The Ten-Cent-a-Week Plan
By Wm. Covert
This question has been carefully considered by a number of persons appointed by the General Conference to give advice about regular offerings for the foreign work, and the decision has been rendered that ten cents a week could be paid on the average by our people. This was to be apart from the tithe and the Sabbath-school offerings. It was thought that while there are some who can not easily pay ten cents a week, there are many who can and do pay much more than that amount. It is believed that the member in average circumstances, with average ability to acquire money, can pay ten cents a week, if he keeps the subject in mind, and makes an effort throughout the entire year to do it. The whole sum for twelve months would amount to only $5.20, and many persons find themselves able to do many times this amount by making the proper effort. Indeed, the amount paid will, in the majority of cases, depend very much upon the will of the individual and the attention given to the question. The present membership of our denomination is about eighty thousand. If the plan of giving ten cents a week for9the foreign work were adopted and fully carried out by this whole denomination, the aggregate amount for one year would be $416,000. This sum, with the Sabbath-school offerings and the legacies that would fall to the treasury of the Foreign Mission Board, would give a total of nearly half a million dollars annually for aggressive work. These figures do not represent something that would be impossible for this people to do. In fact, it could easily be accomplished if entire co-operation could be secured. When all make the united effort, the burden will be much more easily lifted than in any other way. Should our people arise as one person and adopt the ten-cent-a-week plan, there would be provided a regular fund to the Foreign Mission Board with which to pay our missionaries. In this case they would know just how to plan in regard to sending laborers abroad, and uncertainties and perplexities could be dismissed forever, as far as the financial burden of the foreign work is concerned. Of course the time will come when thousands and tens of thousands of dollars will be offered for the Lord's work, but with many it will be too late to be used. There are many purchases being made and business transactions negotiated, representing means which should go to provide evangelistic labor for the saving of sinners. But O! so many have allowed the cares of this life to blind their minds to such an extent that they can not see the fatal mistake they are making! The terrors of the last days will arouse some, but many poor souls will perish in their blindness.