CUBA STREET CHURCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 18 February 1939, Page 7

CUBA STREET CHURCH.

YOUTH DEDICATION SERVICE.

In the presence of a large congregation, a special dedication f°r . youth workers was conducted on Suncay night. Rev. A. Blakemore, the minister of the church, was in charge of tho service and delivered an addiess befitting the occasion. Hymns and other portions were selected to harmonise with the nature of the service which also included the Sacrament ot tho Lord's Supper Selecting his text from Mark A.J, 36 “Jesus took a child and set him in the midst of them,” Air Blakemore dealt comprehensively with the aspect ol youth work. . ~ “Never sine© tho institution ot tne Sunday School by Robert Raikes over 150 years ago has the }>osition of youth work in the churches been so critical,” said Air Blakemore. “Sunday schools have flourished in most I rotestant countries, but especially bo m the English-speaking lands. lor some years past however, the Sunday school authorities of all denominations have reported large decreases in the numbers attending Sunday schools, Bible classes and kindred organisations. A recent religious periodical reports., that tlie figures for England in 1937 reveal a 10%5 of 150.000 scholars compared, with tho previous year. The churches of our own land regretfully report a decreasing number of children in association with tho Sunday schools. I mention these facts, not to discourage you, but to challenge vou and all the members of the church on the matter. Now, it would be quite easy to find reasons for a great deal of the lapse m children and youth from our Sunday schools and churches. ~ , , * <r TTi€> groat changes tin at have come over tho lives of the masses of the people; the more materialistic outlook: the craze for pleasure; the lure ot the out-of-doors and the increased facilities for travel, have all played a part. The -world is ever near, and it is easv for people to forget the words of Jesus. ‘A man’s life eonsisteth not in tho abundance of things which he posseseeth,’ and to imagine that happiness and wellbeing are bound up. in these things. The children readily• iml>il>° this false philosophy from their elders. Further, when parents are not vitally concerned about religion for themselves there is little vital concern about religion for their children So in the vast majority of cases the Sunday school lacks th© co-operation of th© h °< H ji -joss, however, cannot bo attributed to causes external to our church life. Tlie spirit of the age lias .affected the life of many associated with the Christian church and robbed them of much spiritual zeal. We gladly recognise that many are ready to give devoted service to tho cause of the Kingdom of God, yet we must admit that there are many professing tmy tians unwilling to undertake any task that is in anv way likelv to hamper their freedom. Sunday school teaching pud leadership in youth work more than ever dem'nml the consecrated heart and the trained mind. Unless we can find vnung men and women prepared for this mental ar.d spiritual discipline, the work must irmv’tablv suffer. Sund.a.v school buildings are unsuitable for the work of training children, but the greater difficulties are not structural but personal and spiritual. Alonev mieht be found t© provide beautiful buddings, but it cannot provide consecrated teachers. “And so. in this dedication service, we must place the emphasis on the nwositv for whole-hearted rWntmn to Christ ami the enterprises of His Kingdom. Teachers, upon von is largely placed the gro.a.t responsibility of training the ehihlren in 'holy things .in the most important and impressionable period of their lives,” said Air Blakemore.