p. 6 | Mission Field Finance by William A. Spicer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1902

Mission Field Finance

By William A. Spicer

THE Mission Board is merely the distributing agency for the denominational work in the mission fields. It must pass on the workers and the means sent of God to the needy fields, and help to keep the churches in touch with the needs.

The various fields are called upon, at the beginning of the year, to make an estimate of the amount required for the year to come to manage the work in hand; and then to specify what additional work ought to be taken up if finances will permit.

With the amount provided by the appropriation, the workers in each field push on the work, ever seeking to extend the frontier lines of the message. They see so many needs that the workers and the funds available seem sadly limited, but the confidence of our missionaries is in the living God. They know that it is not by might nor by an army, but by the Spirit of God that the witness is to be borne. Yet they pray continually that a greater burden for the whitening fields may roll upon the believers at home.

As compared with the amount we spend in caring for ourselves, the amount that is spent abroad seems but a pittance. Yet it represents a sacrifice on the part of many that makes it a precious treasure indeed.

Europe, for instance, with its mission territory in North Africa and Asia Minor, represents five hundred million people. Last year our Board appropriated $12,000 for their work. It seems but a crumb, surely, this amount handed out to five hundred millions of perishing, soul-hungry mortals.

We all know how earnestly the needs of the South have been urged in recent years. The Mission Board last year appropriated $12,000 from its funds for that work. It seems but a pittance to distribute. Yet it is the same amount for fifteen millions of people that the Board distributed among the five hundred millions of the European field.

The various countries in the South American continent, with its thirty-five millions, have had appropriations of about $12,000 also for the last year.

The work proposed for the Dark Continent calls for about an equal sum to that appropriated for the other fields named.

The South Sea Island missions require about $8,000, while India's three hundred millions have required about $6,000. So we might go, from Mexico and the West Indies, round the world to the Malay Straits and far China and Japan. It is a small sum that the fields have with which to operate, while their needs are stupendous.

Mission committees are being formed to watch the local distribution of these funds, and to audit accounts, so that those who know the exact situation may bear the responsibilities. Such a committee binds together the various South African missions.

The General European Conference binds together the work on that continent.

The Polynesian Committee, with its headquarters in Australia, watches over the island missions of the Pacific.

The South American fields are perfecting a union conference organization, which has already done splendid service in unifying that large territory, and in advancing the work in hand.

The West Indies are waiting for similar organization.

During the year past there have been calls for special appropriations not included in the ordinary work of the fields. In response to such a call the Mission Board joined the Review and Herald in giving the Toronto book depository to the Canadian Union Conference. Over $3,000 was thus appropriated. In answer to the call of Australia $5,000 was appropriated for the Sydney Sanitarium enterprise. Thus special calls frequently come from the fields.

There is a vast world before us, and a needy one. Years ago, when the work was small, it was possible easily to turn the attention of the whole denomination upon one enterprise or another needing help. Our enterprises and our fields have now multiplied in far greater ratio than our numbers. Our workers abroad understand that it will not do to launch new enterprises requiring special help without a thorough understanding. The missionary campaign must be one orderly, disciplined, and continuous advance.

The appropriations are based upon an estimate of funds which may reasonably be expected to come in. It is manifestly impossible for the Mission Board to attempt to finance the fields by any methods of borrowing for ordinary missionary expenditure. Emergencies must be met by temporary emergency methods; but no sustained missionary policy can be operated save by resting the work, under God, upon the body of people interested in it. No board has the right to assume the responsibility resting upon a whole people; neither has it the power to do so if it would.

All our workers understand that work beyond the bounds of the appropriations cannot be entered upon unless special funds come in. And even appropriations cannot be guaranteed, save as we may count upon a constant and growing interest in missions among the people.

Just now fields call for extra help. Here it is needed to supply the place of a worker fallen at his post. There it is to relieve the strain, and save a worker from falling. Yonder it is to enter where the cry of need is ever sounding. It will require all the ordinary income of the year to meet the appropriations already made. Yet here are workers ready to go who ought to be sent — who must be sent. It means that all the churches must seek God in behalf of the great harvest fields. Aside from the ordinary weekly offerings, the missionary cause now needs substantial help. The very needs make sure that somewhere God has stewards whom he expects to trade with the talents lent them. No investment will yield greater returns than this. W. A. S.