The Midsummer, or Fourth-of-July, Offering to Missions
By Arthur G. Daniells
WHAT has come to be well known among Seventh-day Adventists as “the Fourth-of-July offering to missions” is to be made in all our churches on Sabbath, July 2. One reason for making a special offering to missions on the Sabbath preceding the Fourth-of-July is to devote to the cause of foreign missions the money usually spent for that which is worse than worthless in Fourth-of-July celebrations. We value as much as any one the blessings of civil government, but we believe there is a better and more consistent way of showing our appreciation than by spending money in the usual way on the Fourth. Another reason for making a special offering to missions at this season of the year is to replenish our mission funds, which are always low at this time. This reason must appeal to all our people who are enjoying the blessings that are showered upon us in the home land. Our missionaries have gone from us to lands that do not have the light, liberty, and prosperity that God is giving us. They have not gone for any selfish purpose, but to carry to the people of those lands the gospel that has brought to us the blessings we enjoy. They have left all to do this. They are trusting the Lord and his people to care for them. We have all encouraged them to go. We are praying for them, and we are supporting them. The cheering reports they are sending back to us show that we are not making this effort and sacrifice in vain. We are not wasting the lives of our young people in sending them to these dark lands of heathenism. We are not squandering the means we are devoting to their support. In all those lands they find people longing for the very message they are bringing to them. As a result there are being raised up, in all parts of the world, bands of devoted believers in the third angel’s message, who find the same comfort and hope in this message that we enjoy. To-day our operations in mission fields are larger by far than ever before in our history. This is right. We all rejoice that it is so. Then let us make the coming midsummer offering the largest in our history. It is needed very greatly at this time. May we not look to all our conference officers, ministers, and church officers to aid in making this offering what it should be? The plans now being carried out in behalf of foreign missions have been authorized by the General Conference in session, and the responsibility of their support rests upon all the people, but especially upon us who have accepted the responsibility of leadership. Let us do our best. A. G. DANIELLS.