Sanitarium Relief Campaign

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1911

Sanitarium Relief Campaign

Experiences in Southern California

SOME of our workers have had intensely interesting experiences with “Ministry of Healing,” and we wish to pass some of these on to our friends. Brother L. C. Nelson, of the Loma Linda Sanitarium, has sent us the following encouraging report:—

“Elder J. A. Burden requested me to help start the ‘Ministry of Healing’ campaign in Redlands and the towns around Loma Linda. Starting at Redlands, the first man I met was the manager of a restaurant company. We talked about our school at Loma Linda. I told him of its foreign mission work, the number we had sent out to fields beyond, and the plan whereby this book is dedicated to assist in this great work. After showing him some of its special features, I received this response: ‘Mr. Nelson, I think that would be a fine book for me in my cafeterias. I will take a book for each of them, one for my wife, and one for the foreman in the store.’ This was encouraging.

“From there I went over to one of the banks, and talked with the manager, outlining the same idea regarding our school, and especially the foreign mission phase. I find this a good point. He listened kindly, and finally looked up and said: ‘Mr. Nelson, I have been in business ever since I was a boy, and I find that everybody stands ready to get the best of me if I don’t look out; but I find the people at Loma Linda are people that I can trust. I have workers and others connected with the bank, and you may bring me twelve books.’”

“The First National Bank was the next place. I introduced myself, and talked with the president regarding our work. When I had outlined the plan, he said, ‘Mr. Nelson, what shall I do with the books?’ ‘Well,’ I said, ‘you have a number of workers; and if you knew the contents and value of the book, you would be glad to give a copy to each of your employees.’ I again turned to some of the special items of the work, and at once he looked up and said, ‘That is certainly a beautiful book.’ One of his clerks stepped in, and took out $1.50, saying, ‘I want that book for my wife.’ ‘Well,’ said the banker, ‘how many shall I take?’ I told him the other bank took twelve, and I thought he could take as many. ‘I will take twelve,’ said he, and he gave me a check for eighteen dollars.

“The manager of an electric-supply house to whom I next presented the work said: ‘This is a beautifully written book. How many do you suppose I should take?’ ‘You ought to take twenty-five.’ He replied that he would talk the matter over with the directors, and let me know in a few days. The house took fifteen books, and paid for them.

“At Redlands Junction the following day, failing to sell one to the railway agent, I presented the book to several who came into the office, and sold six books in about ten minutes. At a store I sold five to one man. In all, this made the sale of ninety-two books in fourteen hours.”

Brother Fred Payne, of the Glendale Sanitarium, has had considerable experience in placing “Ministry of Healing” in the homes about Glendale, and sends in the following interesting items:—

“One afternoon I met an old gentleman who bought a copy of Life and Health, but did not seem interested in the book. As he looked through the magazine, he told me about his experience with rheumatism, from which he suffered considerably. I tried to explain the causes of this disease, and suggested the diet that would relieve it. He remarked, ‘You are a pretty good sort of fellow, and I will take one of your books.’ When I came to deliver his ‘Ministry of Healing,’ I made an appointment to give him a treatment. It seemed a novel experience for the man, but it had splendid effect. Later I met him again, and he seemed pleased to see me. He said the book had helped him very much, and that the treatment had banished his rheumatism.”

“At another time I called at a home where a poor woman lived with her one child. When shown the book, she wanted it very much; but she had no money at the time, and thought she would not have when the delivery came. I suggested that she make this a matter of prayer, and that I, too, would ask the Lord to provide a way for her. She agreed, and gave the order on that condition. When I came to deliver the book, the little girl ran out to meet me, saying, ‘Mama can take the book.’ And so I find that we may have success in getting strangers to pray for the work.”

Brother Payne says: “If you want a good experience, one that will stay with you, just go to work with ‘Ministry of Healing.’ The people are touched with the messages contained in our literature.”

Some one is waiting to know your Lord, Hungry to-day for the living Word, And blindly is groping his way unto God— Some one is waiting for you. —Ernest Lloyd, in Pacific Union Recorder.