The Week of Prayer by E. W. Webster

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1903

The Week of Prayer

By E. W. Webster

From the Standpoint of the Missionary

E. W. WEBSTER

OUR customary week of prayer with its annual offerings is looked upon in a different light, probably, by our missionaries than it is by our people at home; and we feel that an effort should be made to get them to see it, as nearly as possible, as he sees it who is at the front, working directly with the difficulties of his field, with cramped means and burdened heart, yet rejoicing continually that he is at the front.

He is hundreds or thousands of miles away from home and friends in a jungle, or on a small island, with no hope of seeing any one of like nativity, or of like faith, only as he succeeds in getting the natives to see the truth; without the comforts of his former field of labor; with no companies or churches of dear brethren to assist or encourage him; no proper or fit place of meeting; no one to look to for a little financial aid if the usual monthly allowance should fail to reach him from the Mission Board, as it sometimes does, or to lift materially in carrying out some plan for pushing forward the work of the message. He stands practically alone with his God, his soul weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves with the burden of the work upon him, and open doors before him, constantly hoping and praying that the dear brethren at home who have sent him out will not forget him and the needs of his field, or fail to give a liberal offering to the Mission Board, without which his hands are tied, his work crippled, or even stopped, and he and his family compelled to face want in a cold world uninterested in him and his work, or actually opposed to it.

He thinks of the comfortable homes, fine houses and barns, orchards and fields, flocks and herds, the full granaries and pantries and cellars. He sees the carpeted floors, the glowing grate, the shelves of books, the files of papers, the easy chairs in which the family are so cozily seated around a cheery light, reading their Bibles, books, and papers; but he does not long for these, nor wish himself back in that comfort. He then looks about him upon the want and woe and poverty, the misery and suffering, the terrible darkness of sin, with its degradation, in those he has come to help, and his heart yearns to help them to see the precious light of truth before it is forever too late; and he is cheered with the thought that surely his brethren at home upon whom he is depending for his support must be interested in his field, from the cheering reports he sends to the REVIEW from time to time, and are even now perhaps planning or actually giving a liberal offering for his work.

He is not disheartened at the great difference in his surroundings and those of his brethren whom he has left behind. His duties press heavily upon him from early morning till late at night, long after others are asleep. His strength and nerve and mind have been on the stretch for long hours, and as he thinks of what the Lord has done for some poor soul during the day, he offers a word of praise to him who has been near him in his work, and is happy that he has a part and place in that mission, and feels the double assurance that he will yet see much accomplished for these poor people. He has had no desire to be back enjoying the comforts of those dear ones he has been thinking of to-night. This is a precious experience; he wishes to remain where he is, and labor on till Jesus comes.

He continues his thoughts: “Here is this mission house for which the Board is obliged to pay enough rent in the course of only a few years to build a good church and mission building, if only some one would advance the money. Much might have been saved if we had only had it all at once to start with. The truth will never have its proper standing here until we have such a church. Its progress is constantly retarded without it. The believers here are too poor to build it. What shall we do? We also need tracts and papers to give to those who are too poor to buy. The Mission Board has already sent us all they can afford to for gratuitous distribution; but we need more. How shall we get them? How I wish that our brethren at home, with their plenty, could see our pressing needs and our poverty! I know they would help us at once. We need another minister from the States to help carry these heavy burdens. I could then have a little relief, and last a little longer in this work. As it is, I fear I shall wear out all too soon. The week of prayer with its annual offering is just coming on, I wonder if they will make a liberal offering at this time, so the Mission Board can help us out? Yes, I know, there is the ten-cent-a-week fund, and Sabbath-school donations, and special offerings all the year through for our mission work; but there are so many calls for these in so many other missions. I wonder if some of our dear people will not be led out by the Holy Spirit to give a special offering at this time for the Lord's work here? I feel sure that they would if I could only lay the matter before them as it is, and they could see one quarter of the needs of this field. I'll send a report to the REVIEW at once. May the Lord bless our faithful brethren at home, and as they read it, help them to see and sense how much we need help at this time.”

He goes on thinking of the many openings, where, if he only had a few extra dollars, he could open a new station, or, with a small amount more, employ a faithful native worker to help hasten on the message in his field, and in the world. He knows the Lord can not come until the work is finished in his field, and he longs to hasten it forward, that it may be completed by the time it is finished in other parts of the world, so that he will not be late, and cause a delay in the great “harvest home.” And here, at this late hour, his thoughts are interrupted by a native brother coming in, with an interested soul who has come for miles afoot, “to have the elder make this man see the third angel's message.” With a thrill of delight in his heart, he spends an hour or so with this newly interested soul, pointing out the clear Bible truth for these last days, and praying with him, until the record is made in heaven, “Another lost one found; another precious soul rejoicing in the truth; another heir of eternal salvation.”

My dear readers, this is not a fanciful or overdrawn picture. Years of actual experience in foreign fields brought many a season like the one here described; and what missionary of this people has not had the same? Who will take advantage of the coming week of prayer to deepen his own spirituality, cheer the hearts and help on the work of our faithful, sacrificing missionaries? The end is near. Act now. We must make the best use possible of this occasion. We shall not have many more of them to enjoy. Trouble is just ahead of us. We may never again have the opportunity of giving from such abundance as is in the land this year. The great conflict that is closing about us between capital and labor may very soon bring the time when we shall not be allowed to buy or sell. No doubt the Catholic Church will take advantage of its ability as the only power to arbitrate in these troubles to fasten itself upon the government, and we shall soon see its power displayed upon those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. While we have time and peace and prosperity, we should establish ourselves more firmly in that

character that will stand in the days to come, and also help our missions to become established upon a sound footing, so they will not fail entirely when the support of the people in America is cut off by the persecution and hard times that are surely coming sooner or later. Make the most of the remainder of 1903. May this coming season of prayer witness a mighty advance by this whole people in giving this message to the world in this generation.