p. 1131 | East German Union

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 20, 1913

East German Union

Our Young People’s Work in Other Lands—No. 1

East German Union

In our East German Union we have fifty-four young people’s societies at present, with a membership of 1,289. We know of forty souls who have been brought into the truth through their efforts. This, of course, is only a small beginning, but we hope that this part of the work will also develop. Our young people take great interest in our mission fields beyond, and at the same time they take great interest in our home work.

We find that this work is the best preparation for our pupils who intend to go to the school in Friedensau. It is good for them to go out into the fields. We study the mission fields in the young people’s societies, also the needs of the fields, and when they go out they know all about the fields. It helps us greatly to keep up the missionary spirit in the school. H. F. SCHUBERTH.

West German Union

We have in the West German Union twenty-nine young people’s societies, with a membership of 432. Our young people are doing very well. The organization is not only a blessing to them but also to the churches. The young people bring new life into the churches, because they are working very hard to distribute our literature. They are going out with our papers, and are holding Bible readings with young people who are coming to the meetings. Quite a number of young people accepted the truth last year through the labor of our young people in the churches. They are doing an excellent work, and we do all we can to support the young people’s work in our field. In our larger churches we have young people’s societies, each numbering from forty to eighty young people. We have in our union quite a number of large churches. Several of which have from one hundred and fifty to two hundred members each; and in all these churches we have good organized young people’s societies. They are doing well, and we shall try to do all we can to sustain and support the young people’s societies in our union. J. G. OBLAENDER.

Central German Union

As our union is new, a large report is not expected. We have about twenty-five young people’s societies. I can speak especially of German Switzerland, where my labors have been principally with the young people. There we have two lively societies. Their missionary work is done on Sundays. Early in the morning, six o’clock or half past six, they meet in some part of the city and then they launch out; leaving the city more or less to the missionary society of the church, they go out to the outside places and take whole villages during one Sunday and spread their literature and tracts.

In their meetings they have different studies. Bible readings on present truth are being taken up, some history, and also the biographies of the pioneers in the mission fields. Thus the missionary spirit is being kept up. It is very interesting to enter some of their meetings. I always take great pleasure in being with them.

Since we have only five societies in Switzerland, we shall endeavor in the near future to organize a few more, so that this work will advance as churches are being organized. Our young people are of good courage in the Lord, and press forward to save souls. In Austria we have many hindrances, but the young people are accordingly energetic. Recently they reported that through their efforts five persons were united to the church. O. E. REINKE.

Danube Union

Our work among the young people is not very old. It started about three years ago, but we can report good success. We have a nice church in the city of Budapest, with over a hundred members, and the majority of these are young people. We also have a nice church at the city of Bukharest. There are over two hundred members in Bukharest now, and I suppose about half of them are young people. We have young people’s societies in other cities of Hungary and the Balkan States, especially down in the southern part of Roumania where we have a German church; and I think the only church-school that exists in the southeastern part of Europe is down there. The laws of the country are such that we are not able to develop this work, but where we can, we have prospering societies of young people. Our young people take a great interest in selling our literature.

We have many languages to deal with in that country. This is one obstacle in our way, but we are anxious to get leaders in all the different languages. Since not much of this kind of work is done by other denominations, our prospects for the future are bright and our young people take hold of the work. They interest themselves in missionary work not only at home but also in our mission fields. We are thankful for what we have already been able to do, and we believe that this work will develop much more in the near future. J. F. HUENERGARDT.

Scandinavian Union

We have been trying to do some young people’s work for five or six years, but especially since our last General Conference have we tried to work in harmony with the general plan. We have made some headway and had some success. We have companies in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and a few in Finland. In some large cities in Sweden the young people are interested in selling literature and getting money for our missions. We have about three or four hundred young people who are working, and we hope we can do better in the future. We are interested in this work. J. C. RAFT.

Latin Union

We have a good number of nice young people in our Latin Union. Most of them are in Switzerland, because this is the place where we have the most members. They are very much interested in the young people’s work. We have a few societies. They meet regularly and try to learn all they can. They have lessons in language, music, geography, history, and Bible. A good many of the young people canvass some every week. They do that especially on Sunday, as that is the only day when they have time to do it. They also hold Bible readings, and in places like Paris visiting the hospitals is a good work. Some young sisters and brothers go to the hospitals and sing to the sick people, and this is very much appreciated. When they can they also take flowers along with them and distribute them to the sick. This is a good work, because when the people come out of the hospital they usually want to meet those young people who brought some sunshine to them. We hope that a greater work will be done for the young people. L. P. TIECHE.

Russian Union

We have young people’s meeting in the large cities. The young people take a great interest in the cause and in doing missionary work. We find that when there are no ministers present, the young people’s meetings are always well attended. They have a program, with music and recitations, and even conduct Bible readings.

Outsiders often attend the meetings and feel that it is a treat. Sunday evening is a very opportune time. It is the best evening in the week, and we give it to the young people. Our house seats two hundred people, but often three hundred and more crowd in. One evening when I made a call as to how many wanted to dedicate their lives to the Master and go anywhere, twenty-eight stood up. I took them alone and asked them what they would do or could do. Some were sent to school and others into the work. All were glad to do something.

We find this work hard because we have no literature in their language. J. T. BOETTCHER.