J. Lamar McElhany

The words of admonition by the apostle Paul to Timothy, "Make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Tim. 4: 5), are as pertinent and applicable to the gospel minister today as they were when written. Every man called…

One of the apostle Paul's exhortations to Timothy was that he meditate upon certain vital things. (See 1 Tim. 4:12-16.) This earnest appeal is just as much needed today as it was in Timothy's time. In these days of hurry…

Come now to another phase of adminis­trative work which I believe is very impor­tant, and in which I find more or less misunderstanding. I refer to instructed delegations. The question has been raised, Why do we not follow…

What kind of call should we send out to the church at large in a time like this? I speak par­ticularly to our leaders who are gathered here—the men who have oversight of the work in the various confer­ences.…

The leading denominational editors from nine of our world divisions recently as­sembled in a memorable seven-day council at our General Conference headquarters in Washington, D.C., August 23-29. It was a unique meeting…

To Our Ministers and our Conference and Institutional Workers.

Greetings:

The officers of the General Conference take this opportunity of addressing you upon a matter of great importance. We are living…

As we see the perils of these last days thickening about us, we need more and more to strengthen and fortify our faith. In the religious world we see the decay of faith, and the retreat of the forces that once stood militantly for gospel…

It has "pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." Ours is truly a most sacred work, calling for a deep spiritual experience based on a profound con­viction of duty, and with a background of thorough preparation.…

This statement presents the reasons that led the Min­isterial Association Advisory Council to include Volume III of "Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers" in the 1946 Ministerial Reading Course, in advance of Volumes I and II The following…

It is a pleasure as well as a privilege to join the friends of these graduates in congratulating them as they receive their degrees tonight. For fourteen years I have been the chairman of the Seminary board, and in a few weeks from now…

The lessons that have been brought to us by the brethren in our morning studies are all vital. The pleas that have been made are such that we need continually to think about them. I find myself in perfect agree­ment with…

The word "officers," which occurs throughout this presentation, includes the president and general vice-presidents of the General Confer­ence, the secretary and associate secretaries, the treasurer and undertreasurer;…

Attitude Toward Leaders

Now I come to another thing I want to speak about. It is a spirit that exists in the world, which I might refer to as an attitude toward leadership. In the last few years the world has…

The gospel minister is a workman. He helps to build the most important thing in the world—the church of God. What kind of workmen or builders are we? Are we careless and indifferent, or are we dependable, all-round workmen? These are vital…

We have passed, in our study, from the one-family form of organization to the one-nation form; now we come to another phase. In God's plan there was to come a time when from all nations, people were to be brought under the influence of the…

The gospel is for all the world, as God's plan of salvation knows no na­tional boundaries or racial limita­tions. The whole human race is in­cluded within the scope of infinite love, "for God so loved the world, that…

In this issue of the Ministry appears an article by Elder M. N. Campbell, entitled, "Preparing Candidates for Baptism." We call especial attention to this article, and bespeak for it a careful reading. This is a matter…

What is a church? Defining it from the standpoint of its administration, we may say that a church in its local capacity is an organization of individual be­lievers who hold in common the same faith and doctrines, and…

Before concluding this session of the Autumn Council, there are some fea­tures of our work which I should like to lay before you, which I feel are of vital importance. From my recent correspondence it is evident that…

We now come to the matter of confer­ence administration. In the scrip­tures already cited, we find that the churches were united as a general church body, and representatives were selected to conduct the business that…

The fundamental, primary purpose of the church, as set forth in the great commission recorded in Matthew 28: 18-20 and 24:14, is intensive, active evangelism. And this evangelism in­cludes both preachers and laymen. It…

The greatest need of this movement today is a more spiritual ministry. I do not put anything above that in importance, absolutely nothing. The outstanding need today is for men who are so filled with the Spirit of God, and who can be so led…

I will read two texts of Scripture. The first, found in Acts 1:8, reveals Christ's parting message to His disciples just before He ascended on high: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon…

The conference president is the presiding officer at all committee sessions. He needs the help and guidance of the com­mittee. If the conference is a large one and it is expensive for the committee to come together for…

One of our fundamental problems  in conference administration is dealing with the class of workers who are considered unproductive. It is dis­tressing to see so many of our work­ers crossing the dead line between effi­ciency…

Reference has been made in our dis­cussions to the perplexities that some­ times arise because of the getting to­gether of groups of different kinds before our regular councils, who discuss and settle questions beforehand. This raises…

My Dear Fellow Believers Throughout the World:

The proper standard of ministerial deportment is a matter of vital im­portance, and should have our serious consideration. As a basis for our study, I shall read the Scripture ad­monition recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21…

In closing this series of studies, I want to give you a little clearer view of how we carry on the work here at headquarters. Needless to tell you, the General Conference in stated session elects the General Confer­ence…

Interruptions and Appendages

Is it proper for a minister, whether seated on the platform near the pulpit or in the congregation, to make re­marks and comments during a sermon? Recently I heard a sermon interrupted in this way,…

Elder Watson has introduced for our consideration the most im­portant theme that can engage our study and meditation at this time. As we look about us, we see the world fast hastening to its doom. Prophecy is fulfilling.…

At the recent session of the Spring Council of the General Conference, a very important series of recommendations bearing on the work of our ministry was adopted. These recommendations appear on the opposite page. They…

Do Your Own Digging

By W.A. Spicer

We cannot preach one another's ser­mons. A living sermon grows out of living experience. Each has to get it for himself. Just…

This stenographically reported talk was given by Elder McElhany at a recent joint meeting of the General Conference departmental secretaries and as­sociates—the first gathering of its kind under the new administration.…