Individual Work for Individuals

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1914

Individual Work for Individuals

THERE is constant danger of too much generalization in Christian effort. We give to the general missionary cause; we pray for those in sickness and distress, for the people of the church, and for the community at large. However commendable and good this general Christian labor may be, it will never take the place of individual missionary effort. The kind of missionary work which counts above all others is individual work for individuals.

It is an excellent thing to make a list of the names of needy ones in whom we feel a special interest. For these we can offer special prayer in our secret devotions or at the family altar. For these we may put forth special effort. It is interesting to watch the results of Christian labor of this character. We pray for one who is sick. In time that prayer is answered. How thankful we are then to eliminate his name from the list and add the name of another in need. We pray for a wayward youth who is backslidden, at the same time manifesting a kindly interest in the wanderer and putting forth judicious efforts to bring about his return to the Lord. We may watch with interest the means which God employs to bring about an answer to our prayer. When the wanderer returns, his name may be dropped from the list, and the name of another added in its place. In this way we shall be enabled to watch with great interest our changing list, and our hearts will be led to rejoice many times by the direct manner in which God has responded to our prayers.

Individual work for individuals is God's way of reaching the unconverted. This was the method employed by Christ. We shall find it the most effective means of missionary labor.