Greater New York Conference by Joseph L. McElhany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 16, 1913

Greater New York Conference

By Joseph L. McElhany

The territory of the Greater New York Conference comprises the city of Greater New York, Long Island, and seven counties of the State of New York. While the area is not large, the density of the population more than makes up for it. In the territory outside of the city live about one million people, which, combined with the population of Greater New York, makes a total of about six million. It can thus be seen that here is a population much greater than in some entire union conferences. The great masses of humanity of all nationalities in this conference present to us the greatest city problem we have in America. How to evangelize these multitudes with the third angel's message is a question of the greatest magnitude.

The recent session of the General Conference brought many changes to this conference. Elder R. D. Quinn, the former president, is now president of the Atlantic Union Conference. Of the ordained ministers who labored here before, only two remain. Others have come to take up the work, so that the ranks are now partly filled, and despite the fact that most of our workers are new to the field, we have had a successful summer's campaign. Nine tent efforts have been conducted, in which the English, German, Swedish, Danish-Norwegian, and Hungarian languages were used. The message has been preached with earnestness and power to thousands of people. Most encouraging results have attended the efforts of the workers. A goodly number have already taken their stand for the truth, and many others are deeply interested. In most cases the interest has been so great that strong hall efforts have been started to follow up the work. Several baptismal services have already been held, and in most cases there will be a second or third service to baptize those who are now making their decisions. On one occasion thirty-one souls were baptized from one effort, and probably as many more will soon follow.

We feel very thankful to our Heavenly Father for the blessings that have attended the work this summer. I have been greatly encouraged as our workers have come together for prayer and study, to see the real spirit of devotion to this work. There has been more thought given to seeking God's help and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit than has been given to the other features of the work. The advertising and other methods of work have been along conservative lines, and in almost every case the attendance at the meetings has been splendid.

We ask an interest in the prayers of God's people that the workers set here in the nation's gateway may have large measures of blessing and power in laboring for the multitudes of this great city. Our local resources are limited. It seems there is little we can do, but we believe that when the Lord, through his servant, bids us proclaim the message once more with power in the East, he will in some way make it possible for us to carry out his instructions.

J. L. McElhany.