Chapter 11—How to Visit and What to Do
Come Close to Your Neighbors—Go to your neighbors one by
one, and come close to them till their hearts are warmed by your
unselfish interest and love. Sympathize with them, pray for them,
watch for opportunities to do them good, and as you can, gather a few
together and open the Word of God to their darkened minds.—
The
Review and Herald, March 13, 1888
.
Help Where Help is Needed Most—There are those all around
you who have woes, who need words of sympathy, love, and tender-
ness, and our humble, pitying prayers. Some are suffering under the
iron hand of poverty, some with disease, and others with heartaches,
despondency, and gloom. Like Job, you should be eyes to the blind
and feet to the lame, and you should inquire into the cause which
you know not and search it out with the object in view to relieve their
necessities and help just where they most need help.—
Testimonies for
the Church 3:530
.
First meet the temporal necessities of the needy and relieve their
physical wants and sufferings, and you will then find an open avenue to
the heart, where you may plant the good seeds of virtue and religion.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:227
.
A Persuasive Approach—Approach the people in a persuasive,
kindly manner, full of cheerfulness and love for Christ.... No human
tongue can express the preciousness of the ministration of the Word
and the Holy Spirit. No human expression can portray to the finite
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mind the value of understanding and by living faith receiving the
blessing that is given as Jesus of Nazareth passes by.—
Letter 60, 1903
.
Maintain Proper Attitude Toward People—It is a delicate mat-
ter to deal with minds. Only He who reads the heart knows how to
bring men to repentance. Only His wisdom can give us success in
reaching the lost. You may stand up stiffly, feeling, “I am holier than
thou,” and it matters not how correct your reasoning or how true your
words; they will never touch hearts. The love of Christ, manifested
in word and act, will win its way to the soul, when the reiteration
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