MIRACLES IN KAFIRLAND by W. A. S.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 6, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 26.

MIRACLES IN KAFIRLAND

By W. A. S.

Reforms That Are Truly Marvelous

A Mighty Power Is Working

There is an interesting work carried on by our society in the heart of Kafirland, in the region of the Amatole Mountains. Here the villages are numerous and populous. “We have seen the Spirit of God working in the hearts of these Kafirs,” spoke Missionary Smailes in our conference the other day. “We have seen old men get up as we were singing a hymn of invitation, and give their hearts to God.” “And when they give their hearts to God,” he added, “the beer and the tobacco, and all the other evil things, go out of the life.”

COULD SEE THE POINT

Meeting-house in the Amatole Basin — Kaffirland

Gqumahasha Church, near Alice, Kafirland

Many of these Kafirs think very clearly into propositions. “What is this about the pipes, Fundis?” asked a newly awakened soul of the missionary. The new convert was a heavy smoker, and had only just learned that tobacco was ruled out in our society.

“It means that the tobacco and the pipes go out, along with the drink, when this truth comes in,” said Brother Smailes. “But there is nothing in the Bible about tobacco smoking,” said the man. “There is the church over there,” said the missionary, pointing to the newly erected place of worship, just dedicated to God. “Would you smoke in the church?” “No,” said the man. “Why not?” “It is God’s house.” “Who built it?” “Why, men built it; but it was built as a house of God.” “Who built this house?” asked the missionary, pointing to the body. “God built it,” said the man, a new light dawning upon him. “Yes,” said the missionary; “these bodies of ours are not our own. They are built to be temples for the indwelling of the Spirit of God. If you would not smoke in the house of God built by men, how can you call it right to smoke this harmful thing in this body where the Lord wishes to dwell by His Spirit?” “Fundis,” he said, “you make it plain. The pipes will have to go. Nothing in the world shall stand in the way of God’s truth.”

HEALED THROUGH PRAYER

There was a general meeting called at the Qumahashe church, near the town of Alice. A new convert, Picoli, a man well on toward sixty, walked forty miles to get to that quarterly meeting. He had but recently found Christ amidst the darkness of heathenism. But after the long walk, he came down with fever, his temperature mounting high. Deathly sick, his disappointment too was keen over his inability to attend the meetings.

The brethren met in the little hut where the sick man lay, and prayed over him. “He got right up from the sick bed,” said Missionary Smailes, “and half an hour later, was in the meetings for which his heart had longed. Next morning, when I was riding twenty-five miles from Alice, I overtook the old man striding along on his return to the Fish River, happy in the Lord.”

FROM RAW HEATHENISM

It is not so uncommon an incident, one may say. True; but it is good to see these souls coming out of raw heathenism into the joys and realities of the life of simple faith and trust.

The good Shepherd is certainly searching out His lost sheep in Kafirland. From yet farther into the country, calls are coming for mission stations to be opened. W. A. S.