This Year's Midsummer Offering - July 1 by William A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1911

This Year's Midsummer Offering — July 1

By William A. Spicer

THE distant fields have received the word that few new workers and few new mission enterprises can be authorized by the Mission Board this year, on account of insufficient income to meet the growing work.

Our brethren abroad reply with courageous words; but they will look toward the midsummer offering for signs of relief, as earnestly as ever a farmer watched the clouds for rain in time of drought.

Elder J. L. Shaw, of India, writes:—

While I must confess the action of the spring council breathed a more conservative tendency on the part of the Mission Board the coming year than I hoped would be necessary, yet we are not complaining. It is a fact that the Mission Board must cut its garments according to the cloth, and shape its policy in harmony with its income; otherwise, we should get into a hopeless condition in mission finance. . . . But we shall pray, and hope even against hope, for help immediately for India.

Elder J. W. Westphal, of the South American Union, writes regarding the cutting down of South America's call:—

I confess it rather took my breath away when I read it, and ever since my mind has been running trying to think what we can do. . . . But if the burden falls equally on all fields, we can not complain. I am one who believes in working within the limits of our income. We want to be told plainly each year whether the situation will admit of enlargement, or whether we must hold back.

Now, nearly a hundred thousand Seventh-day Adventists can this very midsummer send the word to all the mission fields that the coming autumn shall see new missionary recruits moving forward again. The inflow of gifts for missions must decide it. And on Sabbath, July 1, is the time for the special gifts.

Workers are under appointment for India, for South America, and for China and other parts. Week by week the reports from our brethren show the pressing need. Surely the Lord will enable his people to respond with the largest midsummer offering ever laid on the altar of missions.

In India there are millions who can understand the message in English, in the populous cities of the empire, and not an English evangelist to give his time to the work.

In Brazil, a country the size of the United States, our staff of ordained ministers is not sufficient to place one minister in charge of two states.

In China—what can be said! We hear of companies keeping the Sabbath, calling for the missionary to visit them, and calling in vain; because the workers are so few. We hear of meetings away in the interior, with heathen men and women coming forward in scores to seek the Lord, as our missionaries present the deciding message.

God is himself at work away beyond our efforts, preparing for the quick finishing of this work. We have not to wait weary years in the dark lands for results. The fruitage is appearing so rapidly that the laborers are crying to God, and appealing to their brethren, for help in gathering the harvest.

The situation is the fulfilment of prophecy. May the consecration of means to missions on Sabbath, July 1, be also in accordance with the prophecy: “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” W. A. S.