Chapter 51—Youth Leadership
Form a happy acquaintance with your youth—Very much has
been lost to the cause of God because of inattention to the young.
Ministers of the gospel should form a happy acquaintance with the
youth of their congregations. There is a great reluctance on the part
of many to become acquainted with the youth, but it is accounted of
Heaven a neglect of duty, a sin against souls for whom Christ died.
The youth are objects of Satan’s special attacks; and the manifestation
of kindness, courtesy, tender sympathy, and love, will often work the
salvation of those who are under the temptations of the evil one. The
love of Jesus will win you an entrance into the hearts of the young;
and when you have obtained the confidence of the youth, they will
listen to your words and take your counsel. You should bind them to
your heart by the cords of love, and then instruct them how to labor in
the cause of God. The youth may labor for their young companions
in a quiet, unpretending way. This branch of God’s work must not
be neglected. Our churches are not doing what they might do for the
youth. There seems to be no burden for souls for whom Christ died.
Why should this labor for the youth in our borders not be thought the
highest of missionary work? Why do the ministers leave the young
without endeavoring to win them to Christ? Why do they not urge
the young to give their hearts to God? This work will require the
most delicate tact, the most thoughtful consideration, the most earnest
prayer that heavenly wisdom may be imparted; for connected with the
church are those who are not ignorant of our faith, yet whose hearts
have never been touched by the power of divine grace.—
The Review
and Herald, March 24, 1891
.
Love will reach the hearts of even apparently hopeless youth—
The Lord is not glorified when the children are neglected and passed
by. They are to be educated, disciplined, and patiently instructed. They
require more than casual notice, more than a word of encouragement.
They need painstaking, prayerful, careful labor. The heart that is filled
with love and sympathy will reach the hearts of the youth who are
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