Australia by G. C. Tenney

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 20, 1903

Australia

By G. C. Tenney

Sydney.—For nearly two years we have been located in Sydney. Here and in the immediate vicinity are situated the principal portion of our people in New South Wales. Upon landing in Sydney in 1888, we found but one family and one sister keeping the Sabbath, and these had come from New Zealand. Now, regular Sabbath meetings are held in nine places within a short radius, and there are, I suppose, not far from four hundred Sabbath keepers. The cause has experienced its full share of adverse influences from without and within, but still it is onward, and is becoming more stable.

During the time mentioned, I have labored to establish and unify the work, to encourage and edify those who were for any reason cast down, to encourage our people in Christian work, and to extend the principles of truth by public and house-to-house labor. In this effort the Lord has graciously blessed and helped. Many who were halting and discouraged have been led into clearer light. A better condition of unity and confidence prevails in our churches, and numerous persons have fully accepted the truth. Missionary work has been in a measure revived, a successful church school has been maintained for two years, and the youth have had some attention. During 1902 I baptized about fifty believers, and several others are waiting an opportunity. These are mostly the fruit of sowing done by others than myself.

Sydney and the surrounding country present a fruitful field for gospel work. As the church arises and puts on her beautiful garments, God will be glorified. The work can best be done by unostentatious, patient efforts for individuals. The Lord would have us search for jewels. There are not a few here and there in this populous and beautiful center who are weighing these things. This has been a period of earnest and interesting work, in which many precious lessons of faith and confidence in God have come to us. Surely the Lord is in this work. The flesh may often fail us, but he is faithful.

Just before leaving New South Wales I visited Engowra, a farming community two hundred and fifty miles inland. Here a brother had received the truth by reading “Great Controversy,” which was sold him by a canvasser. About five years ago he made the trip to Sydney, and was baptized. Since then he has prayed for his family. I found them all,—four sons, four daughters, one son-in-law, and two daughters-in-law,—with two others, rejoicing in the truth. It was my privilege to baptize twelve of them. Except the father, none of them had previously seen one of our people. Engowra is on the border of starvation land. Beyond, the whole country is devastated by the awful drought, which is crushing the life out of man and beast.

Rather unexpectedly, the call came to take up work in Auckland, New Zealand, and the change has now been made. Our address is now Anglesea Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, N. Z.

G. C. Tenney.