Articles
A Message to the President
This letter was written by Ellen G. White from North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, September 20, 1892, to Elder O. A. Olsen, president of the General Conference. Its appropriateness to our own day leads us to share it with our MINISTRY readers.
My Testimony
I HAVE fully resigned myself to nothing because I have been nothing, because I have made nothing, and because I shall be nothing. Past struggles have proved me incapable of wresting aside the hands of fate. Those transformations that I would have wrought in those about me have not appeared. Thus, on every side life has shown herself my master. I could not turn the course of history in my environment. . .
Why Be An Ordinary Preacher?
THE center of worship in the Seventh-day Adventist Church service is the pulpit. The climax or disappointment for the faithful tens of thousands who attend a multitude of sanctuaries on Sabbath morning is the pastoral exhortation. No single hour of the minister's week is so impregnated with opportunities. . .
Make Room for Personal Visitation
MY PASTOR and I have recently made some visits in the homes of our members," the first elder of one of our large churches wrote to me recently, "and I find that our people are literally starving to death for the kindly visit from the shepherd of the flock."
Write Simply
IT IS not easy to write simply; in fact, it is more difficult to be simple in communicating than to be complex. But the most effective writing is simple writing. Witness the success of Reader's Digest, a good example of simple writing. . .
The Reading of the Scriptures
IN ADDITION to the pastoral prayer, an other very important part of the Sabbath worship service usually conducted by the local elder is the public reading of the Scriptures. This assignment is not to be taken lightly nor entered into without much prayer and preparation. . .
Seminary '71
None of us taking notes that March day during the first class of the spring quarter, 1971, had any illusions that this class in Christology would be a push-over. We would have to produce read, assimilate, reproduce facts and ideas and more: "Gentlemen, if you give me back, in perfect form, exactly what I have given you, you will receive a B for the course; but if you want an A you must give me more than I have given you. You must study beyond the boundaries and enrich your answers!"
Wanted: Real Live Missionaries
NO DOUBT you remember being in the junior tent at camp meeting when the leader said: "Boys and girls, this morning we are going to have a story from a real live missionary!" "Live" missionaries who remain in the field of service know the vital importance of good health. Physically, mentally, and spiritually they must stay alive if they are to effectively witness for Christ. . .
Harnessing the Church
IN OUR work of evangelism we find that 10 to 60 percent of the audience are not members of our church. But out of this percentage of nonmembers attending, usually 85 to 95 percent have had no previous contact with our church or its members. They come in response to the advertising. . .
The Figurative Language of the Bible
ONE evening after I had finished preaching on "Heaven" a man came up to me with the challenge, "Apparently you are not aware that there is no such place as a heaven, and the texts you have just finished reading are nothing more than mere figurative expressions."