Silent Messengers

[ColporteurK]

It Was a Double Barrel !

It was a middle upper class part  of town. I had a friend that I'm working with call me on my cell and by the time we finished I was a half hour late for my appointment. I rarely let anything cause me to run late but I'm mentoring my non SDA friend and the call was important.

When I arrived at the home the father was out in the garage. He said, "My wife thought you were not coming." I apologized and the canvassed proceeded. The mother seemed very interested however, there were distractions. Just when we were really rolling good the mother said that she had a friend coming over and the husband would have to take over. I sensed that this would not be the best scenario so I suggested that we reschedule so both mother and father could get in on the information. Mother said that this would be a good idea so we rescheduled for 6:00 P.M later in the week.  I promised that I would not be late this time.

I arrived at 5:56 p.m.. While the children ate supper the parents and I proceeded with the canvass. The way the father came across I began to wonder if he was going to be one of those guys that seeks for an argument. However, my concerns were exaggerated and all went well, that is  until he looked at my list of churches that use the Bible Stories. He pointed to "Seventh day Adventists" and said, "I know one of those and they are pretty far out." I did not flinch and we continued. We talked a fair amount about Catholic teachings, JWs and Mormon. He and his wife are currently not attending any church but were formerly Lutheran until a problem in the church arose.
     Then out of the blue the father said, "you don't have to answer this is you don't want to but what church do you endorse?"   That was a bullet that would likely kill the canvass in terms of any real investment being made. I replied, " I'm a Bible believing Christian and I believe that when Christ comes there will be two churches as it were, those who follow Jesus and those who don't." Some would say that I dodged the question and I did. The father said I did not have to answer if I did not wish to so I did not directly do so. He was not ready to hear that. It would not benefit him at this time. There was a lot of discussion during the two hour canvass and there was a splash of lightheartedness from time to time. At one time the father said, " If the people miss a payment what do you do, go pick up the books?"  " Yah, I do," I said with a straight face and then a big grin. He continued, " I like that, you have a sense of humor."

     Then bullet number two was fired. It was more like a torpedo. Mother flipped open her lap top and began to research the Bible Stories for cost. As she did that I began my counter. " You may find cheaper sets on the internet but some of them do not have a stitched in binding. They fall apart in about a year." She continued her search. I continued, " those who sell these books on the web do not offer any warrantee.  They do not offer you 10 months same as cash and they do not include the two beautiful books, The Triumph of God's Love. Those books are never outdated and a college text book like that can run as high as $200 per volume. I could realistically  almost charge this full amount just for those two volumes." She kept looking and said, they are selling them in Ohio for $175.00."  That was less than half of my price. The wonderful Ohio SDA conference undercuts the LE to try and sell a bunch of sets they got stuck with when they dropped the LE program there.

     The mother said, " not to worry, I would not buy them off the internet no matter what the price was. I could not have you come here and put in all this time and then buy them off the internet. We continued talking for another 45 minutes while doing up the paperwork and other misc. details. The father has been an electrician for the past 16 years. He said that he spent 6 years in prison and got several degrees while studying there. There were a couple of big guns in the canvass that could have shot down the family's chance to purchase these books. Even so, with a little bit of wisdom and a very close bond with the people as a result of the Holy Spirit,  it all worked out.

   It was a very good week with 16 canvasses with 11 families purchasing books of one nature or another. While my largest sale ( 22 volumes) cancelled when the father came home and erupted it still ended with a small magabook package entering the home when I returned to pick up their books. There are many dynamics that unfold when a person sits in front of a variety of people while talking spiritual matters for 18-20 hours.

[newbie]

yeah, the internet has changed things...

we used to be quiet about EGW but these days, they can search anything and find out anything... unfortunately Satan rules the internet and has tons of bad stuff right at page one of any search you would do about her

[ColporteurK]

The internet is really becoming a problem. I have had as many book cancellations in the past two weeks as I have had in the past two years. It is becoming second nature for people to get on the internet to bargain shop or just out of curiosity. People are selling their used and even new Bible Story sets at a very low price. Sometimes it is even lower than my cost. The Ohio SDA conference is unloading their sets on the internet at a price the LE cannot compete with especially when we add a SOP book to the set. Of course the Ohio conference does not do that ( add a SOP book) because they care more about the money than getting present truth out. While the health books are said to be the entering wedge there are far more people that have an interest in the children's books than health books. Most do not understand the significance of the health books. They care more about their children's spiritual education than their health. We need to find an approach in using the wedge in this post modern age. 

[newbie]

I don't have a solution for this other than it seems you will have to offer a discount or something like that to compete... 

Maybe a senior discount...
Or if they pay cash up front, a discount...

Jesus is the Head, the body is the gospel and the right arm is the health message. 

In many ways, the gospel message should be included with the health message... 
if all that we can do for people health wise and they die anyway it is a loss.  But if we share the health message with the gospel and if they accept Jesus and they die, everything is still a victory.

[ColporteurK]

The Dutch Make Much… of Sunday …
   

They are a young Dutch Reformed couple living out on the farm. Mother stays home with the three children and father is a pork producer. They do not have a TV and plan to send their children to a parochial school as most Reformed parents do.

