The Missionary by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1880

The Missionary.

By S. N. Haskell

A WORK FOR OUR V. M. SOCIETIES.

THERE are thousands of our publications remailed weekly by our missionary workers; nearly one hundred tents varying in size from 40 feet in diameter to 80x125 feet, in which the truth is preached each summer; twenty-five camp-meetings held annually in this country where the outside attendance varies from one thousand to ten thousand persons, many of whom listen for the first time to the truths of the message of Rev. 14: 9–12. In many of our principal cities there are tract distributors kept supplied with tracts and periodicals which furnish those running to and fro with a knowledge of present truth. Hundreds of vessels have furnished reading matter to different ports and islands of the sea, as well as to those who do business on the mighty deep. Thus the truth is constantly coming before hundreds of thousands of our judgment-bound fellow-men. As a result of this there are thousands becoming favorably impressed, and many convinced of the truth and some are embracing it and seeking to live it out. These are scattered like sheep upon the mountains everywhere throughout our land, and more or less throughout Europe.

Some of those who have fully or partially embraced the truth of God are wives with unbelieving husbands, some husbands with unbelieving wives, children with opposing parents and vice versa. Many have embraced the truth in the cities and seek the country where they can obtain an honest livelihood. These are usually of the poorer classes in this world's goods. They therefore seek the border States where they can procure land at a cheaper rate or obtain government land. Such States as Nebraska, Minnesota and Oregon contain many people of this class. To look up these stray sheep and bring them to the fold of Christ is a work which can be successfully done by V. M. Societies. A great responsibility rests upon us as a people to look after such individuals. An encouraging letter with sample copies of our periodicals, would induce many to subscribe, and some to become settled and grounded in the truth. A large number have simply heard of the truth, are convinced of the perpetuity of God's commandments, and are hungering for a more thorough knowledge of God's work. Could a judicious correspondence be had with such individuals, and publications sent them, scores of them would be saved in the kingdom of God, who if left to themselves will fall a prey to the influences surrounding them, and finally lose their interest altogether.

But who feels a burden to look after these precious souls for whom Christ died. Our ministers cannot fill one-twentieth of the calls which come from new fields. Were our colporters multiplied by hundreds, the field would not then be supplied. In this branch of the work our sisters can labor directly for the salvation of souls without leaving their homes for some distant field.

But it may be said, send us the addresses and we will correspond with them. I have been, and am gathering such addresses almost constantly, but would not feel free to place them in the hands of those who have no burden of this work, or who have had no experience in it. But I send them to those V. M. Societies and individuals who feel in this matter, and I know would take their cases to God in prayer; those who would consult together and carefully consider what kind of publications to send and what to write. It is not every one who is qualified to correspond with such individuals. But there are those in every company of Sabbath keepers, who, if they would take the burden of the work, and obtain an experience in remailing our periodicals and in corresponding, could take such by the hand and not only be a source of great encouragement to these lonely ones, but through them might reach many others. Companies have been raised up in some instances by this means alone; Tract Societies and Sabbath-schools organized, and thus they have become channels of light to others. There should be those in every church disciplining themselves in this kind of labor. This is the work of the V. M. Society.

Perhaps some will say, why not place addresses in the hands of any one and set all to work, indiscriminately. Without some system where there can be counsel and much prayer, there would not be one-twentieth as much accomplished, and much that was done would result in more harm than good. There would be just as much propriety in encouraging every man out to preach without any system by which their qualifications might be known or the evidences of their calling to the ministry be given.

My soul is pained while I write, as I think of individuals who have gone to ruin, who might have been helped had any felt the burden of their cases. Thousands of people to-day are going to ruin who might be helped by this kind of labor, did our brethren and sisters feel its importance. Our ministers do not feel the burden of educating our people in this branch of the work. Many of these souls thus reached would be of value to the cause of God.

Each V. M. Society is a school to educate members how to labor in this feature of the work. It should be a nucleus around which the youth, and all who have a heart to feel for the cause of God should be gathered. The sacredness and importance of this work is not realized as it should be. We are fast approaching the judgment. In a short time more the work will be over. Those who have thus connected with Jesus Christ, suffered with him in laboring for the salvation of souls, will reign with him in glory.

S. N. HASKELL.