Santa Cathrina and Paraná Conference by F. W. Spies

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 20, 1907

Santa Cathrina and Paraná Conference

By F. W. Spies

F. W. SPIES

The first year of the existence of the Santa Cathrina and Paraná Conference has terminated with its annual meeting just held at Curityba, Paraná. The president's address showed an encouraging growth both in finances and members, in this young conference. And as the growth in tithe was relatively more than in members, this evidently indicates a greater consecration to the work, and hence an encouraging growth spiritually.

The membership at the time of organization, Jan. 1, 1906, was 486, and the tithe paid during the year 1905 amounted to $1,624.30. At the close of 1906 the membership had increased to 549, being an increase of thirteen per cent, and the tithe paid during 1906 amounted to $2,229.95, thirty-three per cent more than the preceding year.

Although this new conference might have pleaded its great need of more men, and, consequently, more means, it has cheerfully given a tithe of its tithe to the South American Union Conference, amounting to $223; all its Sabbath-school offerings, $346.72; its week-of-prayer and a few other offerings, amounting to $108.33; thus giving the union, for its fields still more needy, the sum of $678.05. Thus the division of the former Brazil Conference, which included all of Brazil, has not only proved a blessing to the local work, in that it has greatly strengthened it, but these new conferences are assisting the union conference in a very material way in establishing the work in the yet unentered parts of South America. It is indeed encouraging to see this spirit of willingness to help beyond their own borders, on the part of these new conferences.

Although not so largely attended as had been the meeting for organization, owing to the fact that Paraná is more thinly populated, and that it is very far from our Santa Cathrina brethren, nevertheless the conference was a blessing, and we trust the brethren will, as they return to their homes, seek for a closer walk with God, and greater earnestness and faithfulness.

Among the resolutions adopted was one expressing thanks to the Heavenly Father for the degree of blessing that has attended the work during the past year, and still greater faithfulness was pledged to the Lord and his work.

All companies were encouraged by a resolution to organize tract and missionary societies, where such do not already exist, with a view to carrying on a more organized missionary campaign.

As the past year's experience had demonstrated that the territory of the Santa Cathrina and Paraná Conference is still too large to be properly administered by one president, a resolution was passed providing that "we request the South American Union Conference to send another minister into this conference, who could take the responsibility of directing the work in one of the States, and thus steps be taken to effect a further division of this territory." The reasonableness of this request was apparent to all present as they realized that their president had not been able yet to visit all the companies in his conference during its first year's existence.

Another resolution recommends "that the officers of our churches give attention to encouraging discipline and order in their respective folds, especially giving attention to the proper keeping of the various books of the church and Sabbath-school, and the prompt sending in of reports at the end of each quarter to headquarters."

Steps were also taken to reopen the Brusque mission school, by asking the South American Union Conference to provide a teacher for that institution. All business of the conference was dispatched with the greatest unity. The nominating committee reported as follows: President, W. Ehlers; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Mary Ehlers; Secretary of the Sabbath-school Department, Mrs. Mary Ehlers; Executive Committee, W. Ehlers, Aug. Olm, Jorge Wishral, Adolf Hort, Gustav Richter.

The committee on credentials and licenses presented the following report: For credentials, Waldemar Ehlers; missionary license, José Hindermann and Gustav Jankowski.

And now as this conference starts out on its second year's work, may the Lord's rich blessing attend all efforts put forth to advance his kingdom.