“The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.” 1

Ever since the Fall of Adam and the initiation of the sacrificial service, a provision has been made to reverse the effect of disobedience. “The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift.” 2

Today “it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11). The remnant is bidden to take action, for time is short.

“The Lord has given His church a special work of personal service to do. God could have sent angels to work for the reformation of man, but He did not do this. Humanity must touch humanity.” 3

“All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).

We live in a world of broken relationships: marriages scarred by bitterness, distance and hurt, friends who have a falling out; parents and children who are hostile toward each other. Reconciliation implies the reuniting of those who are estranged so that the state of hostility is gone, enmity is removed, and peace is established.

Even though God is very much interested in our horizontal relationships—the inter-human relationships—the Scripture quoted above speaks of the vertical relationship, the reconciliation between God and humanity, for it is only when that is right that our relationships among each other can be right.

The remnant has been given the mission to help our fellow humans understand that God has not given up on them. “But,” the Lord explains, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you” (Isaiah 59:2).

The possibility of reconciliation must be published. It must be made known. The remnant has been commissioned to trumpet the news, to publish it in the streets, so that the citizens of this world could again open the shutters of their hearts and feel secure in the embrace of their Creator.

“In the time of the end every divine institution is to be restored.” 4

We are to rebuild, repair, restore (Isaiah 58:12.) Marriage and the Sabbath are two institutions that were created at the beginning, for the glory of God and for the blessing of humanity. The two play an important role in the process of restoring the image of God in humanity—and this is why Satan is constantly devising subtle means to undermine their validity.

Marriage: In today’s chaotic world, the sanctity of marriage is all but lost. Marriage, as an institution, is being rejected as unnecessary and out of date, and its original format and purpose are perverted. The sacred establishment of marriage is under attack by Satan, because it is the foundation upon which the family and society are founded. By precept and example, the remnant people of God are called to restore the original purpose of marriage, an institution for life between one man and one woman.

Sabbath: In the time of the end, “the Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict in which all the world will act a part.” 5 When the majority chooses to worship what is created (including man-made institutions) rather than the Creator, we should remind our fellow humans of the memorial of creation, of the sign between God and humanity: the Sabbath. Bible prophecy indicates that Satan will use both political and ecclesiastical power to impose the observance of the first-day of the week in place of the seventh. Knowing that his time is short, the devil is at work day and night to deceive, if possible, even the elect. May God’s remnant people, through the power of the Holy Spirit, rise above Satan’s deceptive power and warn the world while mercy still lingers. We are living in the time of the end, when every divine institution is to be restored.

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

“During His ministry, Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick than to preaching. . . . Wherever He went, the tidings of His mercy preceded Him.” 6

As we come closer to the end, the world will experience more suffering and, therefore, greater will be the need for a correct representation of Jesus’ methods of work. Those that compose the remnant should seek to gain knowledge in health lines so that they can meet the immediate needs of the people, especially in new missionary fields, for “medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel.” 7

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible teaches that God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the holy angels are actively involved in the work of redeeming the fallen. God’s representatives on earth are invited—not to be idle—but to join with the heavenly intelligences to become actively involved as well. Christ declares: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). In one of His parables, “The lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23).

Ellen White, God’s last-day messenger, clearly describes how the work of the great gospel commission can be accomplished:

“This [gospel work] can best be done by personal efforts, by bringing the truth into [the houses of] their [relatives and acquaintances], praying with them, and opening to them the Scriptures.” 8

“It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 9

“Long has God waited for the spirit of service to take possession of the whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according to his ability.” 10

As we consider the three-and-a-half instructive years Jesus spent with His disciples, and the years following His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, we identify five systematic evangelistic steps we can take to successfully fulfill the work God has given us.

Our efforts will be rewarded with lasting results when our own lives are consistent with the message we preach, and our churches are ready to welcome new visitors.

On the day of my baptism, I received an unexpected gift. I was given a train ticket to leave later that same day to a neighboring country so that I could attend a missionary seminar for lay people. There couldn’t have been anything more exciting for me than to have an opportunity to learn how to work for the salvation of lost humanity. I gladly went. In the three-week seminar, I learned how to introduce a spiritual subject into a secular conversation, how to make a missionary contact, how to connect a few Bible verses together for short sermons, and the like. I was expecting to be able to turn the world upside down with the knowledge I had gained and went straight to work once I returned home. Each time, just before I stepped out of the house, I would go over my missionary seminar notes so I could witness to those with whom I would come in contact. But it seemed as if the people I met were not interested in what Jesus did when He was on earth almost two thousand years ago. They wanted to know what Jesus can do now. They wanted to know what He did for me. Then I understood why the apostle Paul said “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47, emphasis added).

For many years the life of Jesus has been presented from the pulpit, on television programs, and through radio stations. But it seems like the more Jesus is presented, there is less of Jesus’ character in the world. The more enthusiastic the presentation that is made, the weaker is the effect on the audience. God’s people are called to not only make a difference but to be different in the world! Not only to present but to represent the life of Jesus! The world is more interested in what we are than in what we can do or say, for what we are speaks louder than what we say.

Before the apostles could share the light of God’s word, they had to become the light they were to share to the world. The New Testament Christian church grew, largely because each member experienced a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. The Lord’s promise of spiritual revival had a dramatic effect on the life of the disciples. (Acts 1:8; 4:31, 33.)

