Grace for Grace
Traveling the last few months, I have had the privilege of meeting with hundreds of young people from around the world. Many of them are planning careers and futures for service in this world’s professions. Many want to be doctors, business professionals and teachers. But few want to prepare for active service in the Lord’s army. Living in this period of history is unique for many young Adventist men and women. They are brought up knowing that this is the time of the end. But are they willing to enter the service of Him who came to die for their sins?
In my office there is a huge map of the world that covers one wall. Many people who come to the General Conference pass through my office and take a look at this map. The map shows the location of unions, fields, missions, churches and group concentrations around the world. After examining it, many inquire, “Why are there no dots here?” “Why are there no dots there?” After hearing their question I point to a sign beside the map. It says this: “Time is short. Workers for Christ are needed everywhere. There should be one hundred earnest, faithful laborers in home and foreign mission fields where now there is one.” 1
Today there is a great need to finish the work which God has committed to us in these last days. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14, 15). Men and women are needed who will enlist in the army of God. But not just any person is called. There are qualifications to be part of God’s workforce. Let us examine these qualifications as found in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy.
“The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” 2
David gave a description of the people that God is calling to His service. “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved” (Psalm 15:1–5).
People with these qualities of character are called by God to be leaders in Israel. “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness” (Exodus 18:21).
“And they overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:11, 12).
Those who take up this work and become full-time missionaries to the world will have the saving of souls as their only desire. “God will have men who will venture anything and everything to save souls. Those who will not move until they can see every step of the way clearly before them will not be of advantage at this time to forward the truth of God. There must be workers now who will push ahead in the dark as well as in the light, and who will hold up bravely under discouragements and disappointed hopes, and yet work on with faith, with tears and patient hope, sowing beside all waters, trusting the Lord to bring the increase. God calls for men of nerve, of hope, faith, and endurance, to work to the point.” 3
Some people say that they are too educated to work for the Lord. They have spent years in school and cannot think of taking time to work for the cause of Christ. They satisfy themselves by attending services regularly at church or through some other means. But this is not enough! The church needs those with trade skills as well as those without them. The one who thinks himself too smart for the Lord’s work is in great danger.
Others say that they are too uneducated to work for the Lord. They complain that they don’t have the necessary talents and speaking skills. Yet the Lord calls these also. Not to work in their deficiencies, but to be trained to overcome them. “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26). “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25).
“If placed under the control of His Spirit, the more thoroughly the intellect is cultivated, the more effectively it can be used in the service of God. The uneducated man who is consecrated to God and who longs to bless others can be, and is, used by the Lord in His service. But those who, with the same spirit of consecration, have had the benefit of a thorough education, can do a much more extensive work for Christ. They stand on vantage ground.” 4
“The Lord says, I will take illiterate men, obscure men, and move upon them by My Spirit to carry out My purposes in the work of saving souls. The last message of mercy will be given by a people who love and fear Me.” 5
“In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. . . . The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.” 6
But still we must remember that not all are called to be undershepherds in the same office. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). While someone may have a talent for reaching souls through sermons, seminars and evangelism, another may be a writer. Another may be a musician, or artist, or medical missionary, or health teacher, or Sabbath school teacher, or in some other way be called to serve in the Lord’s army.
Once a young person has committed himself to the service of the Lord, he is not immediately placed in the field of labor. Time needs to be taken to train new workers, regardless of the line they wish to pursue. Remember that no worker will start well if he is not first trained well.
“Young men who desire to enter the field as ministers, colporteurs, or canvassers should first receive a suitable degree of mental training, as well as a special preparation for their calling. Those who are uneducated, untrained, and unrefined are not prepared to enter a field in which the powerful influences of talent and education combat the truths of God’s Word. Neither can they successfully meet the strange forms of error, religious and philosophical combined, to expose which requires a knowledge of scientific as well as Scriptural truth.” 7
“Open new fields, is the word from the Lord, and add to your workers. Educate young men to labor, and tarry not. Educate, educate, educate.” 8
“It is not wise to be constantly expending means to open untried fields while so little is done to prepare workers to occupy them.” 9
During the days of the prophet Samuel, the schools of the prophets were founded. These schools were started at a period in history when the chosen people of God began to drift away from the pillar and ground of truth. To combat this apostasy Samuel gathered young men together to be trained for the future as leaders in Israel. “In Samuel’s day there were two of these schools—one at Ramah, the home of the prophet, and the other at Kirjath-jearim, where the ark then was. Others were established in later times.” 10
“The youth should be encouraged to attend our training schools for Christian workers, which should become more and more like the schools of the prophets. These institutions have been established by the Lord, and if they are conducted in harmony with His purpose, the youth sent to them will be prepared quickly to engage in various lines of missionary work. Some will be trained to enter the field as missionary nurses, some as canvassers, and some as gospel ministers.” 11
Each one of us should think of our schools today. Some should consider entering these schools as students. Those who do not attend these schools still have a duty and call to support them both with their prayers and with their means. Our missionary schools in places such as Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Romania, and the USA are preparing the next generation of workers. What are you doing to support their work? Soon an offering will be collected in the Sabbath school for missionary schools. Please consider the great need of these institutions and give liberally to the cause of training an army of youth to finish the work ahead of us.
These schools do not act alone in the work of training. Every local church and group is a training center for future workers.
“The best help that ministers can give the members of our churches is not sermonizing, but planning work for them. Give each one something to do for others. Help all to see that as receivers of the grace of Christ they are under obligation to work for Him. And let all be taught how to work. Especially should those who are newly come to the faith be educated to become laborers together with God.” 12
In every place the same cry is ringing out. From Ukraine to Haiti, I hear the same need: “We need workers for our new fields.” Constantly the calls are coming in saying “we need more workers here, we need more ministers there, we need medical evangelists in our field.” Let each one of us consider how we may be a worker in the Lord’s vineyard. The above statements have shown us that all have a work to do so that we may finish the task set before us by the Lord and go to be with Him in our true home.
“We have a work to do which but few realize. It is to carry the truth to all nations. There is a broad field for laborers in foreign lands as well as in America. God calls for men who are devoted, pure, largehearted, broad-minded, and humble to enter these fields. How few have any sense of this great work! We must arouse and work from a higher standpoint than we have hitherto done.” 13