For Africa by W. A. Spicer

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 29, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 47.

For Africa

By W. A. Spicer

THE light of the advent message is spreading in the Dark Continent. Year by year our stations and out-stations, north, east, south, and west, are increasing. They must surround Africa and pierce it through and through.

Africa lay shrouded in night for long centuries. Its millions sat "in darkness and the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron," without a knowledge of God, without a written language. At last the "time of the end" came; then, lo, suddenly the light broke in. Explorers were stirred up to penetrate the uncharted wilds. Missionaries were impelled to plunge into the darkness of unknown regions beyond. Since 1844, when the hour of God's judgment came and the advent message rose, a distinct providence has hastened the opening.

Over 300 explorers have laid down their lives on African soil. How many missionaries have sacrificed their lives for Africa, can not be told, but seven societies alone have lost nearly 200 workers. To-day all the societies in Africa have 1,000 principal stations and 5,000 out-stations. The translated Scriptures are speaking in 120 of the African languages and dialects.

To a great missionary conference in London there came a message from Africa, flashed thousands of leagues under the sea, bearing only the words, "Africa Waiting." That brief message stirred to action as no multiplied words could have done.

"They are waiting in the wild, Sick and weary and defiled, And the Saviour's healing Word They have never, never heard; Ever hungry and unfed, Left without the living Bread— Waiting! Waiting!"

The same message is signaled to us by God's providences from all Africa to-day. Africa is waiting, but it will cost sacrifice to respond really. Yet think of the bright story of sacrifice in the opening of Africa,—of Livingstone, dying upon his knees at Ilala, praying for the land that he loved; of Hannington, laying down his life at the assassin's feet, in order that the way into Uganda might be opened; of Wilmott Brooke, dying at the gates of Hausaland, the only missionary among thirty millions, and crying out, "The people are too many for me." Think of the martyr native lads of Uganda, burned at the stake for the Word of God, singing amidst smoke and flame as long as tongue could frame the words:

"Daily, daily, sing for Jesus, Sing my soul His praises due."

And we Seventh-day Adventists think also of our own missionaries who have loved not their lives unto the death in our short campaign for Africa. Our missionary graves help to mark the way of the Cross in more than one province of the interior. As the young people of our first Matabele station see the little cemetery at Solusi, they say, "These white missionaries must have loved the African, for they gave their lives to bring us the light."

We are called upon to give money to finish God's work for Africa as for all the world; but some must give far more precious gifts than gold and silver. When the cable brought word of the death of Elder F. L. Mead, one of our pioneers in Matabeleland, the message was sent to the aged mother that her only son had laid down his life for Africa. By divine grace she was able to return answer from the old New Hampshire home:

"My heart aches for the dear ones left there, and for the work he loved so much. But 'God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,' and He cheers and comforts me with the precious promises of His Word. I felt it when they went away; but they felt it duty to go, and I would not hold them back. I laid my sacrifice on THE ALTAR OF AFRICA then, and I have never taken it back, and I hope I never shall. 'The Lord liveth; and blessed be my Rock.' I know He can give beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning; for He has done it for me, and He can do it again in His own time and way."

In that spirit the work will soon be done. Talk about giving money for missions! In our mission training schools young Africans, redeemed from heathenism, are praying God to help them "to learn quick," so that they may go out among the tribes and tongues with this message of Christ's soon coming.

The Lord is answering that prayer. The forces are gathering for the work—in Matabeleland, Basutoland, Barotseland, colonial Kaffirland, Nyassaland, Uganda, German East Africa, on the Gold Coast and Sierra Leone, in Algeria, in Egypt, and on the borders of Abyssinia. We must send strong reinforcements of men and means. A young African in one of our schools addresses this appeal in broken English to our churches in more favored lands:

"Did you read your Bibles in Daniel and Revelation? Do you see Jesus coming in these two books? Why not leave your homes and go out telling Jesus is coming soon? O, my people, my people! they shall perish in their sin if you do not leave your home. My heart is sick because I have not seen people going over Africa to tell people Jesus coming soon."

Africa's hundred and eighty millions are waiting for the advent message which John, in vision, saw flying in these last days to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Who will go? Who will give? Who will pray?

RELIGION is a power which takes hold of a man from within. Efforts to correct from the outside are more or less a failure. When such work is done from the inside, it is more or less a success.—W. J. Bryan.