Educational Number Who Shall Teach Our Children By E, E. COSSEINTINE Educational Secretary, General Conference Who shall teach our children is a question of with this purpose."— Fundamentals of Christian vital importance to every Seventh-day Adventist. Education, p. 436. How it is answered will determine the very foun- Here is the basic pattern for us as teachers: dation of the entire denomination, for what our a sound conversion, lives fully surrendered to God, schools are to day, the church will be tomorrow. and a clear understanding of our responsibility The strength of the Advent movement is no greater for the conversion of the children committed to than the character of the teachers who train the our care. The teacher must have not only intel- ministers and other leaders of the church. No lectual ability and training, but thorough training system of thought and life can continue unless it along pedagogical lines so that he brings to his holds its youth. task the best possible equipment to accomplish The teachers of our children are setting the certain definite things in the lives of his children. standards and practices that will guide the denom- He must be able to lead them into higher intel- ination in the days before us. They determine the lectual achievement as well as spiritual development, very life and vitality of the church. These things for spiritual education must at all times go hand being true, the question "Who Shall Teach Our in hand with general education. "Our work of Children?" takes on added importance. First, education is ever to bear the impress of the teachers must know and understand God's plan for heavenly, and thus reveal +how far divine in- today in their own lives and then in the lives of struction excels the learning of the world." — the boys and girls, Counsels to Teachers, p. 56. "The teachers in our schools need to search the Who shall teach our youth? Men and women be acquainted with God by an experimental of courage and conviction, for to teach the children knowledge. They should know Him because they is not an easy task, but one that requires complete obey all the commandments He has given."— consecration, infinite patience, unlimited tact, and Counsels to Teachers, p. 248. good physical stamina. They shall be individuals `The teachers in our schools need to search the who combine the best intellectual ability with the Scriptures until they understand them for their deepest spiritual consecration. They must have individual selves, opening their hearts to the precious a clear vision of their responsibility to God for rays of light which God has given, and walking the youth entrusted to their care, that they may be therein."— Testimonies, Vol. VI, p. 155, rightly trained to obey God and His law and "Eternal interest should be the great theme of become fit for service. To become a teacher is teachers and students. Conformity to the world a great responsibility. It is a work that must be should be strictly guarded against. The teachers entered into only under deep conviction that this need to be sanctified through the truth, and the is God's task for me, but it carries with it the all-important thing should be the conversion of unlimited blessings of heaven. their students, that they may have a new heart Who shall teach our children? Men and women and life. The ()Meet of the Great Teacher is the who know God in the darkness as well as in the restoration of the image of God in the soul, and light, who love the youth as Christ loves us in every teacher in our schools should work in harmony that He was willing to give His life for us. FAMINE RELIEF OFFERING, NOVEMBER 5, 1949 VOLUME THIRTY-FIVE SEPTEMBER, 1949 NUMBER NINE FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK September, 1949 teachers and government favor for our work in Our Challenge Japan; the French government is granting free land for a school in Dalat; an excellent college By W. 0. BALDWIN site is being offered for expansion in the Philippines; Educational Secretary, Far Eastern Division and a keen awakening is developing in Indonesia. That it may encourage us to enter the doors The smiling face of Reggie Yeo on this page opened by the Lord's providences and rejoice at is symbolic of the nearly 11,000 students, the 428 the blessings already given, the pictures and reports teachers, the 173 schools, and the thousands of of this edition are given. mothers and fathers in the Far Eastern Division to whom this issue of the Outlook is dedicated. Following the Pattern By V. T. ARMSTRONG Fresvid.ent, Far Eastern, Divislion The pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist church built better than they knew when they heeded the instruction given and started in a very small way the establishment of a Chrstian school — the first of many such schools now found in many lands of the earth. Without these schools where our children and youth can be trained for service, the efforts of the remnant church would be greatly handicapped if not entirely helpless in this day of opportunity. Some years ago, I was asked by a missionary of another denomination if we were having any difficulty in securing young missionaries for our work who are fundamentalists. He went on to say that great perplexity had come to his organization because the new workers coming to them were not teaching the fundamental principles of the church. How thankful I was to be able to tell that fellow-missionary that the young people in our schools were still being taught the fundamental doctrines by teachers who believe the Bible as the word of God and the only safe guide for our young people. The foundation laid for our educational system so many years ago by the servant of God must continue to be the basis of all our educational work. The enemy knows that this is the secret of strength, and we may expect that he will endeavor by every means possible to change the emphasis of our educational system. We must therefore be always on our guard. Within the homes of the 40,000 and more church Education and the third angel's message are members in the Far Eastern Division, there are inseparable. "The influence of these messages has perhaps 20,000 children and youth. They present been .... setting in motion the springs of action to the church the greatest opportunity for soul- ....bringing into existence institutions of learning winning evangelism to be found anywhere. They " Vol. VI, p. 18. Workers must be trained are the most valuable asset of the church. If they quickly. "Our church schools are ordained by God are lost, it will be the most tragic experience to prepare the children for this great work." that can come to our people. C. 7'. p. 176 The church cannot lose the children and youth to the world and still grow in strength and members. Our strongest work is in fields having the strongest Their adherence to the teachings of the church is educational systems. Denominationally trained vital, for it is from these growing youth that the workers are indispensable to a progressive movement. future workers in God's cause must be recruited. The pictures and reports given of the educational They must not only step in to take the place of progress in each Union will show what has been older workers, who in time will lay off the burdens, done, but the greatest picture is of the work yet but thousands more must be added to answer the to be done. Our leaders estimate conservatively calls of a rapidly expanding work. that at least 10,000 Seventh-day Adventist children Safbguarding these lambs of the flock, and in our Division are being denied a Christian training them for willing service, is a duty and a education today. God's providences inspire us to privilege that cannot be delegated to others. It is plan courageously for future expansion which an obligation of individual parents and the church will place every S, D. A. student in a S. D. A. membership as a body. Unitedly, all must share school. As if by a miracle, the Lord has provided in this reponsibility. September, 1949 FAR EASTERN DI VISION OUTLOOK 3 Through the years, we have built up educational and also opened a school on August 2 with an institutions in the Far Eastern Division which initial enrollment of thirteen. are playing a very important part in our denom- Our brethren in North Sumatra have also caught inational program. These schools today are full the spirit of Christian education and they opened and overflowing. Thousands are enrolled but more a church school the first part of August. They thousands are still attending worldly schools or have also opened a secondary school, thus lining are not in any school. The need for more insti- up with the school in Minahasa, North Celebes. tutions is keenly felt. To meet the need requires With the continuation of our English school much additional space and many more units'. in Bandoeng for the current year, we now have To meet these needs, the call is for a still greater six church schools operating in our Union Mission. sacrifice on. the part of all. Simplicity in all our This beginning, though small, is very heartening plans is necessary in order that facilities may be and with the blessing of the Lord, our children and provided and yet we not become involved in debt.