Triple One 2017: A Global Missionary Project for Evangelism
From the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement General Conference Missionary Department
Dear brethren around the world: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I greet you with the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.”
After careful consideration, the General Conference Council has voted the year 2017 to be the year of missionary work throughout the entire world. This project intends to involve every child, young person, adult, and elderly in an untiring, united effort to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here is a quick demographic reality: More than 60% of the population does not know about the plan of salvation or even the gospel itself. With almost 2.0 billion people in China, a little over 1.3 billion in India, an estimated 1.2 billion in the Arabic countries, plus an unknown number of islands and tribes, we are left “in limbo” with the dream of accomplishing the work of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the great commission of Revelation 18:1–4.
The responsibility of promoting the everlasting gospel in the entire world rests on the shoulders of those who truly hope for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. By neglecting this responsibility we may face the inevitable words of the apostle James in his fourth chapter, verse 17 that says: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.
It looks like all that is necessary for the advancement of evil in this world is for good people to do nothing. “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. No sooner does a person come to know the Savior than he or she desires to make others acquainted with Him. The saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in the heart. Anyone who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver. The grace of Christ in the soul is like a spring in the desert, welling up to refresh all. It makes those who are ready to perish eager to drink of the water of life. In doing this we receive a greater blessing than if we work merely to benefit ourselves. It is in working to spread the good news of salvation that we are brought near to the Savior.”—The Ministry of Healing, pp. 102, 103.
Here we are, before this great opportunity and honor to be ambassadors for Christ. The year 2017 is foreseen to be a year of great turmoil, yet the people of God are sleepy. The voice of heaven soon will be heard: “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” Matthew 25:6.
Dear Brethren and Sisters, I urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to accept the invitation to be part of this global project of missionary work. The reasoning behind this title, Triple One 2017, is based on an interesting experience found in Scripture:
“Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three (3) darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.” 2 Samuel 18:14.
If we compare this figuratively to the great controversy between good and evil, Absalom symbolizes the cosmic rebellion, and the “three darts” represent the final strength of the three angels’ messages that will conclude the victory of our Saviour against the power of darkness. I am inviting everyone to share one pamphlet per day with a person that is known or unknown, one book per week, and to pray and work to bring one visitor per month to church. Just imagine seeing YOU, your children, your spouse, your parents, and even your friends joining hearts as one to share the gospel—to speed the end of misery and sorrow of this world. Imagine having the joy of wiping the tears of those who appreciate your efforts!
In the Scripture we find from the beginning a counterforce of powers against the three angels’ messages, beginning in Genesis where Nimrod, “the great hunter before the Lord” wanted to build “a city, a tower and a name” (Genesis 11:4) and ending with Revelation 16:13, where John the Revelator describes, “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.”
We indeed face a Goliath of obstacles, so let us pray to our Heavenly Father for the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in this great work of the Gospel Commission. Our sword is only the Word of God; our stand is for the Bible and Bible alone. There is no time for diplomacy and protocol that fades out—eclipses—the glory of our Saviour. Rather it is time to ask, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that defies the Almighty?” Let us stand for what we believe and share the gospel of this Kingdom with the suffering, poor, rich, wounded, and solitary people of this world for whom Jesus died.
Peter denied his Lord three times, just as Jesus had prophesied to him, “before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice,” Mark 14:30. After Christ’s resurrection, three times Peter had to answer the question, “Do you love me?” Now Jesus is asking us today: “Do you love Me? If you do, then share a pamphlet with someone; do not let a day pass without spending a few minutes with a person while handing out a pamphlet.”
“If you love Me,” Jesus says, “then go to the next level: Share a book at least once a week; make missionary work a goal. If you love Me, bring a visitor to church at least once a month.” What a wonderful work we can do in His strength and His power! What results our church would have if we all would take our church membership vows more seriously before the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you, and I, and all of us contribute a “daily tithe” of our time, by the end of the year we will have the following results: One person will have distributed over 300 pamphlets, over 48 books, and will have brought over 12 visitors to the church. To put that in perspective: The 40,000 people in our entire organization will have at the end of the year, completed the following: 12 million shared pamphlets, 1,920,000 books offered, and 480,000 visitors brought to church.
