On the Home Stretch by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 17, 1914

On the Home Stretch

By I. H. Evans

We are nearing the close of the present year. Just thirty-one days from this writing and we shall have passed every opportunity for the advancement of the cause of God that 1914 has to offer.

It is very encouraging to see how our brethren are working to reach the goal of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. Never were a people more loyal and true than Seventh-day Adventists. Presidents of local and union conferences are doing everything they know how to bring into the General Conference treasury the full twenty cents a week per member for mission work.

We have still a few days before us. If every church member would undertake to do his full share, if those blessed with means would give in proportion to God's blessings to them and the means that he has placed in their hands, would it not be possible for us to make up the last dollar of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund before the year closes? Already some union conferences are practically clear; and yet they propose to go right on gathering in funds.

The interest our people have taken in the Harvest Ingathering this year is very encouraging. The field has been better organized than ever before. Conference presidents and executive committees have taken a very definite stand in trying to encourage every believer to do his full share. Of course, all have not had equal success. This could not be expected. However, often when results are not large, it is not because of a lack of consecration. Conditions vary in different sections of the country, and what is easy in one place may be very difficult in another.

Some interesting reports from our workers have been handed to me by Brother T. E. Bowen. The president of one conference writes:—

The churches seem to be taking hold of the work even better than they did a year ago, and yet I feel that they might take hold still better. I know that some churches have run quite a little ahead of what they did last year. Our workers have done something in this work, that is, nearly all of them. I took the papers and started out. I distributed sixteen of them and received $108.50. We have some good reports, which we shall be able to give you a little later. . . . This year our mission funds are going to run far ahead of what they did last year. I feel confident that our conference will raise its share of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. We are all working and praying to that end.

The secretary-treasurer of another conference writes as follows:—

Last Wednesday I sent a telegram informing you that we had reached our quota for the Ingathering. Of course, the balance to our credit helped us, but we have not given up our efforts on that

account, and are still at it. Surely the Lord is greatly blessing his people. . . . One brother and his wife, elderly people, of our — church, have turned in over $57 so far, and are out for more.

Another president of a conference reports:—

I am much interested in what you have been writing concerning the Ingathering work. Our conference has been doing something, and we are encouraging the continuance of the good work. About $135 has been reported by twenty-five persons. We have not had very many reports aside from these. Elder — and I were out yesterday, and I received $3.50 from three hours' work. We are going out again today, and I believe that almost any one can get his quota if he will just get at it and stick to it, determined to do something for the Lord.

The president of still another conference says:—

It is encouraging to see the interest that is being taken by our people in the various sections of the country in this good work. We are thankful indeed for the efforts being put forth in our own conference. All our workers are taking hold of this campaign with enthusiasm, as are also our churches, and we are now receiving returns day by day. . . . I am glad to report to you, however, that, as a conference, we have made our goal thus far on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, and had $930 above the mark the first of November. Still the dollars come rolling in, and we are sure of making our full quota, if not running over, by the first of the year.

The president of a conference in the cotton belt gives a splendid experience, and yet the receipts reported are not great. But the spirit and the perseverance of the brethren are really what counts in the end. He writes:—

It has been rather hard to get our people to work this fall, for the financial situation in the cotton belt is very depressing. Business has been almost at a standstill. . . . I have been working some myself, and I find the work harder this year that I ever found it. My first effort this year was a part of two days. My plan was not to scatter the papers indiscriminately, but to get an offering with almost every paper put out. I used nine papers and received $4.25 donations. . . . I went to a town of about 2,000, twenty-two miles from my home. I began work before 8 A. M., and by 11:15 I had worked the business district and received only sixty-five cents. I saw that I could not ask our people to leave their homes to do such work as that, so thought I would better try some other plan. I started with the residences, but soon decided that if I had any success I must sell the paper outright. Desiring to test the thing out so that I might give counsel, I started in to sell the papers at ten cents a copy. Before noon I sold two copies. At two o'clock I went out again. By three o'clock, I had sold six copies. The next hour I sold three. The next half hour I sold two, making $1.10 in two and one-half hours. My total receipts on this last trip, covering two days (I went by buggy), were $2.50.

I think this report is very encouraging from many standpoints. It shows how the president of a strong conference has labored in a cotton belt, where commerce is almost at a standstill, and how he persevered in trying to do his full duty. Surely the blessing of God will follow such persevering efforts.

We trust that the remaining days of the year will be improved by all, and that the blessing of God will be with us in still gathering funds for the prosecution of his work. The outlook is encouraging, and we believe that the entire field will make a supreme effort to bring in the full twenty cents a week before the close of 1914. To this end let us all unite in daily prayer, asking God to let his blessing rest upon his people and make it possible for them to reach the goal. I. H. EVANS.