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Called By God
saw her neighbors, Minnie sought to comfort them with her own source of hope. She
received invitations to speak to groups of people, to present a message after the Sunday
school, to tell a family about her understanding of the Sabbath.
As people’s economic status deteriorated, their interest in God increased. The superintendent of the Sunday school and his wife began keeping the Sabbath, along with
other members of the community.
During the winter of 1901-1902 the Sypes’ dream of starting a church in their area
became a reality. They called for the Oklahoma Conference president to organize the
Gyp Seventh-day Adventist Church (later known as the Butler Church).
Minnie was surprised to receive from the Oklahoma Conference a letter of appreciation and a check for 25 dollars. Although she had worked without any thought of remuneration, the unsolicited money certainly arrived at an appropriate time.
In the spring the Oklahoma Conference administration invited Minnie Sype to
become an evangelist employed by the conference and assisted by her husband.
The Sypes talked and prayed at length about this request, considering carefully the
changes that it might bring in their lifestyle. Minnie Sype had not sought to become a
minister. Yet she was engaged in evangelism, and now this formal invitation had come.
Minnie’s sister who had come to Oklahoma offered to look after the children.
Mr. Sype volunteered, “Mamma, if you go into this work, I will stand by you and do
what I can. I can sing and open the meetings, and you can tell the people the truth.”
(Sype, Life Sketches , 71.)
After careful consideration, the Sypes concluded that the call was from God. Minnie
Sype entered the ministry in the Oklahoma Territory, assisted by her husband.
Soon thereafter Mrs. Sype traveled by horse and buggy 13 miles to the Ruth,
Oklahoma, church to conduct prayer meeting and minister to the believers there. As
soon as she arrived, one of the members urged her to speak that night on the law of
God. She responded that she was not prepared. The member insisted that she must,
because a local preacher had been trying to tear down God’s law, and people were eager
to hear the subject explained.
Wondering how on such short notice she could do justice to the subject, yet
believing that what the Lord wanted her to do she should not refuse, Minnie Sype
descended into a large canyon near the member’s home to pray and study. So greatly did
her concern for lost souls weigh on the one hand, but her perceived inability on the
other, that she cried out to God for help.
He heard her prayers; she spoke freely and with conviction. The people were attentive
and asked her to return. The new minister went home to prepare. When she returned,
a large number of people had gathered. Thus began Minnie Sype’s formal ministry, a
process of studying further, preaching, relying on the Lord, and being rewarded with his
rich blessings. She was 32 years of age.

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