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Verse:“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.” —John 9:4, NASB
Famous people are still human, with their own feelings and spiritual needs. But conventional outreach methods might not always work with them as well as one would expect. One of the best methods is to discreetly care for them when they are facing an existential crisis. Diana, Princess of Wales, was in much turmoil while the media was exposing her private life. In October 1994, she even went to Washington, DC, for a weekend with her close friend and “second mother,” Lucia Martins Flecha de Lima, wife of the Brazilian ambassador to the United States.
Concerned with the whole situation and owing to our own Brazilian citizenship, my wife and I sent a gift copy of Ellen White’s book The Desire of Ages and a caring letter to Diana. A month later, Maureen A. Stevens, a clerk from the Prince of Wales’s office, sent us a short letter expressing the Princess’s gratitude for our letter and enclosure and extending “her best wishes.” The world was shocked when the news reported that Diana died in a terrible car accident in Paris, France, at around two o’clock in the morning on Sunday, August 31, 1997. We do not know whether she ever read the book we sent her.
Maybe not. But we did our best at a time when she was more likely to be receptive to gestures of appreciation and care.
According to Christ’s own words, we should work “as long as it is day,” for “night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4, NASB).
In reality, “every year millions upon millions of human souls are passing into eternity unwarned and unsaved. From hour to hour in our varied life opportunities to reach and save souls are opened to us. These opportunities are continually coming and going. God desires us to make the most of them. Days, weeks, and months are passing; we have one day, one week, one month less in which to do our work.” In proclaiming the everlasting gospel, we should not only take advantage of the opportunities that already exist but also create new opportunities to witness about our faith.
The apostle Paul even requested an opportunity to preach to the Roman emperor (Acts 25:1–12). Like him, we should try to reach the most influential people in our society.