p. 11 | Brazil Union Conference by F. W. Spies

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 14, 1914

Brazil Union Conference

By F. W. Spies

F. W. SPIES

Following the good workers' meeting at Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, the Brazil Union Conference held its third biennial session January 19-25. The reports rendered showed that progress had been made in the various departments.

During the past two years we gained some members by immigration, but lost a greater number by emigration. Then, too, dropping from our church rolls a goodly number of such as by their lives showed that they were not of us, still helped to reduce the actual membership of our union. But even then there was a gain of about sixty in membership, and an encouraging increase in tithes and offerings.

One thing that greatly encouraged the delegates present, was the fact that three brethren who had developed in our field could be ordained to the gospel ministry. And this increase of ordained ministers enabled us to make better plans for the various parts of our great field than ever before. Nevertheless, it is the impression that a country larger than the United States (aside from its island possessions), with about twenty-three million inhabitants, is too extensive to be properly administered as one union conference.

We believe that both our union conference and the workers' meeting were a decided help and uplift to our workers, not only in that a study of better plans and methods of work gave greater efficiency, but we believe a better understanding of the Lord's readiness to help us and a fuller appreciation of his presence with us will bring greater power to finish his work.

The public meetings begun for the people of Santo Amaro were very well attended from the first. And although the priest of the place did his best to hinder the work, we have not had even a ripple of persecution. The large majority of the people of the town seem on our side. Soon after our evening meetings began, a boy, paralytic from a fall, and incurable the doctors said, was brought to us. The treatments given by our nurses soon enabled the boy to walk, and he grew better right along. Others came, and still others. Thus the people received the impression that we have come to do them good, and even the threats of excommunication could not keep them away. At a recent meeting, after having spoken for several nights on the sanctuary and the law, Elder Lipke asked those present who were willing to serve the Lord, keep all the commandments (the fourth included), and get ready for Jesus' coming, to rise. More than thirty persons responded. Thinking he might not have been understood, he put the question in another way, and the result was the same.

As we start out on another biennial period, our workers are of good courage, expecting that the Lord will do great things for us, and give us power from on high to hasten his work to a close.