General Conference Bulletin, vol. 3

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WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS

L. A. HOOPES

The year’s work at school has ended, and the students are returning to their homes. No doubt many of them have been seriously considering what the work of the near future is for them. It is always well to ask ourselves some questions that bear on our life-work; such as, What is our aim in life? What has been the object of our spending weeks and months in our denominational school? Are we returning home to pursue some worldly calling, or have we enlisted in some department of the Lord’s cause in the earth? Have we decided to let the Lord have our loyal service, the best energies of our being, and the use of every talent with which he has entrusted us? Or have we sold ourselves to the enemy of our souls, and thereby said to God, You shall not have my service? Have we a sort of aimless future before us, not settled on anything? GCB April 1, 1900, page 152.3

These are serious and solemn questions, and will be answered by our actions in our daily walk in life. We can not occupy a neutral position on these questions; we are either for or against God. We may not design to give ourselves to the enemy; but our aimless, careless indifference to the call of the Master to do something, will betray our sacred trust into the hands of the adversary of our souls. GCB April 1, 1900, page 152.4

Various lines of work are before us. The Lord knows which one of these we should engage in to develop those traits of character in harmony with his will. It may be that he wants us to canvass for publications containing the third angel’s message, and we may be sure that our conference wants many more canvassers than they already have in the field. GCB April 1, 1900, page 152.5

Would it not be well for each one to have a talk with the Lord while on his bended knees in the secret chamber, and see what he would have you do in this matter. No better field is open for the self-supporting missionary than the canvassing work. No better opportunity is afforded to bring you into close touch with so large a number of people, with varied temperaments and dispositions. No better opportunity for seed-sowing than is that given in the canvassing work. The literature treating on the message for this time is in a great variety, so that persons in every walk of life may be interested. The canvasser may have the satisfaction of knowing that he is sowing the seed, and God has promised to give the increase. The canvassing work may be the schooling or training that will fit us to take up any particular phase of the work. It requires a nobility of purpose, a true, manly courtesy, a suavity and gentility of deportment, that wins its way into the thoughts of others. It is of rare value to the success of every department of the cause of God. In short, the Christian canvasser must regard his work as a part of the gospel ministry. His is a sacred calling, and requires as much of the grace of Christ as does any phase of gospel work. GCB April 1, 1900, page 152.6

There is a duty resting upon conference officers in this respect. It is their privilege and duty to know who has been in attendance at the school the past year, and to inquire whether these have enlisted in the cause of God, or have drifted away from the work, May we not expect that in the coming season many who have been attending our various colleges and schools will take up this line of work, and carry the printed page to those who are unacquainted with the third angel’s message. GCB April 1, 1900, page 152.7