The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-26
MISSION OF CHURCH
 IS WEARS THEME
Not Confined to Mere Narrow
 Sphere
REFERS TO BIG REVIVAL
West End Pastor Quotes John 20:21, "As My Father Hath Sent Me, TVen So Send
 You"

"The Mission of The Church" was the theme upon which the Rev. Wallace Wear, pastor of the West End Baptist church, preached yesterday morning His words were as follows:
 Ut Is befitting at the close of the great est campaign Birmingham Baptists have ever witnessed and when our own hearts are swelling with gratitude to God, that we should study in some detail our mis- sion as a church and as denomination. When we meet in our association and convention of the state, the south and even of the world, there is a supreme purpose in it all We discuss methods, plans and means of executing the work of our denomination, but 1t is to reach the chief end in view we thus plan and execute. If all are alive to the issue De- fore us all our efforts point to the truth of the text found in John @-A: "As my Father hath sent Me. even so send you This Scripture will be basis for the suggestions made today regarding thu ~-N--~ clause will be found the supreme mission of Christs church. I will discuss 1t with two questions in my mind, namely, What is the mission of the churchT and How can it be realized?
 q. What is the mission of the church? It Is in no sense political, and yet with this thought before you I do not mean .. ya1a in f11Ibip affairs. But on the other hand, l am sure we ought as the church of Jesus Christ, to be interested in everything that affects human life. I believe we cannot fully serve the Master and withhold our ln- tluence from those things which affect humanity. As a Christian man and as member of the church I am interested in all questions that make for better homes, better citizens and more happiness. Somehow l have felt that the church has made a mistake because she has not been permitted to meddle with govern mental affairs as an ecclesiastical body. She has drifted to the other extreme, that of keeping aloof from the ques- tions which make for the veal or woe of the state and nation
 we have left too largely the questions that ought to have been settled by Christian citizenship to those who have no interest, save personal one, m the betterment of our nation. If read cor rectly we are expected to take part in the selection of men to put at the head of our affairs, for the Bible says, When the righteous rule the people rejoice put when the wicked rule the people mourn. In the face of such a truth you hear peo- ple saying, He ought to stay at home; he is a member of the church. With all these facts before us let us not imagine for a moment this the mission Of the church. It is only side issue.
 go The mission of the church is not educational. There are those who would make us believe that the chief mission of the church is educating the people. am not here to say a word derogatory to education. I believe in 1t. In the very best education possible If there is one weakness more apparent than an other in the ministry of our churches it is lack of proper equipment. But as essential to a higher and more healthful church life as education seems to be let us not feel that education is salvation, nor that it is the primary work of the church. had a very pleasant drive down the Shades valley road some weeks ago with a friend. As we drove along the road
 we had our attention drawn to little church by the roadside. We spoke of other days, of the country preacher and his work. My friend said: I don't believe a. church ought tofallow an uneducated man to preach As much as l value an educated ministry, and as much as de- sire our young men to be fully equipped, was forced to take issue with my friend Paul said to Timothy, after he became a preacher. Study to show myself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth We emphasize the need and inportance of education, not as means of salvation. but an equipment for better service.
 "3. The mission of the church is not nreaching the Word to the saved. Some neople think that the business of the church is to run a kind of lunch counter where the members may be fed, forgetting that Christ said when leading a soul into light, T have meat to eat you know not of But we hear a great deal said about feeding the sheep. If 1 were to pass a criticism on our Sunday school gatherings and state conventions it would be this: So many are being fed beyond the point of service and become drones in the Masters vineyard. If you will mo- tice our daily prayers this thought can be seen in all of them, Lord, feed us today There must be something to take place before we have sheep to feed. Jesus Christ realized this need and organized the church to make the sheep.
 with desire on the part of the pastor to instruct his people, to train them in Bible study, there is the temptation to make this the chief work of the church. With this said let us face the great ques- tion-the supreme mission of the church. what is it? To fully comprehend 1t we must go back to the teaching of Christ to His disciples when He said As My Father hath sent Me, even so send you These followers were representatives of His church The mission of Jesus was to be the mission of His disciples The mission of the disciples was the mission of the