呼吁安息日复临信徒履行对南方的职责
南方
“主因南方园地中的悲哀境况而忧伤。基督看到这悲哀的境况而哭泣。天使们既看到一等人因过去被奴役而不能自助，便止住琴声。”{PH012 1.1}
如果天上对南方的情况是这样的感觉，那么每一个忠诚的安息日复临信徒的感觉应该是怎样的呢?{PH012 1.2}
“南方的许多城市还从未开工。请看看这个园地的贫困状况。要考虑许多人的无知、贫穷、不幸和痛苦。他们对圣经知道什么呢?他们不熟悉主耶稣基督。可是这个园地就在我们门口!你们对自己的邻舍一直多么自私，多么不注意啊!你们无情地从他们旁边走过去了，没有做什么去解救他们的苦难。这个园地的状况对我们自称的基督教是一个谴责。”{PH012 1.3}
应对形势
正是意识到这种状况，才导致了纳什维尔农业和师范学院五年前在纳什维尔市附近成立。怀姐妹建议那些带头建立这所学校的人定居在目前的学校农场上，以便在这里开办一所学校，教师和医疗布道士可以在学校里接受训练，将福音带给这个长期被忽视的园地。{PH012 1.4}
由于这个学院及其工作的结果，进入这个园地的人已经开办了二十多所相关的学校。在这些小农场学校，在南方高地的这些传道站，大约有七百名儿童正在接受训练进入真理。一项极好的工作已经开始，这些学校的数量必须大大增加。{PH012 2.1}
“我看到了纳什维尔附近的传道学校正在做的一些工作。一小群一小群的工人正到山里去，为那些没有听过信息的人作工，到处都在兴起小群的信徒。谁敢把手放在这样的工人身上，说：你不能这样作工，代价太大了。”{PH012 2.2}
“应当想尽一切办法在南方的不同地区建立麦迪逊这个等次的学校。……你们没有时间可以浪费。”那是指你吗?{PH012 2.3}
一项迅速完结的工作
我们容易忽视主所说在南方忠心工作就必有的结果。关于麦迪逊这个等次的学校的行为，我们被告知：{PH012 2.4}
“在麦迪逊的学校开展工作的同时，如果其它这样的学校也在南方园地的不同地方建立起来，上帝原会很高兴。……要努力鼓励别人去从事相似的工作。于是真理的亮光就会以简单有效的方式得到传播，在短时间就会为主完成一项大工。”{PH012 3.1}
“在麦迪逊学校给予的那等教育会被那些开始在外国园地从事宣教工作的人认为是一种具有重大价值的财产。若是有更多在其它学校的人在接受类似的训练，我们这班人就会成为一台戏，给世人和天使观看。信息就会迅速传到各国，如今处在黑暗中的人就会被带到光明中。”{PH012 3.2}
购买麦迪逊学校时所遵循的计划，若是别人也照着所应当的执行了，上帝说就会加速主的降临。我们还能要求更好的诱因来从事一项工作吗?{PH012 3.3}
对外国园地的培训。此外，在南方园地的这种工作是上帝培养一班强有力的外国布道士的手段，因为{PH012 3.4}
“在麦迪逊的学校不仅教导圣经的知识，还提供实际的训练，使学生能到蒙召工作的园地里自养传道。……学生们一直在学习成为自立的人，和一种训练，他们不可能得到比这更重要的训练了。他们就这样得到了在传道园地从事有用劳动的宝贵教育。……{PH012 3.5}
“在麦迪逊学校给予的那等教育会被那些开始在外国园地从事宣教工作的人认为是一种具有重大价值的财产。”{PH012 4.1}
为外国园地培训;{PH012 4.2}
自食其力的培训;{PH012 4.3}
会催促主降临的培训;{PH012 4.4}
值得参与吗?{PH012 4.5}
“这项工作必须趁现在天使仍执掌着四方的风时做成。没有时间可以浪费了。……我们岂不该听说有许多志愿者吗?为什么你们没有更加深刻地意识到南方园地的需要呢?{PH012 4.6}
这项工作是要做的。现在就该做了。你们应该自愿进入这个园地。不久以后，做这项工作的最后机会将赐给安息日复临信徒。然后上帝会转向小路和篱笆那里的人，我们懒惰的安息日复临信徒就会永远被越过去了。{PH012 4.7}
