Dios es Amor It seems your publication isn't ready to go worldw | Page 23

2

“We have improved the opportunities
as they came along.”
–Minnie Sype, 1908

Farmer’s Wife
Becomes Evangelist
Marinda (Minnie) Day Sype: 1869 to 1956
Licensed minister from 1902 to 1956

There was no doubt about it—the Baptists were spoiling for a debate. Minnie Sype
sighed. She disliked debating from the depths of her being.
Mrs. Sype stopped by Putnam, Oklahoma Territory, to preach on Sabbath and again
Sunday night. She had held tent meetings in Putnam starting May 23, 1902, and God
had blessed her with success. By July she was able to invite the conference president to
come organize a new Seventh-day Adventist church.
Immediately thereafter she prepared to hold a series of meetings in Taloga, so great
was the urgency of taking the good news of Jesus’ return to every community. However,
when she returned to Putnam to strengthen the new believers, she learned that the
Baptists had pitched a tent and brought in a preacher, Dr. Ellison, who intended to
show that the Adventists were preaching heresy from start to finish.
Debating religion struck Minnie Sype, a 33-year-old farmer’s wife who had been called
into the ministry, as the wrong way to approach the right subject. She avoided this kind
of public theological confrontation whenever possible. However, the truths that she had
been preaching were being attacked, and her converts were the target. Therefore, she
prayed for wisdom, and afterward responded that she would stand by what she had
taught and remain as long as the doctor did.
The Baptist minister seemed eager to debate. At length, in the presence of witnesses,
the two ministers agreed upon the guidelines for their polemic. The Baptists suggested
discussing “faith.” Mrs. Sype said that she believed in “faith” as strongly as the Baptists;
her opponent denied this, but Mrs. Sype thought that she knew best what she believed.
In any event, this was chosen as the first night’s topic.
The large crowd was electric with anticipation as the Adventist minister showed the
importance and nature of faith from the Bible. Then the Baptist preacher rose to make
response. At first he had a difficult time proving much wrong with Mrs. Sype’s presentation; then he brought out his reserved “ammunition”, a letter about William Miller.