The Plan by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 28, 1909

The Plan

By I. H. Evans

ALL great undertakings must be carefully planned if the best results are to be obtained. Haphazard work rarely brings satisfaction. No one would expect an army to win a great victory unless there had been careful planning on the part of the generals and captains. However, without the co-operation of all the soldiers who are to engage in the battle, the wisest plans may miscarry. Orders must be obeyed. Every detail assigned must be carried out to a nicety, if victory is to crown the efforts. With clock-like precision all departments of the army must act and work as one man. The combined strength of all is then utilized as if one Titanic hand was doing the whole.

In a great political campaign, when men are contending for the honors of an election, we see results largely according to the organization of the forces of those conducting the campaign. When a thousand, or ten thousand, men are all working to accomplish the same end; when each in his place adds his strength and influence to what all the others are doing, a mighty work is wrought in a short time.

Moses recognized the strength of organization when he said, “How shall one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?”

In any campaign the best results are obtained when all parties adhere to the outlined plan, and do their best to make it succeed. Unless this can be done, each will work in his own way, without co-operation, and instead of having a

well-regulated army of workers, there will be only individual effort.

We are now entering upon one of the greatest attempts in the Ingathering campaign ever undertaken by our people. At this writing about three hundred fifty thousand of the special number of the REVIEW AND HERALD have been ordered, while many conferences are yet to be heard from. There is no question but the number of the periodical ordered will far exceed that of last year. This is most encouraging, but it is only half the battle. Because a large number of papers are ordered, is not a sure sign that the campaign is to be a success. The object of the campaign is not to circulate a large number of the missionary number of the REVIEW, but to gather in a large sum of money for our foreign missionary work. Even should one take a thousand copies of the REVIEW and judiciously distribute them among his neighbors and friends, yet the object of the campaign is largely lost unless there be a correspondingly large ingathering of funds. The missionary distributing the paper must never lose sight of his mission. It must be before him all the time as the object of his endeavor. There must rest on his heart the great need of means with which to send the gospel to all heathen nations of the world. The papers are not for free distribution, but are introductory to the soliciting of funds for mission work. They are a means to be used to attain a definite end, and that end is to interest our acquaintances in our foreign mission work, so that they will give money for its support.

After we have said all we know about campaigning for God, we are still as little children, and can do nothing without his special help. In one hour God can do more for his own work than money can purchase; more than a whole denomination can do without him and his blessing. Upon him depends the success of the wisest plan. As each worker goes out to do service for him, how appropriate to spend some time in talking with the Lord. With his Spirit in our hearts, we can do a great work; without him we can do nothing.

I. H. EVANS.