p. 206 | Missionary Department by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · May 6, 1875

Missionary Department.

By John Norton Loughborough

"Philip saith unto him, Come and see." John 1:46.

Present Work.

THE Lord says, "Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." If we would accomplish the good it is possible for us to accomplish, we must learn how to do, in this accepted time, the duties of this time. Some fail as missionary workers, not because of a lack of ability to do, of opportunities to do, or of means with which to do, but they fail to see the now. They let pass golden opportunities of scattering precious seeds of truth, waiting for "a more convenient season."

Opportunities to benefit one or two, or at most a few, are let pass because the work looks too small. No case where there is an opportunity to do good can be called small, for we know not what may result from a little seed falling into "good ground." In the parable of the Saviour it is represented as bringing forth "some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold." Jesus sat and talked with the woman of Samaria at the well. It looked like a small beginning, but the seed took root, the woman began to spread the tidings, saying, "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?" Soon there was no lack of ears to hear, and hearts to receive the precious truths he bore.

I know of a case which occurred once where I was laboring. A daughter of one of our brethren had an Advent Review placed over her dinner in her basket as she went to school. The eye of the teacher caught a few words of the paper during school hours. At noon she borrowed it and read it entire, sent by the girl for more, read, became interested and convicted of sin. A few days after I went into the neighborhood and held a few meetings; when opportunity was given, that teacher and sixteen of her scholars, varying in age from 12 to 18, came forward for prayers. Several of them were hopefully converted to God and were baptized before I left the place. Among them was the teacher whose interest was first aroused by reading part of an article in the Review.

We should have a supply of tracts and papers with us wherever we go; not to throw away, but to distribute to all candid persons who show a disposition to read. A great effort should be made to distribute the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Although it has been published nearly one year, there are but few as yet of the thousands upon this coast that know of the existence of such a paper. We must make greater efforts to bring it to the attention of the people. Let all brethren and sisters take a few copies wherever they go, and pass them out to any who will read. We have thousands of copies of good back numbers at the SIGNS Office. These we will send to our churches or scattered brethren on this coast at the expense of our State T. and M. Society. Let each church report at once to their district secretary how many SIGNS they want, and let the secretaries write to the SIGNS Office, Oakland, Cal. Do n't delay in these things. The times demand activity. We have voted to distribute the SIGNS as we do tracts. Let your orders come in. I hope to meet orders' from every district when I return to Oakland in a couple of weeks from this.

There is still another point on which present duty demands work. Nearly all our churches have non-resident members. A regular correspondence should be kept up with them. This will not only encourage the absent members, but their letters in return should be read at the district quarterly meetings. These letters add much to the interest of the quarterly meetings. Let this matter be taken hold of at once, where it has not already been done. Where the vigilant society is organized they have this matter in their hands. Where there are no officers already appointed to manage the correspondence let the librarian in each church obtain at once a list of all absent members or Sabbath-keepers, and designate one or more in the church to correspond with them immediately. All absent members should be heard from once in six weeks at least. Make a minute of interesting meetings and other items that interest you and encourage them therewith. Remember that letter-writing to interested ones and to lonely Sabbath-keepers is a part of the T. and M. work. Let us do faithfully what we find to do.

We commend the following items on diligence and benevolence to every worker. J. N. L.