This Ministry, Last Call Out was born on a Sabbath afternoon when several individuals were visiting together after potluck in the fellowship hall of the church. This is something we have done in the past many times, not planned get-togethers, but just impromptu social gatherings in which several small groups get together to visit and talk about spiritual things. Sometimes we stay and enjoy each other’s company until well after dark, sometimes closing the Sabbath with an impromptu vespers with as many as thirty some individuals.
It was one of those afternoons that this Ministry was born.
I say this Ministry was born but not conceived on this particular afternoon. The conception of it came to several different minds independently at different times in the past. That’s another story, or series of stories.
This particular afternoon, there were around 8 or 9 of us visiting together sitting around one of the potluck tables. Most everyone else had gone home except for our little gathering and a few others in other parts of the church.
This was not any hand-picked group with any particular purpose in mind, just a random gathering of a few individuals who had attended the service there that day. At first, we just visited together, but soon the conversation turned to the subject of outreach. We all have a burden for souls and discussed our desires to do more for the Master. We talked about how all our ideas just didn’t seem to get beyond mere talk. We’re all so busy just trying to make a living for our families that it’s difficult to take the time to reach the souls that Christ died to save.
This is where the conversation changed. The idea of this Ministry was brought up and soon it was evident that it was right in line with the dreams and ideas of the others of this gathering. The ideas now embodied in our Mission statement and purpose, were discussed and all decided to move forward and start this ministry even though doing so was far beyond the means of any of us. We immediately began planning. One individual volunteered to set up a web site. Another agreed to start the process of applying for non-profit status.
A few minutes after our decision to move forward with this ministry, trusting to God to open the doors for its success, someone entered the fellowship hall where we were gathered. With them was a lady that none of us had ever seen before. One of our number was motioned out into the hall. The thought crossed my mind that here was another individual looking for financial help from the church to help pay their rent or utilities or something like that.
Soon, I was motioned out into the hall myself. As I stepped into the hall, this woman handed us a check saying that she was told that we needed this. Glancing at it my mouth nearly dropped open. It was for $5000. We are in a poor community and this woman was not even a member of our church. We asked her who told her we needed it. She just replied “you need to ask?” and she pointed up and promptly walked away.
Coming back into the fellowship hall, we shared with the group, what had just happened and we promptly went to our knees thanking God for His goodness. We noticed later that this check had been dated the week before, but for whatever reason it wasn’t delivered until this very moment.
Isaiah 65:24 says; “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
We are reminded of these words as this Ministry moves forward in giving the three angels message to the cities of America:
We all need to be wide awake, that, as the way opens, we may advance the work in the large cities… I am greatly encouraged to believe that many not of our faith will help considerably by their means. The light given me is that in many places, especially in the great cities of America, help will be given by such persons. {7T 40.3}
“The Lord God of Israel has placed his goods in the hands of unbelievers, and they are to be used to help in the accomplishment of the work that must be done for a fallen world. The agents through whom these gifts come may open up avenues through which the truth may go. They may have no sympathy with the work, and no faith in Christ, and no practise in his words; but their gifts are not to be refused on that account. {RH, March 23, 1911 par. 13}
Shall we not advance in faith, just as if we had thousands of dollars? We do not have half faith enough. Let us act our part in warning these cities. The warning message must come to the people who are ready to perish, unwarned, unsaved. How can we delay? As we advance, the means will come. But we must advance by faith, trusting in the Lord God of Israel. {Ev 62.1}