Our World-Wide Testimony Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 28, 1912

Our World-Wide Testimony Meeting

Greetings for the Week of Prayer From Many Lands

Peru

A. N. ALLEN: “The laborers in Peru add their testimony to this world-wide social meeting. The sacrifices of our brethren in the home lands to maintain foreign missions have not been in vain for Peru. The offerings have been blessed, and if the givers could see the living results, I am sure they would feel grateful for the privilege of helping where God so richly blesses. New places are opening for work, and new souls are uniting with the remnant people. All are of good courage, and as busy as they can be. Pray God to send more laborers to this needy field.”

British Union

W. J. FITZGERALD: “It has been ten years since the union was organized. It started with about one thousand members. In ten years the membership has been doubled, and there are upward of two hundred fifty members toward the third thousand. The annual tithe has doubled, with about $2,000 over. The offerings to missions are six times as much now as ten years ago. The year 1912 in many ways will go down in the history of the union as a record maker. The third quarter (the last for which we have complete reports) was the best we ever had financially. It made a very good showing also in the matter of new members. Our institutions have also enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. A very earnest evangelical spirit has possessed both the laity and the workers, especially during 1912. The outlook for the rapid advancement of the work in the British Isles was never so bright. To our Father in heaven we are deeply grateful for the privilege of bearing an encouraging testimony for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.”

Keizan, Korea

R. C. WANGERIN: “It has now been just ten months since we purchased a location and moved to Keizan. At that time we were unwelcome strangers here. There was not one Sabbath-keeper in southern Korea. But the good Lord worked mightily in our behalf. Through trial, opposition, and some hard fights, the light shone, and the standard of truth is firmly planted here. Hearts have been conquered and won, and are rejoicing in the third angel’s message. We now have an organized church of thirty witnessing for God’s truth. Our Sabbath-school numbers fifty-one. These, our Korean brethren, rejoice, and unite their voices in praise and prayer with all God’s true remnant church.”

India Publishing Work

W. E. PERRIN: “We have much to be thankful for. As the result of the $300,-00 fund we have been able this year to purchase a home of our own for the Watchman Press and the India Union Mission; and by a donation from the Pacific Press we have received a new printing-press. These blessings make it possible to increase the output of literature in this land of scores of languages and millions of people. There are many trials and perplexing problems to meet, but all are glad to be able to help where help is needed.”

Honan, China

JOHN J. WESTRUP: “Devil-worship has made a deep impression on all our brethren here. The devil being able to take such complete control of mind and body, we know that God will do as much for his children. The day must be very near when he will completely fill us for service. Acts 4:31. Our one longing prayer is to be able truly to represent Christ during the few years left. When this becomes the earnest desire of every son and daughter of God, we shall see still more men and means going out to these needy mission fields. This is just what Christ is waiting for us to do. We thank God for the privilege of being coworkers with him in this most needy field. Our Chinese brethren are growing in grace, and we are all of good courage, and praising God for the precious hope in Christ. We greet you with Zeph. 3:17.”

Training College, Argentina

W. C. JOHN: “This year has been our banner year in the matter of interest and missionary spirit in the school. We have ninety-seven on the grade rolls, besides special students and the nurses. We hope that in all parts of the world our young people will step forward for service. Last Wednesday the whole school was folding and sending away papers, and I asked them if they would like to send a message of hope and cheer to all the other fields. It was unanimously voted Si [yes].”

Gopalganj, Delta of the Ganges

A. G. AND MRS. WATSON: “Our hearts are with you this week of prayer. Pray for us, and we will for you. Our courage is good.”

West Indian Union

U. BENDER: “As you gather this year in the appointed prayer season, the believers in the islands and on the mainland about the Caribbean Sea send you greetings as brethren in the Lord. Our hearts are glad as we see the message moving on. Up the rivers of the Guianas, across the mountains of Venezuela, it goes. Into the capital cities of Costa Rica and Guatemala it has found its way. From Haiti, which has been without a visible leader for over a year and a half, the report comes from the local workers that over fifty persons await baptism. In the older fields of the British colonies people are embracing the message. From Cuba and Porto Rico come cheering reports of the sale of books and papers. As you seek God at this appointed time, may your hearts be encouraged as you see the fruit of your consecration, sacrifice, and prayers for this needy field. ‘Though sundered far, by faith we meet Around one common mercy-seat.’”

