p. 13 | A Good Sabbath With the Kafirs by W. B. WHITE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

A Good Sabbath With the Kafirs

By W. B. WHITE

W. B. WHITE

SABBATH, July 10, was a good day among the Kafirs of South Africa. For a number of years our Maranatha Mission, located about twelve miles from the Kafir reserve, has maintained a school for them. This school has been quite successful, as have also two or three outschools located in Kafirland. Through the influence of these schools and the labors of our teachers and evangelists, both white and native, a goodly number of these heathen Kafirs have become Christians and accepted present truth.

A few months ago many of them were what is known as Red Kafirs, called this from the fact that they are always dressed in orange-colored clothing, and cover their bodies with a red-clay ocher, which gives them a rather wild and hideous appearance. These Red Kafirs are not easily reached with the gospel, preferring to follow their old heathen customs. All denominations have found it very difficult to get them to yield to the claims of Christianity, but God is working among them by his Spirit, and some are opening their hearts to the reception of truth.

Our native church at Maranatha had attained a membership of one hundred and twenty-five members, the most of these being native brethren and sisters living on the reserve. At each quarterly meeting they had been very faithful in attending the services and taking part in the ordinances, but many could not walk the long distance of twelve miles; and as the Lord had given us some leading men among them who could act as church officers, it seemed to us that the time had come to organize a church among them, and to lay its burdens and work largely upon them. With such an organization, we felt that they would develop faster than under entirely white supervision.

At a meeting of the Maranatha church, seventy of these native believers asked for letters to form a church in their own land. Sabbath, July 10, we all went down from the mission to organize this company of believers. The day was beautiful, and at this service, coming just at the close of our Kafir Bible school, all our native and white workers in the country were present. There was no room large enough to hold the congregation, so the meeting was held outside in the open. Under a small tree was placed the little pulpit and the chair for the preacher, with other seats near for the visitors. Bringing their mats from their huts and spreading them on the ground, our native people sat on these during the service. It was a unique and interesting sight to see this large crowd of people so recently sitting in the darkness of heathenism, now clothed and listening eagerly to the word of God.

The writer brought before them the responsibilities and duties of the members of Christ's church, their obligations to God and to one another, after which a church of seventy members was organized, called the Temba Seventh-day Adventist Church. Three elders were elected, two native and one European, also a deacon, a clerk, and a treasurer, and all were duly ordained to their several offices. After the business was transacted, the native believers formed in line, and, passing before the elders and visiting evangelists, were given the hand of fellowship.

Near the close of the service we noticed a small company of native women sitting a little apart from the rest. These had not yet yielded to the claims of the gospel. A call was then made for any who had never yielded to God to do so, and we rejoiced to see two arise and with weeping give themselves to Christ. Angels of God were surely present to witness this scene, and it was good to be there. How good it does seem to labor among this needy people! How happy they seem in their new-found faith! and how they rejoice that God has sent them the light! It surely is a joy to work with and for them. This is probably the largest native church ever organized in Africa, and we trust it may be a faithful, working church, and bring many to a knowledge of the truth.

God is working in this great black belt of South Africa, and our union conference is now laying plans to push the work in the Kafir nation as never before. God has blessed the work we have undertaken among this people, and with courage we shall endeavor to press forward until all this nation of a million and a half have an opportunity to hear the glad tidings of the soon-coming Saviour.