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Urged to Preach
Conference is just lovely to us, don’t you?” she asked her mom and dad. She described
the generous and frequent meals, seven each day, adding that she and her husband
bypassed most of them.
Helen referred to the periodic ringing of the ship’s bell. “I suppose they had watches
on the other boat, but they did not ring the bell at all,” she observed. “It is rather nice,
however, when you are being rocked in the cradle of the great deep, to have the bell say,
`All is well, all is well.’ ” (Taken from the letters by Helen May Williams in London,
England, to her parents, January 10, 1908, and from letters written aboard ship on the Union
Castle Line en route to South Africa, January 14, 1908.)
A few months after arrival in South Africa, Elder Eugene Williams was elected president of the Cape Colony Conference. Helen Williams conducted mission work in
Grahamstown, the city in which the family lived.
A fourth son, Eugene, was welcomed into the family in South Africa. Suitable native
women were found to watch the children so that Helen Williams could continue
preaching. She was well liked and recognized as a preacher in her own right. Her
husband was known primarily as an administrator, admired and respected; as president
of the conference, he showed remarkable organizational ability. It was generally
conceded that his sermons and public speeches were not as compelling and effective as
those of his wife. Fortunately, he was secure enough to be delighted with Helen’s
speaking abilities, welcoming the requests that came for her services. The two of them
sometimes chuckled over the fact that people liked her speaking better. (Vineyard tape.)
Mrs. Williams, sometimes assertive, was also humble, gracious, and willing to serve.
She “made waves” now and then by expressing ideas that were a bit controversial, stirring people to think. However, her preaching was well founded in the Bible.
Pastor Williams spoke with extemporaneous delivery, from brief notes. She had a
simple but effective filing system in which to keep her sermon notes. In a section labeled
“Topical” is a set of handwritten notes on the subject of “Humility,” consisting of
numbered questions followed by Bible references. (From Helen Williams, “Humility,”
unpublished sermon notes. See appendix A, 1.3.) It begins as follows:
Humility
1. Where does God dwell? Isaiah. 57:15.
2. Is it natural for us to be humble? Rom. 8:7.
3. Why? Gen. 2:17, 3:6.
4. Is it reasonable that we should be humble? Rom. 12:1.
The tone of this Christ-centered sermon is buoyant. Speaking from brief notes
allowed Mrs. Williams direct contact with her listeners. One can picture how through
the inspiration of the Spirit she breathed life into this simple outline, adding illustrations, applications, and an appeal. Of striking appearance, she spoke with a compelling
voice and dramatic ways, at the same time expressing thoughts that were spiritual and
persuasive. To hear and see her was a memorable experience.

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