Contacting Non-S. D. A. Ministers

I want to share with you some experiences that will illustrate the value and primary importance of our health literature as an entering wedge. Each experience given was with a minister of some popular church and speaks for itself.

The first one is from a Life and Health sub­scription worker in Ohio. In January he called at a home and sold a sixty-month subscription to a United Brethren minister and his wife. They paid $2.95 when the subscription was taken, and promised to pay the remainder on the following Monday. After the payment was made the maga­zine worker briefly described Bible Readings, The Great Controversy, The Desire of Ages, and Patriarchs and Prophets, and secured the minister's order for all four. When they were delivered the minister asked the magazine worker to stay awhile and study some with him. He said, "You are ac­quainted with these books and I am not, and I will appreciate it if you will come over once a week and study with me." Later the minister asked for the privilege of taking the magazine worker to the homes of his church members, so that they could be privileged to secure our literature. Weekly studies are still being held with this min­ister, who is deeply interested.

In the Potomac Conference a five-year subscrip­tion was sold to the minister of the largest church in the town. As his wife was not well the maga­zine worker lent her the book Ministry of Healing to read. The minister also read it and was very much impressed, saying certainly the writer was inspired. He asked for the privilege of visiting the magazine worker and her husband in their home, and asking questions concerning their faith. This privilege was granted, and the answers to his questions were read from the Bible. Since then he has purchased the Conflict Series, Bible Readings, and Testimonies to Ministers. He wrote a recommendation for our literature besides telling his members of its values. He is very much inter­ested in our message.

In the West Pennsylvania Conference a Baptist minister was sold a five-year Life and Health sub­scription. He enjoyed it so much be asked that it be sent to a relative in New York City, then in­quired if the same publishers had a publication that would be an aid to him in preparing his ser­mons. He was sold a subscription to the Signs of the Times. Since then he has purchased a number of books. One day he asked the magazine worker to visit his church and present Life and Health to his congregation. She did, and secured a num­ber of five-year subscriptions. The interest in health was so good that a home-nursing class was conducted at the church, and a group completed the course. About twenty members are enrolled in the Voice of Prophecy correspondence course, and the home missionary secretary of the church is already keeping the Sabbath. The minister and those of his congregation who are purchasing our literature know that it is Seventh-day Adventist, and they are eager to have more of it.

I received a letter recently from another maga­zine worker who is praising the Lord for her ex­perience. She writes:

"While collecting on Life and Health I called on a subscriber who was ill with gall bladder trouble. When I suggested that she avoid eating fried foods and pork, she asked what church I attended. When I told her she said, 'I thought so ; now tell me, what is the soul ?' I promised to return when I had more time and show her from the Bible. I did, and she enjoyed the study very much. She asked that I come again the next week and give a study at the church, so that the members could attend. Her husband is the deacon of the Baptist church. Thirteen Sunday night meetings have been held there. After the Sabbath was presented some of the members began to object, so the last three meetings have been held in the home of the local minister. He and his family have taken their stand for the Sabbath. Eight of the members of this church are now keeping the Sabbath, and several others are interested. Nearly all the in­terested ones are subscribers to Life and Health."

These experiences help to show us how Life and Health can be successfully used to break down prej­udice and act as an entering wedge among the leaders of the popular churches.