A Trumpet Call

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1903

THERE are many encouraging features in the tract campaign. The different conferences are taking hold of the work in earnest, and the tracts are being sent out by the hundred thousand. Brother George B. Thompson, the president of the New York Conference, has issued a stirring appeal to the church officers upon this subject, from which we make the following extract:—

This is a trumpet call to return to old-time methods of missionary work in the circulation of our literature, to which every member in every church should respond gladly. Whole churches are withering up because they are not engaged in earnest work for souls. Many churches have no missionary meetings, and have ceased to be aggressive.

The time has come when this condition must change, and I write you, as an elder and leader in Israel, to co-operate with us in making a grand missionary movement in every church in the conference to circulate the tracts already mentioned. Will you not, as a leader in Israel, bring this matter before your church, and like a true general, make an organized advance upon the trenches of the enemy? Begin at once; for the work should not longer be delayed. Probation is closing, and souls are going to ruin. Do something, and begin now. Read this letter to the church, and talk up the work at your Sabbath meeting. Lay plans for work, and enlist every member. Correspond with the scattered ones, and get them to work. Let all act as though they believe destruction is coming. Sound an alarm, and let the world know that Jesus is at the door.

There is a responsibility resting upon those who stand as leaders in our churches which should be fully realized. I feel confident that if this matter is placed before our churches with the zeal which its importance demands, a mighty movement will be started in the conference. The Lord is coming, and I earnestly pray that the advent spirit may be revived, and old-time methods of missionary work begun.

We are glad to pass these earnest words along to all the conferences with the hope that they will stir many to unite in this effort to reach millions of people with the message of warning and instruction for this time. “Go ye also into the vineyard.”