As you contemplate your privileges and responsibilities as a minister in the Advent cause, you comprehend that your basic mission is evangelism. You realize that your dedication centers in this one objective—a finished work through coordinated evangelism.
As Christ's ambassador you esteem your ministership in service. Your daily prayer for one another lifts. Your willing cooperation in all service projects encourages. Your vision of enlarged plans inspires. Your unity of purpose strengthens. Your courage to tackle the never-before-attempted is thrilling.
Truly you are—
More than pulpit speakers, for preaching alone will never reach the masses. . .
More than pastoral visitors, for our mission extends far beyond the bounds of membership. . .
More than arbitrators of church disputes, for the devil will keep you busy straightening out problems without end. . .
More than "propper-uppers" of religious weaklings, for your work is far greater than hovering over those who know the truth but who are unwilling to practice it. . .
More than modern circuit riders in your district, bearing Heaven's wares attractively displayed. . .
More than campaign promoters, however worthy and far-reaching such drives. . .
More than oilers of church machinery, although this is necessary at times. . .
More than trouble-shooters when misunderstandings arise, although we cooperate with our officers in ministering to the faltering. . .
More than provokers to good works, in spite of the emphasis on faith without works being dead. . .You are infinitely more than all this. As you evaluate yourself, you find your primary contribution is epitomized in the following four titles:
You must do more than bring people into the church; you must set them to work. "In laboring where there are already some in the faith, the minister should at first seek not so much to convert unbelievers, as to train the church members for acceptable co-operation. . . . When they are prepared to sustain the minister by their prayers and labors, greater success will attend his efforts."—Christian Service, p. 70.
As the leader of the district and pastor of all the church members, you design, in counsel with your church missionary committee, an evangelistic program of contacting every person with our message, assigning work to each believer and organizing the church to accomplish this soul-winning task.
3. You are a Trainer of the members. The members are willing to witness but are waiting for instruction in the "how." "Many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin. They need to be instructed and encouraged. Every church should be a training school for Christian workers."—Ibid., p. 59.
By training believers to effectively cooperate with the ministry in soul winning, you are truly multiplying your service as an evangelist. "There should not only be teaching, but actual work under experienced instructors. Let the teachers lead the way in working among the people, and others, uniting with them, will learn from their example."—Ibid.
4. You are an evangelist. All year round every church department and your own ministerial program should be directed toward uplifting Christ and winning hearts. You plan evangelistic campaigns and decision efforts to harvest souls from the united work of an organized, trained, and spiritually lead church. You recognize that no amount of gospel salesmanship or intensive promotion supersedes your spiritual ministry as an evangelist. Christ is to be the Lord of your talent and time, purpose and plans, your love and your life.
Always remember that you are God's man doing His will in His way.
Do you recall the early apostolic church and its method of finishing the work in Jerusalem? "Daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42). It was a day-by-day evangelistic effort in which public and personal evangelism were united; a continuous soul-winning program of preaching and teaching in which Christ was lifted up.
God is in a hurry to finish His work. The greatest moments in soul winning are ahead. The pace of evangelism will be accelerated as the concept of Christ—let Me preach through you—becomes a reality in the heart of consecrated believers and in every one of our churches throughout the world. A rallied, organized, trained church under the power of God's Spirit will advance to triumph.
On the island of Saint Lucia, in the Caribbean, stands a lighthouse whose beam penetrates tlie darkness of night twenty miles out to sea. On a visit to this lighthouse we were surprised to find that the light consists of a wick five to six inches wide running down into a pot of oil. We were amazed that the light from this small wick could be seen so far. And when we exclaimed about the tiny wick, the lighthouse keeper commented, "It is not the brilliancy of the light but the focus that does the business." Then he pointed to the gleaming reflectors that concentrated the small ray of light into one steady beam.
Is your life focused on soul winning?
