THE story of Mary's alabaster box containing "spikenard very precious," her love offering for the Master, was to be proclaimed wherever the gospel would be preached. Jesus commended this deed in the words, "She hath done what she could." Could a more suitable epitaph be found for the memorial stone of the greatest queen of history? In the progress of the last three warning messages to a doomed world, those who silently slip away in death are memorialized by the Holy Spirit: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: . . . that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."
Today our eyes caught the obituary of another noble woman who has been stricken in our midst— Ena Alger Ferguson, a teacher and Bible instructor of rare ability. The cause cannot spare such devoted service as she so inconspicuously rendered in one of our most difficult mission fields — New York City. Her dedicated talents served our cause until she closed her eyes in the sleep of death. We quote from the comforting words of Elder W. A. Fagal, who gave her life sketch in the union paper. Mrs. Ferguson was long associated with this Faith for Today evangelist. The writer, also, knew her in a very personal way. Perhaps it is this that impresses us to eulogize, occasionally at least, the services of the typical Bible instructor.
"Frequently in connection with the public meetings ... a class would be conducted prior to the evening meetings by Mrs. Ferguson. Attendance at these pre-meetings was always phenomenal and the results excellent as God blessed her efforts.
"Her husband's musical abilities made of them a much-sought-after team. For eleven years they worked in the cities of Michigan, followed by one year in Oregon. Then came years of service in Providence, Syracuse, and Buffalo. Thirteen years ago the family responded to a call to work in New York City with the writer (W. A. Fagal) in the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Soon after the television program Faith for Today was begun, Mrs. Ferguson was asked to join this organization as head of the Bible correspondence school work. Under her leadership this work grew amazingly, and strong foundations for the future were laid.
"When the ravages of cancer forced her to her bed three years ago, she requested her daily correspondence and dictating machine and continued her work from home. Thousands of letters were answered by her under these unusual circumstances. Few, if any, of the people who received encouragement and help in their problems and perplexities had any idea that spiritual aid was coming to them through a dedicated saint who hardly knew a moment of freedom from pain! She worked untiringly, knowing that her time was short.
"Her works do follow her. No more fitting monument to her memory could be raised than the thousands of 'pillars of the church' won to Christ by her efforts. But other monuments exist as well. Two Bible courses written by her will continue to be offered by the television program and will continue her faithful ministry for Christ for years to come. Other hundreds of pages of printed material prepared by her for inquiring minds will continue to be mailed to the perplexed and anxious ones who look for help to Faith for Today."
Mrs. Ferguson's life on this earth has ended. It is true that this godly woman raised, up for the cause many a "pillar of the church." Those who were privileged to labor closely with her can testify to the strength of her work. We personally recall a weekend spent in her humble home a few years ago on the occasion of an important interview regarding a newly developed plan for the Bible work. Although our visit was on a social basis, it now seems that every moment was used to discuss what to many other workers has become the most precious conversation—God's advancing work soon to be completed. Such is the true spirit of Adventism. Men and women of God live for just one thing —the triumph of a message they believe in with all their hearts. The home life shows this, and the sacrifices in the treasurer's record give evidence that these servants are waiting for their Master's return, ready to give an account of their stewardship.
Sisterhood of Bible instructors, we must continue to breathe that very spirit into a devoted Adventism. Too often the question comes, "Who will fill her place?" The answer is with God, of course; but it is also with the church! Who will fill her place?
Perhaps our immediate concern is to hold up Ena Ferguson's life as an example of what Adventism today needs in our ministerial-evangelistic program. The cause needs hundreds of women, conference employed, and lay women in even larger numbers. The pressure of these last days, when the economic needs of the family lead women to seek gainful employment, tends to crowd out a vision for the work of God. The church has educated many to win souls, but where are the soul winners? Every office in the cause demands earnest application if the worker is completely dedicated to his task; the easier jobs are in the world.
The work of God need not languish or meet embarrassment for lack of Bible instructors in evangelism at this time; but let us not forget that we need to be training successors so that there will be no shortage in the future. This has always been the responsibility of the local church rather than of the General Conference or our educational institutions. It is in the churches that we discover the talent, and we guide the young prospect to our schools, following through so that those who train our workers in these educational institutions remember that the cause needs Bible instructors as well as secretaries and nurses, doctors and teachers.
The time is here when our local fields must stir up a demand for more of these noble Bible instructors to replace those we lay to rest. A vision of the work as a whole is needed, not merely the immediate needs of those who are in leadership. My last conversation with Mrs. Ferguson emphasized these very needs, and we feel certain that if she could speak to the Bible instructor sisterhood throughout the world, she would urge each worker to keep on training Bible instructors. She did what she could. Are you, sister, doing your part?
