Manuscript Releases, vol. 5 [Nos. 260-346]

Minister-laity Relationships to the Mission of the Church

Set New Believers to Work—Just as soon as a church is organized, the members should be set to work, taught to go forth in God-given power to find others and tell them of the story of redeeming love. The power of the gospel is to come upon the companies raised up, fitting them for service. Some of the new converts will be so filled with the power of the Lord that they will at once enter the work, imparting that which they have received. 5MR 331.1

The newly formed churches will need to be educated. The minister should not devote so much of his time to preaching as to educating. The people are to be taught how to extend the knowledge of the truth. If they do this work successfully, they will labor so diligently that they will have no time or disposition to weaken the hands of their brethren by unkind criticism. Their one desire will be to carry the truth to the regions beyond.—Manuscript 127, 1901, pp. 9, 10. (“Nature of Building Thoroughness in Work,” November 26, 1901.) 5MR 331.2

Draw Laymen in Early—It was at the very beginning of His ministry that Christ began to gather in His helpers. This is a lesson to all ministers. They should constantly be looking for and training those who they think could help them in their work. They should not stand alone, trying to do by themselves all that needs to be done. 5MR 331.3

Christ would make these humble fishermen, in connection with Himself, the means of taking men out of the service of Satan, and making them believers in Christ, teaching them in regard to the kingdom of God. In this work they would become His ministers, fishers of men. They were to be His prime ministers.—Letter 53, 1905, p. 3. (To Brethren Ballenger and Palmer, February 2, 1905.) 5MR 331.4