Alabama by A. L. MILLER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1915

Alabama

By A. L. MILLER

THUS far the year 1915 has seen a steady, healthy growth in almost every branch of the work in the Alabama Conference and Negro Mission Department. During the winter and spring the laborers were busily engaged in visiting the churches and companies, encouraging and strengthening the believers, and also in answering calls for meetings in new places. The services held with the churches were much appreciated, and the believers were strengthened by additions to their numbers; but the greatest strength came when, their attention being called to the responsibility resting upon them for the salvation of their neighbors, they began to do home missionary work. We hope to see this part of the work greatly strengthened, as at our late camp meeting we placed the burden of the home missionary work upon one of our ordained ministers.

During the summer two tent meetings were held, one for the white people and one for the colored. The former was in charge of Elder R. I. Keate, and was held in Birmingham; the latter was held in Mobile, in charge of Elder J. G. Dasent. Both these meetings were blessed of God, and resulted in several accepting the truth. It is encouraging to compare the work in soul saving for the last three years, from camp meeting to camp meeting. The new converts added to the churches are as follows: From August, 1912, to August, 1913, 55 white and 45 colored; from August, 1913, to August, 1914, 72 white and 30 colored; from August, 1914, to August, 1915, 88 white and 45 colored. Since camp meeting this year, not quite two months from this writing, 36 white persons and 16 colored have joined the churches, making a total of 52 accessions in less than two months.

The colporteur work is this year being placed upon a more solid basis. We are getting a much better class of workers in the field. While the orders will not run so high this year as last year, the per cent of delivery will be much better. This is an encouragement to the workers, and will prove a great aid to the work. The future looks bright for this branch of the work.

The Sabbath school department presents a good front. This is seen in the increase of scholars, and also in the increase of offerings to missions. This year the Sabbath school more than doubled its offerings at both the conference and mission camp meetings. Still, last year there was given the largest offering in the history of either the conference or the mission. The figures are: Camp meeting of 1914 — conference, $42.06; mission, $8. Camp meeting of 1915 — conference, $102; mission, $26.62.

The tithe of the conference has been as follows: For the year 1912, $3,700; 1913, $4,800; 1914, $6,000. This year, we believe, will not fall behind last year.

We are now busily engaged in the Harvest Ingathering campaign. A good interest is awakened all over the State in this year's campaign. We have set our goal at five dollars a member, and a number are reaching the goal.

The prospect for the future of the work in Alabama is good. We ask an interest in your prayers for the work in this State. A. L. MILLER.