Progress in Italy by L. ZECCHETTO

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1912

Progress in Italy

By L. ZECCHETTO

L. ZECCHETTO

I AM grateful to say that the work in Italy is slowly but steadily progressing. On Sabbath, July 27, I buried in baptism six dear believers in the Arno River. These were formerly infidels. Another in Florence has been accepted by vote, having previously been baptized. On the following Sabbath, August 3, four were baptized in the beautiful Mediterranean at Genoa, and seven at Montaldo, Piedmont. In the latter place a church of twelve has been organized. At Gravina we recently baptized nine, and these, with those already mentioned, make twenty-six who have been baptized this year in southern Italy. For these we give thanks and glory to our dear Heavenly Father. We feel deeply grateful for the precious blessing bestowed on our work, which has helped us to bring to his light and truth these few souls in the very land of the Papacy.

We have tried in different ways to do the Lord's work profitably. We have several halls where we hold meetings, but we find that the house-to-house work, systematically followed by Bible studies, is the best way to reach people, and the least expensive. People thus get much instruction, and far more benefit. When seated in the house in a simple, informal way, we can better approach individuals and have heart-to-heart talks with them, thus becoming acquainted with the people and their spiritual needs sooner than in a public meeting. People do not readily attend hall meetings. The majority know little or nothing about the Bible, and therefore are not much interested in Bible topics. Precious truth often is lost in the meetings, while it is often listened to and accepted when heard in the quiet of the home. Therefore, we give the preference to the house-to-house work, and try to follow as God leads.

People in Italy are deeply interested in the Italian-Turkish war, and when we present the Eastern question and speak of the Turkish empire in prophecy, they listen with interest. God's ways are not our ways, and we can indeed exclaim, How wonderful are his ways! Who but the Almighty can make a curse turn into a source of blessing?