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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 6, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 32.

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Kentucky

By B. W. BROWN

The outlook in this conference is very encouraging for the giving of the message. The Spirit of God has gone out to the homes of the people, and they are inquiring for the truth that will save their souls. The canvassing work has made advancement, and as the faithful colporteurs have gone from door to door leaving the printed page, the hearts of the people have been stirred as they have read the books; and then they desire a minister to come and teach them from the pulpit. Thus calls are being received from all parts of the conference for meetings to be held; but as our working force is small, we are compelled to let many of them wait. It seems cruel to put them off for months when they say, “Can’t you spare one minister for this needy place?”
Our work is progressing in the city of Louisville, where Elder R. S. Lindsay has charge of the work among the white people, and Elder J. H. Lawrence oversight of that among the colored people. Both churches are growing rapidly. Thirty persons have been baptized during the past five months. We have two tent meetings in progress at present, with attendance running from three hundred and fifty to seven hundred each night at both tents. Truly God is moving upon the hearts of men to hear the truth for this time.
We have also opened up work in Covington, where Brethren W. H. White and O. A. Dow are holding a tent effort. Several in that city have decided to obey the truth.
Our work has also spread out to the hills and mountains of Kentucky. We now have believers located in all parts of the section where the outlaws have been operating. I made a trip recently on mule back and on foot across five counties where there are no railroads. On this trip, I found the people anxious to hear the truth. Brother and Sister Dow had been laboring in this section, and at one place we organized a church of nineteen members. These people love the truth, and will sacrifice to help forward the message; but they are very poor, and it is a common thing for their children to go barefooted all winter. So we can expect only a small amount of help from them, as there is no way for them to earn money. There are many thousands of this class, yet we feel that their souls are precious in God’s sight. We have companies of believers where other denominations have tried to build up work and have failed. They ask how we are able to hold our companies together. The only answer is, The truth holds them. I was indeed glad to be able to add twenty-nine persons to the church on my trip through the hills. People would come for miles to attend the meetings we held. From all over the hill country the cry is coming, “Send some one to teach us.”
Only the Lord knows how we are to reach all these people with a limited amount of means and few men; yet we are thankful that he does go before us, and that during the past five months ninety-five have accepted the truth; and of this number, seventy-five have been added to the church. Twenty are awaiting baptism at this writing. We have a large field for missionary effort. Many of our brethren could do self-supporting work in this part of the State by selling our message-filled books, and thus hasten the finishing of God’s work.
B. W. BROWN.