Agents of Change

Agent (a’jent) n. [ME<Lat.} 1. One that acts or has the authority to act. 2. One that acts as the representative of another.

Acts 1:8 states: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”

The Church has always had rules of engagement and ‘agents’ to unite and embrace the charge.

The blueprint to move the Word of God across nations and even the world has been taken very seriously by those who have accepted the ‘mission’ as God’s prophets, preachers, teachers, evangelists, and  like-agents.  Dedicated men, women, and children have always been  clear that there was indeed a ‘mission’, and that that ‘mission’ is a direct command from God.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in   the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” Matt. 28:18

It does not matter the era, century, ethnic back      ground, age, or political climate permeating the mindset of the Christian community.  Each century and era has given birth to unsurmountable challenges for those who chose to embrace the rules of engagement of the Church —seemingly going against the government or popular opinion of the day, even in the face of hardship and death.

Ask History about the Christians who were thrown to the lions or those who burned at the stake.  Obedience often meant extreme hardship or loss of life.

The list is vast of ‘agents of change’: Elijah, David, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Simon of Cyrene, Paul, John the Revelator, Turning to modern-day History and Herstory there was William Ellis Foy, Ellen White, James White, Sojourner Truth, Anna Knight, C. E. Bradford, E.E. Cleveland J. L. Moran, J. K. Humphrey, Lottie Blake, Eva B. Dykes, Rosa Banks, Frederick Douglass,  a prominent Black Abolitionist, Statesman, and Humanitarian was acquainted with the Second Coming and other Adventist teachings.  He was a member of the Millerite Society; and the list is endless.  In whatever way they were appointed and anointed to do God’s will, all immersed in self-abnegation as ‘agents’ for the cause.  Thank God for this great Truth and Mission; and thank God for the ‘agents of change’ who answered the call!.

P. E. Thompson