Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-22
The Cali to the Ministry

THE very circumstances under which this
cause Is now placed constitute an emphatic
call to young men of Christian experience
to devote themselves to the ministry of the
word of Cod" says a writer in recent artl-
Gle of the Review and Herald. Here is the
closing message TO be proclaimed unto ev
cry nation and tribe and tongue and peo-
pie" The time is short and the fields are
white for the harvest The Macedonian cry
is heard from many lands and there are in
Vulnerable openings for the living preach
er. In view of this situation we have felt
impressed to urge upon the attention of our
young men the opportunity offered for rem
dering service acceptable to God and help
full to humanity as preachers of this mes
sage. 1t seems to us that there has been
tendency to underestimate the dignity and
the Importance of the work of the gospel
minister in favor of mere professional skill,
and there has been a decided drift into
other lines of work to such an extent that
there is a dearth of strong, well-educated
and thoroughly devoted young men who
are prepared to answer the many calls to
proclaim this truth to those who are nigh
and to those who are far off.
I'VE believe that the time has now come
for a change. We call upon our young men
to consider that God has use for them as
ambassadors to the nations of the earth,
and that here Is a calling worthy of the
best talent and the most earnest devotion.
While some of the best minds of the world
are being used by the enemy of truth to
discredit the bible and to turn the people
away from the great salvation offered to
them in the gift of Jesus, there is a glorious
opportunity for valiant service in minister
ing the words of life and in turning many
from darkness to light and from the power
of Satan unto God" True defenders of the
faith are needed. Faithful opponents of
the truth are needed who have exercised
themselves INTO goodness and who will
contend earnestly for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints.
I'VE do not call for mere professional
class of preachers We do not wish to sub
stitute a human for a divine call 10 the
ministry; but we long to see body of re-
cruts for this sacred work-a company of
young men whose hearts God has touch
ed-whose commission may be expressed
in the words of the Lord to jeremiah Il
have appointed thee prophet unto the ma
tons. To whomsoever l shall send
thee thou shalt go, and whatsoever l shall
command thee thou shalt speak. Be not
afraid because of them, for / am with thee
to deliver thee, saith Jehovah. Be
hold | have put my words in thy mouth.
Thou, therefore grid up thy loins
and arise and speak unto rnem all that
command thee; be not diSmayed at them,
lest 1 dismay thee before them. For, be-
hold. have made thee this day a fortified
city and iron pillar and brazen walls
against the whole land, against the kings
of Judah. against the princes thereof
against the priests thereof and against the
people of the land. And they shall fight
against thee; but they shall not prevail
against thee. for l with thee, saith
Jehovah, TO deliver thee"
Are not the hearts of some stirred as
they read these words? Shall there not
be a prayerful response the part of
many q young man who is considering how
he may best glorify God In service? Will
not the instructors of our youth take these
things to heart and plan more definitely to
encourage young men of Christian expert
ence to give themselves to the preaching
of this age? We certainly hope II may
be SO. Only a short time in which we may
be laborers together with God in preparing
a people for the great day so near at hand.