Australia: Victoria Church Growth and Faithful Witness
By W. A. Hennig
VICTORIA.—Since coming to Australia, we have had many experiences that have led us to depend more fully upon God than we have in the past. The work is being retarded financially in some parts of the country by the prolonged drought, but in many respects we see much to encourage us. The Lord has blessed us in the work, and given us the privilege of seeing many precious souls accept the truth. After a series of meetings in one of the large suburbs of Melbourne, a church of thirty-seven members was organized, a large per cent of whom had never been connected with our people in any way. The church has not been organized more than three months, but its tithe has been about two hundred and fifty dollars. In one of the western villages of this conference lived a sister with her parents, who were members of the Church of England. After many trials with an unfaithful husband, she went to her old home, expecting to remain in this world only a short time. Consumption was doing its certain work, but she was not afraid to die; for she had learned the meaning of the third angel’s message. Her burden was to get her people to see the truth, and accept it. When the time came that she thought it impossible for her to live many days, she requested the privilege of partaking of the Lord’s supper before the end should come. That was a precious season; for God came very near to the sick woman and to the whole family. Some meetings were held during the three days that we remained. Shortly after the sick woman was laid to rest, we had the privilege of baptizing her mother, one sister, and two brothers. Now another brother and his wife request baptism. There are many places where the people are calling for the truth, but there are so few to carry it to them. This has been a good year financially to this conference. The running expenses have been paid, and hundreds of dollars of the debt wiped out. We appreciate the offerings that have been made by the brethren in America. We believe that God will bless every effort that is put forth to free the cause from debt, and the brethren here feel willing to do all they can. There has been a good increase in the tithe every quarter since we have been here, and we hope for the time when all who profess to love the Lord in this message will give to him his own in tithes and offerings. We are of good courage in the work.