PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR WILLING WORKERS.
By William S. Sadler
IT may be well to consider briefly some of the methods of reaching our neighbors by personal effort and through the family circle. There are few more profitable and successful ways of spreading the truth for to-day than through sociable contact and neighborly approach. After all, it is hand-picked fruit that is the best, and personal work far outweighs efforts made in public, tho of course public efforts have their place in the dissemination of truth. 1. Heart to heart personal work. By direct personal interest and judiciously conducted conversation, efforts may be made to appeal to the unconverted, and lead them to a knowledge of Christ and of the Third Angel’s Message. 2. Informal gatherings may be held in your own home. Carefully managed and prudently conducted, such gatherings can be made the means of presenting the truth in such a way that the Spirit of God will arouse an interest in the Message and bring many to take their stand for truth, who otherwise might never hear of it. Such meetings must never be allowed to assume the style of a stiff church service, or much of their influence will be prevented and their object defeated. 3. Similar gatherings may be suitably held, as occasion permits, in the homes of your neighbors. These may be either by appointment or as informal assemblies. Special wisdom of God is needed that at these times the message, the everlasting Gospel, shall be presented so that the hearers shall be favorably impressed. 4. Then there are Bible-readings. When these are carefully and prayerfully given, after proper preparation, to individuals and small companies, upon subjects in which they are interested, they may by degrees be led on step by step, till they come to a saving knowledge of the whole truth. 5. In winter, afternoon or evening studies might be arranged for at your home, to which your friends and neighbors could be invited; the local church being requested to co-operate in an effort to secure the attendance of those interested, or likely to be. 6. Under the guidance and supervision of older ones, our youth should be encouraged to do personal work for the unsaved, especially among other young people. 7. Have we fully realized the possibilities of a two-cent stamp, a little time and paper, as a means of carrying saving truths across the continent? If not, let us begin the use of the missionary letter as a means of scattering the truth. 8. Tracts are admirable for use when corresponding with friends. The “Apples of Gold Library” may be made excellent use of in this way. 9. What a world of possibilities there is in the literature we possess! Let all take hold earnestly and scatter the printed page. Periodicals, tracts, books, offer unlimited opportunities for this work, and they should be freely used. Of course, they should be distributed with discretion, care being taken to give meat in due season. 10. Invite the neighbors to dine with you occasionally. This will give you an opportunity to show them the advantages of right living, and enable you to drop seeds of truth also into the soul, while the stomach is satisfied with pure and wholesome food. 11. Cultivate the acquaintance and friendship of those in your locality. Visit them. Accept any invitation to dine with them; and always seek for opportunities to sow beside all waters. 12. Seek out the sick in your neighborhood. Prepare a wholesome dish and send or take to them. If competent, you could perhaps give some simple treatment which would be acceptable and helpful. In this way the door may be opened for you to minister to the soul as well as to the body. 13. Occasions of sorrow, distress, bereavement, etc., afford rare opportunities for Christian help work that is most welcome. At such times, be ready to seize these openings of Providence. Improve every such opportunity to perform acts of kindness, and show a heart of sympathy and love. 14. It is important that we “visit the fatherless and widows.” Is there a drunkard’s home near you? Call on the sorrowing wife. If she has children, endeavor to assist her with Christian counsel. You will find her heart good soil for seeds of truth. And her own conversion may bring about her husband’s also. Such are a few of the lines of work that might be followed, according to varying circumstances, by almost any one with a true missionary spirit. Experience comes as we engage in this work. Mistakes made to-day should be used as guide-posts for help on the morrow. Christ says “Go, work to-day in My vineyard;” then let us respond, and go, with willing minds, and glad hearts, thankful for the privilege of doing something, however small, that will hasten His coming, and extend His kingdom upon earth. We shall find that His angels have gone before us and prepared the way. His Holy Spirit will bless the efforts we make, and water the seed sown. May God help us all to be active workers, faithful ambassadors, loyal followers, of the Lord Jesus.
W. S. SADLER.