If you do not know where to go to do this work, I just want to remind you of Elijah’s words to Elisha just before being taken to heaven by a whirlwind: “Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel…. Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho…. Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan.” 2 Kings 2:2–6. Regardless of where you are—either in Bethel, Jericho or Jordan, do the work and you will find peace. If you are in a village, then the work is easier than if you are in Bethel. If you are in a city, then you are in Jericho; if you just have to cross the river, then you are about to meet eternity. In all circumstances, you have something to do for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no excuse, no explanation. You are to stand up for Christ or you will discover yourself on the side of the opposition. Too late will be the awakening for many; too late will be the crying; too late will be the regrets.
I know that this plan may not be easy for some of us who have never interacted with people this way, but think of how much the Father suffered to share Jesus with you: “Three times he was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time He came from the Father, His person could be seen.”—Early Writings, p. 149.
Three times Jesus prayed these words in Gethsemane: “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” Matthew 26:42. So we can pray every day for one pamphlet, every week for a book, and every month for a visitor. Let us open the windows like Daniel who was praying three times a day. (Daniel 6:10.) Let us by faith ask the Lord Jesus Christ to bless us in this work that is not ours—but is solemnly entrusted to us by Him.
If you are missing the vision of how to do this work, please open the book of Acts 11:10 where Peter is educated by the Lord Jesus three times on the roof of the house, when he was insisting that he had never eaten anything unclean. “But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.” Out there are people who may not think act or behave like you; they may be perceived as hopeless by the human eye, but these very ones whom we consider as lost are the very objects of God’s attention.
Triple One 2017 is a challenge for all of us because it will change our lifestyle, our way of dealing with the grace of God, and will change our mentality and attitude about others. The Lord says, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Peter did not understand at first, just as we do not understand, but he obeyed anyway and afterward said: “Then remembered I the word of the Lord” (Acts 11:16). So, just as Peter surrendered to the Lord’s bidding, we, too, can say: “Yes” to the Triple One 2017 project and allow God to work in our hearts, pouring out the Holy Spirit upon all those who will labor for Him in His name.
The risk of rejecting His invitation is too great and terrifying to be measured, for the warning is clear: “Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth, can never sing the song of redeeming love above.” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 107.
There were three crosses on Golgotha, there were three people acknowledging the divinity of Jesus, and there are three key words in Revelation 14:12—the patience, the commandments and the faith of Jesus. Only in having these three elements within our reach will we, by the grace of Christ, be able to achieve our project for next year. “You have to talk faith, you have to live faith, you have to act faith, that you may have an increase of faith.”—Faith and Works, p. 73. [Emphasis added.]
If you want to say together with the angels, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts;” if you want to experience how “the whole earth is full of his glory,” then participate in this unique project, Triple One 2017.
By the end of the year, we will be able to sing together, “Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again!”—The Great Controversy, p. 648. [Emphasis added.]
This is a simple project—without sophisticated rules and without a high demand for effort or means—just the willingness and desire to work together for the Lord. The simpler the project, the fewer excuses we have. It’s just one pamphlet per day, but that one pamphlet per day will change the life of someone else and will change your life as well. Let us be the difference next year in a world that is perishing without hope.
“We virtually took a solemn oath, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that henceforth our lives would be merged into the life of these three great agencies, that the life we should live in the flesh would be lived in faithful obedience to God's sacred law.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 118. [Emphasis added.]
“In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands of Europe and of South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the dark corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law. Even now they are appearing in every nation, among every tongue and people; and in the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan's supreme effort is made to cause ‘all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,’ to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, these faithful ones, ‘blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,’ will ‘shine as lights in the world.’ The darker the night, the more brilliantly will they shine.”—Christian Service, pp. 165, 166. [Emphasis added.]
Strategy:
The Geographical Factor
I acknowledge the geographical factor is an impediment. In different countries on different continents, we face printing impossibilities, financial impossibilities, language barriers and an overwhelming variety of dialects. In these areas, we ask the Regional Secretary to be in contact with the local Unions, Fields, and Missions to create special chain groups of prayer. If the poor have no means they can pray continually for the project. Every Minister, Pastor, Bible Worker, Church Elder, Deacon, Sabbath School Teacher and every other member entrusted with responsibilities should form a group of daily prayer. These groups can make a list with the names of the members who are willing to keep their word to pray a few minutes per day. The work should be done out of good will and love for the cause of God rather than as a mandate. “The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 22.
The Political Factor
There are countries where there is not fertile ground for freedom of conscience—so, naturally the truth can be exposed there only at a high price. In such cases, I advise the Regional Secretary to invite church members to do their best in sharing “This Gospel of the Kingdom” with the people of the world according to the conditions they face. The history of Christianity shows that the church has increased membership in times of adversity and persecution, so I do believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless the efforts, the sweat, and the tears of those of our beloved brethren who face such difficult circumstances.
