The Jamaica Visitor for 1939
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011r, Xamatra VOLUME XIV KINGSTON, JAMAICA, DECEMBER, 1939 NUMBER 12, AN APPEAL S representatives of this Second Advent themselves anew to a closer fellowship with the- A Movement assembled in Autumn Council, we Lord. express our profound conviction that we have now We call upon our believers everywhere to unite- reached a most critical period in human history. with our ministry in this holy covenant; to shun The closing scenes of the last days so clearly por- all worldliness, even the very appearance of evil, trayed in the prophetic word are now being enact- and to yield themselves wholly and unreservedly ed before our eyes. to God. "Never since the creation of the world were We appeal to the parents in our churches to give such important interests at stake as now depend prayerful thought and earnest effort to the spiritu- upon the action of men who believe and are giving al interests of their children. When in that great day the last message of warning to the world. — "Life the question is put to parents, "Where is the Pcck Sketches," page 246. that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?" what will "To sleep now is a fearful crime. The Lord is be the response? Let all redouble their efforts in coming. We are appointed to prepare the way for their behalf, resting neither day nor night, wrestling His coming by acting our part to prepare a people with God in prayer, ever remembering the precious to stand in that great day. Is there one Christian promise of the Lord, "Even the captives of the migh- whose pulse does not beat with quickened action ty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible as he anticipates the great events opening before shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that us? We hear the footsteps of an approaching God contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." to punish the world for their iniquity."—"Special —Is. 49:25. Testimonies for Ministerial Workers," No. 71, page We appeal to our children and youth to give anew 29. their hearts and to dedicate all their pow ers to Je- For years the merciful hand of our Heavenly sus their Saviour. We entreat them to think sober- Father has held in check the winds of strife. Thus ly and seriously of the truth in the following inspir- has been accorded us a time of comparative peace ed statement: in which to preach the everlasting gospel message. "The perils of the last days are upon us, and a Have these precious moments, however, been em- trial is before the young which they have not anti- ployed in kindling our tapers from the divine altar? cipated. They are to be brought into most distress- Are our lamps filled with the golden oil, and are ing perplexity. The genuineness of their faith will they sending forth strong, pure, clear rays of hea- be proved."—"Testimanies," Vol. 1, page 269. venly light upon the pathway of sinners? We know that the time has come for a mighty Believing with all our hearts that "the great revelation of God's power through His ct n- nand- day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth ment-keeping people. greatly," and that today we stand on the verge of "Before the final visitation of God's judgments eternity and that as watchmen upon the walls upon the earth, there will be among the people of of Zion it is our solemn duty to be always ready, the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as with our lamps trimmed and burning, we earnestly has not been witnessed since apostolic tin es. The dedicate ourselves, body, soul, and spirit to the spirit and power of God will be poured out upon high and holy work of making ready a people His children." —"Great Controversy," Page 464. prepared for the Lord. "Christ has made provision that His church Inasmuch as it is God's desire "to perfect His shall be a transformed body, illumined with the household through the perfection of his ministers," light of heaven, possessing the glory of In manuel. ("Testimonies," Vol. 9, p. 151)— It is His purpose that every Christian shall be sur- We call upon our brethren in the ministry to rounded with a spiritual atmosphere of light and join in whole-hearted consecration to God, pledging (Continued on pege 4) 2 THE JAMAICA VISITOR REPORTING MISSIONARY HARVEST INGATHERING 1939 HARVEST INGATHERING. ACTIVITY HONOUR ROLL OF DISTRICTS Brother! Sister! have you done your A good report maketh the bones fat. Over the top. best in the HARVEST INGATHERING "This is especially true in the missionary St. Thomas, Brother R. H. Robertson for 1939? Soon this year will be gone. This :activity of the church. Whether you realize North Street, Pastor A. C. Stockhausen will be the last APPEAL that we can it or not the missionary secretary of your Portland, Pastor G. A. E. Smith make to you through the columns of the .church is sending in to us each month a Kencot and Regent Street, Pastor Lin VISITOR this year, but we do urge that you picture of your church. No, it isn't one Rashford make your plans to reach your IN- taken by a camera, but it is just as much St. James and Hanover, Pastor E. E, GATHERING goal. If your personal goal -a picture as if it were. In some ways it is Parchment has not been reached, resolve that you a much more impressive picture than that. Rnllington Pen, Pastor J. A. Reid will do so before December 31. If your If we took a kodak picture of yourchurch, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland, Pastor church goal has not been reached, even we could not tell whether you were active Frank Fletcher though you have your personal goal, again -or not, for when you pose for a picture South Manchester, Pastor R.S. J. Hamil- resolve that you will continue without :you all stand still and look pleasant. ton fail. And if your DISTRICT goal has not Here, however, is the type of picture Clarendon, Pastor W. S. Nation been reached even though your church -that we get of your church. Let me show 75% or more goal and your personal goal, has been :you the picture of a church of about 100 Western, Pastor A. R. Haig reached, make a double resolve that the -members for last quarter: Bible readings St. Ann, Pastor L. S. Crawford year will not finish with the task undone. St. Catherine, Brother W. A. Holgate :327, missionary visits 734, persons helped Ingathering is more than money raised, -868, literature distributed 109, persons 66%% or mwe it is souls saved in the kingdom. Each St. Mary, Pastor J. N. Williams taken to Sabbath school 99. This church time we go out to solicit funds, we are North Manchester, Pastor Hubert Fletch- then has given one Bible reading per telling others of the soon-coming Saviour; er. -month per member, made two and one we are gathering funds that others also South St. Elizabeth, Pastor W. H. Randle ihalf missionary visits per member per may hear the good news. We have the month, helped almost three persons per greatest news that has ever been given to :month per member. "Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things." man; the fact that Jesus is soon coming. Now, here is a picture of another church Let's be faithful. At- the close of the year, with about twenty members more than Ps. 72:18, A. S. V. Reaching the Harvest Ingathering goal for 1939 in Jamaica was we will publish another Ingathering bul- -the first church. Let's glance at its pic- nothing short of a miracle! Only those letin that will give the standing of all the ture: Bible readings 72, missionary visits churches, and districts. We are counting :235, persons helped 247, persons taken to who had a part in the Ingathering work this year can fully appreciate what this on you to make your church and district Sabbath school 10, literature distributed "OVER THE TOP." 17. This picture, I fear, is not as good as achievement means to the conference. But regardless of the existing adverse circum- DONT PUT OFF—PUT IT OVER. -the previous one. Let's note: one Bible read- ing per member every five months, one stances, our pastors and leaders "had a missionary visit every six weeks per mind to work," and the task was complet- ADVENTIST PIONEER PASSES ed. We believe that the Spirit of God ac- member, one person helped per member Last week witnessed the passing away -every six weeks, one person taken to companied our dear people and leaders of one of the pioneer Adventists of Ja- Sabbath school every ten months per mem- as they co-operated with the heavenly angels in the campaign just finished. We maica. He accepted the Advent Message ber, one piece of literature distributed per forty-two years ago through reading the member every six months. believe that all received a great blessing book, "Bible Readings for the Home Cir- Now let me give you the picture that from the effort put forth, and the field will be greatly blessed materially because of le," sold to him by a faithful colporteur, -the Lord says we ought to see instead of and was one of the very first Jamaicans -what we do see. "Hundreds and thousands this great achievement. to be baptized into the faith.