How One Church Has Worked by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 29, 1914

How One Church Has Worked

By E. M. Graham

A CHURCH elder gives the following account of the work done by his church during the last two years:—

“There was a church membership of sixteen, but only a few resident members. We held a meeting with three members present, and decided that nothing could be done with so little interest. But after the meeting was dismissed, I called on a young man who was acquainted with the city, and told him that if he would go with me we would call on some of the people, and find out if they

wanted to learn about the truth. We soon found an opportunity for holding Bible readings, and the questions which were asked made it necessary for me to study. We soon had requests for Bible studies from all parts of the city. For eight months I held an average of six Bible readings every week. We had to go ahead in this work, as we could get no minister. When the minister did finally come, he had the privilege of taking eighteen new members into the church.

"I felt that I could not do the work, but the conference president said that when I had done all I could, the Lord would do the rest. I found it so. On Sunday morning the young people who had accepted the truth would go out and invite others to the meeting which we began to hold every Sunday night. The congregation rapidly grew, until it was necessary to take a larger hall. I saw that the members must have something to do; so we ordered magazines, and put young and old to work. We were soon selling 1,400 copies a month.

"Later, we organized the workers into missionary bands. Each had its leader. It was his business to see that the work was thoroughly done. We held our general meeting on Thursday evening. We had no time to get up a program, but we did not need it. We could not confine our meetings to an hour.

"The greater part of the work was done by the lay members. Those who have come into the truth have come in as working members. The Lord blessed the movement. We did not have a minister but we had the truth. About forty members have been added in two years through the efforts of the local church."

Here is a church which has grown from a membership of sixteen to fifty-six in two years, and that because an elder had the spirit of service to the Lord in his heart.

If every elder would get this burden for souls, and would in like manner be a true leader to the church, what a wonderful growth in church membership we should see in the year! The Lord is anxiously waiting to bless, and every church may have this same rich experience if the members will work in the same way.

Notice the expression, "Those who have come into the truth have come in as working members." This is as it should be. Every soul who accepts the truth should at once begin to work for others, and should continue to do so. We are in the time of the finishing of the work, and the help of every one is required. Shall not every church follow this good example, and at least double its membership in the year 1914?

E. M. GRAHAM.