort should be made to prepare the church to receive missing and former members back into fellowship. There is a great need in our churches for a richer demonstration of love for one an other, interest in one another, and concern for one another's salvation. When we are willing to put ourselves out to indicate our interest in those who may be weak in the faith or who may be passing through times of great stress, the church will indeed be a place from which will go forth the comfort and encouragement that will help to hold people steadfast in its fellowship.
The Ministerial Association of the General Conference has been asked to sponsor this program but every department of the church and everyone in the church from the conference president to the youngest member must share this responsibility for the missing and former members. Let us unite our efforts with that of the minister in seeking to save these precious souls. This is God's call to His church today and it roust not go unanswered.
"Often the truth must be plainly spoken to the erring; he must be led to see his error, that he may reform. But you are not to judge or to condemn. Make no attempt at self-justification. Let all your effort be for his recovery. In treating the wounds of the soul, there is need for the most delicate touch, the finest sensibility. Only the love that flows from the Suffering One of Calvary can avail here. With pitying tenderness, let brother deal with brother, knowing that if you succeed, you will 'save a soul from death,' and 'hide a multitude of sins.' " --The Desire of Ages, p. 440.
We appeal to every pastor and every minister in any capacity in this church to unite with our laymen in a fully coordinated program to reclaim and restore the lost. Let us follow the example of the Good Shep herd who went out to seek and to save the one lost sheep. God will bless such an endeavor and there will be joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repents "more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."