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Porto Rico

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 64.

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Porto Rico

By D. D. Fitch

Last year, about the time of the week of prayer, a man of considerable ability and force of character, who had served as pastor of another church for a number of years, called on me to present himself as a candidate for membership in our church here. During the months that have elapsed, he has given diligent study to the truth, and is serving the church as a teacher and officer, and in the mission is an enthusiastic canvasser and self-supporting worker.
Largely through the influence of this worker, another minister, a man whom any church would gladly welcome, has connected with our work in Santurce. He has a trade and business relations that are not interfered with by his Sabbath keeping. The first-mentioned man has had considerable experience as a carpenter and contractor.
About the same time a minister of yet another church severed his connection therewith because, through the efforts of a faithful canvasser, he had seen the light of the Sabbath. He moved to Santurce, spent some time in study, was rebaptized, and is now in the canvassing field. His wife is also fully with us.
The tenth of this month, in discharge of my responsibilities as Missionary Volunteer secretary, I went to the western end of the island to work among the young people in that section. While associated with Brother Moon in this work, I learned of a man who, after serving as a pastor for ten years, had come to Brother Moon, asking for baptism. As he was not sufficiently acquainted with the doctrinal points of our faith, he was asked to wait awhile. Brother Moon and I went to the town where he lived, studied with him, and left him prepared for baptism, which will doubtless be administered within the next few weeks. Conversing with this man, I learned that he and his wife had been keeping the Sabbath for six months, and he gave much of the credit for his change of faith to the contact he had had with the faithful canvassers. He is now carrying on a printing office for himself.
On returning from this trip, I found on my desk a letter from another minister, from which I quote as follows:—
“I am a teacher in the public schools of —. Last summer I worked as a preacher with the — mission, laboring day and night against the doctrines you preach.
“I should confess that I really had not made a serious study of the Bible. But now that the Holy Spirit has opened my eyes wider, I see that you are preaching what the Bible really says about what the Father wants us to do and believe.
“I want to join the Adventist Church as soon as I can, and wish you to send me some religious literature.”
We have reason to expect greater things as the Lord continues to work, for surely this is the Lord’s work and not man’s. D. D. FITCH.