A Remarkable Situation by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1907

A Remarkable Situation

By William Ambrose Spicer

THE Church of England Missionary Society is a powerful agency. It has an income of over a million and a half dollars a year, and aims to keep a hundred thousand dollars as a working reserve. In its latest annual report, we read:—

The actual number of missionaries added to the roll in the year has been fifty-eight, but the deaths and retirements nearly balance this number.

Counting the wives of missionaries, that society doubtless sent out just under a hundred workers last year.

Last year we ourselves sent out seventy-six workers. When the missionary income of our own little society is contrasted with that of the great English society, it is apparent that the lines of our work are extending out of all proportion to our numbers and our means.

It is truly remarkable how, year after year, the workers keep going out to preach this message, and somehow, with resources developing in the fields and a steady growth in giving and praying for missions on the part of believers at home, the advance is sustained. It is nothing less than the hand of the Lord displayed in mighty power.

Those seventy-six workers sent out last year constitute, however, a solemn call to us to increase the missionary gifts this year. We ought to pray definitely and unitedly for this increase, from whatever sources the Lord may have in reserve among his stewards.

It is not only a remarkable, but a grave situation that we face. There is a pressure in the fields driving the work forward. Our missionaries know not what to do save to pray God to send help to cope with the situation. Here one pleads to be allowed to plant the standard in a new region; there a field with a developing work calls for a helper to come in and share crushing burdens. Just as I write, the plea comes from Peru:—

I do not know how to plan to extend the work as we should. We can only follow the injunction of the Saviour to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest. We are in the harvest-time, and I can not doubt but that the one who put into our lips this wonderful petition, will see that it is answered.

W. A. S.