Evangelising the Cities
by Ellen White
The words were spoken to me with impelling power: Wake up the watchmen to carry the
word of warning to every city in America. Build up the waste places. The righteous
judgements of God, with their weight of final decision, are coming upon the land. Do not
hover over the churches to repeat over and over again the same truths to the people, while
the cities are left in ignorance and sin, unwarned and unlabored for. Soon the way will be
hedged up and these cities will be closed to the gospel message. Wake up the church
members that they may unite in doing a definite and self-denying work. 10MR 216
It has been a difficult problem to know how to reach the people in the great centres of
population. We are not allowed entrance to the churches. In the cities the large halls are
expensive, and in most cases but few will come out to the best halls. We have been spoken
against by those who were not acquainted with us. The reasons of our faith are not
understood by the people, and we have been regarded as fanatics, who were ignorantly
keeping Saturday for Sunday. In our work we have been perplexed to know how to break
through the barriers of worldliness and prejudice, and bring before the people the
precious truth which means so much to them. 6T 31
I dreamed that several of our brethren were in council, considering plans of labour for
this season [1874]. They thought it best not to enter the large cities, but to begin work
in small places, remote from the cities; here they would meet less opposition from the
clergy, and would avoid great expense. They reasoned that our ministers, being few in
number, could not be spared to instruct and care for those who might accept the truth in
the cities, and who, because of the greater opposition they would there meet, would need
more help than would the churches in small country places. Thus the fruit of giving a
course of lectures in the city would, in a great measure, be lost. Again, it was urged
that, because of our limited means, and because of the many changes from moving that might
be expected from a church in a large city, it would be difficult to build up a church that
would be a strength to the cause. My husband was urging the brethren to make broader plans
without delay, and put forth, in our large cities, extended and thorough effort, that
would better correspond to the character of our message. One worker related incidents of
his experience in the cities, showing that the work was nearly a failure, but he testified
to better success in the small places.
One of dignity and authority--One who is present in all our council meetings--was
listening with deepest interest to every word. He spoke with deliberation and perfect
assurance. "The whole world," He said, "is God's great vineyard. The cities
and villages constitute a part of that vineyard. These must be worked." 7T 34
In the cities of today, where there is so much to attract and please, the people can be
interested by no ordinary efforts. Ministers of God's appointment will find it necessary
to put forth extraordinary efforts in order to arrest the attention of the multitudes. And
when they succeed in bringing together a large number of people, they must bear messages
of a character so out of the usual order that the people will be aroused and warned. They
must make use of every means that can possibly be devised for causing the truth to stand
out clearly and distinctly. The testing message for this time is to be borne so plainly
and decidedly as to startle the hearers and lead them to desire to study the Scriptures.
9T 109
As a people we greatly need to humble our hearts before God, pleading His forgiveness
for our neglect to fulfil the gospel commission. We have made large centres in a few
places, leaving unworked many important cities. Let us now take up the work appointed us,
and proclaim the message that is to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger. If
every Seventh-day Adventist had done the work laid upon him, the number of believers would
now be much larger than it is. 9T 25
We have a most solemn, testing message to give to the world. But too much time has been
given to those who already know the truth. In the place of spending time on those who have
been given many opportunities to learn the truth, go to the people who have never heard
your message. Hold your camp meetings[* NOTE.--SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CAMP MEETINGS OF
EARLIER YEARS WERE GREAT EVANGELISTIC AGENCIES DRAWING LARGE, ATTENTIVE, NON-ADVENTIST
AUDIENCES. IN THE FREQUENT MENTION OF CAMP MEETINGS IN THIS VOLUME THE CONTEXT CLEARLY
INDICATES THAT IT IS THE TENT MEETING OF LARGE EVANGELISTIC POTENTIALITIES THAT IS USUALLY
REFERRED TO. SEE EV 82,83 FOR STATEMENTS DESCRIBING SUCH MEETINGS.] in cities where the
truth has not been proclaimed. Some will attend the meetings and receive the
message.--Letter 87, 1896. EV 20
We do not realise the extent to which Satanic agencies are at work in these large
cities. The work of bringing the message of present truth before the people is becoming
more and more difficult. It is essential that new and varied talents unite in intelligent
labour for the people. EV 31
The people who live in the country places are often more easily reached that are those
who dwell in the thickly populated cities. Here among the scenes of nature Christian
character is more easily formed than amid the wickedness of city life. When the truth
takes hold of the hearts of the simplehearted, and the Spirit of God works upon their
minds, leading them to respond to the proclamation of the Word, there will be some raised
up to help support the cause of God both by their means and their labours.-- Manuscript
65, 1908. EV 46
The solemn, sacred message of warning must be proclaimed in the most difficult fields
and in the most sinful cities, in every place where the light of the great threefold
gospel message has not yet dawned. Everyone is to hear the last call to the marriage
supper of the Lamb. . . .
