A Call for Workers by M. Bessie DeGraw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1911

A Call for Workers

By M. Bessie DeGraw

As you have read of the conditions in the South, have you ever felt stirred by the Spirit to give yourself to this field? Have you ever had a desire to consecrate your service to missionary work, to have your “hands filled with the service of the Lord”?

The spirit of prophecy tells us that thousands should enter the South, and that a quick work should be done here. You have read the parable of the supper, which represents God’s last work in the earth. Many were invited, but one begged to be excused because he had a farm that needed his attention; another had home duties that detained him; and so one and all had some excuse, which to them seemed good. The Lord accepted their excuses. But what did it mean to them? Do we want our excuses accepted? When we ask to be excused, the Lord will find others to do the work. We are told that the third angel’s message will close with many from the common walks of life doing what should have been done earlier by those first called to the supper.

By the providence of God, the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute has been established to train workers for our own Southern States and some adjacent Southern countries. The spirit of prophecy says: “The class of education given at the Madison school is such as will be accounted a treasure of great value by those taking up missionary work in foreign fields. . . . In the work being done at the training-school for home and foreign missionary teachers in Madison, Tenn., and in the small schools established by the teachers who have gone forth from Madison, we have an illustration of one way in which the message should be carried in many, many places.”

The General Conference recognizes the need of such workers as this school can train, and has indorsed its work in the following recommendation:—

“We recommend, That our stronger conferences search out and encourage suitable persons to undertake this self-supporting work; and that the workers thus selected be encouraged to pursue a course of instruction at the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute.”

In the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute a training is given that helps men and women carry out the Lord’s instruction for missionary work in this field. Ministers, canvassers, teachers, and medical missionaries are prepared for active service. A general education is not offered in this school. There are many excellent schools in the North where our youth can obtain a general training. It is a specific work offered here,—a work for men and women, not for boys and girls. It should not require a long course to fit these men and women for the work God calls for here.

During the coming summer term, June 22 to August 31, special advantages are offered those who want to become teachers. The institute is prepared to give, to fifteen or twenty men and women of the right kind, sufficient work to pay their school expenses. We desire to correspond at once with those who are interested. Address E. A. Sutherland or the undersigned at Madison, Tenn.

M. BESSIE DE GRAW.