Orley M. Berg

As pastor's it is a constant problem for us to know how best to organize and plan our work so that it may all be cared for in the allotted time. There is a constant stream of demands ever pressing in upon us. In order that we may carry on…

A YOUNG man, in busi­ness for just four years, opened up his fourth hardware store. This was quite an accomplish­ment considering the young fellow's small ini­tial investment of only $3,500, strong competi­tion from other stores, and the…

IT IS now a year since the appeal for revival, reformation, and evangelism came from our world leaders at the Autumn Council, October, 1966. Since then this call has been sounded again and again at divi­sion meetings, union conference sessions,…

WITH this issue of THE MINISTRY we  feature a new concept in soul winning —telephone evangelism. More people are using telephones every day. There are now 200 million in all parts of the world. Of these, 93.7 million are in the United…

EVERY Monday morning several archi­tectural drawings for new church buildings pass in review before the Gen­eral Conference Blue Print Committee. Previous to this the plans have received careful scrutiny by some individual mem­bers of the…

TODAY the Christian church is under fire. Voices from within and from without are demanding change. They insist that today's church is stale and irrelevant. The old-time religion is only for the curiosity shop. They say the church is obsolete…

During this festive season of the year when the Christian world harks back to that day when the Son of God came wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, it is well that we give careful attention to the words of this same Jesus, when…

The new morality we hear so much about today is really not very new. In fact it was this very concept that turned the course of ancient Israel from an experience of un­paralleled victory and blessing to one of defeat and shame.

The rector of a Jesuit seminary, speaking recently before an annual conference representing nearly 38,000 priests and brothers in the United States, declared, "We need to be doing things worth giving a life for."

This is a tremendous…

Before me is a Religious News Service  dispatch, reporting on a keynote address made by a prominent Christian business­man that has led me to do some thinking and now this article.

Amory Houghton, Jr., is chairman of the board of…

Q. What area do you represent and what is your problem there?

A. I represent the Central Amazon Mis­sion. This mission is six times as large as California, fifteen times as large as the State of Michigan, yet there…

THERE are few whose duties are more complex and demanding than those of the Seventh-day Adventist minister of today, and his work is becoming more involved every day. This being the case, it becomes increasingly important that our work be…

NOW we are to consider how the interests in the prospect file can be most effectively followed up. Just having scores or even hundreds of names in a file will avail nothing of itself. What, then, should be done with them?

First, as…

It Is Church Property

First, it is very important that it be understood that the file is the property of the church, not of the pastor. When the pastor moves to another district the file, both the Rolodex V File and the Visible…

Question: Pastor Delafield, Seventh-day Adventists everywhere are aware that something unique and important is going on every Wednesday night,in the Takoma Park church. The huge Testimony Count down class is awakening a tremendous…

AN ORGANIZED prospect file is the heart of the successful soul-winning program of any pastor. There must be some systematic way of recording and riling the names of all interests. The plans used by pastors vary, but in some instances there…

FOR the Seventh-day Adventist Church 1969 is the "Year of CONCERN." The CONCERN program is even now being launched in hundreds of churches through out the North American Division, with many overseas leaders making plans for its use in their…

AN INCREASING number of pastors are discovering that the pastor's Bible class can be the most fruitful agency in the entire church program for the winning of souls. Although least expensive, it can be the most effective.

For the class…

THE November, 1968, issue of Eternity magazine reports a most unusual reason for a congregation to want to get rid of the pastor. The pastor happens to be young Peter Marshall, son of the famed Peter Mar shall, late pastor of the New York…

THE FUNDAMENTAL doctrines of Scripture that guard against Satan's delusive last-day deceptions, including the standards that make the true Christian different from the worldling, are set forth in our Church Manual and appear on the certificates…

WHAT A man! What a pastor! Who can read the story of Moses without being deeply moved by his love and devotion to the great congregation that was his? What an encouragement it is to pastors today. Within Moses' flock were all sorts of people…

CHECK-LIST Christians believe they gain merit or divine favor toward salvation by conforming to a set of rules and regulations. This is legalism. It is salvation by works and is totally futile, for salvation is "by grace" (Eph. 2:8), "without…

WHAT can be accomplished when the pastor and lay members work together for the integration and nurturing of the new members? One answer comes in a recent report from a pastor with whom I was associated in an evangelistic campaign about a…

FROM a dedicated pastor in Australia comes an eleven-page assessment of our real needs as a church. While acknowledging progress in the finishing of our task, he also faces up to the fact that something must be seriously wrong or we wouldn't…

WHAT is the ideal size of a church? When has it become too big? When should it think in terms of fostering a new congregation in an adjacent territory? These are questions that might bring a variety of responses.

