Brazilian Workers’ Meeting by F. W. Spies

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1914

Brazilian Workers’ Meeting

By F. W. Spies

On the first of January, at Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, began the workers’ meeting for the Brazilian Union Conference, and continued until the nineteenth. This year (1914) is the twentieth anniversary of our missionary operations in Brazil; and as we look back over the twenty years of effort in this vast country and remember the many struggles in the beginning, when workers were few and the calls from many states were urgent, it is certainly a cause for thankfulness and encouragement to see almost fifty workers present at the meeting, and to remember that fifteen faithful canvassers are yet in the field, thus raising the number of those who are devoting their lives to the promulgation of this message in Brazil to sixty-five.

Then, too, this workers’ meeting was the first of its kind, for never before have so many of the workers of our union been together for so long a time. It is no small expense to get them together from so many far-away fields, but we believe it is money well invested, giving greater efficiency and impetus to our work. A further result of the workers’ meeting will be greater unity in plans and methods of work, which of course also brings greater strength.

Of the forty-eight present, twenty-five are evangelical workers, and twenty-three are canvassers or those who are preparing to enter the work. There is manifest on the part of all a general good will and willingness to gain a better preparation for the work.

In connection with the workers’ meeting, we are conducting a series of public meetings, which are well attended. Last Sunday evening five hundred persons listened to a health talk, and showed the very best attention. Even rainy weather did not hinder. Every evening the tent is full of people to whom we preach the message, and these experiences seem to indicate that there is a great future before us in the tent work in this country.

May the Lord give power from on high to finish the work soon, is our prayer.

F. W. SPIES.