Chapter 40—Visitation of Special Member Groups
Family
Family visitation may be the most profitable work a minister
does—This part of the pastoral work is not to be neglected or shifted
upon your wives or some other person. You must educate and train
yourselves to visit every family that you can possibly get access to.
The results of this work will testify that it is the most profitable work
a gospel minister can do.—
Evangelism, 440
.
The way to measure the effectiveness of your preaching is
through visiting with families to whom you preached—How are
you to know that the word spoken in the desk has been a savor of life
unto life unless you visit in families, praying with them, and drawing
out the true state of their minds, the real condition of their experience,
that you may point them to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin
of the world? There is need that the breath of God should blow upon
them, and give them spiritual life. The churches need to be enlightened
in regard to practical religion in the home life.—
Address To Ministers,
17
(Ph 118).
Speaking helpful, encouraging words in the home is far more
effective than preaching—This is home missionary work,—work
that God’s ministers are to strive faithfully to do. They are not only to
preach; they are to minister by going from house to house, becoming
acquainted with the different families in the church, some of whom
may be converted, while others are still without God and without
hope in the world. It is possible to preach many sermons without
accomplishing the work essential for the well-being of the people of
God. The discourses given are to be followed with personal labor. A
work may be done by visiting people in their homes, and speaking
helpful, encouraging words to them, which will be far more effective
than the work done by preaching.—
The Review and Herald, January
31, 1899
.
237