Helping Together by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 22, 1904

“Helping Together”

By W. A. S.

THERE can be no question as to the anxious, hopeful interest with which our workers in the mission fields will now watch for the reports from the annual offering. Money, consecrated to God, is ammunition for the missionary battle line. It is not counted “mere money,” not by any means; for it provides the facilities for laying hold of souls struggling in the darkness, and decides many a problem that presses with crushing weight upon hearts facing tremendous needs. Our missionaries will watch the growing column of the annual offering report as men watch gathering rain-clouds in time of drought. It is a splendid privilege to give for missions.

But already, I know, fresh courage fills the hearts of the workers as they have realized during the week of prayer that thousands were unitedly praying for the fields. It is the knowledge of the praying body of believers in the churches that strengthens the hands of the missionaries, and cheers them on, whether prospects and facilities are favorable or unfavorable. Many a worker abroad is very much alone. Continual contact with conditions that try the soul would depress, save for the love and good cheer that come down from heaven. The thought of coming to the mercy-seat before which thousands of believers are kneeling, and there joining in a missionary prayer circle that girdles the earth, is a very precious and uplifting experience. Already, we know, a thrill of new life and courage has swept through the hearts of our missionaries in every land.

“Though sundered far, by faith we meet Around one common mercy-seat.”

From the lips of our comrades on every shore we hear the summing up of their requests, “Finally, brethren, pray for us.” It includes the whole circumference of need. We send the word out to our brethren that we in the home lands shall pray for them. It shall be but a week of prayer that ushers in a year of more fervent prayer that shall uphold the hands that are struggling in conflicts too great for human strength to bear.

Paul thanked God for a great deliverance, in which every praying believer in Corinth had a part, though he was far away from them: “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.” Believing prayer actually does things. It opens barred gates, it strengthens hands that would hang down, and presses the frontier lines of our work forward. When the work is at last finished, and

the harvest gathered, our missionaries will divide all their sheaves in lands afar with the praying believers who have all along been “helping together” in the work with them.

W. A. S.