There’s a new glow on the faces of church members. In Ceres, Clovis and Merced, adults are rediscovering the joy of spreading God’s Word through free literature. “Even my brand new members are excited about this,” says Clovis Pastor Dale Leamon.

So are “old” members. Millie Brown, from Ceres, is a life-long Adventist. She and two others set up a table at a local Wal-Mart offering free literature and books to interested shoppers. “I thought it was exciting,” she says. “People would say, ‘This is a wonderful thing that you are doing.'”

Chris Poulin, a contractor and a five-year new member of the Merced Bethel church, recently got involved. “It’s a powerful and life-changing experience to share God’s Word,” he says.

GLOW (Giving Light to Our World) was launched in September 2007. The well-qualified trainers are Nelson Ernst and Heidi Bryant, associate and assistant literature ministries directors. Both have been student literature evangelists, leaders in summer programs, Souls West graduates, and Bible workers.

“Nelson and Heidi are breathless from chasing GLOW,” says Bill Krick, literature evangelism director for the Central California Conference, about the large response. Sixty-one enthusiastic adults from only two churches came to the first GLOW rally for training. (Merced Bethel members also recently joined.)

GLOW has four levels from which participants may choose:

#1 Literature evangelism as a lifestyle – getting literature in people’s hand wherever you go.

#2 Going in pairs door-to-door handing out free literature and praying with people.

#3 Selling Magabooks door-to-door for donations to a local community project.

#4 Selling Big Books door-to-door – an advanced level.

Heidi Prewitt heard about GLOW at church from Ernst and Bryant. Inspired, she joined the afternoon training. “I realized what a chicken I’ve been. There’s a world out there needing to hear,” she says. “I’m a level one, taking literature with me everywhere I go like the grocery store or gas station.”

Sons Timothy and Stuart Prewitt, ages 17 and 14 respectively, are at level two. They go out door-to-door every Sabbath afternoon. “They are hooked and can’t get enough of it!” Prewitt says.

Back to the Beginning

“This is a huge repeat of The Home Missionary and Tract Society,” explains Nelson Ernst, GLOW director. “By 1884, 40 percent of all Adventists were regularly distributing literature as part of their lifestyle. God has brought literature evangelism full circle.”

The society had its informal beginnings in 1867 with a group of four dedicated women. Pioneer S. N. Haskel helped the ladies organize in 1871 and soon other congregations formed their own tract societies. With Ellen White’s encouragement, the association of tract societies grew all through the denomination. The original Adventist Book Centers served as depositories where members picked up literature.

The idea for an adult literature evangelism ministry in Central came from Larry Carter, director of literature ministries for the Pacific Union. “God had given us a miraculous camp meeting evangelism offering of more than $3 million, and we’re seeking God’s leading for these sacred funds,” President Jerry Page says.

Krick, Ernst and Bryant began reading Colporteur Ministry and asking questions like “What do we distribute?” The Pocket Signs were ideal for free distribution. They chose four topics: The Second Coming, Daniel Chapter 2, Sabbath, and Does God Care That I’m Hurting?

Two-hundred thousand were ordered with the GLOW contact information on the back. With a cost of 3 cents each (thanks to a subsidy from the evangelism offering), church members can buy 1,000 for $30. “Church members like them because they are so easy to carry,” Ernst explains.

Divine Appointments

Deborah Holland leaves a Pocket Signs everywhere she goes. “We may not be people who like to speak out but there are other ways,” she says. Recently she noticed a fellow classmate reading her Bible and bravely asked her if she wanted Bible studies. “Thank you, thank you!” was the enthusiastic response.

Poulin, who keeps the Pocket Signs in his truck, is learning to pray for divine appointments each week. Out of the blue his uncle recently asked him how to pray. “God will send you to people,” he says.

Timothy Prewitt loves apartment complexes because “there are so many doors.” He struck up a conversation with one woman that lasted for two hours and included four prayer times. “This is a divine thing!” she told him. “Please come back.” On his next visit, she asked if his church had a mid-week meeting, and Prewitt quickly offered to pick her up.

At the grocery store, Brown struck up a conversation with another shopper. When she offered the lady a piece of literature, her response was “Oh, goody! We are studying Revelation at my church.”

“God asks us, ‘Are you willing to let Me use you?’” says Bryant. Ernst believes anyone can do it. “If you can bend your elbow and extend your hand, you can do literature evangelism,” he says. For more information about GLOW, go to www.goglow.org or e-mail contact@goglow.org.