Tact Required to Break Down Prejudice—Nathanael was praying to know whether this was indeed the Christ of whom Moses and the prophets had spoken. While he continued to pray, one of those who had been brought to Christ, Philip by name, called to him and said, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45. Notice how quickly prejudice arises. Nathanael says, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” John 1:46. Philip knew the strong prejudice that existed in the minds of many against Nazareth, and he did not try to argue with him, for fear of raising his combativeness, but simply said, “Come and see.” John 1:46. (Ev 446.1) MC VC

Here is a lesson for all our ministers, colporteurs, and missionary workers. When you meet those, who, like Nathanael, are prejudiced against the truth, do not urge your peculiar views too strongly. Talk with them at first of subjects upon which you can agree. Bow with them in prayer, and in humble faith present your petitions at the throne of grace. Both you and they will be brought into a closer connection with heaven, prejudice will be weakened, and it will be easier to reach the heart.—Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 149 (1886). (Ev 446.2) MC VC

Working for the Aged VC

Waiting for the Truth—It is wonderful how many aged people the workers find who need but little labor to lead them to receive the truth, Sabbath and all. Why, they say, “this is what we have been praying for. We knew that the Scriptures had much to say upon subjects that the clergymen did not and could not explain to us.” These do little else but rejoice in the light and in the truth. Their joy seems to be full.—Letter 18, 1898. (Ev 446.3) MC VC

Life Begins at Conversion—I have just read the following incident: (Ev 447.1) MC VC

“An old man, about seventy or eighty years of age, was once brought to me, as a monument of God’s mercy. I asked him how old he was. He looked at me for a little while, and then said in faltering tones, while the tears ran down his cheeks, ‘I am two years old.’ I expressed my surprise, and then he said, ‘Ah, until two years ago I lived the life of a dead man. I never knew what it was to live until I met with the life that is hid with Christ in God.’”—Letter 160, 1903. (Ev 447.2) MC VC

Ellen G. White’s Experience and Methods as a Personal Worker VC

An Early Experience—The reality of true conversion seemed so plain to me that I felt like helping my young friends into the light, and at every opportunity exerted my influence toward this end. (Ev 447.3) MC VC

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. (Ev 447.4) MC VC

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. (Ev 447.5) MC VC