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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 28.

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West Indies

By D. E. Wellman; Mrs. D. E. Wellman

ANTIGUA.—The work of the third angel’s message is slowly but surely winning its way in this island. The word of God is taking hold on many hearts as never before. This condition has been brought about by untiring effort, the work from a human standpoint being slow, and often seemingly without result.
Having the full assurance that our coming to these islands was not of man, the call demanded that we should sow beside all waters; and we have endeavored to scatter the seed in faithfulness, looking unto the Lord, who knoweth his own, to enable us to find his sheep. Indifference was manifested on every side, and words of discouragement came from all quarters, even from a few of our own people. One good old sister told us that she was sorry we had come; “for Antigua is too bad; no one will obey the truth, and if they should, they would have to leave the island for America or some other place, in order to live,” she said.
This was more emphatically expressed by those who were outside, but who were friendly to us. Several regular courses of lectures had been given on present truth in the city in years gone by, and many felt that they knew our doctrines. But through God’s blessing we have seen a change come over the common people, and now all our services, whether in the mission rooms or upon the streets, are well attended by interested hearers. We follow our public work with earnest personal effort. In this way we frequently meet those who are diligently inquiring for truth, some of whom are soon led fully to identify themselves with us.
March 9 we had our first baptism, when four willing souls were buried with their Lord. March 30 witnessed the baptism of two more. April 12 we had an early morning meeting, after which we repaired to the sea, two and one-half miles from the city, where six were baptized. In the evening we organized a church of thirty members, and celebrated the ordinances, in which all took part. The occasion will live in the memory of our people here. God’s blessing rested upon us richly, and a new song—the song of victory—was put into the mouths of the believers. The joy that was expressed in every face was truly the fruit of the Spirit’s power. We could but wish that our people who are sacrificing their goods to send the truth to the perishing in other lands could have looked upon this scene. They would have beheld some fruit of their labor, and been satisfied—a satisfaction of great and exceeding joy.
D. E. WELLMAN, Mrs. D. E. WELLMAN.