Help for Our Missions by G. B. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 9, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 19.

Help for Our Missions.

By G. B. Thompson

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS are a missionary people. The third angel's message, which they carry, is to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. It is a world-wide warning, and it is to this stupendous work that we as a people stand committed.

In 1874 Elder J. N. Andrews, our first foreign missionary, crossed the seas and planted the banner of this message among other nations. Since that time the message has made steady progress in the "regions beyond," until at the present time over seventy-five different countries have been entered; publishing houses, sanitariums, and schools have been established, and the message is being published in some fifty-four of the leading languages of the earth.

While it is true that we are not expending in missionary work abroad as much as some others of the large evangelical denominations, we are spending far more per capita, and operating on a missionary basis in more countries than any other denomination in the world.

To carry forward a missionary work so extensive requires at the present time a large expenditure of means,—approximately a thousand dollars a day. We greatly rejoice that it is so much as this, and will be glad to see even this large sum greatly increased, for this indicates progress.

So far we have carried forward our foreign missionary work without calling upon the world for any special financial help. But we believe that the time has come when this should be changed, and that those who control some of the untold financial resources of the world should be given the privilege of using this means to advance the last message men will ever hear, calling them away from their sins to a holy and righteous life.

To this end, a special time has been appointed by the General Conference, Nov. 22-28, known as "Thanksgiving Week," in which as a people we are to make a united and determined effort in behalf of our foreign work. A special number of our church paper, the Review and Herald, has been prepared. This issue is illustrated with cuts of our institutions in the various countries of the world, and contains interesting information concerning what we are doing to carry the Gospel to the millions who grope in the darkness of heathenism. These papers will be furnished free. The plan is to take these papers to our neighbors and friends, briefly call attention to the contents, give them a copy, and in return offer them the privilege of donating to foreign missions.

We believe this plan will commend itself to all our people, and if all take hold and lift, it will be a great success. Suppose that 60,000 believers in this message should gather in an average of $5.00 each; this would mean that $300,000 would be turned into the treasury for the extension of our work in the "regions beyond." And a much larger sum than this might be secured for God's final work of warning the world. Why not?

Altho the special week will be in the past when this reaches our readers, let them spend even a longer time, if necessary, in this great and good work.

G. B. THOMPSON.