The Support of Our Mission Work
By I. H. Evans.
The time has come when we as a people must settle the question regarding the extension of our mission work. We are confronted with two propositions: First, enlarging our fields of operation, opening new missions, planting the standard of truth in new territory, and at the same time strengthening the fields already entered; second, simply holding our own, if that is a possibility, sending out an occasional missionary as one dies, or is compelled to return on account of failing health, but practically to try to hold our own without expecting to enlarge our sphere of operations. The time has come when the denomination will have to settle which proposition shall be the policy of this people. It is not possible for the General Conference Committee to decide such a great question. They may determine to prosecute the work with vigor; they may say the time is ripe for the entering of new fields yet untouched; they may say, “We can not be true to our trust as a committee, and not enlarge our work;” but they are confronted with the question of finance. Each year they are using to the very limit every available resource. For 1904 the offerings were far short of sustaining the workers already in the field for that year. With the Mission Board the question has been for several months, “What shall we do to sustain our workers and keep them from suffering?” The audit for 1903 was not remitted for nine long months after the close of the fiscal year. The remittances that were due the fields from month to month could only be sent in instalments,7thus often compelling our workers in the distant fields to live on only a part of their regular meager salaries. Under these conditions what could the General Conference Committee do? At their last meeting held at College View, Neb., Sept. 15-25, 1904, they unanimously adopted the following:— Whereas, The opening providences of the Lord in the regions beyond are an imperative call to this denomination to rise to the great opportunity to send this message throughout these distant lands, where, in so far as our missionaries have entered, many souls are accepting the truth; and— Whereas, It is impossible for the Mission Board to answer this call of the hour unless the means to support more workers can be produced; therefore,— We recommend, That each conference committee make it a part of its conference work to co-operate with the officers of the various churches to establish in each church in its territory the ten-cent-a-week envelope plan of giving for the support of foreign missions, and that each conference be urged to raise for foreign missions, by means of the envelope plan, a sum equal to ten cents a week per capita. The possibilities of this simple plan are great indeed. It does not bring a burden on any, or at least it could be a burden to but few, who are enfeebled with age and distressed for this world’s goods; while many could and would do much more. Note the foregoing recommendation: “We recommend that each conference committee make it a part of its conference work to co-operate with the various churches to establish in each church in its territory the ten-cent-a-week envelope plan of giving for the support of foreign missions, and that each conference be urged to raise for foreign missions, by means of this plan, a sum equal to ten cents a week per capita.” The General Conference Committee, together with nearly half the presidents of conferences of the United States, considered these propositions at length. There was not one dissenting vote. To them it seemed the most feasible way by which our work could be enlarged, and funds supplied with which to maintain our workers. The annual offerings can not do this, even with the aid of the Sabbath-school donations. These must be supplemented with a continual stream of gifts throughout the entire year. Now the General Conference Committee can not do all the work necessary to bring about a systematic taking hold of the ten-cent-a-week plan; therefore they ask the State conference committees to rally to the support of foreign missions by co-operating with church officers in definitely arranging for the church to take up the envelope plan of giving ten cents a week for mission work. They also ask that each State conference endeavor to raise a sum equal to ten cents a week for each member. Nor is this an innovation. Nearly every State conference has passed resolutions to this effect repeatedly. We believe the people are ready to take hold of this work unitedly, and almost universally; but some one must lead out. Some one must bring it before the church, and say, “Come, brethren, let us do this.” The envelopes must be at hand. They have been sent to many churches, and can be had for the asking from your State tract society, or from the Mission Board. A postal card will bring them if you have none. Then let the treasurer or librarian distribute these envelopes each Sabbath, and gather up the ones distributed the previous week. The elder can speak a kindly word for missions, calling attention to some interesting article in the REVIEW regarding some field, but regularly and systematically let the envelopes be distributed and gathered. How many churches not already thus at work will at once take hold and assist in supporting our workers abroad? We need one hundred thousand dollars more the coming year for mission work than we received for 1904. We must enlarge our borders in many fields. We must open up new fields this coming year. Many workers should be sent to various stations already opened, that the work may go on with vigor. But this can only be done by each one’s taking hold and systematically helping in the financial part of the work. It is wonderful what can be accomplished in any great endeavor when each one does his part. The call of God to this people is, “Go forward.” We can not remain indifferent to the demands made upon us by these Macedonian cries, “Come over and help us.” What mean all these open doors in every land if it is not God’s call to action on the part of his people? Shall the church become so engrossed in the affairs of this life as to become indifferent to all these opportunities?—No, no! It can not, must not be. Let every one who reads this article decide for himself whether he will be one with others to take up at once this method of sustaining our mission work. We know the blessing of heaven will follow those who cheerfully help in this time of need.
I. H. EVANS.