Fiji Islands

A. G. STEWART: “We are glad it is a word of cheer that we can send from Fiji for the world-wide social meeting. We have had two good general meetings the past year, and have seen real victories over the attempts of the enemy to hinder the work. In one province where government laws compel every man to plant so much tobacco, and so much yangona (for native grog), our people have been granted the privilege of substituting poultry- and cattle-raising. The number of students in our training-school has increased. This week I baptized an old grandmama who is almost blind. She can tell of the old cannibal days before the gospel came. She was then a girl, and when tempted to do wrong she says she would go and hide herself. She rejoices now in the message which has found her in ripe old age. Remember Fiji.”

Swatow, China

WILL F. AND PEARL HILLS: “In joining our voices with the great chorus of missionaries, we have nothing but praise and thanksgiving to offer. This has been the fullest and best year of our lives. We have never regretted for one minute that we answered the call to China. Although alone with the millions who speak this dialect, we know that He is mighty who has said the work shall be finished; and daily we have the assurance that he is with us. We are getting ready to open a girls’ school. There will be about twenty-five to begin with. God alone knows how happy we are to be able to make this start, even though in rented quarters. We have to send the boys away to school, where they have to learn a new dialect. This is a hardship to us, but we are sure that it will not always be thus. God, whose work this is, will surely give us a school where we can train our boys to carry this message quickly. We can never do this without an army of workers, and to-day we do not have them even in training. We have only six evangelists. We shall continue to pray until this great need is supplied. We trust you will remember Swatow, and our needs in opening up this district.”

Bastoland, South Africa

H. C. OLMSTEAD: “The Emmanuel Mission sends greetings to the home lands, and requests to be remembered in prayer. We realize we must have the earnest prayers of God’s remnant people. Then we know the means and the recruits will come to press the battle against entrenched heathenism. One can not sincerely pray for the dark foreign fields, and withhold his means or even himself. Some here are breaking the bonds of heathenism, and are proving loyal to God even in persecution. One look into the peaceful face of a native woman who was often beaten, twice driven from home, and who is now hiding in exile for Christ’s sake, would convince all that missions pay. We are glad God called us here, and are happy in the blessed privilege of giving the last message to these needy people.”

Lake Titicaca Indian Mission, Peru

F. A. STAHL: “The work is onward here. Everywhere we meet persons ready for the message. The Lord has given the light that poor, benighted man may find the way to salvation. Many are coming into the fold of Christ. God has done so much for us and the people here. We are of good courage, and our faith is strong. We believe the battle will soon be over. Brethren, pray for us that we may continue loyal to the end.”

MRS. ANNA STAHL (whom the Lord recently raised up from illness when physicians said there was no hope): “Dear brethren and sisters: I am glad for another opportunity to bear my testimony. God has done so much for me. It was with increased joy that I returned to my work among the Indians. I love this work. I believe time is short, that Jesus is soon coming; but it seems that there is still much to be done. Remember me, with these people, in your prayers.”

Changsha, Hunan

C. P. AND MRS. LILLIE: “The prosperity of the message in south central China gives us great joy and courage. God is blessing the seed sowing. Greater than human agencies are at work. The work is developing here miraculously. Many are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Some have been thrown into prison. Pray for the saints among the Chinese, that their faith fail not.”

Lucknow, India

S. A. WELLMAN: “God has been good to us in India. Three years we have been here, and in those three years we have seen great forward strides taken in spite of the smallness of the company of workers. Within that time the native vernacular papers have been increased from one to three, with another in preparation for this year. A book of Bible readings is nearly complete, and has been translated into five languages. Numerous other tracts and pamphlets have been issued. All five divisions of the field have their evangelistic, school, and dispensary centers. Our English papers have tripled in circulation. A school for the children of the workers has been established. Truly, brethren, even in this stronghold of heathenism we can see the signs of a rapidly finishing work.”

