What gains have been registered during 1937 in the progress of the third angel's message? How many additional countries and language areas have been entered by representatives of this message? How many new members have accepted this truth and are helping to forward it? These and other questions naturally arise in the minds of those interested in the progress of this work.
During 1937, representatives of this message began laboring in seven additional countries, bringing the total up to 385. Sixty-five new language areas were entered, bringing the total number of languages up to 714. Of this number, 194 are used in printing the message, and in addition 570 are used orally.
The net gain in new members for 1937 was 14,619, making the grand total of members throughout the world 452,758. The number of evangelistic and institutional laborers at the end of the year was 28,029, an increase of 1,476 over the previous year. The total number of laborers now constitutes one active laborer for every 16.15 church members. In addition, there are hundreds of lay workers doing effective service in extending this cause.
The funds received during 1937 for evangelistic work were as follows:
With the exception of the year 1929, when a slightly larger amount was reported, this is the largest amount of tithes and offerings reported for any one year. This is a per capita of $27.86 for the world field, based on the membership as reported for December 31, 1937. The total funds received during 1937 constitute an increase of 8.65 per cent over the year 1936.
We now have 69 union organizations, 145 local conferences, 333 missions, and 498 institutions. The total value of one copy of each piece of our literature now available in the 194 languages is $2,397.95. The total sales of literature during the year 1937 was $4,066,-181.07, and the grand total of sales since the movement began is $114,014,348.27. The number of evangelistic laborers sent out in 1937 to labor as missionaries in foreign fields was 137. The total number sent out since 1901 is 4,331.
Rapid Membership Gains.—It may be of interest to Ministry readers to take a look at the reports of former years, and note the progress that has been made. In doing so, they will at once notice the great rapidity in the growth of members during recent years. It was 51 years after this work was organized (1913), before the membership of the denomination exceeded 100,000. In 1913, the membership was 114,557. Nine years later, another ioo,000 were added, the figures for 1922 being 208,771. The membership by 1930, just eight years later, had increased over another 100,000 or, to be exact, to 314,253. By 1934, or four years later, the membership had grown almost another 100,000, or to 404,509.
Gain in Languages.—Perhaps the most outstanding growth that has been made is in the number of languages that have been added in the last sixteen years. In the year 1921, the number was 179. By 1927, six years later, a hundred more languages were added, bringing the total to 279. Four years later (,931), 455 languages were reported; and six years later (1937), 714 were reported. Thus from 1921 to 1937, the gain in languages has been 535. During 1936 and 1937, one new language has been added on an average of every five days.
What The Schools are Doing.—Connected with our 2,769 denominational schools, which have a total enrollment of 120,118, are 6,104 teachers. Our denomination, with a church membership of 452,758, has one student enrolled for every 3.77 members. Of course not all these students are church members; but they are receiving a training for membership and for becoming workers in this cause. It is largely through this means that our staff of workers is constantly being recruited.
For all this growth, we give thanks to Him in whose service we are engaged.