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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 4, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 1.

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North Carolina

By Geo. M. Brown

More than thirty years ago some papers mailed by a sister in New York State were blessed of God in bringing the advent message to some brethren living in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Since then the standard of present truth has never been lowered in the old North State. For years there was little work done, and not much progress was made until 1900, when the mission field of North and South Carolina was organized into a conference.
The North Carolina Conference as a separate organization dates from 1906, when reports show that it contained about three hundred Sabbath-keepers. The State extends five hundred twenty miles, from the Atlantic on the east to the Appalachian Mountains on the west, having an area of more than fifty-two thousand square miles, and a population of 2,206,287.
The faithful brethren who have labored in the conference have been few in numbers, and have had but little money with which to prosecute the work; but the seed-sowing has been done, and now the harvest is being gathered.
Since the camp-meeting in August seventy persons have been baptized and united with our churches. The calls for laborers to present the message in places where interests exist and the truth is not known, are manyfold more than we can possibly fill. Seeing our great need, the General and union conference brethren have approved of our request for another minister, and we expect that he will soon be in the field.
North Carolina offers an unsurpassed field for those who wish to sell our books. A careful comparison of reports from all over the United States shows that the average canvasser in North Carolina took more orders in the month of September than the average canvasser in any other conference. Our best agent will deliver about $1,500 worth of books in 1911. We have four men who have delivered more than $1,000 worth of books this year.
Many are now rejoicing in the truth as a result of the books sold by our canvassers. The book work in North Carolina is a success, and yet it is far short of what it might be if we had more workers. We shall deliver about $9,000 worth of books, but it could be $20,000 if we had more agents, for there is no lack of territory.
Our people are poor, yet God has prospered them in a financial way, and there has been a steady growth in the tithe and offerings to missions.
We now have in successful operation, in different parts of the State, five church-schools, in which one hundred children are receiving the benefits of a Christian education.
Openings exist everywhere for self-supporting missionaries to do a great work as medical missionaries, colporteurs, carpenters, farmers, etc. The South has long been known as a neglected and needy field, but it is also a fruitful field. The harvest is ripe. Where are the reapers?
Pray that the Lord of the harvest send forth reapers; and as you pray, listen to see if he will not call you to go.
(GEO. M. BROWN.)