Before addressing…

A LETTER from a retired minister, now an active member of a church with between 300 and 400 members and still called on to preach although he is approaching 80 years of age, expresses the burden he carries for the care of the members. He…

THIS editorial is being written as the last of the three Bible conferences is drawing to a close. Sitting here in the large church auditorium at Pacific Union College, I am led to reflect on what these Bible conferences have accomplished…

This article is a condensation of Chapter VII, "The Present State of Israel," of the soon-to-be-published volume, The Restless Land—Israel in History and Prophecy. This volume is scheduled for release…

ARE Sunday-keeping Christians correct in declaring that the blessings and responsibilities of the Sabbath were transferred to Sunday? If so, when was such a transfer made, and for what reason? To the Catholic the question is whether or not…

The fourth business session of the now historic annual council of 1973 was called to order at 9:30 on the morning of October 9 by Neal C. Wilson, vice-president of the General Conference for the North American Division. But before plunging…

AN ANONYMOUS writer is puzzled about a call he received to a larger church within the conference, which he accepted but then was talked into declining by the conference president "because the members of the small church did not want me to…

A CONCERNED layman writes, "I have been a member of this church since 1926. Up until about 1940 one could call or write his pastor, and the pastor was always available within reasonable limits. His wife was always at home unless she was making…

A DEDICATED lay leader of one of our small churches writes expressing deep concern for the work in the small towns and churches of our vast country. After lauding the progressive spirit of her town, she adds, "But our beautiful Seventh-day…

Israel had come to the borders of the Promised Land. The hopes of months of wearisome travel were now to be realized. Israel would soon be in the Land of Promise. The dream of centuries the vision of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was finally…

Several letters recently received suggest that the communion services really amount to quarterly desecration services. Of all services of the year these should be the most beautiful, the most inspiring, and the most carefully con ducted.…

THE first angel's message of Revelation 14 declares, "Fear God, and give glory to him." This is timely counsel, always appropriate, but especially so in the light of the judgment hour in which we now live. "To fear Cod" does not mean "to…

A GREAT hazard in preaching is that the one to deliver the message may become self-sufficient, feeling that once the sermon is prepared he can relax in the assurance that it will accomplish its purpose. The sermon may be well developed with…

THERE are two chapters in the Bible of which the Lord's messenger declares, "I urge that these chapters be read at least once every week." --Testimonies to Ministers, p. 98. Notice that Mrs. White does not suggest that they be read,…

There are guides to good hotels, good restaurants, and what have you. Now, according to Religious News Service, the Roman Catholics of London have published the Good Church Guide.

This means that their churches are apt to be visited…

ELLEN G. WHITE declares, "As an educator no part of the Bible is of greater value than are its biographies." --Conflict and Courage, p. 10. This statement introduces us to a fruitful source of sermon material. Biographical sermons…

EZEKIEL saw a fiery cloud, living creatures, wheels, and wheels within wheels. It was all "so complicated that at first sight they appeared . . . to be all in confusion." But then the prophet observed a wonderful harmony, for "when they moved,…

NEXT to a familiarity with the Bible itself as a source for sermons we have the Spirit of Prophecy books that help to illuminate the Bible. One called to preach can ill afford to be without these valuable volumes. Several of the books by…

IN MEETINGS with church elders and in private conversations with them in regard to their work in the church, I note that one of the requests most frequently made is, "Can you give us some help in the preparation of sermons?" At a recent meeting…

THE end of one year and the beginning of another is always a time for retrospect with regard to the past and re solve for the future. What better time than now to consider how the work in the church has gone in the old year and what can be…

ONE question often discussed in church nominating committee meetings is whether or not to elect a new member to office, or how soon he should be involved in definite responsibilities in the church. Some feel that as a matter of encouragement…

