p. 14 | The Third Angel's Message in Ecuador

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

The Third Angel's Message in Ecuador

By J. W. Westphal

J. W. WESTPHAL

As one visits the different South American countries, and becomes better acquainted with the inner situation, it becomes more and more evident that this is, indeed, the “Neglected Continent.” In some of these a good beginning is made in missionary work by Protestants, and several denominations have become quite strongly established. However, others have only barely been touched, while the progress made shows that they are very difficult fields. One of the latter is the republic of Ecuador.

The occupation of Ecuador by missionaries covers a number of years. To-day there are less than twelve preaching stations. The number of hopeful conversions is set down at a very low figure—I was told at twenty. A missionary who had labored in Quito, the capital, for a number of years, informed me that he counted four persons converted as a result. The total number of workers is not more than twelve. Five of these are engaged in labor for the Indians. Three are ladies. Three—two gentlemen and a lady—have gone to labor among the savage Indian tribes east of the Andes. No conversions have been reported among the aborigines. The gentleman of Quito has returned to the States, to seek regular support for his work. Outside of Bible distribution work, which has not yet reached very large proportions, the efforts have been limited to but few places.

It is not without difficulties and persecutions that faithful, God-fearing men have endeavored to plant the gospel banner in this country. For many years Ecuador was a most dutiful child of the papacy; hence, every trespass upon her assumed prerogatives was firmly resisted. Although theoretically there is now full liberty in teaching the gospel of Christ, there are many places where it would not be safe to announce publicly the gospel of salvation. Roman Catholic sentiment is still sufficiently strong to use favorite Roman Catholic arguments. Recently when Brother T. H. Davis sold a Bible to two young men, they set fire to it, and burned it before him. There are still not a few who would feel justified in also burning the heretic.

However, there are many liberal-minded men in Ecuador. The Lord has clearly opened the way for the preaching of this closing message. About three years ago Brother Davis came to open up the work. He had previously had a successful experience as a pioneer in Chile, where he had labored as a colporteur. He is also following this work in his new field. He has been enabled to place in many homes Bibles, books, and tracts. About twenty months ago Elder George Casebeer came to assist in the work. Like so many missionaries, he had everything to learn—the language, the people, methods of labor, etc. He was literally tongue-tied for a long time. A little more than a year ago Ecuador was set apart as a separate mission field, with Brother Casebeer as superintendent.

While we can boast no great things for Ecuador, yet our missionaries have probably not been less successful than others. The first seeds of the third angel’s message had to be planted; and with no facilities to water, no large harvest could be expected so soon. Hereafter Elder Casebeer will be able to do public work in the Spanish language.

At Guayaquil one brother has accepted the truth, and he seems to believe it with all his heart. He had previously been baptized by the minister of another denomination. One or two others are interested—one a mixture of Chinese and Ecuadorian blood. At Ambato a young man of twenty-six years has accepted the message, and it was my privilege to baptize him, the first Seventh-day Adventist baptized in Ecuador. He is a man of the higher class, of good moral character, and of fair education, being a graduate of the National College of San Gabriel. He has been in the States, and speaks the English quite well, and was at the time of his conversion the teacher of English in the Ambato school. He had been a most firm believer in the Roman Catholic Church, and had considered it a great sin to entertain a doubt as to the genuineness and authority of the same. He was, therefore, afraid to enter into any discussion of her demerits. In school he had learned the Roman arguments against Protestants and heretics. But he wanted peace for his restless heart. This led him to converse with the brethren, and study, until he found the glorious light of the third angel’s message. Naturally, he has opposition from his people. His father, who is opposed, wants him to discuss these questions with the bishop of Quito, with whom the members of the family have always been warm friends. He has said that if the bishop can not meet his arguments, they will also accept this new religion. May the Lord strengthen this brother, and keep him humble, and make him a factor in this closing work.

I enjoyed my short stay in Ecuador. The brethren are of good courage, and are planning aggressive work for the future. After laboring along the coast during the cooler and more healthful months, they will probably enter Quito, the capital and metropolis. Their health is good. In fact, except during the warm, rainy months, along the coast,

and probably in the lowlands east of the Andes, the climate is healthful. Ambato is situated over eight thousand feet above sea-level, and the citizens claim to have the most healthful climate in the world.

There is a great work to be done in this field. Of the 1,200,000 inhabitants, 800,000 are pure-blood Indians. In the east there are savage tribes, but in the west they are measurably civilized, and are an inoffensive people, the cultivators of the soil. They must have the closing message. Pray for the brethren in Ecuador.

Lima, Peru.