Phineas F. Bresee - A Prince In Israel - Media Sabda Org

Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene and these heroic people of the Pentecostal Mission had long
been one in spirit, and it was a matter of special joy to be one in this closer organic union and
fellowship, as well as service.
CHURCH LITERATURE
At the very beginning of this work, in the different parts of the country, it was found necessary
to create avenues for the propagation and conservation of our work, and to make known to men that
for which we stand. Thus, in the East, West, and South, papers were established. These were
generally individual enterprises, created at large personal sacrifice, to serve and advance the work.
The task of publishing a Sunday school literature had also been entered upon.
The General Assembly, held at Nashville, in 1911, thoroughly considered the whole matter and
provided for the church to establish a publishing plant, which should be owned and conducted by
the church itself. To this end, a Board of Publication was appointed with powers and instructions.
This Board has gone forward in accord with the instructions given it, and has with remarkable
success inaugurated a Church Publishing House. It has been greatly handicapped by lack of funds,
but the results seem to be marvelous. Full reports will doubtless be made to you by them of this great
work. This is one of the most important interests that will come before you, and will demand your
most careful thought to plan for its largest development.
MISSIONARY WORK
Our whole work is missionary. A few people went out from old church affiliations, to begin again
the raising of a holy people. For some cause, the work was greatly discounted, if not worse, by the
large body of professedly Christian people of the country, which made it peculiarly difficult. To raise
up a people and create new centers of fire, with the general sentiment of so-called Christian people
against the work, and continued opposition from them to the central truth and experience of Christian
holiness, which we teach made the work largely missionary, often as difficult, or more so than the
establishment of Christianity in a heathen country. To do this has brought forth a degree of heroism
and sacrifice on the part of ministers and the little bands of laymen, rarely excelled. So that our field
of missionary work has been quite largely in the home land, to help as best we could, directly and
indirectly, to Christianize Christianity, and let loose the tides of holy power to awaken and save
America. This must in great measure still be our work, until at least a great center of holy fire is
created in every city in the land.
But, while we have been doing this, our people have lifted up their eyes, and looked upon the
fields so white for the harvest, where there are few, if any reapers. This has led to the sending of
missionaries to Mexico, Japan, India, China, Africa, and islands of the sea, as well as to people of
other nationalities within our own coasts. We are thankful to report that a good degree of blessing
has been upon the labor of our brethren and sisters in these lands -- proper reports of which will
doubtless be before you, calling for your thanksgiving as well as challenging your thought and
prayer.