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Some Key
Thoughts from Ellen White on City Evangelism
The Urgent Need of Sharing
the Gospel Message
When I think of the cities in which
so little has been done, in which there are so many thousands to be warned of
the soon coming of the Saviour, I feel an intensity of desire to see men and
women going forth to the work in the power of the Spirit, filled with Christ's
love for perishing souls. . . .
We all need to be wide awake, that,
as the way opens, we may advance the work in the large cities. We are far
behind in following the light given to enter these cities and erect memorials
for God. Step by step we are to lead souls into the full light of truth. And we
are to continue the work until a church is organized and a humble house of
worship built.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 40. (1902)
Oh, that we might see the needs of
these cities as God sees them! At such a time as this every hand is to be
employed. The Lord is coming; the end is near, yea, it hasteth
greatly!--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 101. (1909)
There is means now tied up that
should be in use for the unworked cities in Europe, Australia, and America, and
in the regions beyond. These cities have been neglected for years. The angels
of God are waiting for us to give our labors for their inhabitants. From town
to town, from city to city, from country to country, the warning message is to
be proclaimed, not with outward display, but in the power of the Spirit, by men
of faith.--Evangelism, p. 428. (1908)
A Task Requiring United
Efforts
In connection with the proclamation
of the message in large cities, there are many kinds of work to be done by
laborers with varied gifts. Some are to labor in one way, some in another. The
Lord desires that the cities shall be worked by the united efforts of laborers
of different capabilities. All are to look to Jesus for direction, not
depending on man for wisdom, lest they be led astray. As laborers together with
God they should seek to be in harmony with one another. There should be
frequent councils and earnest, wholehearted co-operation. Yet all are to look
to Jesus for wisdom, not depending upon men alone for
direction.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 109. (1909)
The Lord is calling upon the men and
women who have the light of truth for this time to engage in genuine, personal
missionary work. Especially are the church members living in the cities to
exercise, in all humility, their God-given talents in laboring with those who
are willing to hear the message that should come to the world at this time.
There are great blessings in store for those who fully surrender to the call of
God. As such workers undertake to win souls for Jesus, they will find that many
who never could be reached in any other way will respond to intelligent
personal effort.--Medical Ministry, p. 332. (1910)
The ordained ministers alone are not
equal to the task of warning the great cities. God is calling not only upon
ministers, but also upon physicians, nurses, colporteurs, Bible workers, and
other consecrated laymen of varied talent who have a knowledge of the word of
God and who know the power of His grace, to consider the needs of the unwarned
cities. Time is rapidly passing, and there is much to be done. Every agency
must be set in operation, that present opportunities may be wisely
improved.--The Acts of the Apostles, p. 158. (1911)
In every large city there should be
corps of organized, well-disciplined workers; not merely one or two, but scores
should be set to work. But the perplexing question is yet unsolved, how they
will be sustained. . . .
More attention should be given to
training and educating missionaries with a special reference to work in the
cities. Each company of workers should be under the direction of a competent
leader, and it should ever be kept before them that they are to be missionaries
in the highest sense of the term. Such systematic labor, wisely conducted,
would produce blessed results.- --Medical Ministry, pp. 300, 301. (1892)
Young men and women should be
educated to become workers in their own neighborhoods and in other places. Let
all set their hearts and minds to become intelligent in regard to the work for
this time, qualifying themselves to do that for which they are best adapted.
Many young men who have had the right
kind of education at home are to be trained for service and encouraged to lift
the standard of truth in new places by well-planned and faithful work. By
associating with our ministers and experienced workers in city work, they will
gain the best kind of training. Acting under divine guidance and sustained by
the prayers of their more experienced fellow workers, they may do a good and
blessed work. As they unite their labors with those of the older workers, using
their youthful energies to the very best account, they will have the
companionship of heavenly angels; and as workers together with God, it is their
privilege to sing and pray and believe, and work with courage and freedom. . .
.
There should be no delay in this
well-planned effort to educate the church members. Persons should be chosen to
labor in the large cities who are fully consecrated and who understand the
sacredness and importance of the work. Do not send those who are not qualified
in these respects. Men are needed who will push the triumphs of the cross, who
will persevere under discouragements and privations, who will have the zeal and
resolution and faith that are indispensable to the missionary
field.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, pp. 118, 119.
(1909)
Churches, Restaurants, and
Missions to be Established in the Cities
But Not Large
Institutions
We must do more than we have done to
reach the people of our cities. We are not to erect large buildings in the
cities, but over and over again the light has been given me that we should
establish in all our cities small plants which shall be centers of influence.
The Lord has a message for our
cities, and this message we are to proclaim in our camp meetings and by other
public efforts and also through our publications. In addition to this, hygienic
restaurants are to be established in the cities, and by them the message of
temperance is to be proclaimed. Arrangements should be made to hold meetings in
connection with our restaurants. Whenever possible, let a room be provided
where the patrons can be invited to lectures on the science of health and
Christian temperance, where they can receive instruction on the preparation of
wholesome food and on other important subjects. In these meetings there should
be prayer and singing and talks, not only on health and temperance topics, but
also on other appropriate Bible subjects. As the people are taught how to
preserve physical health, many opportunities will be found to sow the seeds of
the gospel of the kingdom.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 115.
