here are dozens of Adventist churches in the metropolitan area where I live. And throughout the year those congregations provide an impressive array of outreach offerings. There's an abundance of musical concerts, evangelistic series, classes and seminars on vegetarian cooking, quitting smoking, Bible prophecies, physical fitness, grief recovery, parenting, marriage, divorce recovery, estate planning; and social activities such as basketball, baseball, volleyball, etc. Each of these activities can be an avenue for church members to reach out and establish relationships with people in need of instruction, support, and friendship. I support them all.

But underlying all this activity is the assumption that in order to be touched by our ministries, people have to respond to an invitation to a particular ministry "event." Beyond that is the implication that ministry happens only at set times--Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00, or Sabbath afternoons from 3:00 to 5:00, for example.

Contrast this with Jesus' ministry methods. I don't recall that Jesus ever said, "I'm going to be down by the shore at 3:00, telling stories about God's kingdom. Bring your friends; refreshments will be served."

Instead, Jesus' ministry method was captured by Ellen White with these simple and familiar words: "The Saviour mingled with men [and women] as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, 'Follow Me'" (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143).

Whereas most of our ministries are invitational, Christ's ministry was incarnational. There's a big difference. "The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us," wrote the apostle John. "We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).* Jesus didn't wait for people to come to Him; He went to them. He didn't confine His ministry to certain times and places specifically set aside for outreach; He demonstrated heaven's principles in every encounter, every setting. His every statement about God was reinforced by an appropriate ministry action.

This is a lesson we would do well to learn. Our Adventist culture puts a premium on transmitting information: The seventh day is the Sabbath. Jesus is coming again. Physical health and spiritual health are interrelated. Death is a state of unconsciousness. For transmitting information, meetings, seminars, and workshops work fine. And given our history of broadcast, print, and satellite ministries, it gives the impression that communicating information is best left to professionals.

But in a society drowning on information overload, it may be that how we live makes more of a statement than what we say. It may also be that ministering to people where they are is preferable to waiting for them to come to us.

When we say Jesus' ministry was incarnational, we're saying that He was God "in the flesh." He said as much when He said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus wasn't loving, gracious, thoughtful, and forgiving only in public; He was that way all the time. In fact, some of the most sublime moments recorded in the Gospels show Jesus reflecting God's character in private, intimate settings.

I support all the creative ways our Adventist congregations are trying to meet the needs of the communities in which they are located. But I wonder if our influence couldn't be expanded if we were more deliberate in mingling with others in more casual, ordinary settings.

Do our neighbors and the people at work see Christ's character in us? Are we loving, gracious, patient, and kind? Do we participate in community activities and events? Do we welcome new families to the neighborhood? Do we respond in appropriate ways to celebrations such as births, graduations, or weddings? Can we be counted on in times of illness or bereavement?

If the answer to those questions is yes, then we can expect what we say to impact those who hear it. If the answer's no, then it doesn't matter what we say.

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*Scripture references in this editorial are from the New International Version.

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Stephen Chavez is managing editor of the Adventist Review.