Eastern Tennessee by Wm. Lenker

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1902

Eastern Tennessee

By Wm. Lenker

Our work for the blessed Master is onward in this part of the State. Surely the angels of God go before us, and prepare the hearts of the people for the printed page. What a blessed privilege for poor mortals to have a part in carrying the glorious truth to those who are in midnight darkness!

This is Brother W. D. King’s first experience in canvassing; his success has been such as to be an encouragement to both of us. His orders have averaged about forty dollars a week, which is nearly one dollar for every hour that he has worked; and my orders have amounted to nearly one third more than his. This I consider good in this territory; for the last two years crops have been a failure, and this year they are not promising.

There is a large territory in this part of the State that has never been entered with the printed page, and its people are sadly in need of light and instruction on all the principles of present truth, especially those of health reform; for in this they are surely behind the people of Oriental heathendom. Their pale, sallow countenances plainly show the alarming extent to which they indulge in the use of drugs, narcotics, and stimulants.

Brother King and I will leave this field about the first of November. Are there not a number with whom the Spirit of God has striven time and again

to engage in the work? Do you hear him gently urging you? If so, delay no longer, but hasten to the front. The work will be hard; but the rich blessings in gathering the golden grain are correspondingly great.

If two brethren who have had little or no experience in canvassing for our literature will join us about the first of September, we will help them to get started in the work, and will give them some practical lessons in the field, so that by the time we leave this place, they will be able to go on with the work which we have begun.

The canvassers’ report from week to week shows few in this great South engaged in the work, and a portion of these putting in only a part of the time. This ought not so to be, and it is enough to stir every soul to zeal and activity, so that there shall be a pressing in from every church until the thinned ranks are filled to overflowing. What does it signify to us when we read in the REVIEW AND HERALD that of late many who are not of our faith are making application to sell the printed page of present truth? Is the Lord becoming weary of our tardiness? Is he beginning to call others to do the work which he has so long intrusted to us? Do not, brother, do not, sister, delay to enter the field. There is danger in delay. It is so good to work for Jesus! I know it by years of active service. I believe that it is possible for us to make the canvassers’ report show thousands of dollars of orders each week where it now shows only hundreds of dollars.

God requires of us to do all that it is possible for us to do, and it is no distant day when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” In that glad time of harvest, if we have rusted from inactivity, shall we hear these good words said of us, “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” WM. LENKER.