p. 24 | Offering for the Negro Work by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1916

Offering for the Negro Work

By G. B. Thompson

The annual collection for the work among the Negro people has been appointed for Sabbath, November 18. At no time since the work was started among this people has the need for a good offering been greater than at the present.

Labor put forth to extend the message among the Negro people is attended with excellent results, not only in the Southern States, but in some of the large centers of population in the North, and a splendid class of people are accepting the truth. Some strong churches are being developed. In proportion to their means, these are as faithful in paying their tithes, and as liberal in their offerings, as are our churches in any part of the field. I attended a colored Sabbath school recently in one of our city churches where forty dollars was given at the thirteenth-Sabbath collection.

Here is a people among us, numbering about ten million, who speak, write, and understand the English language. We are to carry the message of the coming Saviour to them.

A good beginning has been made, and hundreds are already obedient to the truth. But it is only a beginning. We must plan for a greater work than in the past. Through lack of means we have been unable to do many things that should have been done, and as a result the progress of the work has been retarded. We must plan for a stronger educational work, and to strengthen our evangelical efforts.

The Huntsville school is doing a good work in training workers, and all the properly trained and consecrated pupils from this school should be set at work to carry the message to their own people. But to strengthen the work and to build up those phases of it which we have been compelled for lack of means to postpone. will require a more liberal offering than in the past.

There is need at this time of a large offering. Plans are being perfected to strengthen our work in some of the large cities containing a large Negro population.

It would greatly help in forwarding the message among the colored people if a liberal offering is given at this time. All can give something, and thus enable those wrestling with the problem of this work to make advance moves. Church officers in every church and workers throughout the field should bring this subject before the churches and scattered believers, and urge a liberal offering.

G. B. THOMPSON.