Victory in Spite of Adversity by W. H. Smith

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 1, 1915

Victory in Spite of Adversity

By W. H. Smith

It is a source of great encouragement to note in the reports that come to us from every part of the harvest field that the cause of God is going forward with leaps and bounds, regardless of the trying times through which the world is passing. Never had the cause of God taken such rapid strides in every line of work and in every part of the harvest field as it took during the year 1914. This should teach us all the lesson that the great Leader in this world-wide movement is not dependent upon circumstances.

The present European trouble, combined with the spirit of greed for gain, has been felt quite severely in the Southern States. Nearly all the business enterprises, especially in Florida, that furnished support for the laboring classes, have been shut down for several months, thus dealing a heavy blow to many of our dear brethren who are depending upon these various enterprises for their daily bread. Jacksonville is not an exception. Many of our brethren have been thrown out of employment, and instead of being able to help in supporting the work here, the church has been compelled to come to their assistance. Yet we were all made to thank God and to take renewed courage when we heard our secretary's report for the year 1914. Our tithe for the year was $2,350.65; harvest ingathering fund, $235.83; total to missions, including Harvest Ingathering fund, $1,811.82.

After the reading of this report, the entire hour was spent in praising God for the wonderful way that he had blessed the Jacksonville church, regardless of the financial crisis that is still on among us. We were reminded of the words of Hab. 3:17, 18: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet

I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." When we were reminded that the Jacksonville church had more than doubled their twenty cents a week, we all felt like saying, Praise the Lord.

The Lord has also blessed our efforts in giving us souls for our hire, until our church building has become too small to accommodate our people. So we have decided that one of the steps toward an onward movement in Jacksonville, for the year 1915, will be a new church building. Our building committee has been appointed, plans are drawn, and steps are being taken for the raising of the necessary funds to this end.

The church members are all of good courage, and have set as their slogan for the year 1915, "Every man to his work, and every man to do his best." While the blessing of God has been richly bestowed upon us during the past year, for which we all are thankful, we are looking forward to greater blessings for the year 1915.

W. H. SMITH.