General Conference Bulletin, vol. 3

AN APPEAL FOR THE WORK IN AUSTRALIA

L. A. HOOPES

Just at this time there is being circulated to all Seventh-day Adventists in America a leaflet having the title of this article. The reader of the leaflet will observe that it is made up of a special communication addressed to the General Conference while in session at South Lancaster, Mass. A wonderful missionary spirit was aroused at the reading of this communication, which began to materialize in the brethren making donations and pledges for the work in Australia. It was at this juncture that the “Captain Norman” episode turned the attention of so many in another direction, the influence of which has been felt in a great many ways in the matter of giving. GCB April 1, 1900, page 151.3

More than a year has passed since our conference closed at South Lancaster, and now the appeal comes from the Lord in a stronger way, that something should be done, and quickly done, for the needy field in Australia. The Lord sees not as man sees. He views the field from standpoints that man’s wisdom is utterly incapable of comprehending. He knows the value of Australia as a missionary center and a base of missionary operations for the many thousands and millions of people in the South Sea Islands, in Australasia, India, China, and Japan. The accessibility of these fields from Australia is very much better than from any other organized work in the denomination. We Americans are inclined to think, judging from the phenomenal growth of the United States, and the rank and position to which this country has risen in the eyes of nations, that the United States would be the proper base of operations for the work in the far East. We would naturally reason that the United States has been the place of the rise of the third angel’s message. It was here where there was such a wonderful movement in the first angel’s message. GCB April 1, 1900, page 151.4

It might be argued that the work is better organized in this country than in any other place on the globe; that we are better able to maintain missions abroad than from any other organized center. However this may be, we are not to speculate; for the Lord has spoken concerning Australia and the work that is to be done there. While it is true that America has a tremendous influence in other lands, it must not be forgotten that other nations are patterning after our evil deeds as well as our good deeds. GCB April 1, 1900, page 151.5

The servant of the Lord has called attention to the Cooranbong school as being the most suitable place to educate and train laborers to enter the adjacent fields. It is not for us to say that more contributions have gone to Australia than to other foreign fields. The Lord knows just what he wants; he knows what is needed to place the work on a sure foundation. When the Lord speaks on a question of this kind, it is for us to take heed. The Lord sees in it not merely the advancement of the work in Australia and the foreign fields adjacent thereto, but he sees a blessing in it for every one who will have a part in this work. He would have us understand that communicating of our temporal goods brings returns in spiritual blessings. Every dollar may represent a soul saved in the kingdom of God. GCB April 1, 1900, page 151.6

The plan that the Lord would have us take hold of in the appeal, is to make the question a subject of prayer; make it a real business to lay aside something for that field. Each member of the family is to be enlisted. What better missionary work can we be engaged in than enlisting each member of our families to have a part in carrying the light of truth to the regions beyond? GCB April 1, 1900, page 151.7

Just such a work as this is seth forth in Isaiah 66:19, 20, which reads as follows: “And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.” GCB April 1, 1900, page 151.8

Another blessed thought connected with this is found in verses 21-23: “And I will take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” Here it will be seen that even some of those people who are now in darkest heathendom will be taken for priests in the service of God, and will become participants of the glory of the new heavens and new earth, and will come up to worship the Lord from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another. GCB April 1, 1900, page 151.9