Encouraging Omens by Irwin H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 27, 1914

Encouraging Omens

By Irwin H. Evans

God is visiting his people. Marked experiences in gaining personal victories over evil habits have come to many. Some have received rich spiritual blessings from the Lord, while others are seeking the fullness of the Spirit, promised by the Word of God. Our evangelists report good meetings in connection with their field efforts, and many are deeply stirred as they contemplate present-day conditions in the world.

As an illustration of how the work is moving in the homeland, we quote from correspondence. Elder R. D. Quinn, speaking of the work in the Atlantic Union Conference, says: “Crowds are attending the tent efforts, and inquiring, ‘What do these things mean?’ Surely we are in the time of the end; and I believe this is the harvest time for our work in America. We are told that the work here will close first. Then many can be released for the work in foreign lands.”

In writing for the North Pacific Union Conference, Elder C. W. Flaiz says: “Last week our union conference committee held a meeting to consider matters pertaining to our work. . . . It was planned to begin an active missionary campaign, beginning with the circulation of fifty thousand of the Temperance number of the Signs of the Times. This is to be followed immediately by the circulation of a hundred thousand of the Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW. Every possible effort will be made to raise our quota of mission funds. We are having excellent reports from our tent companies now in the field. Many are taking their stand with us. All our working force in this field, including some of our union conference men, are in tent efforts.”

A president of a local conference writes that nineteen are awaiting baptism, and adds: “There are a number of persons who are deeply interested, and who we expect will soon be ready for baptism.”

The president of another conference says that fifteen persons, where he was conducting a tent effort, had accepted the truth, and that the interest was still good.

In another conference, sixty-nine persons were already reported as obeying the truth from one tent effort; others were interested.

Forty had been converted as the result of another tent effort, and the interest was just at its best.

Thus we might go on with many interesting reports. God is surely with his people; and he will continually be with us in our labors if we seek him with all the heart.

Our colporteur work is still growing, and the results are most encouraging. Brother W. W. Eastman, writing from the North Carolina camp ground, says: “You will be interested to know that this union [Southeastern] sold $18,000 worth of books in July, which is more than three times as much as their best month last year, or more than three of their best months last year.”

Some other union conferences have broken all their past records in selling literature, and 1914 will be their banner year.

The subscriptions to and orders for our monthly magazines have come in encouragingly. Some of the magazines have reached a monthly distribution of seventy thousand copies.

The camp meetings this year are generally better attended than they have been for some time past. Many have written concerning the great blessings and power bestowed upon the people. In not a few instances, nearly every person on the grounds, and often every one in a meeting, gave himself anew to God for the finishing of the work.

A good interest is manifested in bringing the mission offerings to the full amount of twenty cents a week a member for the year. From now until January 1 is the time to bring this work to the front. We should give the mission offerings close attention during the remaining months of 1914, and do our best to reach the full amount planned for.

Every omen points to the fact that we are on the “home stretch.” The blessings of God, both spiritual and temporal, have been so abundant that every heart should take new courage, and all should give themselves to the finishing of the work.

I. H. EVANS.