Personal Evangelism
135
that you ought to have done. You say that you are not qualified to
finish up the work. Then the sooner you qualify yourself to bear the
[132]
burdens of a shepherd, or pastor, of the flock, the better.—
Testimonies
for the Church 3:227
.
Visiting Non-members
Gaining people’s confidence through personal visitation will
have greater influence than preaching—When there are only
evening meetings to attend, there is much time that can be used to
great advantage in visiting from house to house, meeting the people
where they are. And if ministers of Christ have the graces of the Spirit,
if they imitate the great Exemplar, they will find access to hearts and
will win souls to Christ. Some ministers bearing the last message
of mercy are too distant. They do not improve the opportunities that
they have of gaining the confidence of unbelievers, by their exemplary
deportment, their unselfish interest for the good of others, their kind-
ness, forbearance, humbleness of mind, and their respectful courtesy.
These fruits of the Spirit will exert a far greater influence than will the
preaching in the desk without individual effort in families. But the
preaching of pointed, testing truths to the people, and corresponding
individual efforts from house to house to back up pulpit effort, will
greatly extend the influence for good, and souls will be converted to
the truth.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:233
.
Do not spend visitation time talking on common themes—In
all his labors, let the minister educate his hearers from the very first.
Let him present to them the precious pearls of truth, and not confine
his work to mere sermonizing, but let him minister to the people. Let
him visit his hearers at their homes, not waiting for invitations, but
going as one sent of God. Let him invite himself to the people’s homes,
in meekness and humbleness of mind seeking admission, and then
present to them a sin-pardoning Saviour. The minister, when visiting
at the homes of the people, is not to spend the precious time in mere
talk upon common themes of conversation, but he is to watch for an
opportunity to introduce them to his best Friend. Too often men and
women are indifferent and careless in regard to that which concerns
their spiritual interests, but even to this class, a word in season may be