Spreading Light Amid The Darkness
By Joel Barnedo, Philippines/U.S.A.

Momentous events are taking place in our world. Everything is in agitation. Crime is increasing rapidly. Floods, famines, wars, and earthquakes follow one another in quick succession. Two major earthquakes struck within the short space of two months at the beginning of this year–one in Haiti on January 12, and another in Chile on February 28, with major aftershocks and tsunamis. There was terrible devastation. Surely we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Only a moment of time remains for us to fulfill our Lord’s commission to preach the gospel to every creature.

While darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people, a prophecy of wonderful glory is given by the prophets for our world: “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14.

In vision Ellen G. White saw the glory of God as streams of light going all around the world. How will God’s glory shine? In a great measure through the divine agency of the publishing work! But the next question is: How is the publishing work to go forward? Making reference to the cooperation of every one of us who is called to salvation, the prophet Isaiah says: “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1.

In the book of Revelation a wonderful prophecy states: “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Revelation 18:1. Concerning this, the Spirit of Prophecy comments: “And in a large degree through our publishing houses is to be accomplished the work of that other angel who comes down from heaven with great power and who lightens the earth with his glory.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 140.

When God has a work to do on this earth, He calls men and women to His service; and His glory shines through them. Jesus, looking at the multitudes of unsaved people, “was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” He said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38. What a scene is portrayed here! God’s children are scattered like sheep without a shepherd. People are hurting today. Many are sick and discouraged, alone and afraid. They live in villages and towns, and many are trapped in the large cities. To reach them, a call is extended for laborers.

As leaves of autumn
In our time, particular messengers have been provided to spread the light; these messengers are the publications. “Publications,” writes the Spirit of Prophecy, “must be multiplied, and scattered like the leaves of autumn. These silent messengers are enlightening and molding the minds of thousands in every country and in every clime.” –Colporteur Ministry, p. 5. This is the very work which the Lord desires us to do–to spread the light of the gospel. “Canvassers should be impressed with the fact that the canvassing work is the very work the Lord desires them to do. They should remember that they are in the service of God….”
“O that thousands more of our people had a realization of the time in which we are living, and of the work to be done in field service, in house-to-house labor. There are many, many who know not the truth. They need to hear the call to come to Jesus. The sorrowing are to be cheered, the weak strengthened, the mourners comforted. The poor are to have the gospel preached to them.” –Colporteur Ministry, pp. 58, 24.

The great need of this hour, then, is for workers who:
- are consecrated
- are willing to do God’s work
- will carry the love of Jesus to every home
- will engage in God’s business
- will go forward regardless of the circumstances

Important work
“If there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the public, thus leading them to search the Scriptures. Missionary work–introducing our publications into families, conversing, and praying with and for them–is a good work and one which will educate men and women to do pastoral labor.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 390.

Spreading publications is not a secondary work; according to the Testimonies, “The importance of this work is fully equal to that of the ministry.” –Colporteur Ministry, p. 8.

“There is no higher work than evangelistic canvassing. For it involves the performance of the highest moral duties. Those who engage in this work need always to be under the control of the Spirit of God. There must be no exalting of self. What have any of us that we did not receive from Christ? We must love as brethren, revealing our love by helping one another.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 331.

Do not delay or neglect this work
“Let us not be backward now. That which is to be done in warning the world must be done without delay. Let not the canvassing work be left to languish. Let the books containing the light on present truth be placed before as many as possible.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 329.

“The canvassing work should no longer be neglected. Many times I have been shown that there should be a more general interest in our canvassing work. The circulation of our literature is one very important means of placing before men and women the light that the Lord has committed to His church to be given to the world. The books sold by our canvassers open to many minds the unsearchable riches of Christ.” –Colporteur Ministry, p. 16.

Let every colporteur and the missionary leader in every church, field, and union go out with the believers every Sunday and work at least two hours in house-to-house work. While some members are canvassing, the members of the Dorcas department can prepare lunch for them. This will unite the believers and will result in a wonderful harvest of souls. Then on Sabbath morning, the colporteurs should be given time to tell about the experiences they made in the previous Sunday’s canvassing work.

Don’t lose even one day!
This is our urgent mission, and the Spirit of Prophecy confirms it: “You cannot afford to lose one day. Take up your neglected work. Put away your querulous unbelief, your envy and evil thinking, and go to work, in humble faith, and with earnest prayer to the Lord to pardon you for your years of unconsecration. Ask the Lord for help. If you seek Him earnestly, with the whole heart, you will find Him, and He will strengthen and bless you.” –Colporteur Ministry, p. 47.

