Do They Believe It ?

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 21, 1882

Do They Believe It ?

In an exchange we find the following item:—

“It is estimated that the heathen world numbers 700,000,000, and altogether only $7,000,000 are expended by the Christian societies in mission work among them. About one-third of this sum is contributed by Americans.”

It will be seen at a glance that this sum allows just one cent a year for the conversion of each individual heathen. Besides these, there are millions who are not counted as heathen, not because their deeds are not as bad, but because they know more. These are more difficult to reach than the heathen who have not become hardened. Now it would be interesting to know how long the Christian would expect to be converting these heathen, for they say it must be done. No missionary work can be done without means; hence the rank and file of the church are really the ones upon whom this work of conversion depends. And judging from the contributions, we should say that they do not take much stock in the doctrine of the world’s conversion, or else they think that when the Lord gets ready to have them converted he will do it without any effort on their part.