"Go ye into all the world and make disciples of all nations."

      Movements destined to vast influence more often have their "Genesis" in quiet, unpretentious circumstance than otherwise. When seeking the utilization of dormant power and the greater efficiency of already active forces, that first training-class group was organized. They who planned it were guided from on high; they builded with Him who is master Builder.

      The training-class work ushered in a great day of God. The century was drawing to a close; it had been one of splendid achievement; many and vital its contributions to that noblest task, "the imbrothering of man." But its closing day was to have no aspect of sunset and twilight's inaction no evening star and repose, for ere the sun is set the sky is radiant with hope of day--the day of God, when God's message to men shall come to its own.

      Training-class achievement moves from goal to goal; 10,000 graduates, 25,000, 50,000, 100,000, behold the work of his Spirit, until we dared talk of 200,000, and the training-class promises to make every Disciple a Bible student; the dream of the century closing to be a reality in the century to come. [540]

      The training-class work is a preparation for evangelization; a world to be evangelized, that most daringly heroic, that divinest enterprise! "Go preach!" "They ceased not to teach and preach." "And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Preaching, teaching; teaching, preaching--these the two wings of perfect poise upon which the purpose of God moves on its victorious way to the ends of the world. Lo! what preparation for that type of effective evangelism demanded by the life of to-day is afforded by the training-class work.

      The training-class in our churches to-day is providing that preparation for evangelism which affords a call to arms for every disciple, the mobilization of an army whose every soldier will know and do. "Go preach!" and we have preached! What stalwart figures the preachers of these hundred years! With hearts on fire and lips anointed of God, theirs has been an evangel whose efficiency has been equaled only by Pentecost. But what of the multitude? What of the official board, the Bible-school workers and the C. E. societies, and the hosts beside, waiting for their part in the work of God? The modern training-class work is the answer. "Teaching them to observe all things" is coming to its own.

      Is it the coming of the evangelist and the subsequent revival for which we would make preparation? Then, we begin months in advance, with a definite program in the carefully prepared course of study, laying foundations upon which fair and enduring structures of helpfulness will rise. The training-class will resolve itself into a personal workers' class, and the letter and spirit of the text-book will be supplemented by suggestion from the experience of the minister, and the fire of his love for souls will be a contagion.

      Is it that wholesome day-by-day evangelistic temper of the congregation to be sought for and cultured? The vision of redemption's work an abiding one with men? The soul-winning atmosphere of fervor and power the normal temper of the church? The world to-day challenges us to make the New Testament church, its vision, its fiber, its passion, the church of the twentieth century. The training-class accepts the challenge and provides the way.

      Such desired efficiency will not come in a day. The thrill of immediate victory

M. R. FISHER.

may not be ours. It is the work of preparation for evangelism. We are growing a force in the community. We are leading souls into personal responsibility for souls. It is "first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear," and so we take long steps with God, have the courage of the future, and, toiling, can also wait.

      Any sort of far-reaching preparation for evangelism must provide for the training of the men of our churches ordained to lead. Through the training-class work, with its popular course of study, our elders and deacons may be enlisted and trained for effective leadership.

      The training-class presents for us a conserving force in evangelism. They who have so earnestly and efficiently presented the message in personal work, will be the readiest agency in the solving of the problem of the assimilation of the throng of new converts. These trained workers will bear the invitation to the Bible classes, and in most cases may have assigned them definite personal work.

      The training-class will thus discover and train for service teachers, officers, leaders, new captains of industry for God. It will make of the personality of mediocrity a force of efficiency, and out of such build a community fit to present to the world the true church of God, the church of to-day in the life of to-day, leading because learning, living because loving, winning because working. The training-class can not do all things, but it can do some things; and what it can do it ought to do, and what it ought to do we will, by the grace of God, have it do. [541]

[CCR 540-541]