Another Appeal from Brazil for Help by F. W. Spies

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1907

Another Appeal from Brazil for Help

By F. W. Spies

F. W. SPIES

May 19 I embarked for the province of Espirito Santo, and on the twenty-second I reached our brethren of the Santa Maria church. They immediately renewed their petitions for a minister and a teacher to come to that province; “for,” they said, “we need a minister to look after the work here, and another teacher for our Santa Maria church-school. Our children are growing up to manhood and womanhood, and are not being educated.” To the truth of these statements I could only assent, and much did I feel the force of the brethren’s argument, and promised that, as far as my influence would go, I would use it to accomplish what they as well as I desired, in order that the Lord’s work might progress among them. Further, the brethren of this province have ever been faithful in supporting the work by paying, as a whole, a tithe, and giving liberal offerings. At least two thirds of the receipts from the North Brazil Mission come from this field. In consideration of all these things, I felt all the more the force, as well as the justice, of their demands. But, naturally, in order to send them the desired help, we must have more help in this large mission field.

Sabbath, May 25, I spent with the Santa Maria church. During the few days I remained in this section, I visited nearly all the brethren of the church, and found them generally encouraged, and in good spirits. It impressed me that, although there are still imperfections among them, this church has settled down to the work of living the third angel’s message and supporting it.

From Santa Maria I went to the Serro Pellado church, where I spent a week. At this place the evil one had been working through several of the members, and quite a number had for a time been influenced. But the Lord gave wisdom, and helped, so that the church, as a whole, took a solid stand for order and harmony with the body, and we trust that the few yet disaffected will realize where they are, and fully return to the fold. On the Sabbath spent here we had the privilege of baptizing two souls. During my stay among these brethren

(they are Germans) I conducted several Portuguese services on a large plantation near by, and regretted that I could not accept the invitation of the planter to stay there a month and preach the gospel to him and his people. He, having been raised a Catholic, never knew anything but Romanism; but having seen many inconsistencies among the priests, who professed to be holy men, he, as an educated man, became disgusted with everything bearing the name of religion. But when he heard the gospel preached in its simplicity and purity, calling men to forsake their sins, it at once arrested his attention, and he seemed ready to give it serious consideration. The work calling to me from so many quarters would not permit me to remain there longer than was absolutely necessary to set things in order in the church, and I had to comfort him with the hope of a worker coming soon to reside in that province.

Leaving Serro Pellado, I visited several families living at Manteiga and Cresciuma, some of whom, though living a day’s journey distant, belonged to the Serro Pellado church. Both at Serro Pellado and Manteiga I found the church-schools doing a good work, much to the satisfaction of our brethren. I then proceeded to Santa Joanna. Here we were made sad by having to cut off members who had apostatized from the truth. But we were also gladdened by the return of some who had formerly left the truth. These latter, with four youths who were baptized, helped to fill the places made vacant by those who had left the flock.

Returning to Santa Maria, from Santa Joanna, we buried four other souls with their Saviour, and celebrated the Lord’s supper, and then went on to Rio Chucá and Sopucaia. At these last-named places we have, all told, about twenty-nine members, some of whom have been keeping the Sabbath a number of years. But those who should have taken the lead failing to grow in grace, they not only did not progress, but some of them went backward, becoming again the slaves of tobacco; and, much as these desired a church organization, I had to tell them that until they repented and cleansed themselves of this sin, and dealt faithfully with the Lord, giving him his own in tithes and offerings, church organization would be impossible. I then directed them to Him that beareth the sins of the world. May they in living faith take hold of him, and find cleansing and healing from all their sins and imperfections. This province offers a number of openings for labor, and we can only pray that the Lord may soon open the way for a minister to devote his entire time to the work in this field.

On the fifth of July I again arrived in Rio, having done only the most necessary work among the churches and companies, and found here at the capital more work than several men can do, aside from other calls. But we trust in the Lord; for we know he will help.

Rio de Janeiro.