The Reality
When we say this is a “global project” we think big, but in reality, we are only a few scattered here and there, as shown in the vision of Ellen G. White:
“I was in vision taken to heaven, and the angel said to me, ‘Look!’ I looked to the world as it was in dense darkness. The agony that came over me was indescribable as I saw this darkness.
“Again the word came, ‘Look ye.’ And again I looked intensely over the world, and I began to see jets of light like stars dotted all through this darkness; and then I saw another and another added light, and so all through this moral darkness the star-like lights were increasing. And the angel said, ‘These are they that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and are obeying the words of Christ. These are the light of the world; and if it were not for these lights, the judgments of God would immediately fall upon the transgressors of God's law.’ I saw then these little jets of light growing brighter, shining forth from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and lighting the whole world.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 76.
As Gideon was so discouraged and depressed, working alone, we, too, often have an inferiority complex that does not feed our trust and confidence in God, but keeps us at a level of inactivity and in a state of unhappiness. But remember the words: “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord [is] with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” Judges 6:12.
Brothers and sisters, dear youth, look up and see that Jesus has billions of angels on our side ready to intervene in helping us! Let us have the eyes of faith wide open to see that those that are with us are more than the ones against us. At this point my concern is not the number of participants for Triple One 2017, but rather I worry about the victory and success of the work that pertains to God. Whether the project will have 40,000 participants or 400 is irrelevant, as long as the Lord Jesus Christ has the victory. What will be sad is that some who will not participate or stand shoulder-to-shoulder as part of the project will sorely regret not having participated.
The Pamphlets and the Books
Every country has its own culture, customs, and habits. That is why the literature must fit these criteria. The Unions, Fields, and Missions should provide the local churches and groups with pamphlets and books three to six months in advance. The countries that need English material for translation should contact the General Conference office as soon as possible.
Recommendations
- a.) The pamphlets should cover a variety of subjects such as health principles, nutrition/diet, education, the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sabbath, Ten Commandments, and other well-known topics that traditionally have a good impact in public distribution.
b.) The books should be ones offered with thoughtful diligence—due to the cost, value, and time required for printing: The Ministry of Healing, The Desire of Ages, Christ’s Object Lessons, Steps to Christ, and The Great Controversy should be among the books highly recommended for this project.
Using Sound Judgment and Reasoning
When handling books and pamphlets, a gentle, soft introductory dialogue is necessary in order to gain a better assessment to determine what is the best, custom-designed “remedy” for the individual with whom we want to share the word of Life.
If the person is sick, health pamphlets and books are best. If the interest is in theology or prophecy, The Great Controversy might be an appropriate choice. If it is a sinner looking for a Saviour, then share The Desire of Ages or Steps to Christ or other books with a similar message.
Activity Reports
Reports should be presented weekly in the churches and groups, monthly in the workers' meetings, quarterly at the Union level, yearly for the Regional Secretaries and the GC Council.
When is the best time for the sharing experiences at the local level?
a.) Wednesday evening at the Prayer Meeting, when the members can be offered the privilege and time to share their daily experiences
b.) Friday evening – at the opening of the Sabbath
c.) Sabbath Morning – Sabbath School missionary reports
d.) Young People’s meetings
e.) Monthly church magazines
The Purpose of the Reports
The communication among the members and the Bible Workers, Pastors and Ministers is vital for the sake of receiving important information for the follow-up. The working force needs to follow up with the interested people with visits, phone calls, Bible studies, counseling, and materializing the general effort for the salvation of interested souls. At the end of the year 2017, the reality of our church will be different; the relationships among us will be freshly enhanced. As a revitalized team, we will become a nursery for the new souls returned to Jesus. Let us fulfill the mission and compassionately curb the suffering and pain in this world by sharing the Bread of life with starving souls. “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth” (Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2).
Conclusion:
“When the people accept and exalt a spurious sabbath, and turn souls away from obedience and loyalty to God, they will reach the point that was reached by the people in the days of Christ.... Shall anyone then choose to hide his banner, to relax his devotion? Shall the people whom God has honored and blessed and prospered, refuse to bear testimony in behalf of God's memorial at the very time when such a testimony should be borne? Shall not the commandments of God be more highly esteemed when men pour contempt upon the law of God?”--Manuscript 15, 1896.
Sincerely, in the service of the Master,
Brother Liviu Tudoroiu
Missionary / Media Department Director