This kind of evangelistic effort needs to be done as quickly as possible. “God has ordained the canvassing work as a means of presenting before the people the light contained in our books, and canvassers should be impressed with the importance of bringing before the world as fast as possible the books necessary for their spiritual education and enlightenment. This is the very work the Lord would have His people do at this time. All who consecrate themselves to God to work as canvassers are assisting to give the last message of warning to the world. We cannot too highly estimate this work; for were it not for the efforts of the canvasser, many would never hear the warning.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 313.

Years ago, when Brothers Carlos Kozel and Raul Escobar, along with Brother and Sister Augusto and Lydia Pizarro, first went to the Philippines in missionary service, they started by canvassing in Manila. Sister Pizarro did not speak our language and did not even speak English. What she and the others did was trust the Lord to guide them to someone who would accept the Reformation and health message. They found a Filipino teacher who spoke both English and Spanish. He helped translate Brother Kozel’s book into the Filipino language.

One day Brother Escobar found a seventeen-year-old young lady, and he trained her to do the canvassing work. After completing the colporteur seminar, she was sent to different provinces. It was from this sister that my family received the message. When I was 14 years old, she asked me to carry her bag containing health books, and we went to our neighbors to sell our literature. To this day, I remember her telling me that the canvassing work was the very highest profession in the sight of heaven. She died 20 years ago and never knew that one day the seed she planted in my heart would germinate. It was a blessed seed, and now I am privileged to serve the Lord as General Conference canvassing leader. I hope to meet this sister in heaven and thank her for knocking on the door of my father’s house. I also want to thank all those pioneering brethren who came to Asia. Now in the Philippines we have more than a thousand members and a good number of colporteurs.

Carrying the gospel message to different parts of the world is still the church’s mission. South Vietnam is also receiving missionaries to extend the work there. The General Conference Committee has made the year 2010 the year to reach Asia. Let us pray that the gospel light will shine more and more in this populous region of the world.

The Lord is calling you
“Young men, young women, you are called by the Master to take up His work. There is a famine in the land for the pure gospel….

“This work is to continue without the forbiddings of anyone. Souls are perishing out of Christ. Let them be warned of His soon appearing in the clouds of heaven….

“By the canvassing work the truth is presented to thousands who otherwise would never hear it.” ¬–Colporteur Ministry, pp. 24, 25, 8.

In 2008 the Philippine Union sent a colporteur to Malaysia. She was also trained as a medical missionary. The result was that last year we had our first baptism in Malaysia. Now, thanks to the Lord, we have more than 6 members there. Is it not encouraging that new souls are won to the truth through the cooperation of brothers and sisters who put their talents at the service of the Lord?

The privilege of every church and every believer
Dear brothers and sisters, I have much in my heart that I would like to share with you, but we all know that God has spoken and given every believer inspiring invitations. Let them speak to our hearts, and let us answer their appeal.

“We want Calebs now … who with courageous words will make a strong report in favor of immediate action.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 383.

“A great and important work is before us. The enemy of souls realizes this, and he is using every means in his power to lead the canvasser to take up some other line of work. This order of things should be changed. God calls the canvassers back to their work. He calls for volunteers who will put all their energies and enlightenment into the work, helping whenever there is opportunity.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 332.

“God calls for workers from every church among us to enter His service as canvasser evangelists. God loves His church. If the members will do His will, if they will strive to impart the light to those in darkness, He will greatly bless their efforts….

“Let every believer scatter broadcast tracts and leaflets and books containing the message for this time. We need colporteurs, who will go forth to circulate our publications everywhere….

“In this closing work of the gospel there is a vast field to be occupied; and, more than ever before, the work is to enlist helpers from the common people. Both the youth and those older in years will be called from the field, from the vineyard, and from the workshop, and sent forth by the Master to give His message.” –Colporteur Ministry, pp. 20, 21 (see also Education, pp, 269, 270).

Messengers of light
Soon another year will end, never to return. Let us spread light to our contacts, friends, and relatives through the spoken and written word. Let us reach people in their need. The Lord has given us a little more time and grace, and His work must be finished. In view of this great mission, the following inspired messages appeal to every one of us.

“There is no release for any who have talents and capabilities. They are required to be the Lord’s instruments, required to cooperate with the Lord Jesus in shedding the light of heaven into this sin-darkened world….

“As long as probation continues, there will be opportunity for the canvasser to work. When the religious denominations unite with the papacy to oppress God’s people, places where there is religious freedom will be opened by evangelistic canvassing. If in one place the persecution becomes severe, let the workers do as Christ has directed. ‘When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.’” –Colporteur Ministry, pp. 20, 11.

Of Jesus it is recorded: “And it came to pass afterward, that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with Him.” Luke 8:1. Let us do the same through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today Jesus is calling men and women to give the last message of mercy to this dying world. He is speaking to your heart right now. In your quiet, private time with God, consider this urgent need. As you listen to His voice, look up into His face and give Him your answer. Amen!