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The Lord’s Outposts

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 13, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 3.

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The Lord’s Outposts

By Edith M. Graham

In the North American Division Conference and in the territory of our other organizations, we find Sabbath keepers widely scattered, one here, two or three there, a little company elsewhere. If we were to put stars wherever there are isolated members, we should place them in all parts of this country.
There is a reason for this. It has not just happened so. These isolated members are the Lord’s outposts, to live and teach the truth until the ministers and Bible workers come to help gather in the harvest.
It is an honor to be the first Seventh-day Adventist in any place. The conception the people will get of this truth will depend very largely on the life of the first Adventist they know. In a country place some years ago there lived a quiet, unassuming sister, the only Sabbath keeper there. Her husband and children were opposed to the truth. She said nothing to them or to the neighbors about her views, but she lived the truth. The sweet, loving spirit of Christ met every trial, every opposition, every need of daily life. After years of such living, a tent mission was started near her home. The neighbors heard that the religion preached there was Mrs. A’s religion, and they said, “If that preacher is like Mrs. A, we want to hear him.” A large church was quickly brought out, and among its members were the husband and children of the godly sister. She had sown the seed, and the harvest was quickly reaped.
The first thing, therefore, is for our isolated Sabbath keepers to witness to the converting and keeping power of the truth through their lives. But their work need not and should not stop there. We have reached a time when we must work rapidly and when the help of every one is urgently needed.
The neighbors of our isolated members are the field for them to cultivate. The best softener and fertilizer for the hard human heart is love, manifested in acts of kindly service.
“Visit your neighbors, and show an interest in the salvation of their souls. Arouse every spiritual energy to action. Tell those whom you visit that the end of all things is at hand. The Lord Jesus Christ will open the door of their hearts, and will make upon their minds lasting impressions.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 38.
“In many States there are settlements of industrious, well-to-do farmers, who have never had the truth for this time. Such places should be worked. Let our lay members take up this line of service. By lending or selling books, by distributing papers, and by holding Bible readings,our lay members could do much in their own neighborhoods.”—Id., page 35.
“Invite your neighbors to your home, and read to them from the precious Bible and from books that explain its truths. This, united with simple songs and fervent prayers, will touch their hearts.”—Id., Vol. VI, page 276.
Here are presented several methods of work in which the isolated members can engage,—first the Christ life, then a sympathetic acquaintance, and then the introduction of reading matter. The Family Bible Teacher leaflets have been used to good advantage in this work. A sister visits a neighbor, turns the conversation onto the war, storms, and increasing calamities, and shows them to be signs of the end. She then says, “I have just received some leaflets on Bible subjects, which take up these things, and I want to study them, but I always enjoy a study like this better if I have some one to take it up with me. I wish you could come over to my house tomorrow with your Bible, and we could go over the first one together.”
The Sabbath school lessons may be used in the same way. A member may say, “I always study my Sabbath school lesson for a short time each afternoon. The lessons now are on the book of Matthew. The systematic study of the life of Jesus brings out so many new and beautiful thoughts. I wish you would come over tomorrow afternoon and join me in the study. I believe it would help us both to share our thoughts on it.”
There is much in placing ourselves with the people as seekers after the truth of God, rather than seeming to desire to bring them to our beliefs. In this way many may be led to study this truth who would not do so if approached in any other way.
Isolated Sabbath keepers, the Lord has need of every one of you. You are where you are to do a work for him, and no one but you can do your work. If you need help and instruction, write to your conference home missionary secretary, who will gladly assist you. The call of the hour is, “Every man, woman, and child to the work, to finish it.”
EDITH M. GRAHAM.