Personal Ministry to Members
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Church, trained to rely upon preaching, do little for Christ. They bear
no fruit, but rather increase in selfishness and unfaithfulness. They
put their hope in the preacher, depending on his efforts to keep alive
their weak faith. Because the church-members have not been properly
instructed by those whom God has placed as overseers, many are
slothful servants, hiding their talents in the earth, and still complaining
of the Lord’s dealing toward them. They expect to be tended like sick
children.—
The Review and Herald, January 21, 1902
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Rest after preaching, then visit—Ministers have all that they
ought to do to preach the Word, and after they have urged solemn
truth upon the people they should maintain a humble dignity as the
preachers of exalted truth and as representatives of the truth presented
to the people. After their labored effort they need rest.... If there
are those who still have a reserve force and can be taxed without
injury to themselves, there is important work for them to do, and
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it has but just commenced when they have spoken the truth to the
people. Then come the exemplary preaching, the watchful care, the
seeking to do good to others, the conversation, and visiting at the
fireside from house to house, entering into the condition of mind and
the spiritual state of those who listened to the discourse from their
lips; exhorting this one, reproving that one, rebuking another, and
comforting the afflicted, suffering, and desponding. The mind should
be as free from weariness as possible that they may be minutemen,
“instant in season, out of season.” They should obey the injunction
given by Paul to Timothy: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself
wholly to them.”—
Testimonies for the Church 1:472
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Members and Personal Ministry
Education of membership is essential—Our work is incomplete
if we do not educate others to be laborers together with God, visiting
and praying with families, showing to the world what Jesus has done
for us. God’s Word declares, “Pure religion and undefiled before
God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” These words
are spoken to every follower of Christ. Not only the minister, but every
soul connected with Him, is to be a worker in His vineyard. “Herein
is My Father glorified,” Christ said, “that ye bear much fruit.” By His