Never in the history of the remnant church have we received such impressive and wonderful tidings of brilliant opportunities as come to us today from all mission lands. When in the history of the Advent Movement has it been so easy to send our missionaries quickly to the ends of the earth, and extend to them adequate guidance, counsel, protection, support, and sympathy, as at the present hour?
An ordinary offering plate has become, through modern facilities, an instrument by which the contributor, as he sits in his pew, can touch every continent, and do a work for Christ where his own footsteps can never tread. It is just as easy now to do missionary work in degraded Asia or in darkest Africa as it was a few years ago in the western regions of America. But these opportunities will not long continue. Already there are omens of the closing of some doors that have but recently been flung wide open by the turn of world events.
All these things make this hour of our great mission program of advance one of extreme urgency and importance. Upon every minister and church leader, in whatever capacity he may be serving, rests a grave responsibility to lead the forces of the church into the greatest possible united action and liberality. The destruction of many of the establishments of the cause in lands affected by the recent conflict has brought to the treasury of' the General Conference a tremendous financial burden beyond anything yet measured by any offering. Nought but a program of unusual sacrificial liberality on the part of our people will meet the gigantic needs of the present moment.
Because of these serious facts we are calling upon all our leadership in conferences, churches, and institutions to be faithful and true in making strong presentations to our people of the need as it exists prior to the Week of Sacrifice and Annual Offering to be received, in our churches on Sabbath, December 6, this year.
Because of the picture of our missions offerings thus far this year as it pertains to the increased incomes of our people, the officers of the General Conference feel to urge a greater program of promotion upon our leadership everywhere in connection with this coming important offering. In spite of the steady increase in tithe throughout the entire North American field, with the exception of one union 'conference—which denotes God's continued blessing of prosperity upon His people—there has been a decrease in mission offerings for each dollar of tithe received. This fact should spur us on as leaders to increased efforts with our churches in behalf of this coming sacrificial Annual Offering.
It may be said, of course, that the cost of living is greater, and therefore the burdens of our people are heavier. That is admitted, but who would dare, in such an hour as this, to declare that we have in any way as yet measured up to the call of God to His people to sacrifice in behalf of the advancement of His great cause ? Nor should we as leaders in any wise place foreign mission promotion in a secondary place in this great day of opportunity.
It is to be regretted that there, have always been some who have not seen the importance of keeping up strong leadership in behalf of foreign missions when the financial burdens of the local field have mounted. However, this is a great mistake, and a sure sign of weak and inexperienced leadership. It has been demonstrated repeatedly that the field which keeps the world-wide program of missions foremost has been the field where the local burdens have been most successfully carried. If there has been an exception to this, it has been because of a failure in proper leadership and promotion concerning the local work, and not because of any endeavor in behalf of missions.
This is the hour that calls for united action on the part of our leadership everywhere, that there may be a great advance in our mission program. "The great crisis is just before us. God is now restraining the forces of evil, that the last warning may be given to the world. Now is the time to work."—An Appeal for Missions, p. 57.
The Week of Sacrifice offering last year amounted to $380,000. This year let us set our stakes for not less than a full half million doIlars. The times demand it. The needs of perishing souls cry out to us for the help we can give. Another year may be too late. Let us all be faithful to our trust at this time of crisis in God's great and triumphing cause.
