p. 16 | God Working in China by W. C. Hankins

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 8, 1907

God Working in China

By W. C. Hankins

W. C. HANKINS

God is working in these difficult fields in a way that is a constant source of thanksgiving to us, and as we see these manifestations of his power, we can but feel that the time of the “latter rain” has indeed come.

Last spring Elder Keh, while on his way to Canton, visited at a port between Amoy and Hongkong, where the coasting steamers generally stop for about twelve hours. He visited the Chinese mission school, and there met a man who had heard something of the Sabbath truth a few years before. This man was eager to learn more, and talked with Elder Keh for several hours, and when he went away, invited him to come to see him when on his way back to Amoy. He was unable to do this, but wrote him after reaching home.

In a short time he received a letter, saying there were quite a number who were now interested in the Sabbath question, and asking him to make them a visit. He went, and found a large number of inquirers; and the missionaries, when appealed to, admitted that the seventh day was the Sabbath, according to the Bible. Brother Keh stayed for a few days, and then returned to Amoy. But in a short time he received a letter containing an invitation from the missionary himself, requesting him to come and teach the Bible in their school for the remainder of the school year.

This was so unusual that we were all in doubt as to whether he should go or not, so we took the matter to the Lord, and inquired of him. We remembered the story of the Gibeonites, recorded in Joshua 9, and did not wish to make the same mistake that the children of Israel made then. We asked for a sign. Finally, it was agreed to write to them, saying that Elder Keh would come for the rest of the school year (about two months), on condition that he should still continue to receive his salary from our mission, and that he should receive nothing from them except his boat fare. Then we united in asking the Lord to impress their hearts to accept these terms, if he wished Elder Keh to go, and to reject them if he did not wish him to go.

The answer was prompt and clear; for they replied at once, accepting the terms, and enclosing a money-order to pay his boat fare. So he went, accompanied by our earnest prayers for the Lord to be with him, and to use him for the honor and glory of his holy name. We have received three letters from him, telling how he has had every opportunity to preach the truth both day and night, and that he is not restricted in any way as to what he should teach the pupils who have been put in his charge. But the third letter was so full of good news that I enclose a translation. It reads as follows:—

“I am always earnestly praying for you all, and I know that you are also praying for me. Now I wish to quickly write you some good news, that you may all return thanks to God.

“Yesterday the pastor and some of the Chinese church officials invited me to preach in their large church, and it was their wish that I should relate to them what I had passed through in my Christian experience, thus giving me an opportunity of telling them about the important truths of the Sabbath gospel. I preached from eight until nine o’clock. Those present were the American pastors and their wives, and some unmarried ladies, besides the high, middle, and lower schools, and girls’ school pupils, and a large number of people.

A GROUP OF WORKERS IN CHINA. ELDER KEH IS SEATED IN THE CENTER

“When I had finished speaking, one of the pastors—an old man of perhaps seventy years—arose and thanked me, and one of the unmarried ladies said she was very glad to have heard what I had said, and that what she had heard was plain.

“To-day one of the native preachers arose during a service, and in the midst of a large number of people witnessed for the Sabbath, and earnestly prayed, because he wished to keep the Sabbath. After the service a very noted native preacher came to my room, and said that he had been very wretched for some time, on account of the Sabbath, and that he wished to study the matter with me during the next few days.

“This is all through the power of the Holy Spirit, and is not what I have done. And now I ask you all to pray for me that I may do his work and glorify his name.”

Surely the Spirit of God is working mightily in these dark lands. And as we see the manifestations of his mighty power, our hearts are stirred to a renewed consecration for service, that we may be laborers together with him in this glorious work, and we are led to see that the time is indeed very, very short. Pray with us for God’s blessing to rest richly upon the seed sown in this new place.

After the school closed, and Elder Keh had returned home, he received letters from the pastor of a church a short distance from where he had labored at the school, stating that his members were all keeping the Sabbath, and desired him to come and teach them further in this new gospel. The Sabbath truth has swept the whole country about ——, like a prairie fire on the Western plains. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

Just last Friday we were agreeably surprised by a prominent man from this same place. He is a druggist, and has a store by the railroad, not far from the city. He reports having kept the Sabbath for several weeks, and four or five others meeting with him on the Sabbath, for prayer and Bible study. This man also calls for help, that they may become established in the whole gospel. These calls must be met. Brother Keh will go down again, as soon as matters are so that he can leave here. We thank God for all these openings, and trust that he who prepares the way will also furnish the laborers.

Kulangsu, Amoy, China.