The Missionary Campaign by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 13, 1908

The Missionary Campaign

By I. H. Evans

Let us not forget the date of this missionary campaign week,—November 22-28, inclusive. All our union conferences are laying plans to take hold of this work, and to do the best service in behalf of foreign missions that has ever been undertaken by our denomination. It will be interesting to our brethren and sisters throughout the field to read what some of the union conference presidents have written concerning this matter. Brother E. W. Farnsworth, president of the Atlantic Union Conference, says in part as follows:—

As to the matter of raising funds for foreign mission work, I will say that I shall certainly do the very best I know how to do. I shall correspond with the presidents of conferences, church officers, etc., and try to get them to work diligently on the matter of raising this money for missions. If we can get the church officers at work, I think we shall accomplish something.

The suggestion you make that we ask every Seventh-day Adventist to contribute

to the mission work the proceeds of one week's labor, from the president of the General Conference down to the smallest member among us, is a good one, and I hope we can carry it into effect. Then if we could get thousands of them to go out to solicit funds from the outside world, it seems to me we ought to be able to secure a large sum of money. I would like to see it tried anyway. I will promise to do all I can to get the thing going.

Brother Allen Moon, president of the Lake Union Conference, writes concerning this enterprise in the following words:—

I wish to co-operate with the General Conference brethren in anything that will advance the work. I have for years believed that when we are genuinely consecrated, the Lord will give his people favor with “the Egyptians,” and favor his cause with the riches of “the Gentiles.” And why not?

Brother R. A. Underwood, president of the Northern Union Conference, writes of this campaign as follows:—

Your communication of June 28, touching the plan for a new move to secure funds through the special number of the REVIEW, with the additional thought of asking those who did not enter into this to dedicate their wages or income during that period as a self-denial offering, has been received and read with interest. I can assure you that I will do what I can to give the plan encouragement, and push it to success. I will do all I can to bring it before the brethren in this field.

Brother W. A. Westworth, president of the Southeastern Union Conference, the last union conference organized in America, says:—

Your letter of recent date is before me, and has been read with more than usual interest, for the plan is one that has appealed to me from more than one standpoint. For many years we have been preaching Isa. 60: 1-3, but for some reason or other, we have overlooked the promises of verses 4, 5, and 6. I have often thought that we as a people did not ask enough from the outside, and hence did not receive.

Now in regard to the plan, I will say that I am with you. Most gladly will I set the pace as to salary and whatever else I can do, and will try to rally my brethren to lift as well.

From the Pacific Coast, Brother H. W. Cottrell, president of the Pacific Union Conference, writes in part as follows:—

Now in reference to the special week in November, beginning the twenty-second, during which time it is suggested that time or wages be contributed to the foreign mission work, I will say that I am in hearty accord with the proposition, or any similar proposition that will bring funds into the treasury to be used in the foreign work. This would be a wonderful ingathering if we could get all the people to take hold of it with a full determination that each one would do his duty.

Brother W. C. White, in writing of this plan, says:—

I see that you have large plans regarding the missionary ingathering beginning November 22. I would not dare to express an opinion as to how much can be gathered by our people, but of this I feel confident, that it will be a blessed experience for them to prepare for, and engage in, this work, and that this experience will do much to broaden our understanding and faith regarding missionary enterprises.

In one of mother's articles published in the Southern Watchman in 1904, regarding the work of Nehemiah, there are five or six paragraphs arguing that “the Lord's work might receive far greater favors than it is now receiving if we would approach men in wisdom, acquainting them with the work, and giving them an opportunity of doing that which it is our privilege to induce them to do for its advancement.”

This universal opinion of our leading brethren concerning the importance of this plan, should be an inspiration to our people to take hold of this campaign as we have never taken hold of anything in the past. We must arouse ourselves to the conditions that confront us, and I believe that the Lord will send us financial relief in proportion to our faith and earnestness in this campaign. Let us not forget the date,—November 22-28, inclusive. I. H. Evans.