我们应当留心最后筵席的比喻。那些被邀请的人开始找藉口。一个人提出一个理由，另一个人提出另一个理由，不遵行主所要求的。当筵席准备好了的时候，那些最先被邀请的人竟然没有一个坐在餐桌旁。难道你们也要这样吗?{PH012 4.8}
怀姐妹在华盛顿召开的上次总会面前发表的讲话中经常提到这项工作。她最近访问了南方，千百万人正在等待真理的情景时常浮现在她的脑海中。其中仅仅一类人就有四百万人，就是强健的山地人，还没有将这真理传给他们，而当这些人将真理接进心里时，他们中间就会产生一些世界上最献身的宣教士。他们简单的生活方式，信任的习惯，牺牲的能力，将使他们能够做类似于古时亚伯拉罕的工作。{PH012 4.9}
落后时代五十年
在南方的这项工作中，我们现在已经落后了50多年。“南方的人种一直遭到忽视。人们从另一边过去了，像祭司和利未人从那个受害、遭抢、被打得遍体鳞伤的人身边过去一样。……自从北方和南方以惨重的生命代价使奴隶获得自由以来，他们一直为自称认识上帝的人所忽视。”{PH012 5.1}
“光阴已经永逝。许多人本应藉着个人之工，藉着施舍自己的钱财来供养自己和那园地上的其他工人，在南方与上帝同工。”{PH012 5.2}
忽视的原因
你知道预言之灵中所给出的最近的这个传道园地竟然被忽视了的原因吗?我们安息日复临信徒一直在变得越来越富足。我们爱我们的钱财，我们舒适的家，我们安逸的时光和生活方式，胜过爱主和祂心中所亲爱的人。我们喜欢靠近一个信徒众多的教会，喜欢听人讲道，而不是去住在一个孤僻的地方并建立一个教会。我们一直是懒惰的基督徒。我们不喜欢去这个园地的志愿者所需要过的精兵的生活。请读一下!“我们要学会满足于简单的食物和衣服，使我们能节省许多钱来投入福音的工作。”{PH012 5.3}
“主渴望南方那表面看来如此无望的沙漠荒地变成上帝的园子。要让我们的信徒醒悟并弥补过去的一切。”{PH012 6.1}
“我们各教会对于向上帝所应负严肃责任的认识是多么淡薄啊!不单是传道人，每一个加入主军队的男女信徒都是战士。他们是否愿意接受军人的生涯，效法基督克己牺牲生活的榜样呢?我们的整个教会所表现的是什么样的克己呢?他们也许奉献了金钱，但却留住了自己。”{PH012 6.2}
“要让凡真正爱上帝的人从那些有守安息日的大教会的地方走出来。”{PH012 6.3}
“不会有懒惰的基督徒从事这项圣工或参与这项工作。所有的冷漠和昏睡都必须克服。工作正压在少数乐意顺从的人身上，因为他们看到那么多要做的事，又那么少有人乐于挑起重担和负基督的轭。”{PH012 6.4}
“有数以千计本来可以进入禾场收割的人，眼下在属灵上懒惰，结果带着残疾行走天路，表示怀疑自己是否是基督徒。”{PH012 6.5}
你知道你为什么还不是这个南方园地的工人了吗?“你们在等待有人来把你们带到葡萄园去安排你们工作，或者把葡萄园带到你们这里来。”一个很简单的答案?确实如此，不是吗?{PH012 7.1}
“末日临近，自称认识上帝和祂所差来的耶稣基督的人却挤在一起，定居下来，参赴各种聚会，觉得若没有大量讲道来使他们的心灵受惠、使教会刚强，他们就不满足，同时他们实际上却无所事事。我想众天使看到这幅景象会有何感想。”{PH012 7.2}
等待薪水
“成百上千的人正在因无所作为而在属灵上死亡，因为他们根本不作工。”他们在等某个区会给他们分配一个地方，并保证他们的工资。主向这些人传达了这样的信息：{PH012 7.3}
“如果教会中的平信徒都觉悟起来，以一种安静的方式去作工，自备粮饷，参与战斗，各人看自己在救人皈依耶稣的事上能完成多少的工作。这样，我们就必看到许多人离开撒但的阵营，来站在基督的旌旗之下。”{PH012 7.4}
“目前我们许多的传道事业之所以残弱无力的原因，就是有许多人拒绝进入那已向其洞开的效用之门。但愿一切相信真理的人都下手去作工;去做那最贴近你身边的工作，不论怎样简陋，还是尽力而为，无论如何，总强似那班米罗斯人的无所事事。”{PH012 7.5}
“整个教会需要充满布道的精神。这样，就会有许多人不计工价、千方百计无私地作工。”{PH012 8.1}
你在这等人中吗?
