Elder De Vinney did not accept the Adventist faith until he was thirty-four years of age. He entered the colporteur work for several years and then joined the ministry in New York State and other New England State. From 1906 to 1910 he became the president of the Eastern New York Conference. But in 1910 he accepted a call to go to Japan as the superintendent of the Japan Mission.

Three years later he was transferred to China and served as vice-president of the Asiatic Division. In 1919 he became president of the South China Union Conference, living in Hong Kong. He was 56 years of age at this time. Being much older than most of the workers in the field he was looked upon for guidance and leadership.

For three or four years Dr. Sum Yet Sen’s troops in Canton were striving to conquer Wai Chow, as the first out post in their plan to fight northward and unify China under the Chinese Nationalist Government. His general at the time was Chiang Kai-Shek. These war years were very difficult on the church work. Many of the missionaries were ordered out to Hong Kong. But the Nagel family remained in the compound at Wai Chow most of the time. Wai Chow was similar to the old city of Babylon. It really was two cities on either side of a river which separated them and joined the East River at the junction just past the cities. Thus there was a small strip of land between the two rivers on the east side of the Yen City. And the town on the west side was called the Fu City. The compound was built on this strip of land very close to the tall city wall which surrounded the Yen City. The little convenient city gate was just across from the compound gate. So when the troops would come into this strip of land the compound would suffer from the bullets and cannon balls which flew past. Sometimes the city would be surrounded by Chiang Kai-Shek’s troops for a month at a time. And when actual fighting was taking place the missionaries would to down to the dark basement for safety.

Sherman Nagel, the president of the Hakka Mission, felt he could not leave every time the troops came up to Wai Chow. It was during 1925 that Pastor Nagel had arranged for all the national workers of the Hakka Field to come down to Wai Chow for several weeks of spiritual meetings and revival. When Sherman left to go down to Hong kong and bring Elder De Vinney up for the meetings there was no rumor of any attacking army on the way.

Sherman left promising that he and the Union president would be back in a week’s time. While he was gone there was a surprise attack and troops had completely surrounded the city. It was a new experience for Elder De Vinney to make this trip up to the interior this way. First they rode on the train from Kowloon to Tai Po Market. There they crossed the bay on a small ferry to the coast of China. At the small village the hostler and horses were waiting for the ferry to arrive. There were also several mules to carry their baggage and that evening they stopped at a native inn. Of course, the rooms were furnished with only board beds and bed mats, and mosquito nets, but no private baths or toilets. The rooms were on the second floor. The guest who did not rent a bed sat around a small light in a large room just below the white guests. All this time the folk below were smoking opium and talking all night long. The bedbugs were so thick in the boards, the folk upstairs could not sleep either. Morning came and a breakfast of rice and scrambled eggs was eaten and soon the caravan was on the way. Riding horseback all day was not easy. Towards dark Sherman and Elder De Vinney arrived at the river on the north side of our compound. Everything was so quiet. They finally hired a boat to take them across. But as the boat neared the bank soldiers rushed out of the bushes by the river and demanded the boat to stop and identify themselves. When Sherman told them he was returning home, they said he could not. They were taken to see the commander who was camped in a temple near the compound. The commander said the noise of the houses would arouse the soldiers on the wall. They must leave the horses, baggage, coolies and hostler there for the night but the two men could walk home. So it was that around 10 o’clock that night a soft rap was heard on the door. Sherman’s daughter, Florence, ran to the door to see who it was and how happy she was to see her daddy and Elder De Vinney. The next morning Sherman informed the soldiers on the wall that at 10 o’clock the horses would be bringing all the things, and “ Please, do not shoot. “ True to their promise both sides called a truce. Sharp at 10 o’clock the hostler, carrying the U. S. flag came around the bend away from the bamboo trees and all were safely home.

But a furious battle followed. Cannon balls soon tore down the city wall on the west side of the Fu City. Wai Chow surrendered. The next day Sherman went over to the magistrates headquarters and met General Chaing Kai-Shek. They had pictures taken together and Sherman placed a copy in his American passport. For the next few years it was instrumental in helping him get through the army lines as he visited the mission churches.

As the national workers had already arrived several days before Sherman returned, a wonderful meeting resulted. Elder De Vinney was greatly used by the Holy Spirit and a revival took place which bore much fruit.

Elder De Vinney returned to the United States in 1926 and was elected president of the Louisiana-Mississippi Conference for the next 6 years. Next he was appointed pastor of the Jackson, Mississippi Church whose congregation he served until his retirement in 1938.