p. 15 | Self-Supporting Work by Mrs. H. A. Jenks

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 19, 1914

Self-Supporting Work

By Mrs. H. A. Jenks

"GoD calls for Christian families to go into communities that are in darkness and error, and work wisely and perseveringly for the Master. To answer this call requires self-sacrifice. While many are waiting to have every obstacle removed, souls are dying without hope and without God in the world. . . . Where are the men and women who will move into regions that are in need of the gospel, that they may point those in darkness to the Redeemer? Many of God's people are to go forth with our publications into places where the third angel's message has never been proclaimed."—"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. IX, page 33.

"In humble dependence upon God, families are to settle in the waste places of his vineyard. Consecrated men and women are needed to stand as fruit-bearing trees of righteousness in the desert places of the earth. As the reward of their self-sacrificing efforts to sow the seeds of truth, they will reap a rich harvest. As they visit family after family, opening the Scriptures to those in spiritual darkness, many hearts will be touched. . . . The amount of good that these workers accomplish will never be known in this world."—Id., Vol. VII, pages 22, 23.

For the encouragement of those who may be contemplating answering this call, I write of how God has blessed our family in this work. Resigning my position as a Bible worker for the Western New York Conference, I joined my husband in Ridgway, Pa., where he was then nursing. This town is the county seat of Elk County, and is a very conservative place. It is styled the "city of churches," but the third angel's message had never found entrance.

I began active work in July, 1911, by canvassing, and delivered $370.15 worth of our publications. After my last delivery of books we started a Bible class in our home. I also followed up some of the interested ones whom I had met while canvassing; and in June, 1912, we organized the Ridgway Sabbath school, with three new Sabbath keepers. These

at once began to send offerings to the conference treasury, and two of them were soon paying tithes.

I have had my household duties to attend to, and have taught our home school, but still have found time to hold a number of Bible classes each week. Two young ladies care for our baby when I am out, and I pay them by teaching them music.

June 30, 1913, completed our second year of active work in this place, and we are led to exclaim, "What hath God wrought?" Our Sabbath school then registered eighteen active members, and two in the home department, giving in tithes and offerings for one quarter $54.39. Our hearts were made glad as we saw a little company of Sabbath keepers meeting in our sitting room each week to worship and to pray, and to plan for the advancement of the message we all hold so dear. It is a good work, and we feel sure that God will bless others who may be led to enter new fields as self-supporting missionaries.

MRS. H. A. JENKS.