Important Resolutions by I. H. Evans

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 12, 1903

Important Resolutions

By I. H. Evans

ANOTHER General Conference has come and gone. These semiannual gatherings mean much to God's cause. At these meetings plans are laid for advance moves in giving the gospel to all nations. The opening providences of God are studied; and men and means are required to fill these openings.

The spirit of missionary consecration has come upon many of God's people, till in some conferences every laborer, from the president down, has placed himself subject to the call of God for foreign fields.

During the last two years the work in Europe has been greatly strengthened. Nearly twoscore workers have gone to engage in the various departments of the work in that continent.

The work in China has been opened, and the first Chinese Seventh-day Adventist church has just been organized in the province of Honan.

Japan, India, Egypt, South Africa, Nyassaland, and the Gold Coast have all been helped, and had re-enforcements sent to them.

Thus we might take the American continent: Mexico, Central America, South America, and several islands of the Caribbean have had additional workers sent to them during the last two years.

All this means a large outlay of money, and a continual draft upon the treasury. Never were funds for carrying on the Lord's work more needed than now. The General Conference and the General Conference Committee have made appropriations to mission fields for the coming year of about two hundred thousand dollars. This must all be raised. The General Conference Committee, in considering this question, adopted the following:—

“Whereas, Large sums of money will be required to carry on our evangelical work the coming year, and,—

“Whereas, The General Conference must secure this money from month to month, or the laborers will suffer, therefore,—

“We recommend,—

“1. That every Seventh-day Adventist be urged to take up systematically the ten-cent-a-week plan, and faithfully see that each church pays an average of ten cents a week per capita.

“2. That each conference be requested to pay the entire second conference tithe into the treasury of the General Conference for mission work.

“3. That special donations for mission work be taken up at all large gatherings of our people.

“4. That all donations of tithes and offerings to the mission work be sent to the respective union conference treasurers monthly.”

From the preceding it is patent to all that large sums of money must be raised the coming season.

The ten-cent-a-week plan is a simple method of doing a great work. If each church would adopt this plan of giving, we could raise this needed two hundred thousand dollars this year, and have our conference second tithe, and annual offerings, and larger donations to enlarge the plans already in operation. Ten cents a week for soul-saving is not a large investment, and yet it aggregates large results. We ought to plan for mission work: we ought to plan that we may have money to give. Plant a field for the kingdom of God, and consecrate all its returns for missionary work. Set apart a portion of your time, and give your earnings to the cause of soul-saving.

We believe that every Seventh-day Adventist should take hold of these matters and help to advance the kingdom of our Lord.

It will require untiring effort, and often self-denial, to have an offering for the Lord each week; yet we must not forget the great work resting upon us; and if each will do his part, there will be no lack.

We ask if each church will not take up this matter of weekly giving, if it has not already adopted the same. Shall we not make 1903 the banner year in missionary giving? We believe that every loyal heart will respond, “Amen! I will do my part.”

I. H. EVANS, Treasurer of the General Conference.