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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
The strengthening of the work in these English-speaking countries
will give our laborers a hundredfold more influence than they have had
to plant the standard of truth in many lands.
While we are trying to work these destitute fields, the cry comes
from far-off countries: “Come over and help us.” These are not so
easily reached, and not so ready for the harvest, as are the fields more
nearly within our sight; but they must not be neglected.
The poverty of the missions in Africa has recently been opened
before me. The missionaries sent from America to the natives of Africa
have suffered and are still suffering for the necessaries of life. God’s
missionaries, who carry the message of mercy to heathen lands, are
not properly sustained in their work.
Our brethren have not discerned that in helping to advance the work
in foreign fields they would be helping the work at home. That which
is given to start the work in one field will result in strengthening the
work in other places. As the laborers are freed from embarrassment,
their efforts can be extended; as souls are brought to the truth and
churches are established, there will be increasing financial strength.
Soon these churches will be able not only to carry on the work in their
own borders, but to impart to other fields. Thus the burden resting on
the home churches will be shared.
The home missionary work will be farther advanced in every way
when a more liberal, self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit is manifested
for the prosperity of foreign missions; for the prosperity of the home
work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the
evangelical work done in countries afar off. It is in working actively
to supply the necessities of the cause of God that we bring our souls in
touch with the Source of all power.
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Although the work in foreign fields has not advanced as it should
have advanced, yet that which has been accomplished affords reason
for gratitude and ground for encouragement. Much less means has
been spent in these fields than in the home fields, and the work has
been done under the hardest pressure and without proper facilities.
Yet, considering the help that has been sent to these fields, the result is
indeed surprising. Our missionary success has been fully proportionate
to our self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. God alone can estimate
the work accomplished as the gospel message has been proclaimed
in clear, straight lines. New fields have been entered, and aggressive