The book of Acts tells the story of a handful of men and women who did not leave the world the same way they found it. These were ordinary people whom God enabled to do extraordinary things. Everywhere they went, they were ridiculed, opposed, persecuted, and physically assaulted for their beliefs. Some were even put to death. Yet within a period of about thirty or forty years, this original group of one hundred and twenty people and their converts came to be known as those who “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Can that happen again? The answer is yes, it can. But it starts with you. It starts with me. Our own life will have to be turned upside down first.

“A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” 11

Revival and reformation in the life of those individuals who compose the remnant is the first step toward successful soul winning. Reaching out to those in need is a natural outward reaction to what has been accomplished in the heart.

“Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver.” 12

“No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart.” 13

I have met many new converts that enthusiastically accepted the gospel message and had a natural desire to share with others what the Lord had done for them, but they gave up as soon as they failed to do so successfully. They needed to be trained for service.

Our Lord encourages His disciples to follow Him: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

The twelve disciples were trained by the world’s greatest Teacher. Jesus spent three and a half years teaching them. In the book of Acts we read that they learned and applied His lessons. They went onward in Jesus’ name, meeting the needs of men, women, and children, and preparing them for the kingdom of God. As the disciples participated in Christ’s training program with both theoretical instruction and field experience, they gradually became effective witnesses that Christ could use to change the world.

Today, “many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin. They need to be instructed and encouraged. Every church should be a training school for Christian workers. Its members should be taught how to give Bible readings, how to conduct and teach Sabbath School classes, how best to help the poor and to care for the sick, how to work for the unconverted.” 14

A worker who has been trained and educated for the work can accomplish more than the workers who have not been trained. In order for every church member to be engaged in some line of service for the Master, we need to form training centers in our local churches.

“In our churches let companies be formed for service. . . . The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort is a plan that has been presented before me by One who cannot err.” 15

As church members are trained for service, and as they form small groups to reach out to their community in Bible-based ministries, the church will experience both spiritual and numerical growth.

Our churches will progress if we meet the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of the people through a planned process of community outreach. Christ’s ministry was people-focused. (Matthew 4:23.) The Saviour lovingly met the people’s needs. As their heart opened, He shared with them the eternal principles of His kingdom. Following the Master’s example, the early Christian church did the same; they met the needs of the people in Jesus’ name, demonstrating concern for all their physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs.

When Peter and John found a lame man at the temple gate, Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” 16

The world is diverse, with a variety of needs. The remnant church needs to provide a variety of programs to meet the varied needs of the people.

In His spiritual teachings, Jesus often referred to the natural laws of the harvest. One of the most basic agricultural principles is, “If you want to have a harvest, you have to sow the seed.” No farmer should expect God to work a miracle and germinate seed that he has not sown.

God can only bless the visits that we make, the literature we distribute, the Bible studies we give, the evangelistic seminars we conduct. It is presumptuous to believe we can have a great harvest without adequate effort in sowing the seed of God’s word.

The apostolic church placed a high priority on evangelism. The early believers confidently shared God’s word, anticipating the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

We read that “they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).

When the gospel seed has been sown, we should look forward to reaping results. God promises to grant a harvest from public evangelism. The disciples were powerful evangelists. Thousands responded to the sermon of Peter. Luke describes the growth of the church by saying that “the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

“Most startling messages will be borne by men of God’s appointment, messages of a character to warn the people, to arouse them. . . . We must also have, in our cities, consecrated evangelists through whom a message is to be borne so decidedly as to startle the hearers.” 17

Wherever I am privileged to travel, I meet pastors, church leaders, and lay people—especially youth—accepting the challenge and seizing the opportunity to share Christ’s truth through public evangelism. There is an increasing interest on the part of lay people in preaching the word. They have sensed God’s call. Utilizing the many resources available, they are proclaiming God’s word with power, and many are moved by the Holy Spirit to make decisions to join the remnant.

Churches grow spiritually and numerically when new converts are integrated and taught to witness. We need to follow up with the interest generated by public evangelism as an ongoing part of the church’s effective outreach.

Unfortunately this fifth step, which was a significant part of the disciples’ evangelistic strategy, is what I see lacking in our work in many places. In the apostles’ time there was follow-up work done. When people accepted Christ, understood His word and were baptized, they were integrated into a nurturing body of believers. (Acts 2:42.)

“When men and women accept the truth, we are not to go away and leave them and have no further burden for them. They are to be looked after.” 18 Jesus said to Peter: “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). Our love for Jesus should lead us to have a deep concern for the spiritual growth of new believers and to never “forget” their needs.

One of the most effective methods of helping new believers grow in Christ is to teach them how to share their faith. As new believers develop their own personal devotional life through prayer and Bible study, they will become actively involved in witnessing.

“After individuals have been converted to the truth, they need to be looked after. . . . These newly converted ones need nursing—watchful attention, help, and encouragement. These should not be left alone, a prey to Satan’s most powerful temptations; they need to be educated in regard to their duties, to be kindly dealt with, to be led along, and to be visited and prayed with.” 19

Dear fellow members of God’s church, it is impossible to cover, in a few words, every aspect of the mission entrusted to us in the closing hours of planet earth’s history. The responsibility is too fearful and the mission is too sacred to be explained briefly in humble human vocabulary. But I am confident that, beyond the few lines that compose this article, we will find the time to examine our Christian walk so far and ask ourselves whether we are living up to the potential with which God has empowered us.Let us make sure that there is nothing we are holding back when it comes to appreciating the value of a soul. May we “remember that Christ risked all. For our redemption, heaven itself was imperiled. At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Christ would have laid down His life, you may estimate the value of a soul.” 20