Absolom Backus Earle was born in 1812 in Charlton, New York.  He was converted to Christ at the age of sixteen and two years later he began preaching the gospel before being ordained at the age of twenty-one.  For the next five years he labored as a church planter in New York state, but at the end of 1838 he reported, “I do not know of but one person that has given evidence of new birth since I began my missionary labors.”  I can just imagine how his “lack of success” must have worn upon his soul.

However, when Brother Earle’s earthly life came to an end in 1895, his story had completely changed.  For 58 years he had traveled the continent preaching the gospel in every state and several Canadian provinces.  It is estimated that he conducted nearly one thousand extended meetings, traveling three hundred fifty thousand miles to reach those meetings.  And it is said that there were more than one hundred fifty thousand people saved under his preaching and four hundred men were called by God into the ministry.
Almost every servant of God, from the days of the Bible up to our day, has gone through periods of spiritual famine, but those who remain faithful, putting Christ before worldly techniques will be blessed, but most likely not to that great extent.  Remember, the value of each and every soul is greater than the combined wealth of the world.  “Success” should be measured by God’s pleasure, not by worldly numbers.
Source: “This Day in Baptist History III,”  by Cummins