p. 18 | In the Field by F. W. Paap

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 6, 1915

In the Field

By F. W. Paap

In the interests of our home missionary movement, which is constantly taking on larger proportions, the writer left Takoma Park, D. C., in February, to attend the bookmen’s and home missionary convention held in Mountain View, Cal., March 5-15. In order to make the trip count for the most, special meetings were planned in the churches of Newark, N. J., and Battle Creek, Mich. At each place we found a readiness and willingness on the part of our people to do more than ever before to live the truth and to give the message to their friends and neighbors.

At Newark we found facilities and equipment the most up-to-date. Sister L. Scott is president of the local home missionary society, and in her desire to see things done, and done systematically, she has spent much time and means. We feel confident that the Newark church will take hold of the work in so simple and yet so comprehensive a manner that it will demonstrate how much can be done by carefully planned and systematized missionary endeavor. The districting of territory and appointing of leaders over small companies is in harmony with the plans of our great Leader.

The meetings in Battle Creek were well attended, and with a little outside help, things moved along nicely. Brother Joseph Mace, the Review and Herald branch manager, was present with a good supply of literature, which was bought quite largely by our people for the one purpose of diffusing the light.

After leaving Newark, and before reaching Battle Creek, the writer spent a few days attending the Greater New York conference, held at Brooklyn, N. Y. It was very pleasing to hear the note sounded by Elder J. L. McElhany in his address, “Every Member a Worker.” This was the keynote of the whole conference. We greatly rejoice to see our leaders lining up on this question, with the settled purpose of using the great latent potentiality of our church membership. The hope of this movement is surely inseparably linked with the activity of the laity. The work cannot be done without them.

While crossing the continent, we found many opportunities to work for God. That choice and effective little book “The World’s Crisis” was placed in the hands of many who readily paid the price. Bible studies were held with others. At Cheyenne, Wyo., being joined by others of our brethren en route for the convention, we enjoyed a good song service. This was entered into most heartily by the passengers in our car. One very pleasing incident was the request by one not of our company that we all bow our heads and unite in prayer with the writer. So with our train speeding on at forty miles an hour, we all bowed our heads and addressed the throne of the Infinite God, praising him for his great goodness, and seeking his face for new and richer blessings.

We reached the convention in good

time, and enjoyed much of the blessing of God while studying and planning together for greater things in our needy home field.

Following the convention, the writer, in company with Brother Ernest Lloyd, home missionary secretary of the Pacific Union Conference, began a tour of the larger churches in the union. Already we have visited twenty-four, and we are still working. A report of our labors and the results will be given later. F. W. PAAP.