THE greatest ever" these words we heard over and over again during the pre-session Ministerial Council. And it truly was a great meeting. From the opening keynote address by N. R. Dower, Ministerial Association secretary, right through those packed-full days to the last moving challenge by E. E. Cleveland, A. C. Fearing, J. R. Spangler, and G. E. Vandeman all associate Ministerial secretaries at head quarters we were carried on a wave of spiritual fervor.
Every morning between 2,000 and 3,000 ministers and their wives met at 8:00 A.M. for the devotional messages. These mes sages focused on the Holy Spirit and His work. It was very apparent that these studies from the Scripture definitely set the mood for the day. After a thirty-minute presentation the meeting then broke up into smaller groups of between 25 and 40, each under a chosen leader, each becoming a small discussion group like a large Sabbath school class. This continued for another hour. It was wonderfully inspiring to move around and see how eagerly these groups were entering into a discussion of the theme presented and then giving personal testimony. The last ten or twelve minutes of the time was given over to prayer, and what a moving experience it was to witness these many small groups all pleading for the outpouring of the early and the latter rain!
But the meeting was not only a deep emotional experience. It was also a wonderfully practical education, for each day different groups gathered to discuss particular areas of ministerial responsibilities. These were classified as workshops. "How to prepare the field and the church for successful evangelism" is a theme dear to the hearts of evangelists. A. C. Fearing, chairman of the panel, led many of our leading evangelists and pastors into a profitable discussion that provided various techniques and ideas for use in the field. As we listened to the different members of the panels expressing their views we realized how varied are the ways the Holy Spirit can work when men and women are truly consecrated.
Every pastor is eager to know how to make the church prayer meeting vital to his members. If there is one need greater than another in our church today, it is to know how to increase prayer meeting attendance. Orley Berg, assistant secretary of the Ministerial Association, supervised a workshop on this subject. Those in attendance went away with their hearts and heads filled with new ideas and concepts that, when put into practice, will lead our members into a deeper experience with God.
How to make the right arm of the mes sage an entering wedge was introduced in a number of unique ways by pictures and diagrams. The enthusiastic response of the audience proved that it is time for greater emphasis to be placed upon our health message as a means to capture the world's attention for the purpose of eventually leading it into a saving relation with the Lord Jesus Christ. Those taking the leading part in these discussions were J. Robert Spangler, and Wilbur Nelson from the School of Public Health, Loma Linda University.
These men had just returned from a highly successful evangelistic program in the Philippines, where an integrated program of health talks and Bible doctrines was used effectively.
Three other workshops dealing with public calls, personal appeals, and counselor training were presented. A number of our leading evangelists led out in these beneficial discussions. All workshops proved to be sessions packed with interest that led into real discussions.
While the ministers were engaged in the various workshops, their wives were attending a meeting of their own entitled "Adventist Woman Power," under the guidance of Mrs. N. R. Dower, Mrs. Robert H. Pierson, and Mrs. A. C. Fearing. Those in attendance were greatly benefited by subjects such as "The Woman's Role in the Church" presented by Ruth Murdoch; "Dietary Suggestions" by Clinton Wall; and "The Development and Breaking of Habit Patterns in Children" by E. M. Chalmers. These self-improvement sessions will never be forgotten.
Yes, this was in every way a great meeting, and all felt that the spiritual impact of this pre-session council was felt through out the entire General Conference session, which followed immediately, for most of the leaders of the world field were in attendance at these Ministerial Council meetings. The slogan for the presession meetings was "To Make Ready a People Prepared for the Lord." Our only reason for existence as a denomination is to prepare the way of the Lord and to make ready a people to meet Him in peace. The great hymn of the ministerial meetings was "The Overcoming Life." To hear 4,000 ministers join their voices in such wonderful praise, singing these words from their hearts: "Full salvation! Full salvation! Raised in Christ to, life divine!" was an experience one will not forget for a long time.
All the leaders of the Ministerial Association were re-elected at the session, and for this we can praise God. Their spiritual and organizational leadership have been well demonstrated. And with them were a large number of union and local conference ministerial and evangelistic secretaries. Together they are uniting to bring the inspiration of this meeting into the lives of more than 20,000 ministers around the world.
Let us all look confidently to our heavenly Mediator for the rich outpouring of the latter rain, which will bring God's work to its mighty conclusion and usher in the kingdom of glory.
As these leaders return to their fields of service let us all pray that those on whom responsibility has been laid will lead the ministry of the Advent Movement into deeper depths of Bible study and greater heights of inspiration as the Holy Spirit empowers them to help our ministers around the world to MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.
