“Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” When Paul heard this “immediately he endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
In these last days of Gentile times, Macedonia is calling for help. From Holland comes the plea for brethren and sisters to move there to strengthen the hands of those few who are struggling to maintain a light stand in the Hague. Bro. Richard Purkis writes “Our ecclesia (formed in 1958) consists of 10 members. Four of these have to leave during this year. These four are in fact, those with a real “background” in the Truth, whilst our Dutch members remain with just my wife and I to help them along (and I’m only a youngster!)” He continues, “Holland offers excellent opportunities for people from the States —especially those concerned in oil. (The Hague alone has an American population of over one thousand.) Many insurance firms and business houses of American origin have Continental offices here too, and there are two schools, giving American education, where qualified teachers are always welcomed.
The standard of living is quite high and many stores carry stocks of most foodstuffs, etc. on sale in USA. However, when all is said, it is the challenge of a growing ecclesia, in need of strengthening, that should appeal most and we pray that you can pass on our need in some way to those who may be interested.”
On the other side of the world we have a small ecclesia in the Phillipine Islands where Bro. Pedro Jimeno has been working alone. We now have news that two brethren from Australia have been able to visit and assist him in his work but how much he needs to have some who could move there to help him.
In between these two extremities we have the Isthmus of Panama where the small ecclesia founded by Bro. and Sis. Noel Gibson is struggling to grow and prosper and any brother or sister who is willing to work will be greeted with open arms and loving hearts by these two who want so much to receive assistance in their work of preaching the truth.
In each of these three places much good has come from the work of so few and if only there were more hands how much more could be done. Jesus told us “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
There is much to be done and time is short. Let each one ask, “Here am I, Lord. Can I go ? God can open up the way to send us if we truly want to work in His vineyard.
We need to remember also, that it isn’t necessary to travel half way around the world to preach the gospel, we have areas right in our own back yards that are crying for help. The San Francisco Bay area has a radio program reaching thousands and the mail is pouring in from interested friends and where are the brethren and sisters to follow up their interest ? There is only one small ecclesia of half a dozen and they desperately want help. San Francisco is a prosperous area and almost any kind of work can be obtained there.
Piketon, Ohio is another community that needs a brother and. sister who could settle there and revive the truth in a place that heard Dr. John Thomas preach 100 years ago and still have a few ‘who have tenaciously held to some of his teachings.
Truly the harvest is plenteous. Where are the labourers ? In these closing days, let us not sit back on our laurels. The Lord Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”
We have the command to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, let us then arise and go hence. Any brother or sister who is interested in further details concerning these areas please write to The Tidings, Box 1066, Pasadena Calif.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One