Personal Ministries Department

The Personal Ministries Department provides resources and trains church members to unite their efforts with the ministry and church officers in the final proclamation of the gospel of salvation in Christ. The aim of the department is to enlist every member in active soul-winning service for God. The Department works closely with the other church departments to assist in their evangelistic efforts.

History of the Department of Personal Ministries

As soon as God's remnant church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, came into existence, the Department of Personal Ministries became a natural part of this living and witnessing church. First, in 1869, it was called, "The Vigilant Missionary Society". A year later, as the activities expanded and the work grew, it became, "The Missionary and Tract Society." In 1874, as part of the General Conference organization, it was named, "The General Conference Tract and Missionary Society of the Seventh-day Adventists." The work then reached across the seas and continents and in 1882 the name; "The International Tract Society" was adopted.
At the General Conference session in 1918 the department was renamed, "The Home Missionary Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists."

At the 1966 General Conference session the General Conference Home Missionary Department became the Lay Activities Department. In 1985, the Lay Activities Department became a part of the Church Ministries infrastructure.

The title Personal Ministries began to be used by some fields and was later officially adopted in 1995. Soon after in the same year it joined the Sabbath School Department at the Conference/Mission/Union/ Division levels. However, it is a separate department at the local church level.

Objectives of Personal Ministries

The personal Ministries Department was established as a major setting for soul winning activities in the Church. It exists to teach and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in response to the command of Jesus, in context of the three angels' messages of Revelation 14:6-12. The Personal Ministries Department continues to communicate the good news with the objective to win, hold and train for Jesus, men, women and youth to become soul winner themselves.

Current initiatives

Street meetings
Small group ministry
Monthly fasting and prayer sessions

Evangelism year plan-2009

First Quarter - "Pentecost and More" 2009 Emphasis

Fasting and prayer - January 14th
Prayer walks January 17th
Shortwood Road & Shortwood Avenue January 31st
Castle Heights & Barbican Square
Visitation & Tract distribution
Fasting and Prayer - February 1st
Street Meetings February 1-15, Sun-Mon-Tue
Shortwood Road & Shortwood Avenue
Castle Heights & Barbican Square
Church Crusade
February 22nd - March 22nd

Second Quarter -Personal evangelism

Evangelism training
Fasting & prayer - twice per month
Spring week of prayer
Visitation &Tract distribution
Crusade follow-up
Health Seminar -April 19- May 3
Membership conservation emphasis
Institution ministry

Third Quarter- Youth evangelism

Evangelism training
Fasting & prayer - twice per month
Visitation &Tract distribution
Youth Crusade (July 4 - August 2)
Membership nurture
Membership conservation emphasis
Institution ministry

Fourth Quarter - Consolidation

Evangelism training
Bible Seminar
Fasting & prayer - twice per month
Harvest Ingathering
Visitation &Tract distribution
Fall Week of prayer & revival
Membership conservation emphasis
Institution ministry