   I tend to try to avoid canvassing the Reformed people on Sunday but was on my way home from canvassing from a far distance and decided to stop off at this home anyway as I had a drawing card for them from the Sport’s Show and wanted to try and make another visit before the clock ran out for the evening.
Sensing that the Sunday business might come up or be on the minds of the couple I turned during the canvass to the page showing the Ten Commandments. I had a pretty good repore with the couple by that time and they seemed humble. I asked the mother, who was sitting near by at the table with the father kind of bouncing around the room with his baby boy who had a fever, if she thought we ought to keep the 10  Commandments. She was nice but kind of frowned as if to say “ why would you even ask such a thing,” and she replied, “well of course.” I continued by asking if she thought we ought to keep all of them and exactly as they were written. Her reply was the same. I did this preparatory for what might develop and for what DID develop later in the canvass.

   I showed the Bible Stories, the Bedtimes Stories, and the Great Controversy to the couple and they liked them but not enough to spend a goodly amount of money on the books. After all, they had some books from their church and while expressing that my books were more comprehensive they felt they had enough and besides they like to support their own church. They were very nice but it was clear that they were not going to buy any books. What to do ? Time to gamble a bit as it would appear ?

   Then the mother asked, “ why are you out selling books on Sunday” and “ I just don’t feel right about buying books on Sunday anyway.”  The husband was equally nice but followed with, “ when I was growing up my father would not have even let a salesman in the yard on Sunday. He would have said to come back on Monday.” I responded that one of the reasons that I was out working today was because we home school and my wife is off of work on Sunday so it is an opportunity for me to take the whole day and work a far distance from home.”  Mother did not say anything but gave the look, “ that is not an adequate excuse for working on the Lord’s day.” I could read her expression very clearly. It was gentle but mildly rebuking.
Rather than a directly approaching them with this, I chose a second person story as follows:

[ColporteurK]

conclusion :

“You kind of remind me of a family from your church years ago that I visited. The mother was very nice but she said that she would not purchase any of my picture filled books. I sensed that it was because of the second commandment as I opened my book and pointed to that commandment. We discussed that a bit and though I said I saw that a bit differently as a picture is not a graven image, however if one thinks that it is an idol then they should not have them.” ( I glanced at this couple’s fridge when I said that and noticed all the pictures of their children held up with magnets)( The mother observed me as I looked at he fridge). I continued, “ I very much appreciate your convictions regarding the 10 Commandments.  Not many people are that conscientious. You know there is a commandment that many people, even good faithful Christians like yourself for one reason or another have forgotten. The very commandment that begins with the word REBEMBER most have forgotten. I pointed to the fourth commandment and read it aloud. Then I explained a good deal about it and its part in last day events as the Bible says that those who do not receive the Mark of the beast will be keeping the commandments, the commandments that Jesus wrote with His own finger in stone. The couple  wanted to know more about this and the wife  said to her husband that she wanted the books.”
That ended the second person story but I followed with some other things about the Sabbath beginning with the question, “ do you know which day the Sabbath is on…… ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?”
The mother replied, “ I know its not Sunday.” I pointed to their calendar on the wall and said that even their calendar has it right. We all three looked at the calendar and discussed this. I said that just as people are most sure that all of the animals went into the ark by twos ( we discussed that earlier) many are following tradition regarding Sunday rather than the Bible.
The father gently stated, “ but Jesus rose form the dead on Sunday.” I replied, “ that’s right and He died on Friday, perhaps the Muslims who worship on Friday have it right ?”
The mother said, “ I have cash out in the car, we’ll take the books.” Once again, had I canvassed them on another day I doubt they would have purchased the books and the Sunday issue even though we would have discussed it probably would not have loomed as large as it did since it was Sunday when I stopped and since the mother kindly took issue with me selling on Sunday. I believe this unfolded  pretty much as the Lord had led providentially. While stopping at a Reformed home on Sunday may have appeared  a bit of a gamble this provided an effective opportunity to share present truth for the last days. 

[newbie]

God was leading

[ColporteurK]

Give the devil an inch and he'll become a ruler.   

Give the Lord two feet and He'll make you a missionary ! 

[newbie]

 

[Ed Sutton]

http://www.onlinebible.org/html/other/OLB_Library_other_bible.html#spanish

[ColporteurK]

Maybe a year ago I was advertising medical clinics in a town of about 8,000 people. In one clinic I entered into a discussion with the receptionist which led to me bringing my case into the waiting room and canvassing her. She purchased 12 magabooks for her grandchildren for $140.00. I told her then that if at any time in the future she was to purchase the hardcover set of Bible Stories I would deduct from the price of the set $140.

    I had stopped back several times but never anyone home or else the  grandmother never came to the door.
As I was about to give up I decided to stop at the house one last time. Once again, no response. As I was getting into my vehicle I saw a pickup pull up and park in the street. It appeared from the way he was looking at me this was his house. I approached him and explained that I had sold his wife some books in the clinic and had an offer for her. He led me to the house and explained that his wife was home but does not answer the door unless she knows the people. Apparently, she did not recognize me. As we entered the house he explained a little to his wife and then I filled in the gaps.

