During the last world war, military leaders became aware of the fact that when soldiers were sent out individually toward the enemy camp to look for weak spots where the army might break through, most of them did not fulfill their commission as expected. Nearing the enemy's camp alone, they often became afraid or discouraged, and would even hide. Thus the leaders did not always get the information they needed for a successful campaign.
However, they discovered that the same men, working in a team, were courageous, and their spirits were high even to the extent of being heroic. Since then, soldiers have not been sent alone on any particularly dangerous mission; they are always sent in teams.
Satan Versus Evangelism
When reaching out to win souls, the worker must always keep in mind that evangelism is a direct warfare against Satan, who with subtlety and determination holds every soul in his power as long as possible. In this conflict he does not fight alone; he has at his command companies and legions of fallen angels.
Evil spirits . . are leagued together for the dishonor of God and the destruction of men. . . . In the Roman army a legion consisted of from three to five thousand men. Satan's hosts also are marshaled in companies, and the single company to which these demons belonged numbered no less than a legion.—The Great Controversy, pp. 513, 514.
Satan summons all his forces, and throws his whole power into the combat. . . . There is little enmity against Satan and his works, because there is so great ignorance concerning his power and malice, and the vast extent of his warfare against Christ and His church. Multitudes are deluded here. They do not know that their enemy is a mighty general, who controls the minds of evil angels, and that with well-matured plans and skilful movements he is warring against Christ to prevent the salvation of souls. Among professed Christians, and even among ministers of the gospel, there is heard scarcely a reference to Satan, except perhaps an incidental mention in the pulpit.—/bid., pp. 507, 508.
Evangelism—the conflict with Satan and his legions for the souls of men—can only be victorious through the powerful leading of the Holy Spirit and the untiring assistance of the holy angels, while we follow Christ's blueprint.
Christ's Methods of Evangelism Towns and Villages
Christ, when He commissioned His disciples to go and preach the good news, employed a method that was to be an object lesson for the ministry from His day until the time of His glorious appearing.
Calling the twelve about Him, Jesus bade them go out two and two through the towns and villages. None were sent forth alone, but brother was associated with brother, friend with friend. . . . In the same manner He afterward sent forth the seventy. It was the Saviour's purpose that the messengers of the gospel should be associated in this way. In our own time evangelistic work would be far more successful if this example were more closely followed.—Evangelism, p. 72.
Here is another pertinent statement:
God never designed that, as a rule, His servants should go out singly to labor.—Ibid., p. 73.
Moreover the servant of the Lord knew the false reasoning that would be used as an excuse for not following this plan in our time:
Why is it that we have departed from the method of labor which was instituted by the Great Teacher? Why is it that the laborers in His cause today are not sent forth two and two? "Oh," you say, "we have not laborers enough to occupy the field." Then occupy less territory.—Ibid., p. 74.
Would it not be well to meditate carefully and prayerfully on this inspired statement? Adherence to this counsel by gospel laborers in towns and villages will strengthen the Lord's work in all branches of activity.
Metropolitan Areas
The following counsel has been given by Ellen G. White:
No less than seven men should be chosen to carry the large responsibilities of the work of God in the great cities.—Ibid., p. 37.
My message is, "Let companies be organized to enter the cities." ... In every large city there should be a corps of organized, well-disciplined workers; not merely one or two, but scores should be set to work.—Ibid., p. 96.
Each company of workers should be under the direction of a competent leader. . . . Such systematic labor, wisely conducted, would produce blessed results.—Medical Ministry, p. 301.
There should be companies organized, and educated most thoroughly to work as nurses, as evangelists, as ministers, as canvassers, as gospel students, to perfect a character after the divine similitude. —Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 171, 172.
Paul's Method of Work
When we study the Acts of the Apostles and all of Paul's writings in the New Testament, as well as the book, The Acts of the Apostles, by Ellen G. White, we find that the apostle Paul, while in Corinth, had more than twelve co-laborers helping him raise up multitudes of believers in that rich and wicked city. Paul labored there for nearly three years, working in harmony with the blueprint given by the Lord; hence his success in raising up so many churches throughout the great Roman Empire.
Reasons for Teamwork in the Proclamation of the Gospel
In each great city there are all kinds of people; rich and poor, high and low, cultured and uncultured, holding many different religious beliefs and philosophies of life. Some of these men and women, of different social backgrounds, are scientifically inclined and love the process of analytical reasoning even in the field of religion. On the other hand there are many who do not want to think, or do not know how to think, and every message must be given them in digested form. Many are not against religion but are indifferent to it, although there are those who pride themselves on being atheists or agnostics. Then there are the youth with their own ambitions and ideas of life. The gospel must be made attractive to all of these, and it takes different types of workers to do this. Many people who do not respond to the voice or methods of one man will gladly listen and accept the message through another worker whose personality appeals to them. Therefore successful and fruitful city work requires a team of workers, each with different talents.
Good Leadership in the Metropolitan Areas
A leader should be a good general and his co-laborers should be well disciplined and organized. There should be well-defined plans, clearly understood by everyone so that the work can be done fervently, promptly, and with exactness. Good leadership provides time for prayer meetings among the workers. This always results in greater accomplishments for the Lord. It also gives opportunity for the exchange of experiences, and so workers learn from each other in the science of soul winning. Time can be given to the consideration of difficult problems, and out of the multitude of counselors there will be born a solution that gains the victory even in the most trying and hopeless cases. As the workers witness to each other of how the Lord heals the sick and works miracles, and how the people make their decisions to accept the gospel, a fire will be kindled in the team that will not be put out. Surprising results in baptisms will follow.
Other Examples of Teamwork
A few weeks ago two fine young men, well-dressed and very friendly, came to our home. They wanted to persuade us to buy a certain type of storm window. While one explained, the other demonstrated. One concentrated on my wife and the other one tried to win my good will. They were very charming and convincing in their efforts to sell us their wares.
I said to myself: "Here is a demonstration that a sales company realizes it can sell more by sending men out two by two than one alone, because an idea that one lacks, the other may be able to supply; the quality of character that is lacking in one may be found in the other." And, I thought: "Why do we not follow this plan more strictly and have our workers labor together in teams, two and two in towns and villages, and in groups in our great centers?" They should be well organized under the leadership of a competent and consecrated man of God. In this age of specialization, in this age of organization, in this age when the enemy of all truth is working harder and more subtly than ever on the minds of people to make them reject the saving gospel and the doctrine of the second coming of our Lord, should we not adopt a method that will be more workable, that will bring greater results, that will hasten the day of the Lord's coming?
We witness the value of teamwork in our In-gathering campaigns. When two persons interview a bank manager or an influential businessman, it is more difficult for him to refuse a donation. It has also been found that when a donation had been given previously to one person, and the next time two people called, the donation was doubled.
The Lord has graciously given to evangelist Fordyce Detamore and others who work in the same way, outstanding success. This we feel sure is due to the fact that their efficiency has been multiplied because they work with a team. What would Billy Graham do without G. Beverly Shea, Cliff Barrows, and his host of helpers?
In the ministry of soul winning today God wants His church to follow even more closely the teamwork system demonstrated so practically by Paul, and repeated over and over again in the priceless treasures of counsel from the servant of the Lord. It will help to wipe out lukewarmness and bring about the outpouring of the latter rain. Remember, brethren, evangelism is warfare against the evil one. Let us do successfully the work of an evangelist.