PASTOR and his wife invited a young couple to their home for Sabbath dinner after the morning service that had featured their baptism. Shortly after dinner the couple politely excused themselves with the remark, "We had better go on home.…

THE baptismal service should be a high experience for the church; every thing possible should be done to make it inspiring and beautiful. Although the ordained minister ordinarily officiates at this service, provision is made in the Church…

THE communion service is the most sacred and deeply spiritual of all the services of the church. Its quarterly observance should be anticipated with expectant joy. The preparatory service, washing one another's feet, is a work of cleansing.…

THESE lines are written while the General Conference staff is engaged in its own Week of Spiritual Emphasis. C. D. Brooks, field secretary of the General Conference, is bringing to us the call to genuine spiritual leadership, so necessary…

The Ordinance of Foot Washing IT WAS humiliating to Christ's disciples for Him to take the position of a servant and wash their feet. But in so doing Jesus was teaching some very important lessons. And that these lessons might be kept fresh…

THE communion service together with the ordinance of foot washing should be to the church a season of greatest spiritual refreshing. Although ordinarily conducted by an ordained minister, the ordained local elder is also qualified to lead…

WHEN you receive this issue of THE MINISTRY, the MISSION '72 evangelistic meetings will be about to begin. The big question is, What more can you do to help make them a success? You will, of course, give the meetings the support of your own…

ACCORDING to the Church Manual, "In the absence of a pastor, not only is the local elder the spiritual leader of the church, but he is responsible for fostering all branches and departments of the work. The Sabbath school work, the…

THE year of MISSION '72 is now upon us. Never in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has so much time, planning, and praying gone into a single program or project. MISSION '72 represents an evangelistic thrust far beyond anything…

Another new year. How quickly the years come and go. Each arrives, bright with promise and hope, fraught with dangers and fears. One by one the sheets of the new calendar are quickly torn off, the new year is old and another is on its way.

How…

THE pastor is the shepherd of the flock, the local elder the undershepherd. Together they have the responsibility of caring for the sheep. On the Sabbath day they help to provide proper spiritual nourishment, inspiration, and encouragement…

AMONG the most powerful allies the minister and laymen have at their disposal in the work of evangelism is the printed page. We are fully aware of the oft repeated statement that the larger number of those who will come into the church during…

A PERSON asked to speak in public usu ally gives careful thought as to what he will say. Often overlooked, however, is the importance of how it will be said. No matter how careful the preparation has been, how highly polished every sentence,…

IN ADDITION to the pastoral prayer, an other very important part of the Sabbath worship service usually conducted by the local elder is the public reading of the Scriptures. This assignment is not to be taken lightly nor entered into without…

MISSION 72 is bringing together the minds and hearts of every phase of our ministerial force. This means that every department is making its contribution to the one great objective. So that you may be more fully informed as to what resource…

THE local elder is often asked to offer the pastoral prayer for the worship service. This is a solemn responsibility, and one that many an elder would much rather shy away from. Nevertheless it will continue to be expected of you as one of…

On March 8, 1971, a seminar on eschatology was conducted for non-Adventist clergymen of Knox County, Ohio. Twenty-five pastors sent in reservations in response to the invitations extended by Pastor Leroy L. Albers and Mount Vernon Seventh-day…

THE Sabbath services are among the most important occasions that arise during a week. They afford precious opportunities for Bible study, fellowship, and worship, and everything possible should be done to make these services as attractive…

SO YOU have been asked to serve as elder of the local church! This may be your first year in this responsible position or perhaps you have held it for several years. In either case the anxious question in your heart is: Just what is expected…

NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY was a great year for soul winning! Two hundred and twenty-eight men each baptized between 90 and 150 persons. Fifty-six men baptized between 151 and 250 persons; twelve baptized between 251 and 350; and five exceeded…

A somewhat revolutionary, yet vital, phase of MISSION '72 is the every-member enlistment program scheduled for the month of May. True, we've had every-member canvasses ever since churches have had need of funds. But this is different. It's…

MISSION 72! By now these words should send a thrill through our souls every time they appear. Although in the formative stage it was referred to as Evangelism 72, the official term has since become MISSION 72. The plan, with its details developed…

ANOTHER new year! How many more our mortal eyes shall see we do not know. One thing certain, we are still in the land of the enemy and awaiting final deliverance.

