Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja, 1931 (32. évfolyam, 33-48. szám)
1931-11-14 / 46. szám
AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 7 AZ IFJÚSÁG KÖRÉBŐL. ORGANIZING A CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY. A lecture given by Mr. Andrew Vargha, Jr., on the Hungarian Presbyterian Conference, Easton, Pennsylvania, 1931. (Continuation). Christian Endeavor Committees. After the officers are elected, it is the duty of the president to appoint various committees. The most important of these are the “Look-out”, “Prayer Meeting”, and “Missionary” committees. It is very hard to determine just which committee is the most important for each is essential to carry on real Christian work. Since the Look-out committee is one of the most important of these, it should be very carefully selected. An earnest Christian boy pr girl whose religion commends itself to the other young people and who really will try to help the others to be faithful, should be appointed chairman. In order to do its work well, this committee must have Love: Love of God, and love of those for whom its members work, because love of God will lead to prayer, and prayer will lead to faith, confidence, and fidelity. Love of the other Endeavorers will produce patience, earnestness, tactfulness, and perseverance. In selecting the Prayer Meeting Committee, it would be well to note that the membership of this committee should characterize, in the first place, deep personal devotion to Jesus Christ; then, readiness to express that loyalty openly on all suitable occasions. Furthermore, this committee should be wide awake, inventive, perserver- ing, and tactful. At first the Missionary committee was introduced into the society for the purpose of keeping in touch with, and helping along people in foreign lands. Today, there are many destitute people living in our own home towns who need attention and care immediately. So, in selecting this committee care must be exercised so that the members are familiar with the needs of the community and are able to cooperate with the local Red Cross chapter or the Community Welfare Organization as well as with the foreign missions. There are numerous other committees which help to brighten and inspire the society. I will not have time to cover them, but I will refer you to the book, “Expert Endeavor” by Mr. Wells. Once the society is organized, many activities await it. County Rallies ate held in the respective counties where helpful information is released. New ideas are introduced and discussed. Prominent speakers are secured to boost the programs for the society. Various worthy causes are outlined and the support of each society is pledged. State conventions are held in each state annually. At these conventions, our pastors are aided in shaping their church program of the young people for the new season. Here leaders receive encouragement, inspiration, and equipment to go forward. Many young people who have .never been counted as leaders, suddenly awaken to the new vision and with the new equipment of loyalty and faith which comes to them through the contacts with the convention, return to their societies for active work. Selected prominent men are asked to speak on certain carefully and prayerfully chosen topic for the young people’s interests. We found in our church, and I believe that it has been found in other churches where there are Christian Endeavors, that we can serve our church and Christ in a more efficient way. Therefore, we strongly urge those churches which do not as yet have their young people organized to assist them to form a Christian Endeavor. In many books which are published to help the young people to organize themselves this advice is included, “Go and see your pastor and try to interest him in the young people”. Go to the young people and try to interest them in the work of the church.” FOR MY NAME’S SAKE HAS LABOURED! Autumn! The leaves falling from the trees — rustling, rustling everywhere! As we walk along the country roads, beautiful scenes meet our eyes, for all about us everything is golden, brown, sunset red. In our hearts there is a sense of awe, wonderment, the end of summer — what awaits us now? Flowers dying, some trees already bare, and everywhere grass already yellow! We feel forlorn, almost lost in all this beauty, all this dying beauty. We walk on a little further and come to a great wheat field. From a distance we see a girl coming toward us. She seems to fit right in with her golden background. Nearer and nearer she comes, and we see that her eyes are shining, her face is
