Church Missionary Work by A. E. Everett

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 10, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 41.

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Church Missionary Work

By A. E. Everett

[The following program was prepared by A. E. Everett, missionary secretary of the Maine Conference.]

Suggestive Program for Fourth Sabbath Home Missionary Service

(Oct. 26, 1912)

OPENING SONG: “Christ in Song,” No. 561, new edition only.

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Thess. 5: 1-15.

PRAYER.

SONG: “Christ in Song,” No. 513; old edition, No. 422 (first two stanzas only).

READING: “The Missionary Call.”

SONG: “Ask Not to Be Excused,” last stanza.

SECOND READING: “What We Can Do.”

CONSECRATION SERVICE: Spend ten minutes in testimonies based on a desire for unity of effort and power from above to finish the work of the message.

REPORT OF CHURCH WORK: By missionary secretary (librarian).

PASSING OF REPORT BLANKS: With short remarks, encouraging reporting at least a few items.

COLLECTION: Recommended that all churches not now supplied with tracts ask that a liberal offering be given to procure a five-dollar package.

PRAYER OVER OFFERINGS AND REPORTS. PLANS FOR SPECIAL WORK.

CLOSING SONG: “Christ in Song,” No. 570; old edition, No. 384.

BENEDICTION.

The Missionary Call

THE responsibility of giving the third angel’s message to the world rests largely upon the lay members of our churches. God has called us into this message, and in turn expects us to impart it to others. The responsibility rests upon every individual. It is not for some to conclude that, because of a supposed hindrance, drawback, or lack of talent, they are to be excused. Indeed, the call for immediate service by our lay members has become so urgent that God has been sending message after message from heaven urging that this work be done at once.

And to-day this message comes to us. In every church a great missionary work is to be done; a great field is open. The angels are waiting for each individual to decide whether he will sense his duty, and buckle on the armor for service.

Organization

A band of workers uniting in perfect cooperation can always accomplish more than the same workers can do singly and without mutual aid. Cooperation also helps to build up the individual worker; as the strong impart to the weak, and those who are otherwise slow or who might fail to work at all are encouraged to take hold and do aggressive missionary work. Hence, perfect organization is very essential to successful missionary effort. Remember that a working church is a living church, and that every living church is essentially a missionary church.

The church officers, with the elder naturally at the head, should plan carefully for the home missionary efforts. While the missionary secretary, or librarian, will do all in his power to lead out in such efforts, yet the whole burden should not be shifted to him.

Leadership

Leadership is essential, and as most persons feel a drawing to some special kind of work, such as canvassing, paper selling, tract distribution, visiting the sick, helping the poor, missionary correspondence, etc., such persons could be chosen to lead out in the work they seem best adapted to. In this way the larger churches would be formed into little bands having charge of various lines of missionary effort, with enthusiastic leadership. In smaller churches it might not be possible to have so many bands, but still the individuals could have their special work to look after, reporting their experiences in the missionary meeting.

Some members may become discouraged by trying to do too many kinds of missionary work at once, or by feeling that they are expected to, and thus give up trying before they have accomplished anything. A little done well may mean far more than much attempted in a general way with failure to do anything definitely or completely.

Many of our churches are already working, with well-organized societies; but other churches have not organized their missionary work so that the most effective service is being done. Why not do it now? Why not take as our motto, “Every member a worker for Christ,” and then, as a church, counsel and pray together, and organize for aggressive labor for the Master?

The times are perilous. On every hand there is anxiety and unrest, “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” God has placed our little churches as beacon-lights, dotted here and there all over this great world, that they may let their light shine, and guide into the heavenly harbor many souls who are sinking, yet desire to be saved.

Let us awaken to-day to these responsibilities, and determine, with God’s help, to enlighten our own little community before the storm breaks, and we be found with our work undone, and we ourselves unprepared to meet our God.

What We Can Do

In the Home

THE true missionary spirit, after its reception in the heart of the believer, will first be manifested in the home. The love of God will be revealed in the family life, and those who are nearest and dearest will feel its gentle influence first of all. The family altar will be reared in the home, and morning and evening fervent prayers will ascend to God. Wisdom from above will be earnestly sought, that effective missionary labor may be done both in the home and without.

