p. 18 | The Next Missionary Convention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1905

The Next Missionary Convention

By W. C. White; H. H. Hall; E. R. Palmer; G. A. Irwin; W. A. Spicer

MORE than a month of the missionary campaign period has now passed. In some churches conditions have been such that genuine progress has been made toward accomplishing the objects of the campaign. Other churches have only begun. Some whole conferences have had to postpone the first convention one or more weeks on account of circumstances peculiar to their field.

For these and other reasons a uniform program for the second convention would not be the most appropriate. It has therefore been decided to place the responsibility of this coming convention, November 18, with the church officers. These officers know the progress thus far made in their home churches, they know the weak points, and will have suggestions as to how to strengthen them. They know on whom they can depend to help organize and carry on the campaign in a permanent way. Suggestions have been prepared and mailed to these officers so far as names and addresses could be secured. Any officer who has not yet received these suggestions should write at once to his State tract society for a copy.

However, officers need not be dependent upon these instructions, for by keeping the objects of the campaign and of this convention in mind, they will have a profitable meeting whether they have these suggestions or not.

Objects of Convention and Campaign

1. The Object of the Convention.—The placing of definite continuous work upon every man and woman and child among us.

2. The Object of the Campaign:—

(a) The placing of the REVIEW AND HERALD in every Sabbath-keeping home in the United States.

(b) The liberal circulation of message-filled tracts by every Seventh-day Adventist, using a pound of the Signs of the Times Leaflets (about twenty tracts of each, or 320 in all) as an entering wedge.

(c) A general campaign in behalf of our missionary periodicals, The Signs of the Times, Watchman, Life and Health, and our foreign papers, to be entered upon about the first of October.

(d) The development of the interest thus created, by the sale of forty-per-cent books, and the relief books, “Christ’s Object Lessons,” “Ministry of Healing,” and “Story of Joseph.”

(e) All these lines of work to be followed by Bible readings, cottage meetings missionary correspondence, etc., etc.

As features of the convention program we would suggest the following:—

Convention Suggestions

1. A brief study of the importance of continuous service.

2. A season of prayer, the objects of which may be—

(a) That the Lord may richly bless the work that has been done, and draw us all nearer together.

(b) That strength to continue may be given to those who have already begun work.

3. An experience meeting.

4. Assignment of territory.

Now, dear brethren and sisters, look upon this convention as your convention, upon this campaign as your campaign, upon this whole work as God’s work, and yourselves as workers together with him, and success will be assured.

W. C. WHITE, H. H. HALL, E. R. PALMER, G. A. IRWIN, W. A. SPICER, Missionary Campaign Committee.