(1902)
In every city there should be a city
mission, that would be a training school for workers. Many of our brethren must
stand condemned in the sight of God because they have not done the very work
that God would have them do.
If our brethren will use their
God-given ability to warn the cities, angels of God will surely go before them
to make the impression upon the hearts of the people for whom they labor. The
Lord has many thousands who have never bowed the knee to Baal. Let not our
ministers and our physicians fail nor be discouraged.--Medical Ministry,
pp. 303, 304. (1910)
Repeatedly the Lord has instructed us
that we are to work the cities from outpost centers. In these cities we are to
have houses of worship, as memorials for God; but institutions for the
publication of our literature, for the healing of the sick, and for the
training of workers, are to be established outside the cities. Especially is it
important that our youth be shielded from the temptations of city
life.--Selected Messages, book 2, p. 358. (1907)
Much more can be done to save and
educate the children of those who at present cannot get away from the cities.
This is a matter worthy of our best efforts. Church schools are to be
established for the children in the cities, and in connection with these
schools provision is to be made for the teaching of higher studies, where these
are called for.--Child Guidance, p. 306. (1903)
As far as possible, our institutions
should be located away from the cities. We must have workers for these
institutions, and if they are located in the city, that means that families of
our people must settle near them. But it is not God's will that His people
shall settle in the cities, where there is constant turmoil and confusion.
Their children should be spared this; for the whole system is demoralized by
the hurry and rush and noise. The Lord desires His people to move into the
country, where they can settle on the land, and raise their own fruit and
vegetables, and where their children can be brought in direct contact with the
works of God in nature. Take your families away from the cities is my message.
The truth must be spoken, whether men
will hear, or whether men will forbear. The cities are filled with temptation.
We should plan our work in such a way as to keep our young people as far as
possible from this contamination.
The cities are to be worked from
outposts. Said the messenger of God, "Shall not the cities be warned? Yes; not
by God's people living in them, but by their visiting them, to warn them of
what is coming upon the earth."--Selected Messages, book 2, pp. 357,
358. (1902)
God has sent warning after warning
that our schools and publishing houses and sanitariums are to be established
out of the city, in places where the youth may be taught most effectively what
is truth. Let no one attempt to use the Testimonies to vindicate the
establishment of large business interests in the cities. Do not make of no
effect the light that has been given upon this subject.
Men will arise speaking perverse
things, to counterwork the very movements that the Lord is leading His servants
to make. But it is time that men and women reasoned from cause to effect. It is
too late, too late, to establish large business firms in the cities--too late
to call young men and women from the country to the city. Conditions are
arising in the cities that will make it very hard for those of our faith to
remain in them. It would therefore be a great mistake to invest money in the
establishment of business interests in the cities.--Selected Messages,
book 2, p. 357. (1905)
Believers Should Plan to
Leave Cities as the Way Opens
More and more, as time advances, our
people will have to leave the cities. For years we have been instructed that
our brethren and sisters, and especially families with children, should plan to
leave the cities as the way opens before them to do so. Many will have to labor
earnestly to help open the way. But until it is possible for them to leave, so
long as they remain, they should be most active in doing missionary work,
however limited their sphere of influence may be. As they yield their talents
and their all to God to be used as he may direct; as they live out their
consecration by engaging in practical missionary work wherever opportunity
affords, God will bless them with wisdom and discretion, and in his own way and
time he will make it possible for them to place themselves where they will not
be surrounded constantly with the contaminating influences of modern city
life.--Review and Herald, September 27, 1906.
God's Blessing Will Overcome
Difficulties
In visions of the night I was shown
the difficulties that must be met in the work of warning the people in the
cities; but in spite of difficulties and discouragement, efforts should be made
to preach the truth to all classes. . . .
As I consider the conditions in the
cities that are so manifestly under the power of Satan, I ask myself the
question, What will be the end of these things? The wickedness in many cities
is increasing. Crime and iniquity are at work on every hand. New species of
idolatry are continually being introduced into society. In every nation the
minds of men are turning to the invention of some new thing. Rashness of deed
and confusion of mind are everywhere increasing. Surely the cities of the earth
are becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah.
As a people we need to hasten the
work in the cities, which has been hindered for lack of workers and means and a
spirit of consecration. At this time, the people of God need to turn their
hearts fully to him; for the end of all things is at hand. They need to humble
their minds, and to be attentive to the will of the Lord, working with earnest
desire to do that which God has shown must be done to warn the cities of their
impending doom. . . .
The Lord desires his people to arise
and do their appointed work. The responsibility of warning the world rests not
upon the ministry alone. The lay members of the church are to share in the work
of soul-saving. By means of missionary visits and by a wise distribution of our
literature, many who have never been warned, may be reached. Let companies be
organized to search for souls. Let the church-members visit their neighbors and
open to them the Scriptures. Some may be set to work in the hedges, and thus,
by wise planning, the truth may be preached in all districts. With perseverance
in this work, increasing aptitude for it will come, and many will see fruit of
their labors in the salvation of souls. These converted ones will, in turn,
teach others. Thus the seed will be sown in many places, and the truth be
proclaimed to all.--Review and Herald, January 25, 1912.
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