UNION COLLEGE MISSIONARY SOCIETY
By B. G. Wilkinson
The missionary society of Union College has had the opportunity of experiencing the unseen labors of God as He fulfills His promise in being our “co-laborer.” Many students who had dedicated their lives to God came to the college with an earnest desire to work for the Saviour. But how to use this consecration for practical results has always been a question. The college stands aside in a little village whose inhabitants are almost all Adventists. There is, therefore, little demand among them for that labor whose object is to bring people into the truth. And since there is little or no poverty, the field for Christian benevolent work is small. The large city of Lincoln, five miles away, was claimed this winter by the State Conference, which has placed there a corps of able and experienced Conference laborers, and, besides, it has always been an inconvenient field for students attempting to do full college work. So the question was, How can the students employ themselves in practical missionary work? It was thought best to form a tract and missionary society, such as may be found in our churches. Owing to some delay, a large part of our school year was gone before the society was started. But from the first, a determined effort was made to save it from falling into a lifeless routine. Unfortunate for our churches, too many of their tract and missionary societies are unappreciated opportunities. But the college society determined to prove the unseen blessing of the Lord upon papers delivered by mail, papers unaided in their influence on the receiver by the personal presence of the sender. A large number of Signs, Sentinels, and foreign papers was ordered. The opportunity to hand in names was responded to by the students with such increasing confidence as results became apparent, that soon the supply of names was greater than the supply of papers. After four or five copies of the paper have been sent to one address, a student writes a good missionary letter, whose object is to secure correspondence with the person receiving the paper, and to find out his feelings toward the paper and the truth it contains. If this meets with a favorable response, further effort made. If not, then that person's name is dropped from the roll, and a name from the waiting list takes its place. To facilitate this work, the students were arranged in workers' bands, with leaders, each charged with careful oversight of all names and papers assigned to that band. It was determined to follow the papers with prayer. All value the kindness of God in sending His angels to impress the truths of these printed messages upon the hearts of the readers, and so personal, and, at stated intervals united, prayer is offered for God's favor to make effective the pages sent by mail. It was resolved to keep out of debt. The large number of papers ordered seems almost reckless. But not only have the finances been carried thus far, but the last two public collections were the largest yet received; and students came to me privately, to hand me small sums, saying, “I wish that to go toward the missionary work.” An increase in the supply of papers is now talked of. All feel the necessity of praying for the writers whom God employs to edit the papers. It is one thing to send out papers; it is another thing for the contents of those papers to be such that God can greatly bless in persuading the people. How responsible a position this is, and how necessary that the church support by their prayers the men called to carry the duties of these great positions. Results of the faithful work done by the students soon began to appear. Letters came from persons in positions of honor, and from those less favorably situated,—one being received from the cashier of a bank in Nebraska, and one from a young man in the California penitentiary. A special morning was set apart for the reading of some of these letters in the college chapel. On that morning, as one after another of the students came forward to read, all present recognized the witness of God's Spirit, and the reports did what the reports of Paul and Barnabas did after they had returned from their first missionary tour—“and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.” I will give a few extracts from some of these letters. They speak for themselves. Here is one from Kansas:— “Kind Friend: Yours of the 15th is received. Am pleased to know to whom I am indebted for the paper, in which I am much interested. I am in the freight department of the C. R. I. & P. Ry., and of course I do not have much time to read. But I assure you, your paper is read, and I let the agent here read it also. Hoping you will excuse this short letter, I am,” This one comes from Nebraska:— “I received your letter in due time, but on account of sickness was unable to answer until to-day. Yes, I should like the paper continued; and if you will change the office, it would accommodate me; for I live about nine miles from —. I enjoy the paper greatly, and desire to be led by the truths it contains.” This one, also from Nebraska, shows deeper results:— “I received your letter the first of last month, and was glad to hear from you. I was glad to have a chance to read the Signs of the Times. I never felt before as if there were not a moment to be lost because I have so much to do to be prepared to meet my God. I am alone in my effort to follow my blessed Master, and I begin to think I have neglected some duty, and that duty I must find. Can it be possible it is the day of worship? If so, God being my helper, in whom I place all my trust, I will have to change, although I would be the only one in my family or in the neighborhood who observes the seventh day. My prayer every hour of my life is, Give me light and wisdom, O Lord, that I may do thy will.” A lady from Colorado writes thus:— “Your very kind letter received. Yes, I received the paper, Signs of the Times, and often wondered to whom I was indebted for such a dear, good paper. I appreciate your kindness to me, a stranger. I hope the good work will continue, and that its truths will reach every heart, as they have mine. Will close, hoping that if you never receive your reward here, you will over yonder.” This letter from Iowa shows that the receiver passes on the benefit:— “Your letter was received without delay. Was indeed surprised but very much pleased to hear from you. I have been receiving the paper all right, and thank you for so kindly remembering me. Mother is delighted with it, and we together anxiously await its arrival each week. So if you desire to continue sending the paper, we shall certainly be pleased to receive it. A gentleman friend visiting us from —, Iowa, glanced through the paper this evening. He seemed so pleased with it that I decided to let him take our copies as soon as we are through with them. More than one will be benefited by your kindness.” Other letters were received, which have resulted in securing subscriptions for the paper. One response came from Ontario, Canada, calling for some representative of present truth, whether minister or layman, to come to that neighborhood and enlighten the people. Now the results of the work done by the college missionary society are doubtless not much different from those produced by other societies. But one thing is certain, its results are those which can be produced by all such societies. Every church which does not have a live, fruit-bearing tract and missionary society is missing a great joy. If each church would plan and work to operate such an organization, God would certainly bless in the salvation of souls. Too much is lost by neglect of planning for and expecting definite results. And too much is lost by neglecting to pray persistently for God's blessing to rest upon each effort put forth in His work. The hours of grace are rapidly passing toward the close of probation; and if each church does not awake to active missionary work, some one is going to appear before God empty-handed.