And the Reapers Shall Joyfully Sing by JOSEF W. HALL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 23, 1915

“And the Reapers Shall Joyfully Sing”

By JOSEF W. HALL

“It is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.” The person in whom God is working will himself be working, in every manner possible and through every means which presents itself. One of the perhaps small yet important ways in which we may work for God’s good pleasure is to take an active part in the Harvest Ingathering campaign. This is a joyous work, for never, in truth, do we find such pleasure as when we work for his good pleasure.

It seems to me that each year the people are more willing to give. Most are glad to help, and some are even anxious to do so, when the needs of the mission fields are concisely set before them.

The other day I was on my way to visit a small company for the purpose of getting them to take an active part in the campaign, when a lady saw the paper I held in my hand. “I’ll give you ten cents for that paper,” she said to me. Of course it was a bargain.

I had only one other paper with me, and as I passed along the street I stopped to show it to the old justice of the peace, who was out working in his yard. “Surely!” he said, “I’ll give you all I’ve got,” and he emptied a pocket of nickels and dimes. I started on, when he called out, “Hold on, I’ve got some more here.” He gave me all except the pennies. He said it was against his principles to give pennies to God’s work. I told him that I fervently wished there were more like him, and, thanking him heartily, passed on.

Two days later my wife and I took a brother and sister living in a suburb of a city their share of the Harvest Ingathering Signs. As they were unable to use the papers, we borrowed their horse and buggy to use in soliciting from their neighbors. At every house we visited, we received a willing and often an enthusiastic cash offering, except one, where we received a pledge. From the ten papers we received three dollars, and a subscription to the Signs weekly. At one place where the mother had no money in the house, the little boy of about seven years was so touched by the picture of “Child Life in Mission Lands” that he ran and got his penny bank, and emptied it in my hands.

This was a community of poor working people, who had many church and missionary calls of their own. But they saw a life and an energy about our work which was inspiring to them, and they felt privileged to have a part in it.

JOSEF W. HALL.