“各教会总的来说一直没有照着他们本应当的受教育。他们一直受教育要倚靠传道人祷告和向聚集敬拜上帝的人讲解圣经。数以千计没有被按立的人可以去传福音。”{PH012 8.2}
“上帝会使用最谦卑的人，即使他们并没有被任命。”{PH012 8.3}
“工作不能单靠任命的传道人来完成。上帝必悦纳任何一个爱祂并侍奉祂的人去努力教育那些处在黑暗错谬中的人，从而得人归于耶稣基督。成千上万自称相信真理却在市场上闲站着的人，可以从事主的工作。”{PH012 8.4}
宣教家庭
“上帝希望每一个人都站在自己的位分上，不觉得工作太辛苦。”{PH012 8.5}
“我们对这些学校深感兴趣。在建立家庭传道学校方面，我们前面有一个广阔的园地。”{PH012 8.6}
“山上有一些心地诚实的男男女女，他们必须得到警告的信息。……不要说：‘我们负担不起在人烟稀少的地方主要靠自养的方式工作，因为在外面的世界上有广大的园地，我们可以接触到很多人。’也不要让任何人说：‘我们负担不起你们在那些偏僻地方作工的费用。’什么!负担不起!你们负担不起不在这些偏僻的地方工作;要是你们忽视这样的园地，时候就必来到，那时你们必希望你们曾负担得起。”{PH012 8.7}
“有许多家庭要是愿意带着所有的家当定居在还从未举起真理旗帜的某个城镇或乡村，他们就会成为一个大福气。许多人应该搬到更远的地区，成为基督所说那些相信祂的人应该成为的样子。”{PH012 9.1}
“让那些明白真理的已婚男女，出发到被疏忽的地区，去教导别人。要效法那些新区先驱们的榜样。”{PH012 9.2}
“要让守安息日的家庭搬到南方，在那些不认识真理的人面前活出真理来。这些家庭可以互相帮助。要让他们做基督化帮助人的工作，给饥饿的人食物吃，给赤身的人衣服穿。这要比讲道有更大的为善影响力。”{PH012 9.3}
这项工作的影响有多深远?
“许多地方应该建立学校。”“必须为南方各州的每一个城市和每一个城镇乡村做成认真的工作。那个园地将成为宣教的土壤，直到许多教会兴起。”{PH012 9.4}
“在建立家庭传道学校方面，我们面前有一个广阔的园地。”{PH012 9.5}
如果在战争结束的时候，安息日复临信徒曾像他们本来能做的那样进入南方，那么今天的南方将是一个多么不同的地方啊。学校和疗养院原本会成为改造许多部门的手段。然而当我们的一些人来到南方时，其中一些人回到北方，带去的消息与从迦南回去的那十个探子的报告相似。而我们这班人却更愿意相信这虚假的报告，不愿接受主关于这个园地及其人民的话。{PH012 10.1}
魔鬼的计划
魔鬼的计划是让我们看到巨人和有城墙的城市。这是他推迟主降临的最有效的方法。当主说过要开办学校、农场学校、自养的学校，安息日复临信徒却没能开办时，就加强了许多人对南方的偏见。现在，本来能在有利的环境下办成的事必须在重重困难中办了。尽管如此，让我们爱惜光阴, 救我们这个教派的人，向那些还不知道的人发出警告吧。{PH012 10.2}
扎根下来
“南方园地必须聪明地得到开垦。”来南方一段时间然后就回到北方，这样是不可能完成南方的工作的。{PH012 10.3}
“我想要说，南方园地是一个属于它自己的世界。这里的工作将不得不在很大程度上独立进行。这个园地的工人将不得不对前进的最佳方式作出判断。这个园地需要会说‘我必不灰心，也不丧胆’的工人。”{PH012 10.4}
“我们切不可忽视葡萄园中被忽视的部分。人们可能会说，让刚强的男男女女出去进入这些山区和偏僻的地方去作工，乃是浪费宝贵的光阴和金钱。……一些人可能会说：‘如果我从事这种工作，一些与教会有关的人就会阻止我。’假使他们阻止，会怎么样呢?”{PH012 11.1}
自养
许多工作将不得不自养。如果人们等待被差遣去工作并支付报酬的话，在很短的时间内就会有比可以做成的更多的事情要做。一个自食其力的工人应该得到你们的鼓励：{PH012 11.2}
“当上帝激励男男女女想要帮助这些贫穷、被忽视、无知的人，教育他们，建立学校，教导他们自养时，难道我们不该鼓励这些工人吗?难道我们不该尽力帮助那些为南方人民(黑人和白人)作工的人吗?”{PH012 11.3}
自养学校的重要性是这样得到强调的：“我们必须为教育和培训南方的白人和有色人种的年轻人提供更大的设施。我们应当把学校建在远离城市的地方，年轻人可以在那里学习耕种田地并以此来帮助让自己和学校自养。要集资兴建这种学校。”{PH012 11.4}
自养
对某些人来说这是个令人反感的词，但是“整个教会需要充满布道的精神。这样，就会有许多人不计工价、千方百计无私地作工。”{PH012 12.1}
给那些响应号召去做这项简单卑微工作之人的应许是“祂注意他们为帮助需要帮助之人所做的一切。在天庭里，当赎民被召聚归家时，他们将站在最靠近上帝儿子的位置。”{PH012 12.2}
在外国园地自养
麦迪逊学校已蒙指示要为外国园地训练自养的传道士。值得注意的是，在外国园地传道士们多么迅速地看到在那些园地需要自养。从印度、中国、朝鲜、南美和非洲传来的见证是，将来成功的传道士必须自养，必须教导他所引领归主的人谋生。{PH012 12.3}
用来自美国的薪水来支持传教士的旧方法正在被更明智的自食其力的方法所取代。上帝正在指示安息日复临信徒采纳这个计划。我们不应该在这个改革的问题上固守旧方法，让别的教派超过我们。{PH012 12.4}
有些人会来
如果他们知道如何去做工，就会来。“在南方有大量的荒地原可得到善用，像麦迪逊学校周围的土地得到了善用一样。”南方的土壤可以成为支持农场学校的手段，来自贫困地区的学生也可以学到自养的功课。
“在农村地区，房产将以低于实际成本的价格出售，因为业主希望获得城市的优势，而我们希望为我们的学校获得这些农村地区。”{PH012 13.1}
医疗布道工作
“我蒙指示：学校和疗养院的位置靠近，一定会有好处。……我们的疗养院和学校有伟大的工作要完成。时间是短促的;所做的事必须迅速做。”{PH012 13.2}
许多人可以为一所农场学校做必要的医疗工作，他们不会大规模地尝试疗养院的工作。每一所小小的学校都应该能够用健康改良的真理接触其所在社区的人民;它应该能够给予和教授简单的治疗。每一群自养的工人都应该形成一个中心，让那些需要身体治疗的人看到这个中心，并从中放射出有益健康的光芒。{PH012 13.3}
气候
南方的气候与世界上任何其他地区的气候一样。数百万人在这里过了几个世纪的舒适生活。对传道士来说，这当然不是不可忍受的。这个园地虽然被称为艰难的园地，但这不应该使基督徒远离它。基督选择世界上的困难地方作工，祂在地上时，进入了像拿弗他利和西布伦地那样的黑暗角落作工。{PH012 13.4}
圣经的真理是：没有一个安息日复临信徒能够接受晚雨，直到他找到自己的位置并站在其中。“祂已给每一个男人和每一个女人分派了工作。”“上帝希望每一个人都要站在自己的位分上，不觉得工作太艰难。”{PH012 14.1}
成千上万
成千上万的人在市场上闲站着。他们在等着有人让他们工作。他们应当响应南方的呼召，前去作工而不要薪水。谁说：“我在这里，请差遣我”呢?南方会使你发展出这信息早期先驱者们的精神。为了完善基督徒的品格，我们对南方的需要甚至大过南方对我们的需要。{PH012 14.2}
报赏
“有何等的报赏等待着从事救灵工作的人啊!当那美丽的天城的门在其闪闪发光的枢纽上被打开时，那已经持守真理的族类将要进去，荣耀的冠冕将戴在他们的头上，他们将尊贵、荣耀和权柄都归给上帝。当那时有人会来到你面前说：如果不是你对我所讲说仁慈的话语，如果不是你的眼泪、恳求和热心的努力，我就永远见不到荣美之君。这是何等的报赏啊!”{PH012 14.3}
总会的建议
在1909年于华盛顿举行的总会会议上，总会提出了以下建议：{PH012 15.1}
“我们建议，
我们比较强大的区会找出并鼓励合适的人从事自养的工作，并且鼓励这样选出来的工人去纳什维尔农业和师范学院学习一门课程。”{PH012 15.2}
想要信息的人请致信，
田纳西州麦迪逊E.A.萨瑟兰 {PH012 15.3}
PH012 - An Appeal to Seventh-day Adventists to Fulfil Their Duty to the South
【The South】
“The Lord is grieved by the woe in the Southern field. Christ has wept at the sight of this woe. Angels have hushed the music of their harps as they have looked upon a people unable to help themselves.”?{PH012 1.1}[1]
If such is the feeling in heaven over the situation in the South, what should be the feelings of every loyal Seventh-day Adventist??{PH012 1.2}[2]
