They know what they’re talking about—

1. "Evangelism and soul winning is not a department of the church; it is the LIFE of the church. Either a church has life or it doesn’t. And small groups are not a program of the church; they are a LIFESTYLE for a church that wants to grow." —Melchor Ferreyra, president of the Adventist Church in Peru, one of the fastest growing fields in the world (in April he became Executive Secretary of the South American Division)

2. "Each church needs to be an evangelistic organization that does church well rather than a church that does evangelism and soul winning every few years" —Bill McClendon, South Tulsa Adventist Fellowship pastor, one of the fastest growing English-speaking Adventist churches in North America. Every year every one of the 100,000+ homes in Tulsa receives at least five invitations to Bible meetings held by the church. Every new member is immediately involved in ministry and helps with a reaping series within a few months of being baptized.

3. “In the Old Testament times, the people of God followed the Sabbatical year cycle—six years of work then rest on the seventh. Unfortunately, many North American Adventist churches today follow the reverse Sabbatical cycle—six years of rest and then some evangelistic effort the seventh. Often they find it is so hard or frustrating that they wait another seven years before they try it again.” —Ramon Canals, NPUC evangelist and assistant to the president for Hispanic Ministries

4. “The character and importance of our work are judged by the efforts made to bring it before the public. When these efforts are so limited, the impression is given that the message we present is not worthy of notice” (Evangelism, p. 128.2). —Ellen G. White, who personally helped start Adventist work on three continents

5. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). —Jesus Christ