From Politics to Pulpit and Life Story

Over and over again the author has delivered his lecture “From Politics to Pulpit” to large audiences in every part of the United States and Canada. The enthusiasm with which that lecture has been received everywhere betokens an eagerness for this enlargement of his personal story now in printed form.

But this is more than a personal story. W. E. Monk, in the capacity of general field representative has, one might say, become an institution in the Church of God. At various times he has represented all our general church institutions in the field and has traveled again and again throughout all parts of the United States and in Canada.

First, he went out to represent the Board of Church Extension and Home Missions, which was then only a few years old and was responsible in no small degree for the rapid rise of this new church enterprise to its present place of prominence and enlarged service to the church. After representing all general church boards as Field Secretary for the Associated Budgets for a short while he again became Field Secretary for the Board of Church Extension and Home Missions, which office he still holds.

Whether as pastor, or evangelist, or now as Field Secretary, but one real criticism attaches to his work—he doesn’t “go round.” He can’t fill the calls. He can’t be in enough places at one time. But no one will say he has not tried to meet the needs of a growing church work. No youth of twenty has been more ready to take up new methods and new enterprises for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ nor has shown more buoyant zeal and faith. By fast train or automobile he has moved from place to place spreading a contagious optimism concerning our work. Even today he will as readily undertake the raising of a million-dollar fund as taking up a collection for a poor, underpaid preacher.

In this story of his life there are laughter and tears. It is a story of failure and of grand achievement. This story of a life transformed from sin unto God is more than a personal story. Somehow it stands for the experience of many and is a considerable chapter from the life story of our church work. I have waited for this story and I thank the author for thus sharing these experiences with us.

                 E. F. Adcock, Secretary