238
Pastoral Ministry
When visiting aim to converse with all family members,
whether they profess the truth or not—Visiting from house to house
forms an important part of the minister’s labors. He should aim to
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converse with all the members of the family, whether they profess the
truth or not. It is his duty to ascertain the spiritual condition of all; and
he should live so near to God that he can counsel, exhort, and reprove,
carefully and in wisdom. He should have the grace of God in his own
heart and the glory of God constantly in view. All lightness and trifling
is positively forbidden in the word of God. His conversation should
be in heaven, his words seasoned with grace.—
Testimonies for the
Church 2:338
.
Prayer should be a part of each family visit—But there is an-
other point that I had almost forgotten. It is the influence which the
preacher should exert in his ministry. His work is not merely to stand
in the desk. It is but just begun there. He should enter the different
families, and carry Christ there, carry his sermons there, carry them
out in his actions and his words. As he visits a family he should inquire
into their condition. Is he the shepherd of the flock? The work of a
shepherd is not all done in the desk. He should talk with all the mem-
bers of the flock, with the parents to learn their standing, and with the
children to learn theirs. A minister should feed the flock over which
God has made him overseer. It would be agreeable to go into the house
and study; but if you do this to the neglect of the work which God has
commissioned you to perform, you do wrong. Never enter a family
without inviting them together, and bowing down and praying with
them before you leave. Inquire into the health of their souls. What
does a skillful physician do? He inquires into the particulars of the
case, then seeks to administer remedies. Just so the physician of the
soul should inquire into the spiritual maladies with which the members
of his flock are afflicted, then go to work to administer the proper
remedies, and ask the Great Physician to come to his aid. Give them
the help that they need. Such ministers will receive all that respect
and honor which is due them as ministers of Christ. And in doing
for others their own souls will be kept alive. They must be drawing
strength from God in order to impart strength to those to whom they
shall minister.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:618
.