p. 14 | The Work in Virginia by W. J. Stone

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 13, 1912

The Work in Virginia

By W. J. Stone

I HAVE now been in Virginia a little over six months. The first two months were devoted to getting acquainted with the work and to formulating plans for the future. Extensive repairs have been made in the Richmond church building, a schoolroom has been fitted up, and a church-school started.

Meetings have been held by our workers during this time at Richmond, Norfolk, Lynchburg, Guinea Mills, and Rileyville, and a number of our churches have been visited.

Two series of meetings, each of three months' duration, have been conducted in Richmond,—one for white people and one for colored people. We read in "Testimonies for the Church," Vol. IX, page 111, that "a well-balanced work can be carried on best when a training-school for Bible workers is in progress."

In harmony with this instruction we decided to hold an institute in connection with each of these efforts. We sent out invitations to our churches to send in persons to receive instruction in Bible study, healthful living, healthful combination of foods, simple treatments, and gospel medical missionary work.

We had quite a good representation at these institutes, and also had the assistance of these persons in our public efforts. We found this a profitable means of educating workers, and the assistance rendered in distributing notices, singing, selling literature, etc., was valuable.

In these efforts at Richmond we combined the evangelical and the medical work, making the medical feature — visiting the sick and giving free treatments — very prominent. This allayed prejudice, and opened many doors to us. Brethren J. H. N. Tindall and C. E. Garnsey had charge of the effort for the white people. Thus far twenty-two have been baptized and received into the First Seventh-day Adventist Church at Richmond. Eleven others have offered themselves for baptism; and still others are keeping the Sabbath. Several persons

have been converted under the labors of Brother J. B. Mallory for the colored people.

Elder Stewart Kime held a series of meetings at Rileyville, and quite a number made a start for the kingdom. He baptized ten at that place.

Fifty persons have begun the observance of the Lord's Sabbath in the Virginia Conference thus far this year. We attribute the progress that has been made largely to the combining of the evangelical and the medical work, and are planning to combine this work in three tent efforts this summer.

We are glad to report that we have secured an efficient faculty for the Shenandoah Valley Training Academy, who are on the ground. The whole premises are being put in good condition, and we believe the coming year will be the most successful in the school's history. Any one wishing to correspond with the school can address Prof. J. H. Smith, New Market, Va. W. J. STONE.