“Many of the Southern cities have never been worked. Look at the destitution of this field. Consider the ignorance, the poverty, the misery, the distress of many of the people. What do they know in regard to the Bible? They are not acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet this field lies at our door! How selfish and inattentive you have been to your neighbors! You have heartlessly passed them by, doing little to relieve their suffering. The Condition of this Field is a Condemnation to Our Professed Christianity.”?{PH012 1.3}[3]
【Meeting the Situation】
It was a sense of this condition that led to the founding of the Nashville Agricultural?and Normal Institute near the city of Nashville some five years ago. Those who led in the establishment of this school were counseled by Sister White to locate on the present school farm for the purpose of conducting here a school where teachers and medical missionaries may be trained to carry the gospel to this long-neglected field.?{PH012 1.4}[4]
Over twenty related schools have been opened by those brought into this field as a result of the Institute and its work. In these small farm schools, these mission stations in the highlands of the South, something like seven hundred children are being trained into the truth. A wonderful work has been begun, and the number of these schools must be greatly multiplied.?{PH012 2.1}[5]
“I saw something of the work that is being done in the mission schools near Nashville. Little companies of workers are going out into the mountains and laboring for those who have not heard the message, and here and there little companies of believers are being raised up. Who would dare to put their hand on such workers and say, You must not labor thus; it costs too much.”?{PH012 2.2}[6]
“Every possible means should be devised to establish schools of the Madison order in various parts of the South....You have no time to lose” Does that mean you??{PH012 2.3}[7]
【A Quick Work】
We are prone to overlook the results that the Lord has said will follow faithful work in the South. Concerning the conduct of schools of the Madison order we are told:?{PH012 2.4}[8]
“It would have been pleasing to God if, while the Madison school has doing its work, other such schools had been established in different parts of the Southern field.... Labor to encourage others to do a similar work. Then the light of truth will be carried in a simple and effective way, And a Great Work will be Accomplished for the Master in a Short Time.”?{PH012 3.1}[9]
“The class of education given at the Madison school is such as will be accounted a treasure of great value by those who take up missionary work in foreign fields. If many more in other schools were receiving a similar training, we as a people would be a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. The message would be quickly carried to every country, and souls now in darkness would be brought to the light.”?{PH012 3.2}[10]
The plan followed buy the Madison School, if carried on as it should be by others, God says will hasten the coming of the Lord. Could we ask for any better inducement to undertake a work??{PH012 3.3}[11]
A training for foreign fields. Again, this kind of work in the South is God’s means of developing a strong class of foreign missionaries, for?{PH012 3.4}[12]
“The school at Madison not only educates in a knowledge of the Scriptures, but it gives a practical training that fits the student to go forth as a self-supporting missionary to the field to which he is called....They have been learning to become self-supporting, and a training more important than this they could?not receive. Thus they have obtained a valuable education for usefulness in missionary fields....?{PH012 3.5}[13]
“The class of education given at the Madison school is such as will be accounted a treasure of great value by those who take up missionary work in a foreign field.”?{PH012 4.1}[14]
A training for foreign fields;?{PH012 4.2}[15]
A training in self-support;?{PH012 4.3}[16]
A training that will hasten the coming of the Lord;?{PH012 4.4}[17]
Is it worth having a part in??{PH012 4.5}[18]
“This work is to be done now, while the angels continue to hold the four winds. There is no time to lose....Shall we not hear of many volunteers?....Why have you not a deeper sense of necessities of the Southern field??{PH012 4.6}[19]
