Outreach Series

This is from a seven-part outreach series I did a while back on the church Facebook page.


Why Outreach?

Every Christian is called to The Great Commission.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
- Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)

On top of that, the Seventh-day Adventists have been given a very specific work to do.

Seventh-day Adventists have been given a work of the most solemn import-the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.
- Ellen White, Testimonies to the Church, vol. 9, p. 19

And we have a moral obligation to warn the world about the coming judgment, the Sunday Law, and the mark of the beast.

Not long ago a very impressive scene passed before me. I saw an immense ball of fire falling among some beautiful mansions, causing their instant destruction. I heard some one say, "We knew that the judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they would come so soon." Others said, "You knew? Why then did you not tell us. We did not know." On every side I heard such words spoken.
- Ellen White, Review and Herald, Nov. 24, 1904

Billions of people will soon have to choose between life or death.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
- Joel 3:14 (KJV)

But how shall we do this?

Well, the Spirit of Prophecy gives us several things that every believer can do, and in this outreach series we will look at some of them.


Books

What can we do to proclaim the three angels' messages?

Ellen White is clear of at least "one means".

Let every Seventh-day Adventist ask himself, "What can I do to proclaim the third angel's message?" Christ came to this world to give this message to His servant to give to the churches. It is to be proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. How are we to give it? The distribution of our literature is one means by which the message is to be proclaimed. Let every believer scatter broadcast tracts and leaflets and books containing the message for this time. Colporteurs are needed who will go forth to circulate our publications everywhere.
- Ellen White, The Southern Watchman, January 5, 1904

Okay, so that's books and tracts. Let's look at books first, and then we'll cover tracts in the next installment of this series.

I love reading, and I thoroughly enjoy reading the Bible, Ellen White's books, devotionals, tracts, etc. I just love finding golden nuggets in different (unexpected) places. And I'm not alone. There are plenty of people that would just prefer reading over say watching YouTube videos.

For outreach I would recommend the following books:

  • The Great Controversy
  • Steps to Christ
  • National Sunday law

There are others obviously, but that's a good start.

Good thing is, nowadays they are not so expensive anymore, e.g. somewhere in the $2-3 per book (provided you buy them in bulk). In fact, some books are new being offered for free by people like Brent & Joanna (Soul Finders), etc.

From personal experience I know that people just love receiving a book. It's like receiving a present!! And most people will read at least some of it.

Here is what Ellen White says about The Great Controversy.

The results of the circulation of this book [The Great Controversy] are not to be judged by what now appears. By reading it some souls will be aroused and will have courage to unite themselves at once with those who keep the commandments of God. But a much larger number who read it will not take their position until they see the very events taking place that are foretold in it. The fulfillment of some of the predictions will inspire faith that others also will come to pass, and when the earth is lightened with the glory of the Lord in the closing work, many souls will take their position on the commandments of God as the result of this agency.
- Ellen White, Colporteur Ministry, p. 128/129

Ellen White illustrates the importance of our literature.

More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications.
- Ellen White, Colporteur Ministry, p. 151


Tracts / Letterboxing

Tracts are awesome. They can go everywhere. Like in your wallet, ready to give away to someone, or in letter boxes all around the country.

Ellen White agrees with this, and she also makes it quite clear what should be on tracts.

Unvarnished truth must be spoken, in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn.
- Ellen White, Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 231

So for example: talking about the Sabbath (or about the seal and the mark) can be considered as being part of the three angels' messages.

Letterboxing is hard work, no doubt about it, but I strongly believe that it's worth it in the end.

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
- Romans 10:15 (KJV)

Tracts are like seeds, a necessary component of what brings a person to salvation.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (KJV)

And we're encouraged to plant as many as we can.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6 (KJV)

Even if you just letterbox the street that you live in, that would help as well. Maybe start with a gospel tract, then a month later a health tract, and another month later a seal/mark tract.

At the very least, grab some tracts for in your wallet. Once the Latter Rain falls, your face will shine like the sun, and people will come to see you with some questions. Might as well be prepared, right?

A common issue with tracts is: how effective are they? This is difficult to answer, since tracts are just like seeds. Some spring and grow up, and some don't.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
- Mark 4:26-27 (KJV)

Before I was a Christian I read several tracts, and they were all part of the chain of events that led to my conversion.

God often uses the simplest means to accomplish the greatest results.
- Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, p. 822

It Is Written says that out of 1,000 A5 invitations they post, 10 accept the Bible study offer, and 1 person out of that leads to a baptism.

So, does it really matter what the Excel spreadsheet says about conversion ratios for tracts? Really?!?


Testimonies

The final warning message is a revelation of God's character.

The last message of mercy to be given to the world is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.
- Ellen White, Christ's Object lessons, p. 415, 416 (1900)

What better way to do that than with a written or a recorded testimony?

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
- Revelation 12:11 (KJV)

A testimony has three parts:

  1. How your life was before God saved you
  2. How God saved you
  3. What your life is like now

Believe it or not, but a testimony is actually not about you!! It's about God, and what He has done for you in your life.

If you would like to add your testimony to the Waitac website (www.waitac.org.nz/testimonies), please let us know. Ideally, see if you can write or record it (with your smart phone) yourself, and then send it to us, or alternatively, contact me, and maybe we can find a camera/team to help you. Some of our testimonies have made it all the way to Firstlight.

Whatever you end up doing, it is still a good idea to write down your testimony, for when you will need it.


Latter Rain

People are generally speaking waiting for the Latter Rain, as some kind of magical cure for everything, but the reality is that God is waiting on us.

Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.
- Ellen White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 69 (1900)

When we start doing the work, and become laborers together with God, He will send the Holy Spirit.

The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with His glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.
- Ellen White, Christian Service, p. 253

This is not in the future either, e.g. we can ask for it today!!

The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church is looked forward to as in the future, but it is the privilege of the church to have it now. Seek for it, pray for it, believe for it. We must have it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow it.
- Ellen White, Evangelism, p. 701 (1895)

I honestly believe that we can have our revival now.

I will leave this for you to consider.


Loud Cry

The Loud Cry is essentially the three angels' messages empowered by the Holy Spirit (Latter Rain).

You can reword the three angels' messages like this:

  1. Investigative judgment has begun in 1844
  2. Sunday law which makes God's law (the Ten Commandments) void
  3. Choose who you serve/worship (seal/mark)

The Loud Cry is a continuation of the work that we should already be doing. When the Sunday law is passed, God will act, and the work will be finished.

It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
- Psalms 119:126 (KJV)

Imagine being part of that!!


Conclusion

As the end approaches, the testimonies of God's servants will become more decided and more powerful.
- Ellen White, Selected Messages, vol. 3, p.407 (1892)

As a watchman on the wall I'm telling you with "a certain sound", that time is short, and that this is urgent.

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
- Matthew 24:33 (KJV)

If you want to do something, I suggest that you do it now.

By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord's return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:12).
- Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, p. 633 (1898)

You can get books and tracts online from the following organizations:

We can help you get free books and tracts.

Please let us know how we can help. (It may take a bit of time to get back to you of course however)

Thank you for making it this far.

Signing off:

An "enthusiast"...