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--- en:operating_principles:dtm:publishing_church_growth_model:why_print [2026/04/03 19:09] – [Seconds the Efforts of Workers] jpauldietrich
+++ en:operating_principles:dtm:publishing_church_growth_model:why_print [2026/07/13 06:21] (current) – jpauldietrich
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Advantages and Benefits ======
+====== How Publishing Ministry Strengthens Church Growth ======
+The publishing ministry has a far-reaching, powerful impact. It is indispensable for a church that desires to grow. Where it is absent, the church is weakened and disadvantaged.
-The publishing ministry has a far-reaching, powerful impact. It is indispensable for a church that desires to grow. Each stated advantage implies a corresponding weakness when the function is absent.
 ===== I. Expands the Mission =====
@@ Line 7: / Line 8: @@
 The publishing ministry is one way the gospel can reach beyond the physical and temporal limitations of people, enabling truth to penetrate places, people groups, and situations otherwise inaccessible.
+See [[publishing_and_three_angels_messages|Publishing and The Three Angels' Messages]]
 ==== Increased Reach in Evangelism ====
@@ Line 74: / Line 76: @@
 ==== Break Down Prejudice ====
+A tract does not get angry or argue; it therefore allows people to process new truth at their own pace without the pressure of another person. The pressure comes from the Holy Spirit
+> Again, many read these papers and tracts and their combativeness is aroused, and they throw the silent messengers from them in a passion. But ideas all new to them have, although unwelcome, made their impression, and as the silent messenger bears the abuse without retaliation there is nothing to feed the anger which has been excited. Again the hand takes up the neglected paper or tract, and the eye is tracing the truthful lines, and again in passion it is thrown from them as their path is crossed. But the mind is not at rest; the abused paper is at last perused, and thus point after point of truth commences its convicting work; step by step the reformation is wrought, self dies, and the warfare and antagonism to the truth is ended. The despised paper or tract is henceforth honored as  the means of converting the stubborn heart and subduing the perverse will, bringing it in subjection to Christ. **Had the living preacher spoken as pointedly, these persons would have turned from him**, and would not have entertained the new and strange ideas brought before them. The papers and tracts can go where the living preacher cannot go, and where if he could go he would have no access to the people, because of their **prejudice against the truth**. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p390.2135#highlight=390.2135,0:390.2135,1248|PM 397.3]]
+> I have been shown that but few have any correct idea of what the distribution of papers and tracts is doing. The missionary work, in circulating the publications upon present truth, is **opening doors everywhere**, and **preparing minds to receive the truth**, when the living preacher shall come among them. The **success** which attends the efforts of ministers in the field is not due alone to their efforts, but **in a great degree to the influence of the reading matter** which has enlightened the minds of the people and **removed prejudice**. Thus many are made susceptible to the influence of the truth when it is presented before them. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p821.2962&index=0#highlight=821.2962,0:821.2962,624|RH December 19,  1878, par. 4]]
+==== Medical Ministry Opening Wedge ====
 The medical ministry is often described as "the right arm of the gospel" or "the opening wedge." Health-related literature is an important component of the medical ministry. Everyone wants to be healthy, regardless of their religion or culture. A health journal is a tool to break down prejudice and open the doors to the gospel message.
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 > Let there be an interest awakened in the sale of these books. Their sale is essential; for they contain **timely instruction** from the Lord. They should be appreciated as books that bring to the people light that is **especially needed just now**. Therefore these books should be widely distributed. Those who make a careful study of the instruction contained in them, and will receive it as from the Lord, will be **kept from receiving many of the errors that are being introduced**. Those who accept the truths contained in these books **will not be led into false paths**. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p16.620#highlight=16.620,25:16.620,585|CM 130.1]]
+> The truth that God has given for His people in these last days should **keep them firm** when there come into the church those who present false theories. The truth that has stood firm against the attacks of the enemy for more than half a century must still be the **confidence and comfort of God’s people**. [[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p16.35(16.36)&index=0#highlight=16.36,0:16.36,300|CM 3.2]]
 <WRAP box>
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   * Encourages members to become contributors rather than consumers
   * Talents multiply through use
+> Among the members of our churches, there should be more house-to-house labor, in giving Bible-readings, and in distributing literature. **A Christian character can be symmetrically and completely formed, only when the human agent regards it as a privilege to work interestedly in the proclamation of the truth, and to sustain the cause of God with means**. The treasury must not be allowed to become empty, when there are such urgent calls for help from every part of the world. (SpTB08 5.1).
 <WRAP box>
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 -----
-===== V. Practical Considerations and Extensions =====
+===== V. Considerations that Plead for the Establishment of Publishing Centers in Missionary Fields =====
+Let us start by reading from the book //Publishing Ministry// page 196:
+> At various points in missionary lands publishing houses must be established. To give character to the work, to be centers of effort and influence, to attract the attention of the people, to develop the talents and capabilities of the believers, to unify the new churches, and to second the efforts of the workers, giving them facilities for more ready communication with the churches and more rapid dissemination of the message—all these and many other considerations plead for the establishment of publishing centers in missionary fields. PM 196.2
+Now, let us break this paragraph down and analyze it point by point.
+==== To give character to the work... ====
+  * When a publishing center is established close to a community, that community tends to feel more ownership of the publishing center, and it seems more relevant to them than if it was a publishing center in a distant country.
+  * Establishing a local publishing center encourages production of material that is adapted to the culture and needs of the local population.
+  * A publishing center allows a community to access materials and information where otherwise these materials would not be available.
+==== ...to be centers of effort and influence... ====
+  * Availability of printed materials on health, education, and other Bible study topics significantly helps the efforts of the church members.
+  * Printed material also boosts the influence of the church members. Literature can go where the preacher cannot go. Literature allows the receiver to study the message of truth rather than to quickly forget what was said. When the receiver can confirm for himself the message of truth in the Bible, it encourages trust of the member.
+==== ...to attract the attention of the people... ====
+  * Anywhere I have been so far in Africa, literature attracts attention. There is so little literature available to the population that when it is available, people may in some cases literally fight over it to get a copy.
+  * A simple illustration on the cover of a tract or a catchy title relative to a current issue is often enough to grab somebody's attention and lead them to read the tract.
+  * As I hand out tracts to people, they often stop right where they are to see what it says. One motorbike driver stopped his motorbike in the middle of the road and remained motionless until he finished reading the tract. Then he carefully folded it, put it in his pocket, and drove away. I once saw a man walking a  distance of 18km between villages; as he walked, he was reading a copy of The Great Controversy.
+==== ...to develop the talents and capabilities of the believers... ====
+  * Church members can get involved in various aspects of publishing including writing, editing, graphic design, printing, and distribution. As they use their talents for the Lord in His work, He will bless them.
+  * As their talents grow, the believers' capabilities grow and they become more useful in the work.
+==== ...to unify the new churches... ====
+  * When we are busy doing a work for the Lord, our minds are focused on Him and not on picking at each others' faults. As members work together for the Lord, they grow closer to the Lord and to each other.
+  * New members should be given a work to do. One of the activities they can do is to get involved in publishing.
+==== ...to second the efforts of the workers, giving them facilities for more ready communication with the   * churches and more rapid dissemination of the message... ====
+  * Every pioneer worker should have access to plenty of publications for distribution.
+  * Publishing and distributing a magazine of testimonies, stories, counsel, and enriching Bible studies would encourage members and give them opportunities to train themselves for better service to God.
+===== VI. Practical Considerations and Extensions =====
 The publishing ministry also addresses practical challenges such as language, finances, and operational objections, further strengthening its strategic necessity.