The work is to be done. It should be done now. You should volunteer to enter this field. Before very long the last opportunity will have been given Seventh-day Adventists to do this work. God will then turn to men in the byways and hedges, and we idle Seventh-day Adventists will be passed by forever.?{PH012 4.7}[20]
Let us heed the parable of the Last Supper. Those who were invited began to make excuse. One offered one reason, another had another reason for not doing what the Lord asked. When the supper was set, not one of those first invited sat at the table. Will it be thus with you??{PH012 4.8}[21]
Frequent reference was made to this work by Sister White in her talks before the last General Conference held at Washington. She had recently visited the South, and the picture?of the millions waiting for the truth came often to her mind. There are four millions of one class alone, the sturdy mountaineer, to whom this truth is yet to be given, and when these people get it in their hearts they will make some of the most devoted missionaries in the world. Their simple manner of life, their habit of trust, their ability to sacrifice, will make them able to do a work similar to that of Abraham of old.?{PH012 4.9}[22]
【Fifty Years Behind the Times】
In this work for the South we are now over fifty years behind the times.?“The Southern race has been neglected. Men have passed by on the other side, as the priest and Levite passed by the wounded, robbed, bruised, and beaten one.... Since the slaves gained their freedom at terrible loss of life to the North and South, they have been greatly neglected by those who professed to know God.”?{PH012 5.1}[23]
“During the time that has passed into eternity many should have been in the South, laboring together with God by doing personal work, and by giving of their means to sustain themselves and other workers in that field.”?{PH012 5.2}[24]
【Reasons for the Neglect】
Do you know the reasons given in the Spirit of Prophecy for this neglect of this nearest mission field? We Seventh-day Adventists have been growing wealthy. We love our money, our comfortable homes, our easy times and ways better than we love the Lord and a people dear to His heart. We love to be near a large church of believers, and we love to?be preached to, rather than to live in an isolated place and build up a church. We have been lazy Christians. We do not like the soldier life required of the volunteer to this field. Read it!?“We are to learn to be content with simple food and clothing, that we may save much means to invest in the work of the gospel.”?{PH012 5.3}[25]
“The Lord desires the desert places of the South where the outlook appears so forbidding, to become as the garden of God.?Let our people arouse and redeem the past.”?{PH012 6.1}[26]
“How little our churches sense their solemn responsibilities to God. It is not ministers alone, but every man and every woman who has enlisted in Christ’s army is a soldier. Are they willing to receive a soldier’s fare, just as Christ has given them an example in his life of self-denial and sacrifice? What self-denial have our churches as a whole manifested??They may have given donations in money, but they have withheld themselves.”?{PH012 6.2}[27]
“Let those who truly love God step out from where there are large churches of Sabbath-keepers.”?{PH012 6.3}[28]
“There will be no lazy Christians in this cause or connected with this work. All indifference and lethargy must be overcome. Work is crowding upon the few who are willing and obedient, because they see so much to do, and so few are willing to lift the burden and bear the yoke of Christ.”?{PH012 6.4}[29]
“There are thousands who might enter the harvest-field who are now religiously idle, and as a result they go crippling their way?to heaven, expressing a doubt whether they are Christians.”?{PH012 6.5}[30]
Do you know why you are not already a worker in this Southern field??“You are waiting for some one to carry you to the vineyard and set you to work, or to bring the vineyard to you:?A pretty plain answer? It is true, is it not?{PH012 7.1}[31]