  They were hesitant but as I continued talking interest grew enough  in the mind of the grandfather to where he said they would at least take a look. I went and got my case and returned giving them a short canvass. The wife was reserved but interest grew in her husband. When I shared with him the Great Controversy and the Bible Readings and touched on a few key points interest was rising and the husband said we'll take these. He is a former Catholic and I talked a bit about the RCC role in last day events in terms of being a key role player. He was happy to pay cash for the books and received the $140 discount , and I ended with prayer. If I would have arrived at the home 60 seconds earlier or if the husband would have come home 60 seconds later, the books would not be in their home today. How did the Lord work this out ? I do not know what happened on the other end but upon reflecting I remember  that when I left home I forgot something. It was not important enough to drive back home to get it were I very far away but being only 2 miles from home I went back. That was enough to delay me five minutes. That made the timing work at this home.

    I drove 20 miles to the next town. Books were sold to a family there several months ago. They are not a wealthy family but they had an interest in the books for their 22 year old daughter to is challenged a bit mentally. They had purchased the Bible Stories, Bedtime Stories and Great Controversy. I also showed them the Great Stories for Kids and while the daughter preferred them over the Bedtime Stories I told her that IMO the Bedtime Stories are better. The mother agreed and said maybe they would purchase the Great Stories for Kids in the future. I had stopped there a couple of times before but had not connected. Today, I parked a block away and staked the place out  doing some reading and sorting of cards etc.. After about an hour they pulled into their drive. I walked over and visited as they sat in their pickup. The mother wrote out a check for the Great Stories w the Desire of Ages. The daughter was happy to get the books.

    At another house I was able to make an appointment with a young mother who lives with her boyfriend. In five days I will make the trip back and canvass her. Only five hours of work but it was very productive work in spite of 150 miles of driving.

[newbie]

My life was threatened today:

I had my life threatened today by the husband of a woman that purchased Bible books and then did not pay for them. Basically he hates anything to do with the Bible so that includes me. It was not pretty and that is a first in 25 years of canvassing. This was on the heals of watching gruesome footage send me by a Bible worker in Zimbabwe. There is a revolution going on there and people with hands tied behind their backs are being cut to ribbons because they would not join a particular party.  Then the Lord produced a most wonderful miracle. Since I am moving, this week is my last week to do any work here. I decided to collect the Bible story books in the nearby town so I can put them to use in my new territory. I debated as to whether or not to do that but I am now certain this was the Lord's will. My last stop was at the hospital. I entered the Meditation room to find a lady in her early 60's sitting at a desk. Since there is major remodeling in the hospital they temporarily moved her office to the Meditation room. She helped me look for the Bible Story book there and then sat down at her desk. Tongue in cheek she said, I do give confessions." I knew she was kidding so brushed it off and kept talking. A second time she said, " I do confessions but I'm not Catholic. I used to be Catholic though."  I whispered back with a grin, " I used to be Catholic too." "You were,?" she continued. One thing led to another until it was very clear that we were both speaking the same language. She has converted to the Lutheran church but is not happy there. She is trying to understand Revelation. We talked for maybe 30 minutes. She is very conservative for one not of our faith, against WO and many other such things. She is very interested in last day events. A couple of hours later I brought her back a nice paperback Great Controversy as a gift and told her to begin with the chapter on Luther and then after she was sold on the book to start at the beginning and read through. This made my day !

    It was clear with me deciding to go to the hospital  and on a day when this lady was temporarily in the Meditation room, the most appropriate place in the hospital for us to talk,  the Lord worked this all out. And I was thinking of not going there again. It is amazing how many times when the devil rears his ugly head the Lord comes in and works His power. The good the bad and the ugly all in one day.

CP

[brandonthomas]

 I want to add the following 3 minute clip to the end of a powerpoint presentation with canvassing experiences. Since on a scale of 1-10 with computers I am about a 3 I have not a clue as to how to do it. Does anyone know how I can add the video clip  to my picture presentation ?

There are 2 ways by which you can add the clip to a powerpoint presentation.

1. Download the video and insert in powerpoint - You can use websites like www.savefrom.net to get the video in supported video format. You can open the slide where you want the YouTube video to be used. Go to ‘Insert’ tab and choose ‘Video’. From the drop-down menu, choose ‘Video on My PC’.

2. Insert Online Video Option in MS PowerPoint - This method is available in Microsoft PowerPoint 2016. If you have the latest version, this is the easiest way to play a YouTube video amidst your PPT presentation. Unlike the other method, you need an active internet connection for YouTube playback. The method is covered in detail here - https://www.techlila.com/how-to-embed-a-youtube-video-in-powerpoint.

Hope you find it useful

[brandonthomas]

I want to add the following 3 minute clip to the end of a powerpoint presentation with canvassing experiences. Since on a scale of 1-10 with computers I am about a 3 I have not a clue as to how to do it. Does anyone know how I can add the video clip  to my picture presentation?

[V. Hahn]

Welcome to the forum, Brandon!  Good information!