Looking on the Fields

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1902

Looking on the Fields

The following letter to the believers in Michigan may be equally applicable in many conferences. It is plain enough that this experience with “Christ’s Object Lessons” is a testing one, and that the attitude of the whole body of believers toward this work will determine their attitude toward other plans for pushing the message in all lands. Shall this work be hastened, and the tested workers be released to enter new fields? This is the call of the hour:—

Hesperia, Mich., June 16, 1902.

DEAR FELLOW LABORERS: It rejoices my heart to know that the work that God has given his people is being crowned with success. The jubilee song can soon be sung. Many have gone forth praying and weeping, and such laborers are already shouting victory; for they have the victory before the work is accomplished.

And now, dear fellow laborer, a greater victory lies before this people. I expect soon to hear the churches that have been faithful in this work say to the laborers in the field, in harmony with the testimony of God’s Spirit: Go to the wide fields, to the lost sheep, to the destitute fields in the regions beyond the sea, to the isles that are waiting for God’s law, and we will accomplish the work on “Christ’s Object

Lessons” at home. And soon the schools will be sending out more missionaries to labor for the millions who are perishing without God. Surely God will roll the burden upon at least one third of our conference laborers this coming annual conference, to go to those needy fields, and our noble people will say to them: Go, and God go with you; and we at home will support you in those fields until the work closes, and the song of triumph is sung.

As I survey the field, I see that many of our dear brethren have made great sacrifices to carry out the plan of God. They are happy to-day. I see others who are far better able financially who are murmuring, and do not pay even their tithe. They are under condemnation of conscience. These are the ones for whom we should pray. Many who are well-to-do have not allowed the ministers to carry all the financial burden, but have said, “We will advance fifty, seventy-five, or one hundred dollars to enable our church to do the work;” and these, too, are rejoicing in God, and are blessed of him in many ways. To those who are not happy, I would say, Come along, brethren; God has a rich blessing for you, too. It is not too late. God is allowing the great work to tarry a little for you to step in. O, come! God wants you. He has a special blessing for you. And let the minister who has not felt the burden of this work, but has had murmuring in his heart, fall into line. God is waiting for him. He wants to bless him, and crown his work with success. I could mention many who have filled their quota, and are now helping others, because the great love of God is in their hearts; and as they had God’s blessing so richly in the work in their group of churches, they long to see their fellow laborers receive a part in the same.

Dear brethren, I wish you could know the rejoicing there is to-day in the Old World, where hundreds of millions of people have not one laborer to a million, as Elder Daniells tells believers in the third angel’s message that the States are arranging to send them help, that the banner of the cross may be raised with the last message of mercy that will ever go to the world. All things are now ready except God’s people. The signs are in the past. God in mercy is waiting for us to get where he can pour his Holy Spirit upon us to sound the last solemn warning prior to his coming in glory. In a letter just received from Elder Daniells, who is in Europe, the appeals for help in that destitute field are heartrending. I long to see the time when our dear people in this country who are enjoying the bountiful blessings that God has been pouring upon them so many years, shall say to the laborers, Go. Then the blessing of God will be showered upon our churches here; for the message is to be preached in all the world for a witness. Has it not been preached to this nation sufficiently for a witness? Think of it. As I go North where we have but few churches, and mention the present truth to the people, they say, “O, yes, we have heard! We know all about it.” Come, let us go where they will not say this to us, and God will bless, and the work will be closed up, and his people will be redeemed.

With kindest regards, J. D. GOWELL.