“I think how the angels must feel, seeing the end approaching, and those who claim to have a knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, huddle together, colonize, and attend the meetings, and feel dissatisfied if there is not much preaching to benefit their souls and strengthen the church,?while they are doing literally nothing.”?{PH012 7.2}[32]
【Waiting for a Salary】
“Hundreds are dying a spiritual death of inaction because they do not work at all.” They are waiting for some conference to assign them a place and guarantee them a salary. To these the Lord sends the message:—?{PH012 7.3}[33]
“If the lay members of the church will arouse to do their work in a quiet way, going to war at their own charges, each seeing how much he can do in winning souls to Jesus, we shall see many leaving the ranks of Satan to stand under the banner of Christ.”?{PH012 7.4}[34]
“Many of our missionary enterprises are crippled because there are so many who refuse to enter the doors of usefulness that are plainly open before them. Let all who believe the truth, go to work. Do the work that lies nearest you; do anything, however humble, rather than be, like the men of Meroz, do-nothings.”?{PH012 7.5}[35]
“The whole church needs to be imbued with the missionary spirit; then there will be many to work unselfishly in various ways as they can, without being salaried.”?{PH012 8.1}[36]
【Are You in this Class?】
“The churches have not been educated altogether as they should have been educated. They have been educated to depend upon the ministers to pray and to open the Scriptures to the people who assemble to worship God. Thousands might be at work who are not ordained to preach the gospel.”?{PH012 8.2}[37]
“God will use the most humble men even if they have not been ordained.”?{PH012 8.3}[38]
“The work cannot be done by the ordained minister alone. God will accept any of those who love and serve him in their efforts to educate those who are in the errors of darkness, and thus win souls to Jesus Christ.?Hundreds and thousands who profess the truth, who are now idlers in the market place, might be engaged in the work of the Lord.”?{PH012 8.4}[39]
【Families as Missionaries】
“God desires that every man shall stand in his lot and in his place, and not feel as if the work is too hard.”?{PH012 8.5}[40]
“We feel an earnest interest in these schools. There is a wide field before us in the establishment of family mission schools.”?{PH012 8.6}[41]
“There are honest-hearted men and women out in the hills that must be given the message of warning.... Say not, ‘We cannot afford to work in a sparsely-settled field, and largely in a self-supporting way, when out in the?world are great fields where we might reach multitudes.’ And let none say, ‘We cannot afford to sustain you in an effort to work in those out-of-the-way places.’ What! Cannot afford it! You cannot afford not to work in these isolated places; and if you neglect such fields the time will come when you will wish that you had afforded it.”?{PH012 8.7}[42]
“There are many families who would be a great blessing if they would take their belongings and settle in some of our towns or country locations where the standard has never been raised. Many should move into the regions beyond, and become just what Christ has said that those who believe in him should be.”?{PH012 9.1}[43]
“Let married men and women who know the truth go forth to the neglected fields to enlighten others. Follow the example of those who have done pioneer work in new fields.”?{PH012 9.2}[44]
“Let Sabbath-keeping families move to the South, and live out the truth before those who know it not. These families can be a help to one another. Let them do Christian help-work, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. This will have a far stronger influence for good than the preaching of sermons.”?{PH012 9.3}[45]
【How Far-Reaching is this Work to Be?】
