p. 13 | ASKING IN FAITH

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 20, 1907

ASKING IN FAITH.

A MOST encouraging incident has come to us from the after-experience of the earthquake in Kingston.

In the opening of the meeting that was held in Kingston at the time of the earthquake, Brother Strickland arose and stated that the believers in Kingston had set their hearts on one hundred accessions to the Kingston church as the result of the union conference meetings held there. He asked the brethren to pray for this and work for it. They began their meetings in the evenings for those outside, but with no special interest, and began to be quite discouraged.

Then the earthquake came. After the few days of confusion, Brother Strickland desired to erect a tent and hold meetings, contrary to the advice of some of his brethren. The tent was immediately filled with refugees seeking for a place of shelter, so it seemed almost impossible to go ahead and hold religious service. Yet he decided to go ahead.

At one of the first services there were only about fifty to talk to in the beginning, but before the sermon was over there were at least four thousand people surrounding the tent. The meeting continued for several days, and when a call was finally made for those who would "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus," there were just one hundred who responded, and the Kingston church has that many new converts. These are made up of substantial people, many of whom had heard the truth before, but were unable to make up their minds to obey.

The Lord laid the burden upon these workers and the Lord met their faith. Of course there may be additional souls before the work is done. That is to be developed. What is needed is a heart so in sympathy with God that it will respond to His call, whatever it may be, and a faith that will lay hold of His promises.