SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING HOW TO WORK.
By A. Smith
THERE are many persons among our people who are really desirous of doing something in the Master's vineyard, but they “don't know how.” Let me make a few suggestions to such, with a view of helping them out of the difficulty. First, and always, pray for wisdom before undertaking to do anything. Secondly, do the work nearest at hand, and do it well. The Third Angel's Message is to follow the first and second “to every kindred.” That makes it the duty of every Seventh-day Adventist to send or carry the truth to each and every one of his kindred. Some of these kindred may take it up and carry it to every one of their kindred. If all would engage in this work with a will, what vast results would soon follow. Let me make another suggestion: There are hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of periodicals freighted with the precious message continually accumulating in some of our churches, which ought to be out among the people. Now let each family in the church gather up all the copies of our unused periodicals they can from everybody or anybody who fails to use them; and, with a prayer for God's blessing, make up a bundle of, perhaps, one copy of the Signs, one Instructor, one Little Friend, etc. Add a tract if desired, or a Bible reading. Write a short letter, if you wish, dictated by a heart warm with the love of God. Roll or fold the papers tightly, and tie with a string. Let all these bundles be brought to the evening prayer-meeting. Talk and pray over the matter. Persuade some of the young brethren, or other young men, to take a dozen or twenty bundles each, and go several miles away to the different school districts; and just at the close of school for the day, ask the teacher to send one of those bundles by the children to each family represented in the school, not forgetting to give the teacher an extra copy of the Signs or Good Health, etc. The fathers of these families may be interested in a copy of the Sentinel, or the mother in the Signs; if not, the children will be in the Little Friend, or Instructor; and that will surely awaken the interest of the parent. Follow up the interest. Let some one visit the school again, or visit among the people. Find out how they like the papers, and if they want more. Sometimes large families of poor people will be found. Let your Sabbath-school pay for a copy of the Little Friend or the Instructor to be sent to the address of some one whose name you may secure. Send a copy of the Signs to the mother if you wish to. Let such families see that you are Christlike in your interest for them. By and by, if you are faithful and persevering, your crown may be studded with stars more beautiful than the gems that glitter in earthly diadems.