EDUCATED MISSIONARY WORKERS by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 26, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 9

EDUCATED MISSIONARY WORKERS.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

Nothing in the world is so important as the work of God. Everything is second to it. Angels are commissioned to hold the elements of strife and war on the earth, until God’s servants are sealed. The Saviour’s instructions are, that men should forsake all and follow him. He says, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” He also instructs us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, which is right-doing. Yet, notwithstanding the sacredness and importance of God’s work, there is no other enterprise upon which men enter with so little regard for a proper preparation. The idea that simply conversion prepares a person to fill any position in the cause of God is as much a mistake as it would be for any one to consider himself qualified to teach, or to engage in any mechanical pursuit, simply because he had decided to do so.

Paul’s charge to Timothy was, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” Again, “Exercise thyself unto godliness.” The word exercise implies a practical training or an educating of one’s self in the cause of God. The wise man, in the last days of his life, says of himself that he “sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written was upright, even words of truth,” and adds: “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.”

The T. and M. work is not inferior to any branch of this cause. Shall we, then, think to enter upon it without educating or preparing ourselves to do so acceptably? If Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, and Paul, the most prominent of the apostles, thought study and training necessary to fit one to labor acceptably in the cause of God, shall not we, who are connected with a cause which is purely missionary, make an effort to educate ourselves to be successful workmen before God and man?

Our T. and M. Institutes are especially designed to supply this training. Not only will theoretical knowledge be imparted respecting business transactions and the keeping of books, but instruction will also be given on the best manner to approach people when canvassing, acting as colporters, etc. Properly conducted, these institutes are second to no other means of instruction in this branch of the work.

A thousand workers should be in the field to-day where there are but ten. When the cause was in its infancy, the importance of a special preparation for this kind of work was not so much felt; but now that members have increased, and tract-society organizations have been formed from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, through which tens of thousands of our people unite in doing a business which already amounts to over one hundred thousand dollars per year, it can readily be seen that without accuracy and care great losses will occur.

We therefore speak for an educated class of missionary workers. Do you ask how and what you shall study? We answer, Study to show yourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, both in the transaction of business and in adapting yourselves to those whom you wish to benefit. We do not say that a system of book-keeping is necessary in giving away a few tracts; but even in this we need to understand how we can make the best impression upon those with whom we associate. The better we understand the nature of this work, and the more clearly we see its bearing and magnitude, and how it is extending to every part of the civilized globe, the more fully we shall realize the necessity of understanding how to take hold of it.

Again, the cause of God is a unit. The apostle compares it to the human body, each member, or gift, acting its proper part. The instruction given in these T. and M. institutes is calculated to teach the methods of performing missionary labor, and the system of transacting business, which will bring about harmony, and concentrate our efforts on every part of the field.

The Institute now in session in Battle Creek is the most important meeting of the kind ever held among our people. Eld. Whitney has had experience in the missionary work for the past eight years in the large States of New York and Pennsylvania, and his successful manner of teaching cannot fail to interest and instruct any who may be able to attend this Institute. Those who can attend, and fail to do so, will miss a rare opportunity. May God bless Eld. Whitney, and Prof. Stone and his other co-laborers in this and other institutes which he may hold.

Battle Creek, Mich., Feb. 22, 1880.