House-to-House and Heart-to-Heart Missionary Work
By D. T. Bourdeau
Labor from house to house and heart to heart is the kind of work that tells most in laboring for souls. The minister who neglects it can not expect to be eminently successful, however much he may shine as a public speaker with those who are captivated by what the world and worldly Christians regard as oratory. And this is true of all classes of gospel workers, including even those whose principal occupation is to use their pens in bringing out saving truths for the people. These, as well as others laboring in the Lord's vineyard, need to come in contact with the people and associate with them, that they may better know their wants, and be in a better condition to meet them, lest the following words, which were said of a lady who had much to do in keeping up the business and correspondence of an important branch of the work, be applicable to them: “She is a good penholder; but O that she were more social, and less shut up to herself, less like an iceberg!” As far as possible we must come heart to heart with those whom we would benefit, enter into their feelings, inquire into their temporal and spiritual condition, and bestow upon them genuine sympathy, if we would expect to gain the object we have in view in laboring for them. If we neglect doing this, we evince that we do not conform to the way in which our Saviour and his apostles used to labor for souls, and can not expect to be as successful in winning souls to Christ as it is our privilege to be. It is not in keeping away from those whom we would help, and with whom we may associate, that we can help them the most. We must not approach them stoically, nor with icy coldness, nor as if we had something to say of which we were ashamed, but with hearts aglow with the love of Christ, showing by our words that we esteem it a great honor to communicate to them the message that we hear. Our words and manners should be to those with whom we associate an assurance that we have been with Jesus, and have learned of him as to his methods of labor. Those who will take an extended survey of the labors of Jesus will be surprised to see how considerable a portion of them was bestowed with single individuals, or in private houses with a single family, or with one family and with those who would unite with it to be benefited by what the Saviour had to say. So with the early disciples and apostles of our divine Lord. These men were deeply affected by the message they bore. They threw their whole souls into it, and labored largely “from house to house.” Acts 20: 20. And they drew near to the hearts of those for whom they labored. And what does all this mean to us? Does it mean that only ministers in our day are to imitate our Saviour and his first disciples in these respects? that they are the only ones who are to labor from house to house, and to draw near to their friends and neighbors?—Nay, verily. The rank and file of our people must, as a general thing, do more of this kind of work if they would meet the mind of God, enjoy the plenitude of his Spirit, and soon see the work of the third angel concluded. If we have the most solemn and important message that was ever given for mortals, should we not associate with the people in order to make it known to them? Our literature is good, indispensable, but let us never be deluded by the thought that sending it to the people by others or through the mail will supersede the necessity of our mingling with the people and telling them personally of present truth and what it has done for us. Here is where many fail because of the cross and the self-denial confronting them, and leave it with the minister, colporteur, or Bible worker to do the personal, house-to-house and heart-to-heart work with their friends and neighbors. Do you pray that your friends and neighbors may receive present truth? Prepare the way for your prayers to be answered by bearing them that truth in the warmth and earnestness of that love which Jesus alone can implant in the soul, and the manifestation of which by you, personally, will win souls to Jesus and to the message of his love. Thus you will gain a blessing and obtain an experience to which you would be strangers if you neglected to do this very work. Then take up the cross that lies in your pathway, remembering that the heavier the cross, the greater the help that God is willing to grant to enable you to lift it, and the greater the blessing that God is anxious to bestow upon you for lifting it by the infinite, almighty grace that he so freely offers you for doing the work he has assigned you. Twenty-five years ago it was my privilege to be present at a meeting of about fifty ministers of our faith, including our lamented brother, Elder James White. At that time a Testimony came to us, like this: “If you will visit more and do more personal, heart-to-heart work, you will accomplish four times as much as you will if you neglect this kind of work.” One of those present who had ever believed this doctrine and tried to carry it out, said to himself, “I will do more of this kind of work, and do it better than formerly.” He went to a distant Western State, labored in a new field, and in less than four weeks raised a church of over twenty members, another minister joining him at the close of the effort, to baptize and help round up the work. After this he went to another Western State, and in a few months fifty persons were baptized, and a new church was formed. And these two efforts were made principally in the dead of winter. But God can bless and give success to his workers in all seasons of the year, if they will only regard the instructions he gives in his Word, and through those who are faithful exponents of that Word. Brethren and sisters, shall we do more of this house-to-house, heart-to-heart work? Shall we cultivate more Christian sociability among ourselves and with those outside the pale of our church? In the early days of this message, this was the chief work done, and Christian sociability was a very prominent feature among Seventh-day Adventists. Then we would go many miles on the Sabbath to visit and worship with an isolated family of believers; and the Lord would meet with us, and give us baptisms of11the Holy Spirit. In those days believers within our reach were not afflicted and did not die without our knowing it. All our brethren and sisters were inscribed on the tables of our hearts, and a fervent, undying love drew us to them when they were in affliction, and we would do all in our power to alleviate their sufferings, supply their wants, and cheer them with words of sympathy and consolation. God grant that the fervent love of those early days may speedily be restored to the remnant church. Then the loud cry of the third angel will be heard; the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of present truth; the work in which we are engaged will be consummated in glorious victory; and the “well done” will fall from the gracious lips of Jesus on the ears of those who shall have faithfully accomplished the work assigned them by a God of love and mercy.