Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-17
IblPTIsTs PREPARING TO
TEACH NEW MEMBERS
Campaign to Keep Persons In.
tercstcd in Churches They
al Have Joined.
ZOO MANY ARE INDIFFERENT
Leader Says Converts Should Have
Sympathetic Christian Friendship
and Fellowship-Should Be Also
Instructed How to Read Bible.

NEW YORK, May is--Realizins that
tho average church does no, pay
enough attention 10 new members. the
National Committee Of Northern Bap-
list Laymcn. OF which +. W. Aver is
chairman. has inaueuratcd an educa-
tional campaign TO ins,ruc; religious
workers in general how TO care for
the convert. DR.. Fred i. liaggard.
director OF the committee. believes tina;
Baptist churches should he conducted
a1onS business lines. lie holds that
pastors. their assistants and leaders
IL church work hould follow up peo-
pie who have manifested religious in
terest just as business houses have
their salesmen keen in cons;an; COM
ihunication with prospective custom
conducted by the Northern laymen. is
not a financial drive but a movement
to keep new members interested in
the churches they have Joined.
Church Not Caring for Own.
Lamenting that there is abundant
evidence TO show that the average
church does not properly care for tho
convert. the Rev. W H. Monbeck who
the new movement. has pointed gu,
that there are hundreds OF Baptists
who at one time. professed conversion
a Christian life, The large percent
age OF inactive, ndiffcren; and even
worldly church members existing to-
day Is another strong argument that
the churches are not caring for their
own, said pr. Monbeck As third
Indication; he dcplorcd the lack OF
&p,iist l loSaliy among professinE
argument 10 show something radically
wrons in the care OF converts. Dr.
Monbeck says these facts are not
peculiar TO any one denomination but
ayers they present some serious prob
lens which cannot he ignored by Bap-
lists who are interested in the work
of the denomination.
Churches Must Instruct Converts.
."Our Baptist churches should provide
Christian friendship and fellowship"
declared Or. Monbeck. Most new
converts will find some difficulties in
Adjusting themselves TO the new life.
For the newborn Christian convert to
join church and afterward md that
calamity which may end fatally.
,"Our churches must instruct now
converts how TO read tho Bible intel
liEently. They must be taught whore
war has caused much spiritual star
in definite Christian service. Members
OF our churches must he led TO sec
that they arc not banded together for
social and intellectual amusem1nt, hut
they feel that the church is a charit-
Able institution. TO be kept alive by
aims, they VIII nave q passive. ApOlo-
Eetic attitude toward The world. They
must realize that the church is not n
noorhouse, but q powcrhouSe. giving
light and life to the community.
Facts Must he Faced.
."Our churches must also train the
new convert in UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty.
In most places where We have BAPTIST
churches other denominations have
organizations with better houses OF
worship. VIC can never build UP our
Baptist cause on anything but the con
viction that the cause is suprcmclv
Important. Men will not sacrifice and
suffer with, and for, little, struggling
Baptist Church unless they arc con-
WINGED that their cause is worth while.
f"our people are los, for lack Of
knowledge. The pulpit. the church
school. UNCONVENTIONAL literature and
UNCONVENTIONAL specialists should he
used in campaign to teach our pco-
1,le the Fundamental principles OF our
faith. Every State should have at least
one man who could give his whole time
to teaching UNCONVENTIONAL history and
doctrine.
I'VE must bring our churches face
to face with facts as they really are.
and convince them OF the supreme i'm :
portance OF the principles FOR which
we stand IL We would SEQ them heartily
cooperate in winning their community
and the world for Christ and the
church.