Reviving and Organizing the Church for Service
Reviving Church Members—The Lord does not now work to
bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who
have never been converted, and those who were once converted but
who have backslidden.—
Testimonies For The Church 6:371
(1900).
Twenty Souls Instead of One—There is a vast amount of rubbish
brought forward by professed believers in Christ, which blocks up the
way to the cross. Notwithstanding all this, there are some who are so
deeply convicted that they will come through every discouragement,
and will surmount every obstacle in order to gain the truth. But had the
believers in the truth purified their minds by obeying it, had they felt
the importance of knowledge and refinement of manners in Christ’s
work, where one soul has been saved there might have been twenty.—
Testimonies For The Church 4:68
(1876).
First Train Church Members—In laboring where there are al-
ready some in the faith, the minister should at first seek not so much
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to convert unbelievers, as to train the church members for acceptable
co-operation. Let him labor for them individually, endeavoring to
arouse them to seek for a deeper experience themselves, and to work
for others. When they are prepared to sustain the minister by their
prayers and labors, greater success will attend his efforts.—
Gospel
Workers, 196
(1915).
Clearing the King’s Highway—When a special effort to win
souls is put forth by laborers of experience in a community where our
own people live, there rests upon every believer in that field a most
solemn obligation to do all in his power to clear the King’s highway,
by putting away every sin that would hinder him from co-operating
with God and with his brethren.—
The Review and Herald, December
6, 1906
.
Counsel to Churches Where City Efforts Are Held—About
four years ago, when Elder Haskell and others were conducting a
Bible training school and evening services in New York City, the word
of the Lord to the workers there was: “Let the believers living near the
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