An Opportunity to Render This Cause Great Service
By A. G. DANIELLS
At no time since our work begun has the outlook been more encouraging for the speedy completion of the message than at the present time. In the foreign fields, especially, the Lord has gone out before us, and great progress is everywhere indicated by the reports which come from our faithful missionaries stationed in all these lands. Every mail brings most urgent calls for more workers, not only better to develop the work in the stations already opened, but to push out into new territory. While this “Macedonian cry” brings joy and courage to our hearts, it brings also great perplexity to know how to respond to these urgent calls for help. And the strain upon our finances is very great. In fact, we are working continually with a treasury practically empty; not because nothing is coming in, but because so much is required to carry forward the work. And when we have gone to our utmost limit, it seems that we have made but a feeble response to the calls which come to us. What shall be done? We can not be true to the message and work committed to our hands, and turn a deaf ear to the cry which is coming from the millions who as yet have not heard the good news of a Saviour who loves them and is soon to return. Our watchword constantly must be “Onward!” From the one hundred thousand loyal believers in all the world we seem to hear the command, “Go forward.” Till our Captain says, “It is finished,” we must conduct an aggressive campaign, which reaches out into the most dark and destitute parts of the habitable earth. Never, till the warfare on earth is ended, can we consistently slacken our efforts, or enter upon a policy of retrenchment. Our expenditures in foreign missions must be increased year by year. The appropriations for the present year are much larger than those for last year. We are glad of this; for if it required no more funds to finance this work this year than it did last, it would indicate delay in our work. We have now come to the place where to carry forward the work already in operation in mission fields, it requires approximately one thousand dollars a day. That is, every time the sun rises, from some source a thousand dollars must be provided to meet expenses. It is evident that some plan must be devised and set in operation by which this large sum of money will be provided. While the gifts of our people are liberal, they are not adequate to meet fully the demands of this growing cause. “Thanksgiving week,” November 22-28, affords an opportunity not simply to bring relief to our financial strain, but to make provision for a great forward movement into “the regions beyond.” The possibilities which this plan affords to secure financial help, and quickly secure a large sum to help spread this message, are almost without limit. All the gold and silver belong to God; and why should we not go to those who have it, yet know nothing concerning this blessed truth, and, having placed before them a copy of the REVIEW AND HERALD, prepared with the view of telling them what we are doing to give the gospel to all the world, ask them for a donation? Soon they will cast their silver and gold to the moles and the bats. Why not extend to them an invitation, not only to embrace the message, but to give to its advancement some of the Lord’s money with which he has entrusted them? The success of this excellent plan rests in the faithfulness of our people. An excellent number of the REVIEW AND HERALD may be prepared, and the most perfect organization possible be put into operation in all the union and local conferences; but if our people in the local churches fail to respond, and put into practical operation the plans suggested, the effort will to a great extent be a failure. The success or failure of the plan rests with us as individuals. If fifty thousand of our people would secure an average of five dollars for each, it would bring in for the advancement of our work the handsome sum of a quarter of a million dollars. An effort, I am sure, proportionate to the greatness of the work and the shortness of time would bring in even a greater sum than this. I must earnestly appeal to our people everywhere to take hold of this plan. Let the officers in the local churches do their duty, and organize the work. Find out how many papers you can use, and order them at once. If every church makes a determined and persistent effort, the plan will prove a great success. By doing this we shall not only help our work financially, but save the souls of some of our neighbors as well. The curse came on Meroz because “they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” Let none of us merit the displeasure of the Lord by a failure to help the needy cause of God at this time.