p. 15 | A Noble Contribution to Mission Fields

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jun 16, 1904

A Noble Contribution to Mission Fields

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

At its annual session just held on the Colfax camp-ground, the Iowa Conference made a splendid gift to missions. The conference laborers had been together several days before the session opened, seeking the Lord for a new experience and re-consecrating themselves to him for service.

When Elder E. W. Farnsworth and the writer reached the ground Friday morning, June 3, we found a sweet, earnest atmosphere pervading the camp. From the very first, there was laid upon our hearts the burden to call all the people to earnest, devoted, self-sacrificing service for a lost world.

Sabbath morning Brother Farnsworth preached a practical, powerful sermon on leaving all to follow the Master. A deep impression was made upon the hearts of all present, and many publicly responded to the call to surrender all.

In the afternoon I was constrained to present the pressing needs of home and foreign mission fields. The day closed with a deep, solemn conviction that the hour had come for our bonds to be broken. It was felt that nothing short of unreserved surrender on our part would permit the Lord to lift us from our present dead level, and bring the new experience we needed.

This conviction found expression a few days later in a vote by the whole congregation to devote to the needy mission fields at home and in foreign lands one half of all the laborers of the Iowa Conference, and with them one half of the annual tithe of the conference. This action was taken advisedly. There was no excitement manifested. It was an expression of the clear, definite, deep conviction of the brethren and sisters present. The thought was not a new one to many present. The Iowa Conference has been working to this point for years. Thank God, the step has now been taken. This will make history for Iowa. It is a parting of the ways, and that conference has taken the right way. This action is designed to indicate the permanent policy of the conference for the future years.

By this vote not less than twenty good workers will soon leave Iowa for fields greatly needing their services. About the sum of ten thousand dollars tithe

will each year be sent from that State to places where the workers are now struggling with the smallest pittance to build up the cause. The blessed fruits of this generous gift to destitute mission fields will not all be seen until our work is done, and we are all gathered home.

The brethren reasoned like this: Iowa has a population of only about two and one-half millions; the third angel's message has been preached in the State about half a century; there are now over three thousand believers living in the State to help give the message to those who have not heard it; when the conference has sent to other fields one half of its regular laborers and tithe, it will still have more to do with than many fields. In view of these facts, the brethren and sisters could give no good reason why Iowa should continue to devote such large resources of talent and means to the Iowa Conference, while fields with a much larger population should cripple along with the most meager facilities.

The camp was profoundly solemn when this proposal was being considered and the vote taken. The seal of God's approval was surely placed upon this act. It seemed as if we could hear the words of Jesus spoken to Zaccheus, 'This day is salvation come to this house.' These words, it will be remembered, were spoken in response to the declaration of Zaccheus that half of his goods he had given to the poor.

We are not afraid to await the tangible results of this clear, definite, positive gift to missions. The next step taken after this vote of the conference was a personal and definite consecration on the part of the laborers to mission fields. This was general and hearty. It is but just to say that the members of the conference committee led in reaching the decision to make this great change in the program of the Iowa Conference. Arrangements are being made for the immediate transfer of a large number of workers to other fields. A number of the old, tried workers of the conference will remain at the base of supplies, to advance the cause in the State, and to carry on recruiting work.

From an experience of fourteen years in a needy, yet promising mission field, I know something of the joy that will fill the hearts of our missionaries when they learn of this gift of the Iowa Conference to missions. Let us remember both the givers and the gift at the throne of grace.

A. G. DANIELLS.