“In many places schools should be established.” “Every city in the Southern States, and every town and village, must have earnest work done for it. That field will be missionary soil until many churches are raised up.”?{PH012 9.4}[46]
“There is a wide field before us in the establishment of family mission schools.”?{PH012 9.5}[47]
If, at the close of the war, Seventh-day Adventists had entered the South as they might have done, what a different place the South would be today. Schools and sanitariums would have been the means of transforming many sections. But when a few of our people came South some of them returned to the North with a story similar to the report of the ten spies who returned from Canaan. And as a people we have been more ready to believe this false report than to accept the Lord’s own words concerning the field and its people.?{PH012 10.1}[48]
【It is the Devil’s Plan】
To get us to see the giants and the walled cities. This has been a most effectual way on his part of postponing the coming of the Lord. The failure of Seventh-day Adventists to start schools, farm schools, self-supporting schools, when the Lord said open such schools, has strengthened the prejudice of many toward the South. Now, what might have been done under favorable circumstances must be done in the midst of difficulties. Still, let us redeem the time, and save ourselves as a denomination as well as give the warning to those who know it not.?{PH012 10.2}[49]
【Come to Stay】
“The Southern field must be worked intelligently.” The work of the South cannot be accomplished by coming South for a short time and then returning to the North.?{PH012 10.3}[50]
“I wish to say that the Southern field is a world of its own. The work here will have?to be carried forward independently to a large degree. The workers in the field will have to exercise judgment as to the best ways of advancing.?This field needs workers who will say, I will not fail nor be discouraged.”?{PH012 10.4}[51]
“We must not lose sight of the neglected parts of the vineyard. Men may say that it is a waste of valuable time and money for strong men and women to go out into these hills, and out-of-the-way places to labor.... Some may say, ‘If I were engaged in this sort of work, some connected with the church would discountenance me.’ What if they should?”?{PH012 11.1}[52]
【Self-Supporting】
Much of the work will have to be made self-supporting. There is more to do in a short time than can be done if men wait to be sent and paid for their work. A self-supporting worker is to have your encouragement:?{PH012 11.2}[53]
“When God inspires in men and women the desire to help these poor, neglected, ignorant ones, to educate them, to establish schools, to teach them to be self-supporting, should we not encourage these workers? Should we not do all in our power to help those who work for the people of the South, both white and black?”?{PH012 11.3}[54]
The importance of the self-supporting school is thus emphasized,?“we must provide greater facilities for the education and training of the youth, both white and colored. We are to establish schools away from the cities where the youth can learn to cultivate the soil, and thus help to make themselves, and the school?self-supporting. Let means be gathered for the establishment of such schools.”?{PH012 11.4}[55]
【Self-Support】
Is an objectionable word to some, but?“The whole church needs to be imbued with the missionary spirit; then there will be many to work unselfishly, in various ways as they can, without being salaried.”?{PH012 12.1}[56]
The promise made those who answer the call to do this simple, humble work, is that?“He marks all that they do to help those in need of help. In the heavenly courts, when the redeemed are gathered home, they will stand nearest to the Son of God.”?{PH012 12.2}[57]
【Self-Support in Foreign Fields】
The Madison School has been instructed to train self-supporting missionaries for foreign fields. It is remarkable how rapidly the missionaries in foreign fields are coming to see the need of self-support in those fields. From India, China, Korea, Japan, South America, and Africa comes the testimony that the future successful missionary must himself be self-supporting and must teach his converts to earn their living.?{PH012 12.3}[58]
