The Work in New Orleans by C. B. Stephenson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 2, 1914

The Work in New Orleans

By C. B. Stephenson

I SPENT a week in New Orleans, February 20-27. Elder R. W. Parmele, president of the conference, met me, and study was given to the work of the Negro department in this conference. A meeting of the mission committee was held. One change was made, in the location of a Bible worker.

New Orleans is a great missionary field, and much work is yet to be done in order to bring this message before that large city, which contains many nationalities. The brethren are planning the work as best they can to this end, but with few laborers and small finances, the work must necessarily move slowly. We have one ordained minister and one Bible worker there. Elder Buckner is doing a good work, and the Lord is blessing. I was very much pleased to note the thorough organization of his church for service. They are laboring hard to secure funds to erect a church building, which will cost about $3,000 including lot. The lot is paid for, and we feel confident that sufficient money will be raised to build the church. They decided not to go in debt, but wait until the money is in hand. They must have several hundred dollars before they can go ahead with the building. This is indeed a worthy undertaking, and if the reader of this article feels moved by the Spirit of God to "come over . . . and help us," I am sure your interest will be appreciated.

I held several meetings with the church. On Sunday, after the young people's program had been rendered, which was filled with good things, about twenty minutes was given to receiving cash from the members of the church who had either sold books, magazines, or papers, or had solicited funds for the church building. Some had only a dime, others had dollars, but all seemed to have been faithful in doing what they could. My heart was very much moved as I witnessed their earnestness and determination to reach the goal. The Lord will bless their efforts, and I feel sure that they will soon realize their hope, and will have the privilege of worshiping in a church of their own. They are greatly handicapped in New Orleans, as well as in other cities, because they have no church to which their friends and interested ones can be invited to service. I understand the church is growing in membership. A good class of people are embracing the truth. Tithes and offerings are coming up nicely. I feel confident that the future of the work for the colored people in the Louisiana Conference will show progress.

Leaving New Orleans on the twenty-seventh, I spent two days in Mobile, where I met with the church and spoke to them on our work and message. The company at this place is small, but they are doing all they can to hold up the light of present truth. They have no church building, and meet in the home of Elder Miller.

I spent Sabbath, the twenty-eighth, with the church in Montgomery, and conducted several services while there. Though the weather was quite forbidding, the church was filled Sabbath morning, and the Spirit of the Lord came in as I spoke to them with reference to the power of God. At this place I met Brother Sydney Scott, the union evangelist, who is visiting the different churches in the union. He reports a very encouraging beginning of his work in Nashville, Tenn., where he has been but a short time. He has four mission Sunday schools in operation, and is planning for his spring tent effort. We are looking forward with much interest to the results of these meetings.

It was recommended at the General Conference, last spring, that in the Southeastern, Southwestern, and Southern Union Conferences, the territory which incorporates the majority of the colored race, union evangelists be employed to work the large cities in these unions, under the direction of the union and local conference committees. So far only the Southern Union had been able to comply with the recommendation.

Very encouraging reports come from all over the field. The crying need everywhere is for consecrated workers and means. The hearts of the people are ready for this message.

C. B. STEPHENSON.