p. 16 | “As Thou Hast Sent Me:” Ideal Gospel City Work

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1911

“As Thou Hast Sent Me:” Ideal Gospel City Work

By G. B. Starr

G. B. STARR

In his announcement of the work he was sent to accomplish in the earth, Jesus presented a very broad, beneficent, and blessed ministry embracing much more than preaching. It included binding up broken hearts, proclaiming liberty to captives, opening prison doors, comforting mourners, carrying the oil of joy to counteract mourning, awakening the spirit of praise, visiting the sick and healing them, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. See Isa. 61: 1-3 and Luke 4: 14-19, 22.

For this work Jesus was anointed, and to this work and every phase of it he addressed himself, and enlisted the co-operation of his disciples.

“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world.”

When the gospel is carried to the people as he carried it, ought we not to see a similar ministry? The closing work of the gospel is to be a revelation of the beneficent character of God.

In order for the accomplishment of this all classes of workers now in training will be needed,—ministering evangelists and physicians, Bible workers, nurses, colporteurs,—and the people working side by side and united in conducting medical evangelistic missions for rich and poor, separately setting a table for each, and in loving ministry offering to them nature’s health-giving, life-sustaining, heat- and energy-producing foods so freely given to us, and so conducive to spirituality and economy. To

give lectures, demonstrations, and banquets in their homes or accustomed places of assembly, and to unite in loving ministry, opens the door of their hearts and minds for all other blessings offered through Christ; light and truth, pardon and peace, righteousness and eternal life. Why not ask the rich to assist in preparing these banquets for the poor, and invite them to a table spread with wholesome dishes, such as should appear daily on their own tables, and teach them how to prepare them in a simple and wholesome manner? In talks to mothers and burden-bearing sisters, explain the reason for adopting the Eden diet,—to encourage Eden happiness in the home. And why should not nurses, Bible workers, ministers, and people visit these homes, and come in close personal touch with these people, and thus in ministering to their sick, in comforting their hearts, in lifting up the bowed down, lead them step by step to Him who can minister to every need?

This is no fanciful picture. This is exactly the program of our work in Boston. We are studying this pattern of Christ’s ministry and what is called for in the closing work; we are shaping every plan to meet the pattern as nearly as we can comprehend it; and we want to testify to the joy and peace we experience in the work. Doors are opening everywhere and on all sides according to the promise. Friendships of the most interesting type are being formed, and prejudice is melting away before this ministry, as snow before the sun.

Melrose, Mass.