Countries hitherto closed to the gospel are opening their doors, and are pleading for
the Word of God to be explained to them. Kings and princes are opening their long-closed
gates, inviting the heralds of the cross to enter. The harvest truly is great. Eternity
alone will reveal the results of well-directed efforts put forth now. GW 27
For the accomplishment of all that God calls for in warning the cities, His servants
must plan for a wise distribution of the working forces. Often the labourers who might be
a power for good in public meetings, are engaged in other work that allows them no time
for active ministry among the people. For the conduct of affairs at the various centres of
our work, those in responsibility must endeavour, as far as possible, to find consecrated
men who have been trained in business lines. There is constant necessity of guarding
against the tendency to tie up at these centres of influence men who could do a larger and
more important work on the public platform, in presenting before unbelievers the truths of
God's Word. RH APR. 7,1910
The spiritual darkness that covers the whole earth today, is intensified in the crowded
centres of population. It is in the cities of the nations that the gospel worker finds the
greatest impenitence and the greatest need....
The record of crime and iniquity in the large cities of the land is appalling. The
wickedness of the wicked is almost beyond comprehension. Many cities are becoming a very
Sodom in the sight of heaven. The increasing wickedness is such that multitudes are
rapidly approaching a point in their personal experience beyond which it will be
exceedingly difficult to reach them with a saving knowledge of the third angel's message.
The enemy of souls is working in a masterful manner to gain full control of the human
mind; and what God's servants do to warn and prepare men for the day of judgement, must be
done quickly.
The conditions that face Christian workers in the great cities, constitute a solemn
appeal for untiring effort in behalf of the millions living within the shadow of impending
doom. Men will soon be forced to great decisions, and they must have opportunity to hear
and to understand Bible truth, in order that they may take their stand intelligently on
the right side. God is now calling upon His messengers in no uncertain terms, to warn the
cities while mercy still lingers, and while multitudes are yet susceptible to the
converting influence of Bible truth. RH APR. 7,1910
As I consider the conditions in the cities that are so manifestly under the power of
Satan, I ask myself the question, What will be the end of these things? The wickedness in
many cities is increasing. Crime and iniquity are at work on every hand. New species of
idolatry are continually being introduced into society. In every nation the minds of men
are turning to the invention of some new thing. Rashness of deed and confusion of mind are
everywhere increasing. Surely the cities of the earth are becoming like Sodom and
Gomorrah.
As a people we need to hasten the work in the cities, which has been hindered for lack
of workers and means and a spirit of consecration. At this time, the people of God need to
turn their hearts fully to Him; for the end of all things is at hand. They need to humble
their minds, and to be attentive to the will of the Lord, working with earnest desire to
do that which God has shown must be done to warn the cities of their impending doom. RH
JAN.25,1912
The cities must be worked. The millions living in these congested centres are to hear
the third angel's message. This work should have been developed rapidly during the past
few years. RH JUL. 5,1906
Much depends upon the work done by the members of the church in connection with and
following the tent-meetings that shall be held in our cities. During the meeting, many,
convicted by the Spirit, may be filled with a desire to begin the Christian life; but
unless there is constant watchfulness on the part of the workers who remain to follow up
the interest, the good impressions made on the minds of the people will become indistinct.
The enemy, full of subtle reasoning, will take advantage of every failure on the part of
God's workers to watch for souls as they that must give an account. RH MAR.02,1905
When I think of the many cities yet unwarned, I cannot rest. It is distressing to think
that they have been neglected so long. For many, many years the cities of America,
including the cities in the South, have been set before our people as places needing
special attention. A few have borne the burden of working in these cities; but, in
comparison with the great needs and the many opportunities, but little has been done.
Where is your faith, my brethren? Where are the workmen? . . .
Shall we not plan to send messengers all through these fields, and support them
liberally? Shall not the ministers of God go into these crowded centres, and there lift up
their voices in warning to multitudes? At such a time as this, every hand is to be
employed. RH NOV.25,1909