Then a few years ago a great cry for evangelism went up from this people and was heard around the world, many places which had seemed hard and fruitless yielded rich harvests in response to our workers' appeals. Yet there still are places where this vision of evangelism has not advanced much beyond the talk stage, and precious time is slipping away. When shall these parts of the field be awakened?
In order to get this program under way and keep it going, each conference committee should set aside a goodly sum from its income each year for evangelistic work and not leave this important line of work as a last consideration. Too often, if any money is left and is available after all other needs have been met, the evangelistic fund receives a few dollars. But surely no conference can justify the spending of all its income on merely holding what it has, important as that is, when there is such a great need all about us, and men's hearts are being stirred by what is taking place in the world today. Soon doors will close forever, and then it will be too late.
Each conference, of course, must shepherd the flock, and for this a well-organized plan must operate. But not all the time and energy of the workers, plus the total conference income, should be thus consumed. This would be the surest way of drying up the financial reservoir of the conference and would bring weakness and indifference to the constituency and discouragement to the group of workers. The messenger of the Lord sounds this appeal:
"This hovering about churches to keep them propped up, makes them more dependent on human effort. . . . It is time that cities and villages everywhere were hearing the solemn note of warning. . . . Let everyone who loves God consider that now, while it is day is the time to work, not among the sheep already in the fold, but to go out in search of the lost and perishing ones." —Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 231-233.
"There has been a slothful neglect and a criminal unbelief among us as a people, which has kept us back from doing the work God has left us to do in letting our light shine forth to those of other nations. There is a fearfulness to venture out and to run risks in this great work, fearing that the expenditure of means would not bring returns. What if means are used and yet we cannot see that souls have been saved by it? What if there is a dead loss of a portion of our means? Better work and keep at work than to do nothing. . . .
"Gad will have men who will venture anything and everything to save souls. Those who will not move until they can see every step of the way clearly before them, will not be of advantage at the time to forward the truth of God. There must be workers now who will push ahead in the dark as well as in the light, and who will hold up bravely under discouragements and disappointed hopes, and yet work on with faith, with tears and patient hope, sowing beside all waters, trusting the Lord to bring the increase. God calls for men of nerve, of hope, faith, and endurance, to work to the point."—Life Sketches, Pp. 213, 214.
What a challenge to our faith ! This work of evangelism is a work and venture in faith. While the last paragraph quoted touches largely on ventures into other lands with God's truth, the principle applies equally to our attitude toward new work in the home field. If we will in faith venture great things for God, He will honor our faith with large harvests of souls for the kingdom. This is a challenge to the conference as well as to the worker. They are yoked together in service. Some fields are hard and unyielding, but they must be worked.
Shall we not take up the cry once again and make it our first business to bring to others the truth for this hour ? In order that these efforts may be successful, both the means and the help provided should be adequate to meet the needs in the city where the effort is to be put forth. Let it not be said of us, "Too little and too late." To carry on successfully such an effort requires a deep and sympathetic interest on the part of the conference officers and the committee, as well as consecration, work, and organization on the part of the workers who carry the burdens of the work. We must prepare for it and then venture in faith. We must not be cumbered with too many other matters which steal our time and strength.
