The Call of the Hour by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 12, 1907

The Call of the Hour

By I. H. Evans

I. H. EVANS

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS are engaged in a stupendous work. No other people even claim that the call of God has come to them to give the threefold message of Revelation 14. No other denomination thinks it has a specific message for all the world which must be given “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” This great work to be done so speedily makes every true Seventh-day Adventist an active missionary. He feels that the “call of God” has come to him to give this message to the world.

Other people may have their prejudices against different nationalities. Not so those believers who have heard the world-wide, Macedonian cry, “Come over and help us.” That cry for help rings in the ears of Seventh-day Adventists like the voice of God. It is their call to service. To those who hear this voice speaking to them there is no choice in fields of labor, nor is there prejudice against any people. The Chinese, the Japanese, the East Indian, and the African, are all “one in Christ Jesus.” All mankind is to be the recipient of the grace of God.

That there is a great work to be done for the African race all admit. Nor is all this missionary endeavor to be bestowed on those who live in far-away Africa. In our own country we have not less than eight million colored people who are in need of the third angel’s message.

The work already bestowed upon this people gives evidence of the fruitfulness of the soul-harvest to be reaped by those who labor. In some of the Southern States the believers in the third angel’s message who are colored, outnumber the white believers. These people pay their tithes and offerings, and are as faithful in their spiritual duties as are any people.

The work among this people has been made difficult by social conditions over which the believers in the message have no control. But the Lord has given us hundreds of sincere, honest souls from among this people, who are loyal and true to the work of God.

Last year we took a donation for the work among that people. We were disappointed that the amount was so small. The October offering aggregated in 1905 over twelve thousand dollars, while in 1906 it dropped to about five thousand dollars. This year we certainly need to make it ten thousand dollars. The work has been hindered by a lack of funds, and now we have an opportunity to make a liberal donation to this good work.

The donation will be apportioned on the following basis:— Atlantic Union Conference ...... 10% Southwestern Union Conference .. 20% Southern Union Conference ...... 70%

The Southern Union Conference then divides its portion as follows:— Huntsville school ........................ 40% Southern Missionary Society ..... 30% North Carolina ......................... 5% South Carolina ......................... 5% Georgia .................................. 5% Alabama ................................. 5% Mississippi .............................. 5% Louisiana ................................ 5%

The date for this offering is Sabbath, October 5. All ought to plan definitely for their offering. We believe the great need in this part of the Lord’s work in our own home land is “the call of the hour.” Surely the need is great, the call imperative, and God’s people must respond. We truly hope for a liberal donation on this occasion.

Takoma Park, D. C.