The Beehive Vision

THE BEEHIVE IN HISTORY: 

We were encouraged to name our organization Beehieve after reading the below account.To look back into history and see something working is encouragement that it is work again.

Here is "The Beehive Vision”:

It would be difficult to describe my feelings as I stood before the San Francisco Church, Sabbath November 10, and looked over the large congregation. My mind went back to the time, twenty-four years ago, when my husband and I were planning for the building of a house of worship in San Francisco. Some, when they saw the plan, said, “It is too large. The house will never be filled.” At the same time we were erecting the first building of the Pacific Press and the meeting-house in Oakland. How great was the anxiety felt, and how earnest the prayers offered to God that He would open the way for the advancement of these enterprises!

At that time I dreamed that I saw two bee hives, one in San Francisco and one in Oakland. In the hive in Oakland the bees were diligently at work. Then I looked at the hive in San Francisco, and saw very little being done. The hive in Oakland seemed to be far the more promising. After a time my attention was again called to the hive in San Francisco, and I saw that an entire change had taken place. Great activity was seen among the bees. They were earnestly at work.

When I related this dream, it was interpreted to mean that in San Francisco there was a great work to be done. There were among us at that time only a few men to whom we could look for large financial assistance. Believers were few in number, and we needed much courage and much faith to brace us for work.

We prayed much in regard to the necessities of the cause and the meaning of the dream, and resolved to venture out in accordance with the light given. My husband and I decided to sell our property in Battle Creek, that we might use the proceeds in this work. We wrote to our brethren, “Sell everything we have in Battle Creek, and send us the money at once.” This was done, and we helped to build the churches in Oakland and San Francisco. And the Lord revealed to us that although at first the work in San Francisco would move slowly, yet it would make steady advancement, and San Francisco would become a great centre. The Lord would inspire men by His Holy Spirit to carry forward the work with faith and courage and perseverance.

Before leaving Australia, I dreamed that I was standing before a large congregation in San Francisco; that the Lord gave me a message to bear, and freedom in bearing this message. The people had ears to hear, and hearts to understand. When we entered the San Francisco church Sabbath morning we found it crowded to its utmost capacity. As I stood before the people, I thought of the dream and the instruction which had been given me so many years ago, and I was much encouraged. Looking at the people assembled, I felt that I could indeed say, The Lord has fulfilled His word. After I had finished speaking, all who wished to give themselves to the Lord in solemn consecration were invited to come forward. To this invitation two hundred persons responded. This was a time of precious refreshing. We knew the angels of God were with us. The room was pervaded with the atmosphere of heaven.

At the close of the meeting many pressed forward to take my hand and welcome me back to America. I was very glad to meet them. From Elder J. O. Corliss, who is pastor of the San Francisco Church, we learn that there are many lines of Christian effort being carried forward by our brethren and sisters in San Francisco. These include visiting the sick and destitute, finding homes for orphans, and work for the unemployed; nursing the sick, and teaching the love of Christ from house to house; the distribution of literature; and the conducting of classes for healthful living and the care of the sick. A school for the children is conducted in the basement of the meeting-house. In another part of the city a workingmen’s home and medical mission is maintained. On Market Street, near the City Hall, there is a bath establishment, operated as a branch of the St. Helena Sanitarium. In the same locality is a depot of the Health Food Company, where health foods are not only sold, but instruction is given as to reforms in diet.

Nearer the centre of the city, our people conduct a Vegetarian Cafe, which is open six days in the week, and is entirely closed on the Sabbath. Here about five hundred meals are served daily, and no flesh-meats are used.

Dr. and Mrs. Dr. Lamb are doing much medical work for the poor in connection with their regular practice; and Dr. Buchannan is doing much free work at the Workingmen’s Home. At the Medical and Dental schools in the city, there are about twenty of our young people in attendance.

There is a great work to be done in San Francisco and Oakland. The Lord will use humble men in these great cities. He can work with those who will labour in His fear. He will give evidence of His power to sincere workers and to sincere inquirers after truth, those who desire not only to know but to do His will.

God is testing the motives and principles of men and women. Strong faith and much prayer will bring heavenly angels to our side. By patient continuance in well-doing, we become channels of light.

Those who are willing to be emptied of self will be fitted for the Lord’s work. There is work for all who will deny self and lift the cross. Through the help of the Holy Spirit they will gain the victories which God desires them to gain. Wisdom and strength will reward energy and perseverance. These are God’s gifts to the diligent, humble worker. Mrs. E. G. White.

AUCR, March 1, page 1 - 16

What can we learn from the above vision and apply it in 2010?

We believe that the Beehive is a ministry established to connect, organize, and unify the work currently being done separately by local churches, existing ministries, and people in order to engage in the work more effectively and to carry it to its unified conclusion, as outlined in the Word’s of Christ. We invite you to join us as we embark on this mission. It is our desire to have cities around the world with a Beehive City Mission. Below are some key points from the original ‘Beehive’ vision, which we believe was inspired by God.

• The Beehive dream fulfillment began with a mission-minded church that was to be the center of the “centers of influence”.
• Much prayer and faith was critical at every step to accomplish the necessities of the dream.
• In accordance with the light given, they were resolved to venture out.
• Leading by example, Ellen and James White were willing to “sell everything” and use the proceeds for God’s work. “This was done…”
• The Dream and the Interpretation were sure. Mrs. White could say: “The Lord has fulfilled His word”.
• The Lord revealed that San Francisco would be a “great center”. If San Francisco would be the center, this suggests that there would be others, but San Francisco would be a hub, so to speak.
• They reaped a harvest and experienced revival. As a result of their faithfulness, “two hundred fifty” were baptized and “this was a time of precious refreshing”.
• At the close of the meetings, Ellen and James discovered that there were “many lines of Christian effort being carried out”.

There was a complete and comprehensive “City Mission”: Here is what we think it looks like in the 21st Century.

• Visiting the sick and destitute
• Working with widows and orphans
• Work for the unemployed
• Nursing the sick
• Teaching the love of Christ from house to house
• Literature distribution
• Healthful living classes and the care of the sick
• Health Food Store
• An Outpost or Lifestyle Center in St. Helena
• A Vegetarian Café on Market Street