Adventists invited to ‘Buy a book, read a book, give a book’ at Publishing and Spirit of Prophecy Rally

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The work and impact of Literature Evangelists  in the saving of souls was highlighted at the Publishing and Spirit of Prophecy Rally    held at the Stadium Community SDA Church on February 11, 2023. The rally was held under the theme ‘I will go: Bringing Hope in Every Home’ and targeted colportuers and Spirit of Prophecy leaders and church members from zones 1 - 3 across East Jamaica Conference (EJC).

 

 

 

 

In his greetings to persons present  both in sanctuary and on-line, EJC president, Pastor Meric Dale Walker said we have come to a time in history when there should be no vacillation in  publishing the glad tidings. To clarify his statement, Pastor Walker said,  “when we talk about publishing we are usually talking about  disseminating, spreading like the leaves of autumn, the good news of salvation.”  The president  urged every member, child and adolescent to bear the burden of spreading the good news of the gospel.

 

Walker also used the opportunity to encourage members to acquire, read and give the gift of a book as  a disciple of Christ.  

 

Pastor Dudley Hosin, Divine hour speaker and Publishing Director of Jamaica Union Conference (JAMU),  shared several times during his presentation how he sold books to people that had tremendous impacts on their lives.  “As Literature evangelists and members of the church we need to share hope with people,” Hosin said.  “There are people out there who need our books,” he added,  noting that the church was blessed with books that cover diverse topics and subject area including health,  marriage and the family, grief, handling debt and finances.  

 

Hosin’s sermon was littered with numerous  examples of how the Lord led him to people who purchased  books  as he canvassed in and outside of Jamaica as a colportuer over many years. The preacher of righteousness also testified that the Lord provided for him financially through the colportuer ministry which also  satisfied his  passion for working  for  the saving  of souls.

 

In his appeal to members, Hosin said “God is inviting you into a new career, to be a messenger of hope and to do selling of Christian literature.”

Publishing Ministries Director, EJC and pastor of the Stadium Community Church, Pastor Sadekie Beckford was positive in his outlook  as he addressed the church  during the course of the day.  He  highlighted the massive distribution of the ‘The Great Controversy’ book on March 18, 2023 throughout the Conference and was consistent in reminding the congregation that they should ‘buy a book, read a book and give a book’  whether you are a colportuer or not.

 

Beckford posited that the Publishing ministries and Spirit of Prophecy Ministries are still viable and relevant in the world and urged those who attended the rally  to take action  when they return to their churches.

 

“The books should not stay on your shelves, they should not stay at the Conference office, they should never stay at IADPA Book Store nor  in the handbags of colporteurs but  we must distribute these books like the leaves of autumn because men and women need to be saved,” Beckford said.v

In his address to the church, EJC  Spirit of Prophecy director, Pastor Manley Phillips noted that there was a special link  between the Spirit of Prophecy and the Publishing Ministry this year as both departments will be working closely together in  promoting this years massive distribution of the book, ‘The Great Controversy.’  

 

“There is an effort now to take The Great Controversy across the world  and we are a part of this effort,” Phillips said. “We are part of God’s group and we have a special privilege of having a modern day prophetess and she has been helping our church to grow over the years,” he added.  

 

Pastor Phillips posited that the church needs to get back to reading the books that have been written by Ellen G. White  noting that she referred to her writings as the lesser light  leading to the greater light which is the Bible. “There are some who put her writings above the Bible,” Phillips said, “but she has made it clear that her writings are not to be placed above the Bible.”

 

Manager of the IADPA Book Store, Mrs. Debbie Douglas, thanked the colportuers and church members over the years who continue to support the store by purchasing books for their family and friends.  She reminded the church that the Missionary Magazine of the church is the Priority Magazine. “We need to ensure that we read a book and share a  book,”  echoing the sentiments of Pastor Beckford.  Douglas  shared with the church that she was going through a dark period in her life when she read a book entitled ‘ Living for Triumph’ that told the story of Ellen Keller who was blind, mute and deaf but despite her challenges was able to meet the president and was able to graduate from college.

 

“That book changed my life,” Debbie shared, “so as a church, we need to be reminded that we are put in charge of these valuable materials and we need to read them  and   share them because God is coming soon and we will have to give an account of the resources were are put in charge of.”

Elder Michael Porteous, Treasurer, EJC shared how the gift of an Adventist book impacted not only his life but that of other members in his family.  “I was not always an Adventist but I received the book,  ‘The desire of Ages’.  The book was given to my God-father’s mother as a wedding gift. She did not read the book or had anything to do with it but when she was migrating it was passed on to me,” Porteous shared.  He went on to say that he read the book but put it down.  The book however was subsequently  taken up by sister’s boyfriend who read the book  and read himself into the church.  

 

“The book transformed his life and it can do that for countless others,” Porteous said. ”Let us support the ministry by distributing a book. We can become part time colportuers and even if we cannot do that we all  can give a book,” he added.