Our Work Among the Colored People in Alabama by J. Gershom Dasent

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 18, 1916

Our Work Among the Colored People in Alabama

By J. Gershom Dasent

As the time is drawing near for me to leave this part of the Southern Union Conference for another conference, I take this opportunity of presenting to the readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD a brief survey of the work of the colored believers in the State of Alabama for the past two years.

At the beginning of 1914 there were about two hundred colored Sabbath keepers in this State, paying a small tithe, and giving the greater portion of their Sabbath school donations to missions. Not much interest was taken in the Harvest Ingathering campaign, and the one or two home missionary societies were just awaking to a sense of their duties. It was a long time before we could get our people to see that upon them, as well as upon the ministers and other conference laborers, rests the responsibility of finishing the work in this generation. There were those who thought that the most which was expected of them was to pay an honest tithe. It was with much patient toil that we labored with our people, and educated them in their responsibilities as believers in the third angel’s message. And while we must admit that we do not now see that missionary activity and liberality which should characterize us as a people, yet we thank God for the marked improvement which has been made.

During the past biennial period seventy-seven new converts have been added to our membership. The most of these converts have come to us through tent efforts and the earnest, faithful labors of those who were left to follow up the interest after the tent was taken down. Being the only colored ordained minister in the State, the burden of the colored work rested largely upon me. During the years 1914 and 1915, I held three tent efforts, two in Mobile and one in Bessemer. As a result, the work in the former place was both spiritually and numerically strengthened; and we were able to organize a strong church in the latter place last January. We are also contemplating organizing a conference mission church.

Our tithe for 1914 amounted to $1,716.33, and for 1915 to $2,590.25, a total of $4,306.58, or a little more than half the expenses of the work in the field for the biennial period. Our offerings to missions in 1914 were $664.07, and in 1915 $904.12, or a total of $1,568.19 for the two years.

It may be well to state that our Sabbath schools now send all their donations to missions, and never before has there been a more live interest taken in foreign mission work than at the present time. At the last Harvest Ingathering campaign the names of many colored believers appeared on the honor roll, something which has never been realized before.

In our churches where the home missionary society has been organized, the society is divided into missionary bands or clubs. Active missionary bands are to be found at Huntsville, Birmingham, Bessemer, Montgomery, Dothan, and Pensacola.

I can safely say that our colored constituency in Alabama is loyal to the organization. At present there are about three hundred faithful believers in the nine churches in this State.

At the last meeting of the Southern Union Conference held in Nashville, Tenn., I was asked to take up work in the Tennessee River Conference. It is with feelings of sadness that I bid adieu to the conference officials and my associates in this field. My intercourse with them has been pleasant and profitable. I believe that God is with us, and is leading the way. We may, therefore, look forward to the accomplishment of greater things in the future. Remember us in your prayers.

J. GERSHOM DASENT.