By Matt Hasty
“No Soliciting, No religion, No fundraisers” read the sign on the door. A second later, a voice from behind us said, “Can I help you?” We turn and see a man, Stacy, by his garage door looking at us with a frown. Our fearless Campion student, Sam Walton, walked up to Stacy with a smile and handed him a cookbook. Predictably Stacy cuts off Sam mid-sentence saying he’s not interested. Rather than leaving with his tail between his legs, Sam persisted by offering him one of our GLOW Bible pamphlets. With a visible look of confusion, Stacy said to Sam, “Wait! What? Who are you?”
Little did we know, Stacy had been studying with Messianic Jews and had started keeping the Sabbath. When he learned about another Christian group who keep the Sabbath, he was very curious and signed up for Bible studies and, of course, received some books from Sam. Three months later, Stacy is scheduled to be baptized at the Campion church before the end of the year!
As a literature evangelist (LE) for 21 years, I hear stories like this from time to time. But why not all the time? Should the LE’s metric for success be based on baptisms? What about our own success in the Christian walk? Aren’t we all called to be fishers of men?
Ellen G. White shares an interesting perspective looking forward to the last movements before the return of Christ: “The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them… Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side.” [Great Controversy, p. 612]
I’ve seen this firsthand. At doors, people have shown me books acquired from church members or colporteurs from years ago. These books have been read and highlighted and copied, and shared, yet they don’t “fully comprehend the truth” or might not be ready to “yield obedience”.
Even more interesting, a few years ago, the Barna group did research on mainstream church pastors’ favorite authors. “The under-40 pastors championed several authors who were not ranked highly by older church leaders. Those authors included business consultant James Collins, seminary professor Thom Rainer, nineteenth century Seventh-day Adventist, icon Ellen White, and pastor John Ortberg.”
How are these pastors getting these old nineteenth-century books? Why are they reading them? Consider the answer. Because people like you and me are sharing them with a smile! Stacy’s words, “Who are you?” can be echoed in our own ministry.
It’s easy to doubt that asking your neighbor if they have any prayer request will make an impact. If you passed out a book, will it even be read? Let God worry about the results and trust that soon a “large number will take their stand upon the Lord’s side.”
–Matt Hasty is RMC coordinator of literature ministry.
