p. 19 | Missionary Work by Our Lay Brethren by W. J. STONE.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 26, 1914

Missionary Work by Our Lay Brethren

By W. J. STONE.

THAT there is a great field open for our lay brethren and sisters to enter, and give the message to their friends and neighbors, is being demonstrated day by day, and the fact that this work will increase more and more as the days go by is evidenced by the greater interest that is being taken in it.

The Lord has said, "The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women composing our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers."—"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. IX, page 117. According to this, the work can never be finished until our lay brethren and sisters are actively engaged in missionary work. But the work is to be finished, and in this generation. So the time is coming, and I believe it is at the door, when we will see a greater awakening on the part of our brethren and sisters.

The following experience will actually be witnessed in the near future, for the time has come, the hour has struck:—

"In visions of the night representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families, and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. . . . Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. . . . Yet some refused to become converted."—Id., page 126.

There are movements now in many places that indicate that we are on the verge of just such a time as here foretold. These movements are not in one locality, but in many places.

Not long ago a letter came to our office telling how one of our sisters was gathering her neighbors together and simply reading selections from some of our good literature. A real interest was manifested in hearing these blessed truths. This work can be done by thousands of Seventh-day Adventists.

A few days later a brother wrote that he and another brother were holding Bible readings nearly every night with their neighbors, and that a number were becoming interested, whom they had heretofore thought could not be interested in the truth.

Recently one of our sisters wrote for instruction on how to begin giving Bible readings to her neighbors, and she closed by saying: "We must engage in this work if we are ever to have a home in the earth made new. If I know my own heart, there is nothing in this world that I prize more than this truth. It is very precious to me."

Others are being moved in this direction; and when there comes a general move in this work by the body of our lay brethren and sisters, we will see many more praising God, the sick healed, and the mighty power of God manifested in the loud cry of the message. For this let us all pray.

W. J. STONE.

## Home Missionary Work

We present herewith the first general report of the missionary work of our lay members that, we believe, has ever appeared in the pages of the REVIEW. This is only a partial report, but it is a beginning of what we believe is to grow into a mighty effort.

• A careful study of these few reports we have been able to present will show the value of organization and a regular reporting system. No union conference in the North American Division is fully represented, and only four out of the twelve are represented at all. Six of the nine union conferences in the European Division have sent in reports, so they are ahead of the North American Division.

As we look over these figures we can see the missionary letters, the literature distributed, the Bible readings, and the hours spent in personal ministry, all being used by God to do their appointed work. Not until we meet on the sea of glass shall we see the results of these figures now before us. We hope and believe that the next report will show a wonderful growth in the work done and number of conferences reporting.

E. M. GRAHAM.