The old method of supporting missionaries by a salary from America is being superseded by the saner method of self-support. God is instructing Seventh-day Adventists to adopt this plan. We ought not to cling to the old method and let other denominations outrun us in this matter of reform.?{PH012 12.4}[59]
【Some Would Come】
If they knew how to go to work. “There is plenty of land lying waste in the South that might have been improved as the land about the Madison School has been improved.” The soil of the South can be made the means of supporting the farm school, and students from needy places can be taught lessons of self-support.[60] “Properties will be offered for sale in the rural districts at a price below the real cost, because the owners desire city advantages, and it is these rural locations that we desire to obtain for our schools.”?{PH012 13.1}[61]
【Medical Missionary Work】
“I have been instructed that there are decided advantages to be gained by the establishment of a school and sanitarium in close proximity.... There is a great work to be done by our sanitariums and schools. Time is short. What is done, must be done quickly.”?{PH012 13.2}[62] Many could do the medical work necessary in connection with a farm school who would not attempt sanitarium work on a large scale. Each little school should be able to reach the people in its community with the truth of health reform; It should be able to give and to teach simple treatments. Each company of self-supporting workers should form a center toward which those in need of physical healing will look, and from which will radiate health-giving light.?{PH012 13.3}[63]
【The Climate】
Of the South is equal to that in any other part of the world. Several millions of people have?lived here with comfort for centuries. It is certainly not unbearable to the missionary. The field has been called a hard one, but that should not keep a Christian away. Christ chose to labor in the difficult parts of the world, going into dark corners of the world like Naphtali and Zebulun when he was on earth.?{PH012 13.4}[64]
It is a Bible truth that no Seventh-day Adventist can receive the latter rain until he finds his place and stands in it. “To every man and to every woman He has given his work.” “God desires that every man shall stand in his lot and in his place, and not feel as if the work is too hard.”?{PH012 14.1}[65]
【Thousands】
Are standing idle in the market place. They are waiting for some one to put them to work. Let them answer the call of the South and go forth without asking a salary. Who says, “Here am I, Lord, send me”? The South will develop in you the spirit of the early pioneers of this message. We need the South for the perfection of Christian character even more than the South needs us.?{PH012 14.2}[66]
【The Reward】
“What a reward awaits the winner of souls! When the gates of that beautiful city on high are swung back on their glittering hinges, and the nations that have kept the truth shall enter in, crowns of glory will be placed on their heads, and they will ascribe honor and glory and majesty to God. And at that time some will come to you, and will say, If it had not been for the words you spoke to?me in kindness, if it had not been for your tears and supplications and earnest efforts I should never have seen the King in his beauty. What a reward is this?”?{PH012 14.3}[67]
【A General Conference Recommendation】
At the 1909 Session of the General Conference, at Washington, D.C., the General Conference made the following recommendation:?{PH012 15.1}[68]
“We recommend,?that our stronger conferences search out and encourage suitable persons to undertake the self-supporting work, and that the workers thus selected be encouraged to pursue a course of instruction at the Nashville Agricultural and Normal institute.”?{PH012 15.2}[69]
Those desiring information should address,E. A. Sutherland, Madison, Tenn.?{PH012 15.3}[70]
搜索
