Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

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Chapter 7—A Personal Worker

From her girlhood Ellen G. White was a personal worker. Often, but not always, did she witness the fruits of such ministry. After her conversion her first work was for youthful friends. The earnestness of such efforts is revealed in the following published account: EGWMR 119.1

“I arranged meetings with my young friends, some of whom were considerably older than myself, and a few were married persons. A number of them were vain and thoughtless; my experience sounded to them like an idle tale, and they did not heed my entreaties. But I determined that my efforts should never cease till these dear souls, for whom I had so great an interest, yielded to God. Several entire nights were spent by me in earnest prayer for those whom I had sought out and brought together for the purpose of laboring and praying with them. EGWMR 119.2

“Some of these had met with us from curiosity to hear what I had to say; others thought me beside myself to be so persistent in my efforts, especially when they manifested no concern on their own part. But at every one of our little meetings I continued to exhort and pray for each one separately, until every one had yielded to Jesus, acknowledging the merits of His pardoning love. Every one was converted to God. EGWMR 119.3

“Night after night in my dreams I seemed to be laboring for the salvation of souls. At such times special cases were presented to my mind; these I afterwards sought out and prayed with. In every instance but one these persons yielded themselves to the Lord.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 41, 42. EGWMR 119.4

It was not long after this experience that she was called to stand as a messenger for God. This work laid upon her a heavy burden for the church and for the world. It would not seem strange if Mrs. White, with these larger burdens, should lose sight of the personal needs of the individuals with whom she came in close contact. However, she did not. Now and then through the years we catch a glimpse of her personal efforts to save those about her. EGWMR 119.5