GLOW Testimonies
Who is my neighbor?
Krystal, an eighteen year old church member from Ceres California, couldn't believe her ears. A few minutes earlier she had stood trembling at her next door neighbor's house not knowing what to expect as she tried canvassing for the first time in her life. Now her neighbor Carolyn, three houses down, not only wanted a book but also was interested in studying the bible as well! But God had more blessings in store and forty five minutes later both Krystal and her friend Sachi had sold eleven magabooks in Krystal's neighborhood including titles like "The Great Controversy."
Believe it or not, Krystal wasn't a student literature evangelist working during the summer. She hadn't gone to a bible college for evangelistic training. She hadn't even given much thought to canvassing her neighborhood before. So how did Krystal get involved with successful literature evangelism right in her own neighborhood?
"This year I've had some time on my hands because of my schooling schedule so I decided to do something for the Lord by getting involved in GLOW." said Krystal. GLOW is a conference-wide evangelistic initiative in Central California equipping willing members in every church with the ability and training to participate in literature ministries whether they do it door to door or learn to be a literature evangelist by lifestyle. The sixty three church members from the two initial churches involved are both giving away and/or learning how to sell literature in a variety of ways. Each member is given the choice of getting involved in GLOW's four levels of participation. The first level teaches church members how to distribute free literature in planned and intentional ways making literature evangelism a lifestyle without knocking on one door. In the second level church members pair up and hand out free literature after taking a quick survey in their own neighborhoods. Level three affords church members the training necessary to start selling magabooks and finally the fourth level is where everyone can learn to sell the hardcover sets of books which have been a blessing to so many families.
Krystal as well as many other church members are finding what a blessing it is to be involved in "the very work the Lord would have his people do at this time." 6T p.313 and people from the surrounding communities are responding to the church outreach already by calling the local churches and requesting Bible studies from the contact information on the back of the literature. God's work is moving forward through the written word from the very first publication written on stone at Mount Sinai down to today where it is laying the foundation for the last message of mercy in earth's history. The call still sounds to us today to be "imitators of God", the same God who stands at the door and knocks seeking to save the lost.
To GLOW or Not to GLOW
Clovis Bible worker Jeff picked up his ringing phone and the words, "I felt impressed that I should call you" caught his attention. On the other end of the line was a man named Reuben, a local chef, who had been living in a house for quite a while directly across the street from Jeff's church. Reuben explained that he had been reading a book called Ten Commandments Twice Removed and noticed that there was a phone number on the first page and a handwritten statement saying that he should call to find the answers to his toughest bible questions. As soon as he saw it he felt impressed to call the number which connected him with Jeff.
Reuben had received the book from his father who had received it from the local Clovis church members that had gone door to door for two Sabbath afternoons the previous May handing out free literature. "I've been living across the street and could see you guys eating food through the sliding glass door every weekend. I've always wondered what happens in there." Said Reuben later. Reuben explained to Jeff that he was a struggling crack addict and that he wanted the victory over it to which Jeff responded, "Hey that's no problem. The Lord helped me overcome crack too. Would you like to study the Bible together and come to church next weekend?"
After the phone call to Jeff that day, Reuben came to church with both the Bible and his Ten Commandments book in hand and enjoyed his first Sabbath potluck from the inside of the sliding glass doors of the church. Were it not for a small group of church members who decided to not only feed themselves at potluck but take some time on a Sabbath afternoon and feed those who were spiritually hungry right next door all this would not have been.
GLOW to Jail!
Somewhere deep within the silent recesses of the Central California Conference Office a shrill squeal pierced the tranquil air disturbing the steady ticking of typewriters, pausing the printing of pecuniary publications, and halting the wholesale of healthy holistic hot dogs. From where did this vehement vociferousness vocalize? And what was its curious cause? It came from non-other than the Literature Ministries Department where a GLOWing young woman named Heidi stood poised with excitement as she listened to the man on the other end of the phone.
Ted, the Merced County Jail Chaplain, had been attending a local prayer conference along with a multitude of other pastors from different denominations in Merced California that day on May 1, 2008 when, as he walked by a table, something caught his eye. It was a small tract entitled, "Does God Care that I'm Hurting." This tract had been placed there by Ashley, a bible worker at the Merced Olive East SDA church. "I didn't even think that any of the pastors would pick up any of the literature because I placed it on the registration table after almost all of them had registered." said Ashley. Little did she know that her simple act of literature evangelism would have such a huge impact in her community. Ted picked up the interesting tract and began to read it. As he did, he realized that this was just the kind of literature that he wanted to give to all 900 of his men in jail. As he looked on the back he noticed that it was from a program called GLOW. He also noticed that this GLOW program offered free bible studies for those who were interested. As soon as the meeting was done he got on the phone and called the number on the back of the pamphlet, got a hold of GLOW, and asked about getting literature and bible studies for all 900 of his men in jail.
"The charge given to Timothy was, ‘I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who sall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season , out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine' This charge is for all who are acting a part in the ministry, [all] who are following the example of Christ. They must snatch the opportunities as they come. Let all be fully prepared to disseminate the light by word and by pamphlet. There should be hundreds of little tracts scattered as the leaves of autumn."