In a first for the program, 37 students across two MENA countries led their own summer of canvassing, and came back with stories of answered prayer, persistence, and God's leading
When canvassing students gathered at the Middle East University Church for a night of thanksgiving at the end of the summer, they had more than sales figures to share. They told stories of answered prayer, unexpected encounters, challenges overcome, and ways they had seen God leading them.
The summer itself began with an answer to prayer. Because the war ended in time, 37 students in two countries in MENA were able to take part in the canvassing ministry, selling books and other materials to bless others while earning money needed to continue their education.
This summer also marked a first: the entire program was led by students. In previous years, the publishing director played a more active role in the summer campaigns. But after intentionally developing student leaders, five young men and women were ready to lead four different teams. Throughout the summer, they learned to encourage others, make decisions, solve problems, and depend on God while helping their fellow students through the challenges of the work.
“I truly believe that the colporteur ministry is the best preparation for ministry,” the publishing director said, referring to Ellen White’s counsel in The Colporteur Ministry, page 57: “Educate, educate, educate young men and women to sell the books which the Lord by His Holy Spirit has stirred His servants to write…”
The publishing director himself began canvassing at age 14, motivated largely by the need to pay for school. “I did it because I wanted to study at an Adventist high school and did not have the money for it!” he recalled. “So, my drive was not the ministry, but the money.”
Sales were difficult that first summer, but that summer began to change his perspective. “Little by little, God started changing my heart and opening my eyes to see the beauty of this ministry,” he said. “Now I know that every time we have a canvassing program, this is the gift we are giving our students.”
For the students, the summer brought plenty of opportunities to put that preparation into practice. Some were nervous about how people would respond. Others struggled with shyness. Some carried the very practical concern of earning enough money to continue their education. But as they stepped out each day, they learned to pray, persevere, and look for people who were open to what they were offering.
One young man said that he came to believe he had an angel with him who went ahead to prepare the way. Another described what he did when discouragement or exhaustion set in: he would stop and pray until he felt God refreshing him and giving him strength to continue.
For one young woman, persistence paid off. People in one neighborhood told her, “You won’t sell anything here—go somewhere else.” She replied that quitting wasn’t in her job description and kept going. God led her to someone who thanked her for the work she was doing and purchased books, paying even more than she had asked.
Another student had been praying for an opportunity to have a spiritual conversation with someone from a different religious background. When the opportunity came, she took the initiative to exchange contact information so the relationship could continue.
Like their publishing director years before, some of these students began the summer thinking mostly about tuition. By the night of thanksgiving, they had experienced for themselves how meaningful this work is as a blessing to others.