THE MACEDONIAN CRY by W. A. Spicer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 3, 1901

THE MACEDONIAN CRY.

By W. A. Spicer

Paul was shown the vision in which “there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” “Immediately,” says the writer of the Acts, “we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Now we need no revelation to learn the needs. The Macedonian cry comes in the Mission Board mails from every continent. Shall we not “immediately” endeavor to send help to every land?

MESSAGE AGAIN, “COME OVER AND HELP US.”

Just now the call comes literally from Macedonia itself. In that troubled region the truth has a foothold. We give herewith a facsimile of a postal card just received from Macedonia, on which the leader of a little company, who have newly come into the faith, pens this appeal:—

“I am glad to tell you that the gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached here. In vicinities about, there are persons who are interested in this truth and hungry for it. I praise the Lord for all He has done. Before I came here, they never heard about the signs of the times or the Sabbath, nor any other point of present truth. But now, let the praise be to the Lord, His true sayings are being heard and known here. Pray for the work everywhere, and don’t forget us here in Macedonia, where the apostle Paul worked so much. We need help.”

The sight of a postal card saying, in effect, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us,” is just as much a call for immediate response as was Paul’s vision at Troas. We have longed for a beginning in this region. The work must be strengthened in these parts “immediately.” If you had work to do about a powder magazine, and sparks were flying about, would you not do your work as quickly as possible? The Balkans have been aptly called the “powder magazine of Europe.” Humanity seethes here in perpetual disturbance. Statesmen would not be surprised any moment at outbreaks which might prove the spark that would set all Europe ablaze. Now, just now, is our time to speed the gospel of peace through Eastern Europe. When a missionary is held captive by brigands in Macedonia, nations are stirred, and thousands are freely offered to effect her ransom. What will we give this coming Week of Prayer to ransom souls held captive by sin in Macedonia and the regions round about?

W. A. SPICER, Sec. Mission Board.