4 A Home Missionary Campaign
By Arthur G. Daniells
During the recent council held in Washington it was voted,— “That a special and thoroughly organized campaign be inaugurated in all our churches for the circulation, by sale or otherwise, of our literature this fall and winter.” Every true and wide-awake believer in the third angel’s message must acknowledge that this is one of the most reasonable and consistent proposals that could be made. That being true, every Seventh-day Adventist in America should enter this campaign with a perseverance, a zeal, and an enthusiasm born from above. Every consideration calls for this. The hour has struck for the work of God to be finished in the earth. This hour came in 1844, when the judgment opened in heaven, and the seventh angel began to sound. Then began the finishing of the mystery of God, which is the gospel. Then the light of the third angel’s message began to be revealed. Then the Lord began to raise up a company of special messengers to carry his message to the ends of the world. Then men began to bring forth, under divine guidance, the most remarkable facilities for a world-wide movement ever known in the history of the world. And then came providential openings for gospel evangelization in all the world, such as have not appeared since Israel crossed the Red Sea. Here we are, face to face with this remarkable situation. The command of our great Leader is, “Go forward.” There is nothing to prevent us from rising up and speedily proclaiming the message for this hour throughout the length and breadth of this land. This is just what the great missionary campaign7to be inaugurated this fall means. Every believer who has consented to accept a position as a leader, no matter how small the place, should keenly sense the responsibility resting upon him just now. The special form the coming campaign is to take will be the circulation of our literature. Brethren, it is not boasting to say that we as a people have been blessed by the Lord in the production of the finest gospel literature in the world. If you have not thought of this before, give the suggestion study. Begin with our large subscription books, such as “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Great Controversy,” “Desire of Ages,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” and trace your way down through the list of trade books, pamphlets, and tracts, and also our weekly papers. Examine the literature of other denominations, and see if you can find anywhere such a supply of gospel literature as ours. Think of the wide field covered by our books dealing with doctrinal truth, Christian education, and healthful living. In this campaign a most earnest effort is to be made this winter to place this literature in the homes of all the people in this country. It was also voted “that this campaign be opened by a missionary convention in all the churches, November 21 and 22.” This is the date set for beginning this special movement. It is desired that every church, every company, and every person will at that time begin a prayerful, conscientious, and earnest missionary work to continue through the winter. Special meetings, called a missionary convention, will be held in all the churches at that time to mark the opening of the movement. To aid the churches in this convention it was voted:— “That the Mission Board be requested to furnish such readings, data, and information for the church conventions on November 21 and 22 as will be best adapted to make the meetings most interesting and profitable.” The officers of the Board will do all they can to assist in making this work a success. But there must be the fullest co-operation on the part of every minister and every conference and church officer. Let all take hold of this movement, and organize for a great work. It was decided by the council to open this campaign by the use of the special number of The Signs of the Times on Capital and Labor. This is set forth by the following recommendation:— “That all our churches and people everywhere in this country make a special effort to sell a large number of the forthcoming special issue of The Signs of the Times on Capital and Labor.” We are exceedingly glad that we shall have this paper to open the campaign with. It will deal with a living issue that just now commands the profound attention of this whole country. This will greatly help us to begin our work. A million copies of this special number should be circulated. The Pacific Press Publishing Company has voted to donate half the profits on the sale of this special number to the Mission Board for mission fields. From now until the campaign opens, everything required to make the way plain and clear to all will be set forth by those in charge of the work. Let us all pray the Lord to breathe upon us that we may be vitalized for holy service. A. G. DANIELLS.