Words of Encouragement by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 16, 1908

Words of Encouragement

By I. H. Evans

ABOUT twenty-six hundred years ago the prophet Isaiah uttered these words: “They helped every one his neighbor; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.” This is a pattern of the unity and co-operation that should exist among God’s people. The place for unity to be manifested is not only around the Lord’s table or at the house of worship; there unity should appear, in a marked manner, but it must be manifest in other ways as well.

The financial support of God’s cause is a sure test of loyalty to God and love for his work. For a people few in number and poor in their worldly possessions, to support a cause of such magnitude as that of the third angel’s message, with all its varied institutions, is a lesson to the world of what a great truth can do in binding men together. In this union there is no compulsion. By the side of the liberal-hearted there will be the man who does nothing for God’s work. But the words of courage and confidence in the support of the work of God and in its speedy triumph are most cheering.

One president of a union conference says:—

I wish that I could give you more encouragement than I can possibly give in this letter. If there was any surplus tithe in our union conference at the present time, I certainly should go to the conferences and make a call for it; but since our union conference last spring, we have given thirteen thousand five hundred dollars of our surplus tithe to the General Conference, and we are pretty well cleaned out, but the — Conference has just given you two thousand dollars, which you will receive soon. With reference to the ten-cent-a-week plan, I can report favorably. We have talked this matter up thoroughly at the camp-meetings. Our people accepted it in every conference. At some of the camp-meetings they have pledged thousands of dollars for foreign missions. I wish we could have done much more.

Another union conference president writes:—

Be of good courage my brother. I am satisfied this union conference will raise more than ten cents a week, wherever I go, our people gladly accept of this plan, and we shall do better than you had faith to ask.

Another brother, a president of a union conference, writes:—

In the three camp-meetings thus far held in our union conference, about two hundred have been converted, and including the tithe given by the conferences, with the cash and pledges made, we have raised some thirty-four thousand dollars for the foreign work. I believe when our other meeting is past, it will not be less than fifty thousand dollars. I am sure we can raise from the other offerings not less than twenty-five thousand dollars the coming year. In other words, I believe that the — Union Conference can raise seventy-five thousand dollars for foreign work. This I hope to see accomplished. I give all praise to God for what we have already seen done.

From Europe these cheering words come to-day:—

I am very sorry to learn your treasury is so low. I would suggest that when the treasury is so low at this time of the year, you may quietly let us wait until later in the year,—three or four months if necessary,—until the money comes in again. We shall try to squeeze through the summer months while your treasury is dry. Shall do all I can for you on the ten-cent-a-week plan. Our tithe for the first quarter of 1908 is thirty-six thousand dollars, or four thousand dollars more than it was the first quarter of 1907.

The treasurer of one of our foreign union conferences writes:—

We are too poor to raise ten cents a week, but we wish to do what we can.

We will try a penny a week. That will be pretty good for these poor people who work for only a few cents a day. Send me a quantity of missionary envelopes.

Many letters of similar import are continually coming to our office, bringing not one word of complaint, but breathing only courage and hope. Surely it can be said, “They helped every one his neighbor; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.”

Think of the help our Northern States are sending to the Southland and to the near-by poorer conferences. One conference gave its president and two workers and a new tent to another conference, supporting them for two years. One conference furnished and supported three tent companies in other conferences, and gave one new tent. Other conferences have given as they could; and when one conference was too poor to support a worker alone, two have joined together in the support of a worker.

Truly it looks like getting ready to cross over Jordan. Why should not God’s people rejoice?

I. H. EVANS.