CHELSTON SDA CHURCH PERSONAL MINISTRIES

MISSION

Personal Ministries Department provides resources and training to church members and unites their efforts with the ministers and other church officers in the proclamation of the gospel of salvation in Christ.  The goal of the department is to enlist each member in active service for the winning of souls for God.

OBJECTIVES

The Department was established as an important agent for soul winning within the church. It exists to teach and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in response to the command of Jesus in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12.  Seeking to fulfill this mission the Personal Ministries Department continues to communicate the good news of salvation with the objective of winning, maintaining and preparing men, women, young people, boys and girls, in our territory to meet Jesus, and to design programs and resources to help the church in the fulfillment of the its mission.

METHODS AND ACTIVITIES

The Personal Ministries Department of the local church has historically specialized in certain methods of soul winning, although the department is not limited in any way to just these methods:

• House to house evangelism
• Distribution of literature
• Bible studies
• Community service/Dorcas Society
• Youth Share-Your-Faith activities
• Correspondence Bible school
• Sabbath School activities

The Saviour’s commission lays upon the church the task of heralding the gospel to all the world. This also places upon each individual member the responsibility of giving the message of salvation to as many others as possible. The Saviour “gave authority to His servants, and to every man his work.”

He appointed a meeting with His eleven disciples after His resurrection for the purpose of giving them counsel and encouragement, and at that time He gave the gospel commission to the disciples and to the assembled church, numbering more than five hundred brethren. That was the first outreach (missionary) meeting of the Christian church; it was certainly not to be the last.

As a permanent and definite part of the services of the Christian church, the outreach (missionary) meeting bears the divine endorsement for all time. Through the Spirit of Prophecy we are told: “God has committed to our hands a most sacred work, and we need to meet together to receive instruction, that we may be fitted to perform this work.” Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 32. (Italics supplied.)
Times of Meetings The first Sabbath of the month is generally recognized as Church Outreach (Missionary) Sabbath. The worship service of this Sabbath is focused on lay evangelism, but other departments besides the Personal Ministries Department may also have opportunity on these special days to present their interests. This will be done, however, by careful counsel with the departments concerned.
Supplying Literature on the Sabbath It is generally recognized that the Sabbath affords the most opportune time for the Personal Ministries secretary to place literature in the hands of the members.