CHURCH YOUTH WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 5

CHURCH YOUTH WORK

FAITHFULNESS & STAMINA LONG-TERM PLANNING The opinion that youth work was not dissociated from the normal work of the church as a whole was expressed by Dr. J. D. Salmond, director of youth work, in a report presented at the Presbyterian general assembly in Christchurch. He said that a round 'table conference had met in Wellington in August to consider the history of youth work in the light of the church's permanent task, which was evangelism.

The present, situation was baffling to young people, and they had to be pointed beyond the glamour of war lo deeper realities. Faithfulness and stamina were essentials. The roundtable conference had aimed at longterm planning, and at doing the job in hand with faithfulness and precision. There was need for much real digging in.

Dr. Salmond said the conference considered that the home was the most stable unit in disintegrated society, and the conference had emphasised the family as the unit of evangelism. In home life there was nothing so important as spiritual unity, and the Sunday school was only partly effective until congregations honoured the vows which they took in baptism. From the baptismal font to the Communion table had to be the watchword of the church and many adults had to be re-educated in Christian faith. Book clubs exercised a wide influence, and a suggestion Was made of church book clubs, summer schools and correspondence courses.

The Rev. J. A. Thomson said that the great theme of the conference had been Christian evangelism at home and overseas. The work of the church at heme and abroad was all cf one piece, and in the matter of intensity and dedication they had a lot to lear.n.