Reporting by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 16, 1913

Reporting

By E. M. Graham

It is said that much of the success of the Japanese in their war with Russia was due to the accurate system of obtaining constant and definite reports from all parts of the field. This enabled the generals to know exactly what had been done, and what needed to be done next. If this system of reporting is necessary in earthly warfare, how much more necessary in spiritual warfare!

To us as a people has been committed the task of giving the last warning message to a perishing world. To do this successfully we must have organization in order that the work may be properly divided. Those upon whom the responsibility of directing the work has been placed must know what has been done, in order to plan properly for what is yet to be accomplished.

Steps are being taken to gather, from all parts of the world, reports of missionary work done by our lay members, in order that we may know what is being done, and that we may publish a quarterly summary in the REVIEW. We believe that such a summary will be very interesting to all our people. It will show that the total amount of work done by our lay members is large, and will enable us better to understand why the completion of the work depends on the activity of the entire church-membership. “If every church-member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 32.

Every member will have a responsibility in making the report as accurate and full as possible. An idea prevails in the minds of some that they ought not to tell what they have done. This is a mistaken idea, which, if carried to its logical conclusion, would entirely disorganize our work, and reduce it to hopeless confusion. If it were wrong for one to tell what he had done, it would be wrong for all. No person could take any responsibility in directing any line of work, because he would not know what others were doing. Each would be compelled to work separately and alone.

But the work of the Lord is not so ordered. In Luke 9:10 we read that the apostles, when they returned from their missionary tour, told Jesus all that they had done. Acts 14:27 tells how Paul and Barnabas rehearsed their experiences to the church. We have some excellent examples to follow.

There is another side to this question of reporting, which is overlooked by many. It is the Spirit of God that inspires us to do even the smallest missionary work. We ought, therefore, to tell what the Spirit of God has done through us, that God may be glorified. When we refuse to do so, God is robbed of his glory, and we lose the blessing. If we would give more glory to God by telling what he has accomplished through us, we should receive power to do more and greater works.

The Morning Watch Calendar used by the young people has in it a page for each month for recording missionary work done. This makes it very easy to put down, at the close of the day, anything that has been done. This is being used in some places by the older people, and they find it makes keeping the record of their work very simple. We can recommend it to all.

Let us all take hold anew and faithfully report our work, for the guidance of our leaders in this cause and to the glory and honor of God.

E. M. GRAHAM, Home Missionary Department.