“The doors of the church are open,” was part of the standard formula for appeals when I was a kid. That was rather puzzling to me. Especially since all the doors were closed—with ushers guarding them.
With age came the understanding that this was the time when people could enter the church’s membership. I’ve also learned that this is a revolving door that seems to spin more speedily with every year that passes. Is there a prophetic prescription for the problem of the revolving church doors? I’m glad you asked…
“The Printed Page.--Though the minister may faithfully present the message, the people are not able to retain it all. The printed page is therefore essential, not only in awakening them to the importance of the truth for this time, but in rooting and grounding them in the truth, and establishing them against deceptive error.
“Papers and books are the Lord's means of keeping the message for this time continually before the people. In enlightening and confirming souls in the truth, the publications will do a far greater work than can be accomplished by the ministry of the Word alone.
“…the Holy Spirit will impress minds as they read the books, just as He impresses the minds of those who listen to the preaching of the Word. The same ministry of angels attends the books that contain the truth as attends the work of the ministry.” ~Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 315, 316. {Evangelism, p. 161.3}
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