THE WORK IN TEXAS by A. G. Bodwell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 19, 1901

THE WORK IN TEXAS

By A. G. Bodwell

As the members of the Dallas church are quite badly scattered, I have been giving instruction in different parts of the city, wherever a few could assemble in a private house. At our first meeting to study “Christ’s Object Lessons” in north Dallas we all decided to go to work at once. The plan adopted was to take the book with us wherever we went, and to canvass every one we came in contact with; and if any one came to see us, not to let him go until we had called his attention to the book. In short, we decided to keep the book on the brain.

The next morning while one of the sisters was washing dishes, a man came to her kitchen. She proceeded at once to carry out the instruction by showing him a copy of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” As a result she sold him two books, he paying for one of them, and requesting the other to be delivered at a later date.

Another sister climbed up into an express wagon, which was standing by the side of the fence, and invited a neighbor woman to climb up on her wood pile. This sister proceeded at once to show her neighbor the book. The result was that she obtained an order for the book. The same sister has obtained an order from every one to whom she has showed the book, with one exception. And in this instance, the person who refused to purchase gave her fifty cents. The other day a woman called her up over the telephone. And as soon as the opportunity presented itself, she told her of the book. The result was that she sold her a copy.

One of our brethren showed the book to his grocer, who bought it. This same brother has sold a copy for cash to every man to whom he has shown the book.

We are beginning to see some of the fruit of the books that have been sold. The grocer who bought the book has been reading it, and is highly pleased with it. It has awakened in him a desire to know the truth. In fact, to-day at our Sabbath meeting we had the largest crowd that has attended the Dallas church for a long time. The brethren and sisters who have been out working brought quite a number of strangers with them.

The church here is getting hold of the old-time missionary spirit, and we praise God for it. I might mention other interesting experiences, but space will not permit.

These brethren and sisters thought that they could not sell books. But what has been demonstrated proves the truthfulness of the following from page 146, paragraph 4, of “Christ’s Object Lessons”:—

“You need not go to the ends of the earth for wisdom, for God is near. It is not the capabilities you now possess, or ever will have, that will give you success. It is that which the Lord can do for you. We need to have far less confidence in what man can do, and far more confidence in what God can do for every believing soul. He longs to have you reach after Him by faith. He longs to have you expect great things from Him. He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as spiritual matters. He can sharpen the intellect. He can give tact and skill. Put your talents into the work, ask God for wisdom, and it will be given you.”

The Lord knew that many of us did not have natural ability as canvassers. But He has sent us a message telling us that every man, woman, and child should engage in the work of selling “Christ’s Object Lessons.” And He has also told us that this thing would test us. I wish every one would ask himself these questions: How am I standing the

test? Am I obeying God in this thing? Am I selling “Christ’s Object Lessons”? If not, what will be my answer should God call upon me for one?

How will you excuse yourself when, in unmistakable language, God has told you what your duty is? You can not plead lack of ability or qualification, for He has promised to do for you that which you can not do for yourself. If you will only move out into the work, and take God at His word, you will see a change in your life.

We can not afford to delay taking hold of this work for a single day. To those who have not yet started, I would say, Begin at once. Do not put it off until to-morrow, next month, or next year. Procrastination is one of the enemy’s strongest weapons. But the Lord says that now is the time. To-day will never come again. He longs for us to believe what He says and to show our belief by our actions.

A. G. Bodwell.