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The Drunkard’s Prayer

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 9, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 41.

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The Drunkard’s Prayer

By S. Miyake

I WAS on a tour of our churches north of Tokio, with Elder DeVinney, our superintendent. While we were walking from Mito to hold a service with the little country church at Kuji, some of the brethren came out about two miles to meet us. When we reached the river, we found a poor fellow who had fallen very low from drink. He had heard that we were on the way, and had come to see us. He welcomed us with evident delight, and said that his wife’s mother had been studying the Bible with one of our workers and was a Christian. She had told them also the story of Jesus,—how he had died to save such poor folks as they were; that he had gone to heaven, but was coming again and would give to his children a home with him. He said his wife believed and wanted to be a Christian, but had been sick and could not attend the meetings with her mother, so she knew but little, but she wanted him to attend.
After the services he begged us to go back by the way of his house, so his wife could see us. We went into a wretched hut, and found the sick woman upon the floor with a ragged mat under her, so ill that there was little hope of her recovery. Her husband rushed in ahead of us, and dropping upon his knees beside her, said, pointing to Elder DeVinney: “Here is a Christ-man. He has come to see you, and he will pray for you, and you will get well.” With voice broken with sobs, and the tears running down his face, he continued: “If you die, you will be all right, for you are good, and God will let you go into his kingdom; but what will become of a poor drunkard like me? I want you to get welland help me so that I can go with you.”
This incident stirred our hearts, and we wished that Jesus might say to the man, “Thy sins are forgiven thee,” and to the woman, “Take up thy bed, and walk.” We prayed with them, and spoke words of courage and comfort. Surely the Spirit of the Lord was working upon the heart of that poor drunkard that day. Who knows how many hearts will respond in this great heathen land to the seed sown in love and humility, and watered with tears?
S. MIYAKE.