The Work in South Carolina by J. L. Shuler

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 17, 1916

The Work in South Carolina

By J. L. Shuler

WE are glad to report that during the last year the Lord has blessed the work in South Carolina in a very marked manner. We feel to exclaim with the psalmist, “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

At the close of 1914 the membership of this conference was 295. At the close of 1915 we found that we had 397 members, making a net gain of 102 the past year, or a gain of over thirty-three and one-third per cent. We are very thankful for the success the Lord has given our workers.

There has been a good increase also in the money contributed. Our tithe for 1915 was larger by one sixth than the amount paid in 1914. Our Sabbath school offerings were increased by almost one hundred per cent. We raised more than twice as much in the Harvest Ingathering campaign in 1915 as in 1914. Our mission offerings during 1915 were increased by fifty per cent. The financial statement of the conference for 1914 as prepared by the union auditor, Brother W. H. Williams, showed a net loss of $76.89, whereas the statement for 1915 shows a net gain of $835.40.

During the last fifteen months we have organized four churches, and we have another company ready for organization at this writing. Elder C. B. Haynes, the union evangelist, has recently held a very successful meeting in Greenville, and a good company of Sabbath keepers has been raised up. Elder C. G. Manns, one of our colored ministers, held a meeting in Sumter, which resulted in a church of forty-two members.

Our force of workers is very small. We greatly need more canvassers. We have plenty of territory, and the people are willing to buy. The winters here are very mild, and the canvasser can easily pursue his work the year round.

We are also greatly in need of experienced Sabbath keepers who could locate near our churches and act as leaders. Our greatest difficulty is to find well-qualified leaders for our churches.

The Lord has given very definite instruction regarding the work in the

South. In “Ministry of Healing,” pages 151, 152, we have this statement: “Many would be greatly benefited by sacrificing their pleasant, ease-conducing associations. They need to go where their energies will be called out in Christian work, and they can learn to bear responsibilities. Trees that are crowded closely together do not grow healthy and sturdy. The gardener transplants them that they may have room to develop. A similar work would benefit many of the members of large churches.”

For all that God has done for his work here we are thankful, and we trust that he has still greater blessings in store.

J. L. SHULER.