Among the Churches by M. C. Israel

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 5, 1883

Among the Churches.

By M. C. Israel

SAN PASQUAL.—This is a beautiful little valley about thirty-five miles northeast of San Diego. The church is composed of those who have moved from different parts of the State. It has been so far from our fields of labor that they have had but little ministerial help. With quite a number the spirit of the world had very much affected their interest in spiritual things. In the several meetings we held we tried to set before the people the dangers, duties, and privileges of Christians who are waiting for the coming of the Lord. At the quarterly meeting, at which nearly all the members of the church were present, confessions were quite freely made, and resolutions formed to try to follow the Saviour more closely in the future. This opened the way for the Spirit of the Lord to come in, and we had an excellent meeting, at the close of which a brother and his daughter who had embraced the truth through missionary efforts, were baptized. At a meeting in the evening arrangements were made to raise the club of Signs from fourteen to forty copies. The plan of placing small packages of tracts in the hands of all in the vicinity who will read, was adopted; also of making a systematic effort to get the message before the people of the district by mailing a few copies of the Signs to them, and following up the work with other reading matter as they become interested.

Los ANGELES.—I returned to this place to attend quarterly meetings, which were held March 23, 24. The interest was good; nearly all the members were present. Officers were elected for the coming year. As the roll was called, each one responded with encouraging testimonies, after which all participated in the celebration of the ordinances. On Sunday morning, the oldest daughter of the Elder (Bro. G. W. Danforth) was baptized, and joined the church. We held preaching service at 11 A. M., and a missionary meeting at 2 P. M. We pray that the blessing of the Lord will be with his people in these places as they try to do his will and hold up the light.

Oakland, March 30, 1883. M. C. ISRAEL.