414
July 1928
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
and young people of school age. Why should not the mis sionary’s "objective include the preaching of the Gpspel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the young people? Thank God for those who do have this class constantly in mind, but one fears they are too often neglected. It is said that textbooks required to be used by all schools in China, prepared by Chinese educationalists, begin with a naturalistic and evolutionary view of things right from the earliest grades. Why should we not be prepared to teach and preach the truth and salvation of God during the same, most impressionable years of life? If we recognize in our own land the need of the family altar and religious, instruction in the home and church for the sake of our boys and girls, how much greater is the need of the boys and girls who are born and grow up amid surroundings that are heathen and idolatrous! Why should the Evangel of our Saviour be withheld until they become adults? One does not say that any'missionary would withhold it,_ but submits that in the practical work ing out of things it often is withheld simply because the worker has not had training for work among children and young people and turns to the thing he or she feels better fitted to do. G ives W ell R ounded V iew Again, such a course would give one the basis for a normal and well-rounded view of church life and activi ties, since it would seek to consider the various ways in which the Christian life needs to be nurtured, built up and expressed. It often happens very naturally that the life of a church on the foreign field takes on the characteristics of the missionary, and suffers in consequence. One has known churches where the worship side of the public ser vices was sadly lacking. Special attention had never been given to that side of public worship by the missionary. One would assume that in the expressional development the native Christians would be trained to witness for the Lord Jesus and seek to bring their friends and neighbors to faith in Him as Saviour. However, in one’s own acquaintance among the Christians in China, there weire too few who had a wider outlook and took thought of their fellow countrymen in parts of China where the name of Jesus has not been heard. Then, too, there is the matter of instruction. There must be those who will patiently teach the Word—line upon line, precept upon precept. Take for example the field of Sunday school work. The proper development of this instructional department of the church life should greatly contribute to the vigor and strength of its life and thus reinforce the native church in the matter of its witness and task, of evangelism. The missionary goes to the foreign land to proclaim the Gospel of the Grace of God and tq give aid in such ways as will, to the greatest extent, hasten the fulfillment of the Great Commission of, our Lord. No matter to what field of endeavor one may have been called in the accom plishment of this purpose, probably the most fruit has been borne by,the winning of some soul to the Lord and the training of that one in His service. Every missionary should be doing that kind of thing, and some will be called* upon to do it in an organized way such as through Bible institutes or Bible schools of shorter duration. The Lord Jesus chose and trained “the twelve.” Timothy, Titus and others were so trained by the Apostle Paul. One of the finest Chinese Christians it was one’s privilege to know was a woman who as a young Christian had given help in the home of a missionary mother. These two women spent hours together over the Word, and, so far as home duties would permit, out in the work. The young Christian was well grounded in this way, and her life molded and shaped,
under the blessing of God, probably as much by what she saw in the missionary as by what was taught. Today that Chinese woman is doing a far more fruitful work than the missionary could ever do. For one thing she knows and has the confidence of her own people in a way impossible to the missionary. She is an ardent winner of souls, deeply taught in the Word and able to teach others. She is a wise, spiritual counselor of the women of that church, and her opinion and counsel have weight with the brethren too. Thé prospective missionary should be fitted by a course in Christian Education for this important work of training others, whether this is to be done in the individual way or through some more organized effort. The Sunday School Song Service (From Christian Workers ’ Efficiency Course- — Biola ) / ^ j r NE of the first essentials of a good song service ^fWFfngt is to secure the best pianist or organist pos- sible. This does not necessarily mean one who ÆjÿjSrfâ is. an accomplished musician, for oftentimes players of classical music cannot adapt them- selves to Gospel hymn work. It means one who has a good sense of time ; who plays with firmness and confidence ; who follows the leader. Some are possessed to make “jazz” out of Gospel music. Such players are not helpful to a service. One who can fill in full chords, maintain strong emphasis in the bass, sec tion, and support the audience without attracting attention to the accompaniment, is desirable. An important feature is that the pianist’s introduction to a hymn should not be weak, but firm and up to the tempo in which the hymn is to be sung. A weak accompanist will .wreck the best of song lead- • ers. There is- great need of pianists who play in a prayer ful spirit, remembering that their work is to support the singers and bring out the best in them, not simply to make a big noise on the piano. T h e L eader ’ s Q ualifica tion s First of all, a leader should treat a song service as a serious act of worship. Some leaders desecrate it by try ing to be funny, telling stale jokes or being boisterous. ' Many hymns are prayer. To get the people in the spirit of the song, it may be well to read some of the words. A few well-chosen remarks or the story of the hymn, briefly told, often serves a good purpose. Get your crowd together as much as possible. The fire will not burn when the embers are scattered all about the hearth. The leader must have the attention of the people: If he cannot command this at the . outset, the song service will be a failure. The first songs should always be familiar. To attempt a new hymn at the opening, usually creates a feeling of defeat and has its effect, upon all that follows. A song leader .should know how to beat the different methods of time. If an audience is large, the movements ’ of the arms and body must be more pronounced. In the case of a small audience, it usually has an adverse effect for a leader to be too acrobatic. A baton may be used to better advantage in small meetings. Success in leading is something more than beating time. The leader must be able to bring out rhythm and accent and to impart enthusiasm to the audience. He should so familiarize himself with the hymns to be used that he can interpret them to the audience. A leader may
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