Recently we held a Canvassing Weekend. It was a blessed time and here is an experience of a resolute young canvasser…

On the 30th of October, a beautiful and peaceful Sunday, myself, and a team of missionaries joined together at Kalkallo’s Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement church to practice canvassing.

I was hesitant about going especially considering there were not many youth planning to go, but the Holy Spirit was convicting me to go. We started by learning how to canvass: what to say, do, what we will give out, and most importantly discussed WHY canvassing should be a high priority.

I learnt from Brother Jacob De Souza that we are called to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) which practically means we are called to gather and bring people into the truth of the gospel. “If Christ saw that the souls of men were so precious that he could leave the royal courts and humble himself to humanity, in order to help man in his darkness, and to finally die for him, how ought we to feel for one another who have been made subjects of the grace of God, and partakers of this great salvation. I say to you, my brethren, in the fear of God, that we do not place a just estimate upon souls for whose redemption Christ paid so great a price. Christ and angels are ready to work with our efforts, if we will work with love, simplicity, and faith.” (TrueMiss January 1, 1874, par.12) This is our daily purpose as Christians.

Hearing about why we canvass is what brought me to come to church that Sunday, it put a responsibility in my heart.

I felt excited as I had this desire to fulfil a role that was so important to God, but mostly I couldn’t stop my anxiety as I thought “what if people reject us” or “what will people think of me”?

To rid myself of these thoughts, I prayed that God would give me strength to put away thoughts which are not from Him and ask for guidance and comfort as my nerves grew increasingly as the time to start approached.

I have done canvassing in the past, but it never seems to get easier for me. Together with Kalo, Vanilla-Rose and Hannah, I felt the pressure as I was the one in the group with experience and would have to lead out a good example.

Before visiting each door, sadly I would feel concerned that people would look at me in a negative light and often would feel embarrassed, but through God’s grace and mercy I put those thoughts aside and kept reminding and repeating that this is my purpose and although the people I meet might not appreciate us, we know we are all in need of a Saviour.

So, before each house we prayed, and we were so blessed! Of course, not everyone was interested, but we were able to give out books, raise donations, invitations to upcoming events and even receive a desire to have bible studies! Praise God!

Overall, I believe that no matter how many times I canvass I will always feel nervous, but I do believe the more I do it, the stronger the desire I will have that in cooperation with God, despite my anxiety, I will love to reach out to others in the hope of bringing even just one genuine soul to the renewing power of Jesus’ Salvation, the only Salvation in this world.

Victoria K