Fighting to Save Souls by W. A. SPICER

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 29, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 38.

Fighting to Save Souls

By W. A. SPICER

A Warfare That Saves in Germany — Successful Soul-Winning Labors of an Earnest Worker

By W. A. SPICER

HERE is a picture of the waging of the warfare for souls — such a conflict as good soldiers of the cross have been carrying on all over Europe. One can hardly suppose that much of this work can be done now, with all the greatest countries of that continent under military law, and armies hastening to and fro and striking at one another. What a sudden change of scene for the quiet villages and the busy cities and the pretty countrysides! While the press despatches bring the sad news of battles in which thousands of souls are launched into eternity, read this story of a week-end campaign for the saving of souls, reported from Germany just before the alarm of war was sounded.

OVER A THOUSAND BAPTISMS A QUARTER

When we have read — in time of peace — of over a thousand baptisms every quarter in our European Division, with its vast and varied population and the meager staff of gospel laborers in the conferences and mission fields of that country, we have known that there must have been earnest seeking for souls. This graphic account of hand-to-hand conflict in soul-winning is afforded by the report of one of the laborers in northern Germany, who writes to the little local workers' organ, telling his story without reserve.

Such a picture would hardly be given us in a formal report for one of our general papers. This adds to its interest for those who are rejoicing in the progress of our work in other lands, and who like to see just how the Lord uses human agencies in bringing true hearts into the light of the last message.

URGENTLY CALLED BACK

The worker reports from a region apparently on the river Oder. He had labored for a little time in one of the towns, leaving some believers and others interested. Passing on to another place, he soon received a message, "Come back by the next fast train to the little flock you left." Back he went the next week for a few days of further work for the "little flock."

TWO OF THEM WAVERED

Of these busy days he writes:

"During the week, labor was devoted to some who were interested. By Friday, three souls had declared themselves for baptism; but at the close of the Bible study Friday evening, unexpected circumstances caused two of these to feel that they could not go forward at this time, so they said they would not be at the baptism in the morning. What was I to do? I labored with them, and endeavored to encourage them, and accompanied them to their home.

WRESTLING WITH GOD FOR SOULS

"That evening in my room I felt to wrestle with the Lord for those three souls. 'I will not let Thee go except Thou bless them,' was the burden of my heart. I pleaded with the Lord His promise, 'All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.' There came to me the story of King Joash, as he came to the prophet Elisha to ask counsel and protection against the Syrians. Elisha commanded him to strike the earth with his arrows in order to prove the strength of his faith.

" 'And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it; whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.' 2 Kings 13: 18, 19.

PLEADED IN FAITH FOR FIVE

"I remembered still two other souls who had confessed the truth, but up to now had always said No in response to appeals to yield obedience. I smote yet twice more for these souls. In the night I arose and pleaded for five. In the morning I rose and again felt to pray, 'Lord, give me five.'

"I felt sure it must be five now who would go forward in the truth. Early Sabbath morning I went to one who was not present at the Friday evening meeting.

" 'Will you not come to the baptism?' I said.

" 'No,' was the answer.

" 'Why not?'

" 'I must be at home to prepare my husband's dinner, and to look after him.'

" 'We will begin our meeting at nine o'clock, then you can be back at twelve.'

" 'No,' she said; 'I am not ready; and my husband must have his dinner punctually.'

"We prayed. Then I said adieu.

"I went alone to the meeting. 'How many will it be to-day?' I thought. 'Lord, surely Thou wilt not bring my faith to confusion.'

COME ALONE IF NEED BE

"At nine o'clock we began the meeting. Alas! Only one candidate for baptism was there. Those two who had decided Friday evening not to go forward had surely remained away. Quickly I went to their home. The hindrance truly seemed not to be so great. We prayed. Now one is ready to go forward; the other not. 'Well,' I said to the former, 'you come alone. Remember Lot's wife, and save your own soul.'"

"I hastened on, and began the preaching service. The door opened, and — not the one only, but both women came, daughter and mother.

" 'She would not let me come alone,' said the daughter. 'I am afraid she is depending upon me, and that is not good.'"

" 'Well,' I thought, 'here we have three souls. Now where are the other two?' I looked about. 'Now, Bertha,' I said to the daughter of the house where we were holding our meeting, 'you have received all the instruction in readiness for baptism, are you not ready now?'"

" 'O,' said the mother, 'I am sure she is ready.'"

"So here were four. We had prayer, and the questioning of the candidates, and four were prepared to go on for baptism.

"It was a quarter of an hour's walk down to the water. We walked slowly on account of the seventy-year-old feeble mother, who leaned upon her daughter as we went, but who resolutely strode forward.

" 'I am resolved to go forward, cost what it may,' said the mother. She was the first to be baptized. The others followed, the service going forward before a group of spectators. But where is the fifth soul that I had asked the Lord for to-day?"

THE FIVE ARE SECURED AT LAST

"At three o'clock came the hour for the Sabbath-school. Just before the beginning of the school, I heard that the woman who had been held back through her carefulness about being with her husband at the dinner time had been to visit one of the newly baptized ones, who was her stepdaughter.

" 'Are you coming to Sabbath-school?' I said. Without hesitation she came. The sixth chapter of Romans was the lesson, and we went through the whole chapter. After prayer I asked her, 'Are you now ready for baptism?'"

" 'Yes,' she said."

"So at five o'clock we made our last journey to the waterside, and the fifth soul was baptized that day. It was a beautiful evening. A boatful of onlookers came close up to the place of baptism. Our hearts rejoiced.

" 'Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.' 'O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvelous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory.' Ps. 98:8, 1.

"This experience was a blessed one to me."

" 'O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.' Ps. 65:2."

It is a good report and a good warfare, brother of north Germany; and it might be duplicated in general terms, no doubt, by many another brother evangelist in France, or Russia, or Austria — in times of peace. In war time, now, in those lands, how changed the scene! Yet how great the need of the gospel of the love of God!