Our Goal by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 25, 1914

Our Goal

By I. H. Evans

Another Harvest Ingathering will soon be here. This year the North American Division Conference has set as the goal to be attained the ingathering of $100,000. The committee felt that this sum was none too much to expect from the united efforts of all our people.

It is wonderful what large results are obtained from many small contributions. The moving picture houses report receipts for last year aggregating $300,000,000, most of which came in by nickels. Some of the richest mercantile companies in America sell only five- and ten-cent goods. Most of the soft and alcoholic drinks, cigars, and tobacco are retailed in small quantities. We need not think $100,000 too large a sum to be reached in this Ingathering campaign. Last year many solicitors gathered in goodly sums for the mission fund; but if each one receives only a small donation, and all receive something, the aggregate will be large. One State secretary writes that she gathered $700 on last year's Ingathering, and in only three cases did she receive above $1 from any one person.

At the present time we are far behind in making up the twenty cents a week per member for missions. The Ingathering money applies on this fund, and it seems as if, by its help, each conference should be able to raise its full twenty cents a week per member this year.

Let us seek the Lord in earnest prayer, and as far as possible determine to do something definite this year. No great work can be done without determination. When things are done, some one must do them. It is not because the man who does well had better conditions than others, but because he put into his work the thought and determination which brought success.

This is God's closing work. The end is at hand. To us is left the finishing of the work; it is our task, our great commission, our sacred trust. This year should be our banner year in the ingathering of mission funds. If rightly carried on, this work will be a blessing to our friends and neighbors as well as to ourselves. They will not think less of us for asking them to give, but often their interest in our work will be increased, and they will read our literature more readily than before.

Let us earnestly strive to reach the goal. I. H. EVANS.