When Mr. Talmage arrived at Amoy in 1847 the total church membership was three.  By 1850 it had grown to five.  By the end of 1851 the seed had brought forth nearly fourfold.  There were nineteen converts.  This was the harbinger of brighter days.  Even during the troublous times of 1853 signs of awakening appeared.  In the midst of war and rumors of war the native brethren had proposed to enter the “regions beyond” Chiangchiu and Chinchew.  The faithful preaching of Doty and Talmage in the chapels and on the streets of Amoy city, among the towns and villages of Amoy Island and the mainland; the apostolic labors of William Burns, whose joy it was to sow beside all waters,-these had found acceptance with God and with the people.  Inquirers multiplied at the chapels.  They came from among the shopkeepers and boatmen of Amoy, from cities and towns along the arms of the sea and up the inland rivers, from remote country hamlets beyond the mountains.

Mr. Talmage’s letters during 1854 and 1855 tell of the great awakening.

“This year (1854), thus far, has been one of unusual blessing, a year ’of the right hand of the Most High.’  Early in January, knowing that there were a few individuals desirous of receiving Christian baptism, we appointed a meeting for the examination of such, and also for personal conversation with all others who might feel an especial interest in Christianity.  We were agreeably surprised to find the number of inquirers and candidates for baptism much greater than we had supposed.  We also found among the inquirers an unusual tenderness of conscience, and sense of sinfulness, and anxiety for the salvation of the soul.  Seeing such evidence that the Holy Spirit was shedding abroad His quickening influences among this people, we appointed a similar interview for the week following.

“These meetings for the examination and instruction of inquirers we have continued almost every week, and occasionally twice a week, till the present time.  Sometimes the inquirers present have numbered thirty or forty, perhaps more.  At times, moreover, the depth of feeling manifested has been such that the eyes of every one present have been suffused with tears.  These meetings, we trust, have been very profitable, as well as interesting.”

“On Sabbath, March 26th, we were permitted to receive into the fellowship of the Christian Church ten individuals, eight men and two women, the eldest a widow woman aged sixty-eight, the youngest a young man aged twenty.”  “On the last Sabbath in May, we again received nine persons, six men and three women, the eldest an old man aged seventy-four, the youngest a young man aged twenty-three.”

“On the thirtieth of July (Sabbath), we again baptized nine others, four men and five women, the eldest a widow aged fifty-one, the youngest a girl aged sixteen.  Thus the whole number of adults baptized by us at Amoy during the present year, thus far, is twenty-eight.”