More than four years ago a stirring call was made for reformation and…

A blood transfusion is in order in all too many instances if attendance at the midweek prayer meeting is a true index of the spiritual condition of the church. That these meetings should form so unimportant a part in the life of the church…

It is most fitting that this issue of The Ministry be dedicated to H. M. S. Richards, dean of Seventh-day Adventist ministers, and for forty years a pioneer and peer among religious radio broadcasters. Dr. Richard's life has been…

WE UNDERSTOOD full well that the search for the Hittite Empire would be a grueling ordeal, often taking us into the remote areas of Turkey. Unfamiliar with the local language, communication would be extremely difficult. The four of us—Dr.…

FOLLOWING the harrowing incident last March in Washington, D.C., in which 134 hostages were held at gun point for thirty-nine hours, E. E. Cleve land issued a timely statement that we believe should be emphasized through out the…

WHEN these words are read, final preparations will be under way for the fifty-first quadrennial session of the General Conference to be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 11-20, also the Ministerial Council to precede it. Thousands…

THE apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, declared, "If Christ was not raised, your faith has nothing in it and you are still in your old state of sin. It follows also that those who have died within Christ's fellowship are utterly lost"…

IN this issue of THE MINISTRY we would call our readers' attention to three items of special importance to ministers that emerged from the 1969 Autumn Council. The first has to do with proper Sabbath observance (see p. 29) and the second…

WHILE TRAVELING recently through the New England States, I made it a point to visit Northampton, Massachusetts, scene of the great American revival of 1734-1735 and 1740- 1743. The Awakening began with a series of sermons on the…

IN THE office of Strauss Photo Technical Service in our nation's capital I saw the little sign: "We are making a little effort to be pleasant for a limited time only. As soon as business picks up this will stop."

It got…

ONE OF the finest compliments a pastor can receive is one I recently overheard concerning a minister friend: "He is a person we know we can go to and be received with understanding. He is so easy to talk with, so approachable, and…

DURING his excavations at Babylon (1879-1882) Hormuzd Rassam, a Chaldean Christian from Mosul who had assisted Layard at the excavation of Nineveh, uncovered a baked clay barrel about nine inches long. This turned out to be the…

After delivering letter number four to Thyatira, a courier carrying the seven messages John wrote to the churches would have traveled some twenty-five miles to the southwest through the fertile Hermus valley in order to reach Sardis,…

Leaving Pergamos, the Roman imperial road led to Thyatira, the city whose church received the fourth of the seven letters of Revelation. Travel there today is much like New Testament times, with oxen, donkeys, and horse- or oxendrawn…

Forty miles northeast of Smyrna is Pergamos, site of the church to which the third of the seven letters of the apostle John was addressed. The present city of Bergama lies at the foot of the mountain upon which stood the ancient…

Strabb, the Greek historian, described Smyrna as "the most beautiful of all cities." Noted not only for her beauty but for her illustrious past, Smyrna had given birth to such prominent figures as the Greek epic poet Homer. Today…

In the opening vision of the book of Revelation, seven letters are ad dressed to seven churches of Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These cities stood along one of the well-traveled Roman…

"Study the book of Revelation. Study it as you have never studied it before. Then go to your churches and preach it. It is the one book above all others that demands our study today." The speaker was Wilbur Smith, eminent Presbyterian scholar…

N.R. Dower, Chairman

Orley M. Berg, Secretary

The Ministerial Association Advisory Council meets annually at Andrews University to review the work of the Association and to discuss how it can best serve the…

A casual reading of Isaiah 20:1 and 2 seemingly offers little of significance other than the time a particular message came to the prophet Isaiah. In the light of archeological discovery, however, we have in this brief passage three…

About forty miles southeast of Philadelphia is the site of Laodicea, last of the seven churches to which the letters of Revelation were ad dressed. The road today passes through valleys and undulating hills that must have looked…

"The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" (Dan. 4:30). According to the book of Daniel, Babylon, under King…

With the breakup of the old pagan Roman Empire the eyes of the emperors turned eastward. Diocletian, coming to the throne in A.D. 284, divided the empire and established a second capital at Nicomedia, modern Izmit, in Turkey, on the eastern…