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Closing the Year's Campaign Work

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 52.

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Closing the Year's Campaign Work

By L. A. H.

THE end of the year witnesses a good endeavor on the part of a number to bring up the quota of sales of ‘Ministry of Healing.’ Several conferences entered upon the special-week effort with evident purpose of making it a success. A few examples are here given, of the zeal manifested and of the methods followed to create interest.
In a letter to the Wisconsin workers, Elder W. H. Thurston calls attention to the recommendation for the special-week effort, and says: “It seems to me that we, those in conference employ, should heed this recommendation, by putting in five days’ hard work with this book, and bring results. It will be very easy to excuse ourselves on account of conditions, etc.; but as I view it, we should not ask to be excused. I think we should sell at least enough to cover our salary for the week, and as many more as possible. . . . I am urging no more than I take to myself. So come along, fellow workers, for a forward movement.”
A letter was also sent to the churches, to be read the last Sabbath of the week of prayer. The last part of it especially is suitable for general reading, as follows: “The Lord will bless every faithful effort put forth in his name. Let us make a special effort during this time, and place several thousand books in the homes of the people. We would encourage all to do something. Think about it, pray over it. Let this be the burden of prayer at morning worship during this week. Isa. 6:1-8. We know that every one can not devote all the time to this work for a week; but some can put in full time, others part time, and all can do something. Then, after the time of the special effort is past, we shall keep right on selling the book as time and opportunity permit, until the fifteen thousand copies are sold, as voted at our camp-meeting. To him that believeth, all things are possible. Let us round up the year’s work with satisfactory results, and begin the new year with renewed hope and courage, moving forward, knowing that in all things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. This is our desire and our expectation.”

In Nebraska

Elder J. W. Christian, president of the Nebraska Conference, in an article in the Central Union Outlook, presents the call for the special campaign, and says: “We are asking all our workers to spend the week of December 18-25 among the people in behalf of this valuable work. The idea is not for the workers to get our people to take a certain number of books, but to actually get out among the people not of our faith, and interest them in the messages ‘Ministry of Healing’ brings to all who read it.
“In this special effort in behalf of our best health book, we urge our people generally to participate. You may have the books laid away somewhere; why not join the rest of the workers in disposing of them? or you may not have ordered your quota at all. If this is the case, send for your books at once. They can be had from the office in the English, Swedish, Danish, and German languages. Let us pray that we may be prospered during this week as we unite with our brethren and sisters in other parts of the field in disseminating the light given to us by the Lord.”
Nebraska has already been doing something. A monthly circular letter to the church workers gives an itemized list of 498 orders received for books up to the time of the report, the orders ranging from one to fifty copies. Several individuals have sent orders repeatedly, in one instance amounting to forty-five books, all paid for. This circular letter is accompanied by a very neat order blank for final rally, with a strong appeal from the missionary secretary, M. E. Ellis.

“Will You Help?”

This is the heading of an appeal by Elder G. F. Watson, in the Southwestern Union Record, using the entire front page, with a good display heading, “‘Ministry of Healing’ Work.” After calling attention to the matter, he says: “What a blessing would come to our sanitariums if our people would do this work! Just a little time spent with this good book by every Seventh-day Adventist would bring the much-needed help to our burdened sanitariums; and besides we should be placing in the hands of the people a book that is worth much more than the one dollar fifty cents that it costs.
“I know that this book will sell. Go to your neighbors and show them the merits of the book, for it is true to its name. When will your neighbors come in touch with these grand principles if you do not bring them to their attention?”

“Another Jericho to be Taken”

This is the title of an article by Elder M. N. Campbell, president of the Iowa Conference, in the Northern Union Reaper. After giving the general plan of the work, and the special call in particular, Brother Campbell says: “Let us all take hold of this in a united effort to bring results. The week following the week of prayer is the time, we are the people; let us do the right thing at the right time, and indicate our willingness to cooperate with God’s purposes. May we not see as a result of the blessing to us during the period of prayer a return in genuine service? The ‘Ministry of Healing’ contains knowledge that the world is starving for, and God is looking to his people to take it to the world. Shall we not swing into line, and make December 18-25 a time long to be remembered in our experience?”
In the same paper, Elder C. M. Babcock, president of the South Dakota Conference, presents the matter and adds: “Shall we take hold as suggested by the General Conference Committee recommendation, and make special effort to dispose of these books, thus bringing blessing to many homes and relief to our institutions?”
Some parts of the field found it too late to make adequate preparation for the kind of effort they would want to put forth, and decided to make the special effort a little later. The West Virginia Conference, however, appointed a time previous to the special week and to last longer, their date being December 8-22. They followed up the effort energetically.
There will no doubt be various conditions in the final completion of the year’s work. Some of these may hinder doing all that was intended, leaving some books unsold. May we not take courage from our experiences thus far, and enter upon the new year with a stronger purpose than ever to complete the whole allotment of work within the time devoted to it? The sort of spirit expressed in the foregoing quotation will surely help carry through this movement to a successful completion. May more, leaders and people, partake of it.
L. A. H.