Another Church Organized in China by W. C. Hankins

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 17, 1907

Another Church Organized in China

By W. C. Hankins

Having set apart Sabbath, October 13, for organizing a church here in Kulangsu, we sent word to all our people in this locality to be present. Friday evening at sundown found twenty-one adults and about nine children assembled at the chapel for an evening service. Elder Keh preached an excellent sermon on baptism, and it would have made your heart glad to see how eagerly the older members of the congregation turned to read every text as it was given out.

As we had planned to have baptism before the service the following morning, all who wished to take part in that ordinance were given an opportunity to ask questions after the Friday evening sermon. This opportunity was improved to such an extent that it was half-past nine before the meeting could be brought to a close. Although it was thus more than three hours long, all present showed a lively interest to the end.

The Sabbath services were held at our house. Promptly at nine o’clock all had assembled. After a few remarks by Elder Keh and the writer, all went down to the beach, where Elder B. L. Anderson administered baptism to four of our Chinese brethren, one of whom was the father of the young worker who died of the plague last spring, and whose words to his loved ones, as he lay dying, were so used by God that both his wife and his father have now been baptized, and the father has taken up the work his son laid down. It was touching to hear the father say, before the baptism, “This day I count myself as a new-born babe in Christ.”

In the afternoon we organized a church of seventeen members, only one of whom has entered subject to baptism. So now we have a little church, consisting of eleven men and six women. Besides, there are a number of young people and children, also several adults, who are keeping the Sabbath, but have not yet joined.

After the organization, officers were appointed as follows: Elder, Brother Keh; deacons, Hok Sin and Tsoan Sui; clerk and treasurer, Mrs. B. L. Anderson. Immediately following, the ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated.

Most of those present seemed to have a deep sense of the solemnity of the occasion. Another service was held the evening after the Sabbath, and one on Sunday morning, after which some from up-country returned to their homes, rejoicing in the truth of a soon-coming Saviour.

From the first, the meeting was a source of much profit and spiritual strength to all. The Spirit of the Lord was present at all times, giving the speakers power to present the truths clearly, and impressing the hearers with the precious words from the Book of truth.

As we see the Spirit of God working with power in this vast field of China, and as we read of the advance moves in every land and among every people, and note how the truth is going as a witness to all the world, our hearts are filled with thanksgiving and praise that God is thus leading his people on to victory. Not only are our hearts encouraged by these signs of our Lord’s soon coming, but there is nothing that so gladdens the hearts of our native Christians as to hear the good news from every land, and to see that the coming of their loved Lord is truly near. One of our young workers said, “I rejoice whenever this old earth trembles, because I know it is only another sign that Jesus’ coming is very near, even at the door.” Would that all, like this young man, might hear the sound of our Lord’s approach in every earthquake and mighty calamity that is coming upon the earth.

W. C. HANKINS.