p. 174 | THE GERMAN WORK IN KANSAS by S. S. Shrock

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, March 17, 1885

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 62, No. 11

THE GERMAN WORK IN KANSAS.

By S. S. Shrock

FEB. 4, I visited the little company six miles north of Marion Center, and labored with them a week. They are hard at work here, and are united in brotherly love; and as the result their number is steadily increasing. While here I also spoke twice in English; and one man and his wife began to keep the Sabbath, and subscribed for the REVIEW. A good result, I think, would follow, if English labor could be bestowed here.

Feb. 11 I went to Hillsboro, where we had meeting each evening until Sunday evening at the private house of Bro. C. J. Duerksen. Here I also found several new Sabbath-keepers; but not as many as there might be, were their union and brotherly love a little more prominent. The condition of things at this place is not such as we would be pleased to see, nevertheless we hope for improvement.

On Monday, Feb. 16, we had a special meeting at Lehigh to counsel over some matters which seemed to threaten the welfare of the cause there, and also to correct the faults of some. One brother was put under censure of the church; but he showed himself so hostile that in a week after we had to withdraw from him the hand of fellowship.

From Feb. 21 to March 1, I held meetings at Lehigh, fourteen in all, in the large new school-house. Although it was extremely muddy, the house was crowded nearly every evening, our congregations averaging about one hundred. It is still somewhat difficult for me to speak in German; but the Lord gave me excellent freedom, and the best of attention was given to the word spoken. As some of our former bitter enemies came with tears and confessed that we had the truth, and would pledge their obedience to it, we could but praise God for the power that is in the “present truth.” While here eighteen new members were received into the church, all of them of the better class in the community. Others began to keep the Sabbath that are not quite ready yet to join the church. Oh, how easy it is to labor where the church is united in brotherly love, and show by their fruits that they believe what they profess! We now have ninety-seven members in the church, and at least fifty more keeping the Sabbath, most of whom will, we believe, join the church in the near future.

These good meetings gave all new courage and confidence in the truth, and my own heart was warmed up with new zeal as I saw the earnestness of those who had so lately embraced the truth. One young man decided to give himself wholly to the work of the Master, and intends to go to Battle Creek to school in a week or two. At each of the above-named places the brethren are busily engaged in the missionary work. They send an almost continual stream of reading matter to Russia, their former home. And as they are from different parts of that country, certainly a good work will be accomplished there. We already hear of some good results. May the blessing of God still attend their faithful efforts.

Next Thursday, if the Lord will, I expect to go to Rush Co., to hold a series of meetings with the few brethren there. Will the friends of the cause remember the German work in Kansas, and pray for it.

S. S. SHROCK.

March 8.