The Work Among the Jews by F. C. Gilbert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 24, 1908

The Work Among the Jews

By F. C. Gilbert

THE work among these people is attended with many perplexities and obstacles. During the twenty years of our experience in Christian work we can truly say there is no branch of the work that we can compare to this work. It really is without any parallel, because of the attitude of the Jews toward Christianity.

But despite all the hard problems, despite all the trying experiences, we know that God is able to soften the heart of the Jew, and lead him to find Jesus. We can see that where we are sowing the seed, and where we are coming in contact with the Jews, the Holy Spirit is softening their hearts, and they are beginning to regard the gospel we preach in a different light.

Even before we closed the mission in the quarters we occupied in Boston the early part of this year, the Jews were discriminating between us and other Christians. We were known as the Sabbath-keeping Christians, while they called the others the Sunday Christians. At first, it was hard for the Jews to believe that we really kept the Sabbath; but when the truth dawns upon their minds, they begin to see that they are the Gentiles, and we are the Jews. We are sure that these experiences have their effect, and the Holy Spirit will use them to the glory of God.

Many of the Jews who accepted the truth passed through very severe and trying experiences. Some of them suffered hunger. We felt that we ought to have a place of refuge for such persons. The Lord opened the way for us to secure such a place in the old historic town of Concord, Mass. Since the place was opened, we have had over twenty Jews, including children, and we believe that it was a wise thing to secure just such a place.

We have a place of eighty acres, fifty of which are tillable. We have made some improvements, and a number of others ought to be made. We are praying for means for this purpose.

This fall we started a church-school, and at the present time we have seven Jews in the school. I suppose this is the first Jewish Christian school of this kind in the country. The progress these children and young people are making is truly remarkable. The Holy Spirit has come into the school, and hearts have yielded to him. As they learn about the truth, they come to love it as their fathers did in days of old; and we believe, as the Testimonies have said, that many Jews will yet yield to Christ.

At the present time, we have eight in the Home. The assistant matron, Sister Anna Vanderbilt, a Jewess, is doing an excellent work for those whom she has in charge.

A few weeks ago we opened a new mission in another section of Boston, within two blocks of about forty thousand Jews. We have been holding many open-air meetings with them, and they now receive us very cordially. We have an attendance of many hundreds at each meeting, and we can see the workings of the Holy Spirit. We are more and more convinced that this open-air work among the Jews will yet accomplish great good.

The outlook at the new mission quarters is quite encouraging, but we desire to enlarge our borders, and reach many thousands more. We trust our people everywhere will do what they can to give their Jewish friends and neighbors tracts, New Testaments, and other literature. Any wishing a supply should send to Good Tidings Home, Concord, Mass., and they will receive literature for the Jews. Do this, and we know the Lord will bless you.

We are also in need of assistance to finish the work at the Home in Concord. If the Holy Spirit impresses you to assist in this work, please send any remittance for that purpose to H. B. Tucker, Secretary Central New England Conference, stating that it is for the Home for Poor Jews. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for “they shall prosper that love thee.” F. C. GILBERT.