Chapter 20—Planning and Strategy
Ministers weighted with the burden of soul-saving will see
fruit for their labors—Through the grace of Christ, God’s ministers
are made messengers of light and blessing. As by earnest, persevering
prayer they obtain the endowment of the Holy Spirit and go forth
weighted with the burden of soul-saving, their hearts filled with zeal
to extend the triumphs of the cross, they will see fruit of their labors.
Resolutely refusing to display human wisdom or to exalt self, they
will accomplish a work that will withstand the assaults of Satan. Many
souls will be turned from darkness to light, and many churches will be
established. Men will be converted, not to the human instrumentality,
but to Christ. Self will be kept in the background; Jesus only, the Man
of Calvary, will appear.—
The Review and Herald, August 24, 1911
.
Time for Evangelism
Center your mind on the one object of saving souls—Some
ministers are easily diverted from their work. They become discour-
aged, or are attracted to their homes, and leave a growing interest to
die for want of attention. The harm done to the cause in this way
can scarcely be estimated. When an effort to promulgate the truth
is started, the minister in charge should feel responsible to carry it
through successfully. If his labors appear to be without result, he
should seek by earnest prayer to discover if they are what they should
be. He should humble his soul before God in self-examination, and
by faith cling to the divine promises, humbly continuing his efforts
till he is satisfied that he has faithfully discharged his duty, and done
everything in his power to gain the desired result.—
Testimonies for
the Church 4:265
.
Ministers who hover over their churches do them harm—The
churches that have not life in themselves, that have lost their spiritual
discernment, call for ministers to come to their help, to bring them the
breath of life. But the ministers have other work to do. They must carry
125