AN OPEN FIELD by Sara E. Farman

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1901

AN OPEN FIELD

By Sara E. Farman

A SHORT time ago the REVIEW called for a detailed description of localities that are in need of missionary help. For those who desire to do a good work without noise or an outlay of money, there is no more inviting field of labor than this Sequachee Valley, which extends from Bridgeport, Ala., to as far north in Tennessee as Pikeville. All along this short branch railroad are numerous mining and manufacturing towns, which contain a large population of wage earners, who seldom attend a church, and who scarcely know the plan of salvation. I have been laboring among these people in South Pittsburg since October 10, and find them a very approachable people. A large majority of them can neither read nor write, and they need the gospel in all its simplicity to teach them right ways of living. There are hundreds of families here whose homes are open for fireside instruction. As the worker reads to them the precious words of the Bible, he should teach them of the coming of Jesus; call their attention to conditions around them which plainly indicate that prophecy is rapidly fulfilling at the present time; then teach them that the earth restored is the final home of the redeemed, etc. These truths find very attentive listeners among these people. If one will seek to be filled with the same Spirit which prompted the Testimonies for the Southern work, and will follow carefully the advice given, success will surely attend the effort; the yoke also will be easy, and the burden light. Otherwise, anxiety, perplexities, persecution, and, perhaps, even loss of life, might be the prominent features in the work.

The great need of these people is for a few families or persons who are deeply consecrated to the cause, to come here and settle among them. Some light canvassing work, as introductory, gives easy access to any of these homes. Any person who has succeeded in maintaining his family by honest labor in the North can do so here. The quarries, the pencil mill, the sawmills, stove works, pipe works, foundries, furnaces, etc., furnish employment to every honest man who makes application. At the city inn unfurnished rooms can generally be secured at twenty-five cents a week. Furnished rooms at one dollar and upward. Stove coal varies from two dollars to two dollars and a half a ton. Other commodities sell about the same as in the North. Health foods can be procured at easy rates from Nashville. This town has an electric light plant and water works. A movement is now on foot to provide for sidewalks. At Whitwell, a few miles north of South Pittsburg, is a large mining population. They need the gospel. So far as I know, no Seventh-day Adventist has ever labored in this valley. Only a few of the better class are at all familiar with the precious truths brought out by the Third Angel’s Message.

Who is willing to make a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice? If any, make haste! As we look over these unworked fields, they seem to cry out against those who are at ease in Zion. Shall we hold the truth in unrighteousness, as a treasure hid in a napkin, while the multitudes are perishing for lack of knowledge?

The seventh chapter of Judges applies especially to this time. From the immense crowd now rallying around the standard, the Lord has a chosen few who bow down just sufficiently to lap the water from their hands, while their eyes are vigilantly fixed upon the movements of the enemy. These will go up and take the city. The rest of the army bowed down in an easy position, and drank and refreshed themselves until they were satisfied. Doubtless they claimed to belong to the regular army, but it is written that the Lord shall count when He writeth up the people. Ps. 87: 4–6. SARA E. FARMAN.