Some find it very hard to do anything for their next-door neighbors. They testify that every advance in missionary effort thus made is coldly repulsed. There may be a reason for this which many do not suspect. The cause may lie in their own home life. Do not forget that our neighbors read us before they do the papers, tracts, or books we may give them.

A well-ordered home bears a powerful influence for the truth. Are we cheerful and prompt in all our business dealings? Sometimes a neglected debt may cause distrust to spring up in the hearts of men with whom we deal, and they wonder if all Adventists are such persons. These things must be watched jealously if we would have our influence tell with our neighbors. When we go out of our way to do men a favor, and to be prompt in every matter, we have begun on the right line for effective missionary influence.

The greatest thing needed to-day in every Seventh-day Adventist Church is a genuine heart revival of missionary work. Following this will come a mighty reformation in the lives of the believers, which will make effective the work attempted, and result in a harvest of souls.

In Personal Work

Probably of all methods of labor, loving personal service is the most productive of good. The world is hungry for love and sympathy and spiritual help, which only the believer in Christ can give. Thoughtful attention and little acts of kindness toward our neighbors will break down many a barrier of prejudice, and prove an opening wedge for the message.

We should see well to the influence we bear. How necessary that we learn to commune much with our Saviour, that we may reflect the light of his presence.

In nearly every place some sick person can be found to be visited, or some poor widow assisted, or clothing furnished to some poor and afflicted family. You could visit the well-to-do people, soliciting such help as would be needed, and thus gain an entrance to, and the confidence of, both rich and poor. In all missionary work mingle much with the people, and the Holy Spirit through you will work mightily for the conversion of souls.

With Our Literature

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1: 14. This is written of Christ. It also pertains to those who have received Christ into their hearts. So then, every believer, as he carries the printed message to his fellow men, has the privilege of demonstrating in his life what that message can do and does do when it is made flesh. This is the most powerful argument we can present why men should receive the message we have for them. Each of us is an epistle, “known and read of all men.”

Every Christian family and individual can do something with our literature. A supply of tracts should always be kept on hand. The best and most economical way for the church to procure tracts is to order them in the five-dollar packages. Every fourth Sabbath the offering for home missionary work should be taken. Usually, enough can be collected at one meeting to pay for the tracts. The librarian should then encourage all the members who wish to use tracts to come forward at the close of the meeting, and get them freely. This gives the poorer members the same privilege to use tracts as their more favored brethren. Many churches are now following this plan,

and in every place where tried, to my knowledge, the tract work has been stimulated, and in some cases excellent interests among the people have been awakened.

A club of Signs (weekly) should be maintained by every church. A special series of this paper is begun every six months. Our people always respond liberally when the missionary work with our pioneer paper is brought before them. If properly managed, large clubs can be used and paid for by comparatively small churches without embarrassing any one.

Bible Work

Many church-members are, or can soon learn to be, qualified to give Bible studies. This work should be encouraged everywhere. In many instances those who go out to distribute tracts or to canvass for our books, find openings for Bible work. Those who are apt to teach, who are well-balanced in the message, should be selected for this work. Our lay members are being called to do it. The church officers should see that the missionary society does all it can to develop such workers. This is one of the most important lines of labor in the denomination. Sound conversion, enthusiasm, good judgment, cheerfulness, tact, sociability, are some of the requisites for successful Bible work. Persons who may be zealous, but inclined to fanaticism, should not be encouraged to give Bible studies.

Determine to Succeed

Finally, brethren and sisters, earnestness is demanded in missionary work. It means life or death; assuredly so to those around us, and probably so to ourselves. Now is the time to “repent, and do the first works.” One thing that keeps many of our missionary societies and churches from growing, is lack of unity and love among the brethren. There is not perfect understanding among the members, and possibly not among the leaders. Shall we longer allow such things to creep in to spoil our work? Only through perfect union can success and God’s blessing be expected. Let us to-day examine our own selves and see if there is anything keeping back God’s Spirit and blessing from our work. The end is hastening on apace. The last steps of our journey are now being taken. Shall we fail on the border of the promised land? or shall we triumphantly enter with God’s remnant people when Christ comes?