Finland

L. MUDERSPACH: “It is with the greatest joy that I give my testimony concerning the blessings wherewith the Lord has blessed our work in Finland. It is in every way the best year we have ever had. We have organized three new churches. We have twice as many canvassers as last year, and the books are being sold readily. We shall send eleven young people to the school in Sweden this year, and hope that we shall get some new workers from among them. Three of them have been teachers in the public schools. All the workers are of good courage. The name of the Lord be glorified!”

South China Mission

GEORGE HARLOW: “We see signs of progress in this field. It seems that after the rebellion the people are more eager to hear of God and his love than ever before. Our workers are kept very busy, not looking for opportunities, but trying to fill the constant demands. We believe it to be only the mighty working of the Spirit of God. Last night I was compelled to sit up till after eleven, to explain our doctrine to a number of Chinese who were intensely interested in the Word. As I meditate upon these things, my heart goes out to God in praise and thankfulness for the privilege of being a helper in his vineyard. In August our hearts were made sad by the death of our sister and fellow worker, Gertrude Thompson. She was about to take up work in the Bethel school, where we needed her help very much. We can not understand why the Lord allowed this to be, but we trust that he will fill the broken ranks, and that the good work she has left may be carried on, and the day hastened when the Master shall break the power of the tomb and set captives free.”

Java, East Indies

GEORGE AND ANNA WOOD: “Though visible results are few here, we experience the blessings of the Lord in our labors, and earnestly pray that the perplexities may serve but to drive each of us more often to the Fountain of wisdom and might. From a business standpoint this city of Surabaya is the most flourishing in all Java. We find the people’s minds absorbed in the pursuit of gain on the one hand, while on the other hand luxury or pleasure is the chief object of their lives. We want, as Noah did in his day, patiently and faithfully to warn the people that the end of all things is at hand, and in the glad time of the harvest to rejoice with you that our names are written in heaven, and that we have been instrumental in helping others to have their names written there also.”

Fatshan, South China

E. H. WILBUR: “Ten years ago today, on the Iowa camp-ground, the money was contributed which enabled my wife and myself to come to China. Truly the Lord has been good to us, and we rejoice as we see the progress of the message in this land and in all the world. Since our return from furlough in America last year, I have had the privilege of baptizing twenty-four precious converts. Last week I took a subscription for our Chinese Signs of the Times from a man who said he had been in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco, and had never met a Seventh-day Adventist before.”

Bahia, Brazil

JOHN LIPKE: “The believers in the East Brazil Mission are on the firing line, and expect to stay there. Always forward, and never backward, is our aim until the loud cry of the message is heard in every corner of our great field. We baptized forty-six persons in the first half of this year, and many more are waiting to take the same step. We have

a foothold now in the state of Rio Grande do Norte; and a very earnest man from the state of Para, by the mouth of the Amazon, is here in Bahia attending an institute. He will return to push the truth in those regions of the north. The Lord is working for us, and in his truth we triumph.”

Wales

H. E. ARMSTRONG: “Our people in Wales join with you in praising God for the glorious light of the third angel’s message. The truth is spreading over the hills and valleys of Wales, and now from north and south, and even from the very bowels of the earth [the deep-level coal-mines] the voice of praise is heard. We look forward to the joyful day when the whole family of God shall gather before his throne, representing every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”

Garhwal Hills, Himalayas

L. J. BURGESS: “We are glad to join again in the world-wide social meeting. The year has been filled with endeavor to kindle the light among the hill tribes of north India. It has been our privilege to give the word of truth to about sixty intelligent Hindu boys from day to day in our school. We have not yet begun to reap the increase, but we shall continue to sow in faith, believing that a harvest will come in due season. We ask you to make the work among the Garhwali people of north India a definite and frequent subject of prayer.”