p. 17 | A Little Child Shall Lead Them by J. L. McCONAUGHEY

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 9, 1916

“A Little Child Shall Lead Them”

By J. L. McCONAUGHEY

Some Experiences

In “Testimonies for the Church,” we find the following:—

“As the children sang in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,’ so in these last days, children’s voices will be raised to give the last message of warning to a perishing world. When heavenly intelligences see that men are no longer permitted to present the truth, the Spirit of God will come upon the children, and they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth which the older workers cannot do, because their way will be hedged up.”—Vol. VI, pp. 202, 203.

When the children begin to take up the work of proclaiming the message, it will be another sign, added to the many that have already appeared, that we are rapidly nearing the end of all things. How careful should parents be in the conduct of the home and the training of their children! This quotation says that some children of Seventh-day Adventist parents will go out and proclaim the gospel to the world. It will be easier for them to do it than for older workers.

But we need not wait longer. Already the children are beginning to go out and do their part in spreading this message. A number are doing a noble work in the distribution of literature. Many are being trained to sell our publications, especially our periodicals, and are entering into this work as real missionaries, with a spirit of consecration.

The circulation of our magazines has opened a broad field of endeavor for all our people,—men, women, boys, and girls. Interesting stories could be told of the experiences of our brethren and sisters who are engaged in the sale of our magazines; but it is my purpose to call your attention to the work that is being done by children in the sale of our magazines.

In Louisville, Ky., lives an eleven-year-old girl who has been selling our magazines ever since she was six years old. Her father and mother have a great love for this message, and are actively engaged in our colporteur work; and being reared in such an atmosphere, this girl has a missionary spirit. For several years she has been going out with her mother and selling our magazines. She is very enthusiastic about her work, and always makes it clear to her prospective customers that she is engaged in missionary work. She explains about her paper, and does not care to sell it unless she feels her customer is buying because he is interested in what she tells him about it. When she was nine years old, she sold sixty-two magazines in one hour, and just a few days ago made another record by selling forty-five copies of the Watchman in forty-five minutes. Who can tell the amount of good this little girl is doing in her sweet, simple way? Who doubts that she is getting these truth-filled magazines into the hands of many who would not otherwise buy?

Five Interested Readers

I wish to quote a portion of a letter I received a few days ago from a thirteen-year-old girl in Idaho. It is given just as she wrote it:—

“I only sell in the business district. There are five different persons who are interested very much, four of whom I am expecting to see take their stand for the truth any time. The other is a man who said he would be at prayer meeting tonight. Of course there are many more, but these seem to be especially interested.

“I was thirteen years old the eighteenth of November, and have sold magazines for nearly seven years. The first year I started out was one Fair week, and on Children’s Day, when my sister had some magazines that the church had given her to distribute. I asked mamma if I couldn’t sell them, and she said, ‘Yes.’ She then took me across the street, and I was to sell down to Thirteenth St. as there was a car track there; then mamma would take me to the other side, doing the same thing, and when I would get through I would call and she would come and get me. The first business place I sold in was a hotel. I had such good luck that I just kept it up.”

I wonder if it is mere “luck” this little girl has had? Do you think it is just luck that she now has four persons ready to take their stand for the truth, and several others interested? Here is a faithful little Watchman agent, who has worked for seven years with our magazines, and who at the age of thirteen is beginning to see some of the results of her labors.

Sells to a Catholic Sister

The girls do not do it all, though. The boys are becoming interested, too. One boy thirteen years old, who sells the Watchman regularly every month, writes me one of his experiences as follows:—

“I was out Sunday and had some good experiences. I sold a magazine to a Catholic sister, and she gave me twenty-five cents for it. I did not know that it was the place where the sisters stay.”

“At first I was rather discouraged, but I prayed to the Lord, and he answered my prayers; for after that I had good experiences. I think Satan was just buffeting me to do wrong; but praise the dear Lord, I overcame him, and I hope that I always will.”

This young brother has set his aim to sell a thousand copies of the Watchman during 1916.

About the first of the year I received a letter from a boy aged twelve years. He wrote as follows:—

“I have received two letters from you, and one postal card, since November 23. The first one asked that I order fifty copies of the Watchman, January number. So I at once ordered fifty, which are very nice and sell well. I was glad to see that the motto is, ‘Constantly striving to make our best better.’ I am a twelve-year-old boy, so cannot do much, . . . but thought I would do my best, and aim to sell a thousand this year. I can sell twenty-five on Sundays, and there are fifty-two of them; so I am planning on good service.”

These two boys are doing a good work by selling the Watchman on Sundays. This is a day when they find most of the people at home and in a reading mood. Let us remember them in our prayers, that they may be guided aright and be faithful in their work, and with the help of the Watchman, may see as good results from their work as has the girl in Idaho.

The Saviour said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.” When our children show a desire

to have a part in the proclamation of this message, they should be encouraged to do what they can. One of the easiest ways for children to get experiences in doing real, live missionary work, one that will be of greatest encouragement to them, is through the sale of our magazines. Other instances might be cited where children are selling the Watchman.

Care should be taken by the parents when starting their children out; but when the influence is right in the home and the children are taught and trained in missionary work by precept and example, great good will result from their efforts, and “they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth which the older workers cannot do, because their way will be hedged up.” When we pray for the work and workers in this great cause, let us not forget that even the children are beginning to bear responsibilities in this work, and that they need our prayers in their behalf.

J. L. McCONAUGHEY.