264
Pastoral Ministry
We should improve our ways of training departmental lead-
ers—As a people who claim to have advanced light, we are to devise
ways and means by which to bring forth a corps of educated work-
[256]
men for the various departments of the work of God. We need a
well-disciplined, cultivated class of young men and women in our san-
itariums, in the medical missionary work, in the offices of publication,
in the conferences of different states, and in the field at large. We need
young men and women who have a high intellectual culture, in order
that they may do the best work for the Lord. We have done something
toward reaching this standard, but still we are far behind where we
should be.—
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 42
.
Cooperation Between Departments
Do not work independently of the various departments of the
work—One point will have to be guarded, and that is individual in-
dependence. As soldiers in Christ’s army, there should be concert of
action in the various departments of the work.... Each laborer should
act with reference to the others. Followers of Jesus Christ will not act
independently one of another. Our strength must be in God, and it
must be husbanded, to be put forth in noble, concentrated action. It
must not be wasted in meaningless movements.—
Testimonies for the
Church 5:534
.
Come into close relationship with those in the departments—
You have been too reserved. You have not come into close relation
with men engaged in the different departments of the work; you have
not consulted with them as familiarly as you should to move under-
standingly. Had you done this you might have been a more efficient
helper. You have moved too much according to your own judgment
and carried out your own ideas and plans. There has been a lack of
harmonious connection between the workers. Those who might have
helped you have been reluctant to impart their knowledge to you on
account of this lack of familiarity on your part, and also because you
move so much from impulse and feeling that they have dreaded to
approach you.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:219
.
Be interested in all departments, rather than concentrating
on just one area—Ministers should be guarded, lest they thwart the
purposes of God by plans of their own. They are in danger of narrowing