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Pastoral Ministry
It would be unsafe to take to heaven, persons who claim to be
Christ’s servants, yet neglect to visit those who are in prison—But
God’s law plainly reveals to us the duty of man to his fellow man.
All who neglect their fellow creatures—the very least of those whom
Christ calls His brethren—are recorded in the books of heaven as
“weighed in the balances” and “found wanting.” In disregarding His
special commandment, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;” in
passing by the suffering, the needy, and the wounded, they have left
the side of Christ, their example, and taken the side of the enemy of
God. In neglecting to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to visit
those who are in prison, they show what spirit they are of. It would
not be safe for such characters to enter heaven; for by their selfishness
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and hard-heartedness, by their failure to appreciate their brethren here,
they plainly reveal the fact that they could not appreciate God, His
Son, or the saints in the kingdom of heaven.—
The Home Missionary,
October 1, 1897
.
Ellen White visited a prison and spoke to the convicts—During
my stay in Oregon, I visited the prison in Salem, and by invitation
spoke to the convicts in the prison chapel.—
The Signs of the Times,
July 25, 1878
.
Disadvantaged
Churches are to bring hope to the hopeless—There is a work to
be done by our churches that few have any idea of.... We shall have to
give of our means to support laborers in the harvest field, and we shall
rejoice in the sheaves gathered in. But while this is right, there is a
work, as yet untouched, that must be done. The mission of Christ was
to heal the sick, encourage the hopeless, bind up the brokenhearted.
This work of restoration is to be carried on among the needy, suffering
ones of humanity. God calls not only for your benevolence, but your
cheerful countenance, your hopeful words, the grasp of your hand.
Relieve some of God’s afflicted ones. Some are sick, and hope has
departed. Bring back the sunlight to them. There are souls who have
lost their courage; speak to them, pray for them. There are those who
need the bread of life. Read to them from the Word of God. There is
a soul sickness no balm can reach, no medicine heal. Pray for these,
and bring them to Jesus Christ. And in all your work, Christ will be