The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-27
46 VOLUNTEER FOR
THE MINISTRY OR
MISSIONARY WORK
MOmentous Day at South
side Baptist-Dr. billiard
Preached on calling
Out the Called"

| In mis- sermon on Calling Out the
Called, preached yesterday morning, DR..
j. E. billiard. pastor of the Southside
Baptist church, told the congregation why
he liked his job. The church was
made for church workers, and in response
to Or. billiards. eloquent and earnest ap-
peal 46 young people volunteered for the
ministry mission work.
1t was perhaps che greatest day in the
history of the Southside Baptist church.
DIR. billiard said in part:t
Il am a preacher and the pastor of a
church, and l like my JOB. l like it be-
cause the work is congenial to my soul.
There are more than 1900 members in our
/ church 1t is my duty to know these
needs. | must instruct them in Scriptural
teaching and ethical duties. | must or
ganize them into congenial groups and
direct them in the expression of their
religious lives. | must lead them in the
work of social service, missions, evangel-
ism and in other lines of Christian activ-
| ity. | must advise with them in their per-
| plexities and COM ort them in their dis
| tresses. In a word, l must try in all
ways to enable them to keep alive the
| sense of God, the reality of the unseen,
and the ultimate triumph of the right.
A GREAT WORK
1T is a great work, l am not equal to
the task But l enjoy the effort
Il like my job because it links me up
with one of the noblest institutions IN the
world-the church. While the church has
made many and grievous mistakes. it
has always been good at heart. 1t does
not knowingly Or Intentionally oppose
anything true, beautifuf or good. 1t is
a2 institution that takes Jesus Christ
Lsefiously, seeks to promulgate his teach
| ings to observe his ordinances and to
exemplify his spirit. 1t maintains an IN
| ending warfare against every vice and
| seeks to establish the reign of Justice,
! peace and good will upon the earth. l
am glad to give my cooperation to such
an institution.
| II like my job because it brings me into
sympathet touch with many Of the best
| people in the world While there are
many who do not take their religion ser
riously and do not live up to their pro-
| LESSONS, there also are many who do,
\ and these are a constant source of joy
| and inspiration to the pastor. These
| faithful ones are inspired by the high
| est ideals and they give their time and
money to make these ideals real Their
love for God expresses itself in worship
and benevolence; their love for humanity
| is seen in every form of service and sac
rifce My work brings me into daily
contact with these helpfI spirits. We are
bound together by the strongest ties OF
| Christian love and common interests. This
fellowship of kindred minds is like to
that above.
INFLUENCE FOR RIGHT
| Il. Ike my job because it gives me the
| finest opportunity Of using my influence
1 for what believe to be right and best.
IL have read much about the lack of
| freedom in the pulpit. but / have not ex-
perienced it. l have been able at all times
to express my convictions without re-
straint upon every social. ethical and re-
ligious matter. NJ brethren may differ
! from me. but they respect my views. and
grant ME all the liberty that | desire. My
work ables me to take part in all grea t
/ community. national and worldwide
movements. and my pulpit enables me to
help in the creation and sha ping of public
opinion upon all moral issues. | wouldnt
exchange my pulpit for throne
! Much is said and written today that
/ tends to discourage earnest Young men
! from entering the gospel ministry. ! adj
nit there are many hardships and disap-
pointments but the joys and triumphs
outnumber and outweigh them After
more than 20 years experience and OBJ
| ~ rva ton my conviction is that If a
young man has the spirit of Christ and
! a reasonable amount of native ability
! to begin with. and if he is willing to
work hard and live simply, no field of
activity offers sucn unlimited opportuni-
ties for real service or Yields such rich
rewards as the gospel ministrY-at lea st.
this has been my experience, and like
my job.