Our Obligations to Mission Fields by W. T. KNOX.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 7, 1912

Our Obligations to Mission Fields

By W. T. KNOX.

THERE appeared in the REVIEW AND HERALD of February 1 the report of the year’s offerings to missions for 1911. This was the most favorable report of this character ever put out by the denomination. For a number of years we have had as our aim the raising for missions of an amount equal to ten cents a week per member, which would have meant $323,648 for the conferences of North America. The report shows that the amount actually secured for 1911 was $311,282.12. Thirty-three conferences contributed $26,157.57 in excess of their proportion. Had the remaining forty-one conferences raised their full amount, the General Conference treasury would have received $349,805.90.

The rapidly increasing demands of the world-wide work render it imperative that yet greater demands be made upon the liberality and devotion of the membership in America. The settling of the political troubles in China will, without doubt, give a great impetus to all mission operations in that vast field, resulting in greatly increased demands upon the Mission Board for workers and enlarged appropriations. The developments of our work in India, Korea, and Japan can not longer be held in check by us, even if we desired. We must expect to strengthen our efforts in these countries very materially. The same can also be said of the work in West and South Africa and the Malaysian fields. Everywhere the Lord is going before us, preparing the way for a great work, and we must be prepared to follow quickly in his opening providences.

With this in view, the standard for our mission offerings has been raised to fifteen cents a week per member. Can we attain unto it this year? If we set our hearts to accomplish it, we certainly can.

In this connection it may be profitable to consider the report for 1911. An examination of this will reveal the fact that the success of those conferences that made the best record in raising money for missions can not, at least not always, be attributed to favorable financial conditions existing in their territory, for many of them are comparatively poor. Some of them have been suffering with severe and protracted drought. To those who have had an opportunity to observe their work it is very evident that the most important factor in the accomplishment of the results has been a constant and well-organized effort on the part of conference and church officials to inform the people of the developments and needs of the different mission fields, this effort beginning with January 1 and continuing to December 31.

Failure to any degree has generally resulted from a delay in work of this character until the year was well advanced, or from reliance on spasmodic efforts. A most convincing argument of the advantages of well-organized effort is found in our Sabbath-school offerings, where the needs of missions are invariably kept constantly before the schools, their systematic giving having made their offerings the most fruitful and reliable of all sources from which the General Conference draws its mission funds.

It is to be greatly regretted that the conferences have not appreciated more fully the possibilities of the Harvest Ingathering campaigns. Sufficient experience has been had in some localities to demonstrate the great possibilities of this agency for enlightening the people, and for securing substantial financial assistance for mission work. There is no reason why, if taken hold of earnestly, this agency might not be made to yield a fourfold increase over receipts of any past year, and thus greatly augment the offerings of the denomination.

The eyes of our brethren in foreign fields are longingly turned to us here in America. They are earnestly hoping that our liberality this year will enable them to respond to the many Macedonian calls that heretofore they have been obliged to ignore because of the inability of the General Conference to grant their requests for increased appropriations.

The only way we can be sure of a forward

movement in missions is to begin now to give liberally of our means, with that object constantly in view, and to continue our offerings systematically according as the Lord may prosper us.

W. T. KNOX.