Adventist History in Indonesia: A Building Church for Sumatra

Australasian Union Record, September 1, 1904, page 8

THE special Sabbath-school do-
nation for Sabbath, September 24,
is to be given toward a much needed
church building in Sumatra. Please
read the following description of the
situation there by Pastor Munson,
and let your donations on that day
be liberal.

A Church Building for Sumatra.

WE have reached a point where it
becomes necessary to erect a small
house of worship with rooms attached
for our native preacher. It is im
portant that we have a visible, tan
gible sign of our permanence and
stability. There are a number of
Chinese people who are interested,
and who would like to join us, but
who are greatly troubled with a fear
that we may some day get up and
leave them without any pastoral
oversight and nobody to bury them.
This is a very serious question with
every Chinaman. They invariably
ask, " If I die, who will bury me ? "
" If we become Christians, will the
work be permanent ? "

Sister Sarah, who is seventy-five,
or nearly that, of whom I spoke in
my last report, said to Mrs. Munson
not long since, " I used often to ask
myself, ' If I die, who will carry me to
my burial ? ' But now, when I see
all these Singke brothers coming to
our services, and interested in the
gospel, I say, ' Ah, these are the men
who will help to bury me.' " When
they see us building, their faith and
confidence will be greatly strength
ened.

And so we hear a voice saying,
" Arise, and build." We have little
funds, but large faith. The Lord will
surely kelp us. On a recent Sabbath
we explained our purpose, and re
ceived in offerings £i 8s. Most of
this was second tithe given by our
selves. There are £~6, raised three
years ago for helping to buy a piece
of land for a Christian burial ground,
which can be applied to this object.
This will make nearly £8 of the £80
or £100 needed.

Will it be possible for Australia to
give us any assistance in this enter
prise ? If so, we will be most grate
ful for it. These poor people are
generous givers, but they have very
little to give, and, of course, we can
not raise all, or even half of the
amount required ' here. If you can
do no more, pray for us, and for
God's blessing upon the enterprise.

We are holding a good many
street meetings i n the Chinese
quarter, and always have an inter
ested and respectful audience. We
also sell tracts and Scripture portions
at such times.

We are much encouraged by the
interest manifested, and thank God
that we are in Sumatra, and can
have a part in the work.

R. W. MUNSON.