p. 17 | Missionary Work by Correspondence by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 30, 1914

Missionary Work by Correspondence

By E. M. Graham

The great lack of men to go from place to place and preach the word may be in a great degree supplied by tracts and papers and by intelligent correspondence.—"Missionary Work by Correspondence," page 2.

A MOST effective way of using periodicals is in connection with missionary correspondence. A letter should be written explaining that a paper is being sent free of charge, and a copy of the weekly Signs of the Times or some other missionary periodical should be mailed with it. The paper should be sent for several weeks, and then if no reply has come to the first letter, a second should be written, and the papers continued for some time longer. The question may be raised, "Why write a letter to send with the first paper?" There are several reasons for doing this. One is to let the person to whom the paper is sent know that there will be no charge made for it. In these days there are so many tricks played upon people in order to extort money from them, that they are naturally suspicious. When a paper comes to them which they have not ordered, they think at once that it is a device on the part of the publishers of the paper to get them to take it, and that later on it will be followed by a bill.

Another reason is that a letter warm with the love of Christ will be likely to incline the receiver to read the paper. The personal interest shown is likely to have a good effect. Still another reason is that it opens the way to get into personal touch with honest seekers after truth.

The letters should be written with care and prayer. Every letter will make some impression, favorable or unfavorable. It has been said of one of the successful missionary workers in the early days of the message that she would write a letter, pray over it, rewrite it, and pray again, and perhaps repeat this several times before she felt that the letter was what the Lord wanted it to be. When finally ready to go, it would be such a letter as might appeal to even a heart of stone. As in all missionary work, there must be a deep burden for souls, and much prayer, in order that the letters and papers may be used by the Holy Spirit to win souls.

In writing to strangers care should be taken to state in some pleasant way that the paper is being sent free of charge, and that other copies will follow. Attention may be drawn to some article of especial interest. The address should be plainly given, and the signature should indicate the sex of the writer, and if a woman, should indicate whether single or married. The papers should be neatly wrapped, as all these details make an impression on the receiver.

Care should be taken to avoid the use of expressions not generally understood, such as "present truth," "third angel's message." Expressions should not be used that would imply in any way that the writer considered himself wiser than the person addressed, or in any way superior to him, or that the person addressed was regarded as a subject for missionary labor. It is better to approach a person as a fellow seeker after truth, rather than as one to be instructed.

Missionary correspondence has been the means of bringing many people into the church. One sister in the early days labored earnestly in this way, and raised up several churches. Though feeble in body, she was as successful in bringing people into the truth as many ministers have been. What she and others have done, other church members can do now.

E. M. GRAHAM.