Statistics can be made interesting. This was demonstrated recently in a morning devotional period of the General Conference in Washington. Built around a missionary theme, Seventh-day Adventist membership statistics were clothed in the colorful imagery of mission vignettes. Representing each division of the world field, secretaries carried a statistical report more than one hundred feet long, and moved around the chapel to a musical accompaniment. Thus the audience was soon completely surrounded by statistics.
The reports came from the office of the General Conference statistical secretary. In this office are marshaled the many figures for which every minister and worker for God, and each individual church member the world around, is responsible. Their assembled story is impressive, and reveals the onward march of the Advent Movement.
In addition to the thirteen young women who represented the various divisions, the personnel of this program consisted of a director behind the scenes, to help each person move up at the proper time, eight or ten feet apart; a master of ceremonies ; a capable musician; and four additional young women for the last part of the program, to represent the denominational institutions—educational, publishing, medical, and food companies.
Suggestions for Program Production
THE LONG STREAMER.—In order to achieve the effect of a streamer 120 feet long, statistical reports were fastened together with Scotch tape and rolled up on a cardboard mailing tube. (The last person, number 13, takes the tube along.) In the absence of such forms some sheets of large-size printing paper may be purchased.
DIVISIONAL BADGES.--These may be made of stiff, colored paper about 5 by 30 inches, and pinned to each participant as shown in the picture. The letters should be about three inches high. Use black India ink, a brush, or preferably a lettering pen about one-fourth inch wide.
To open this special service, the master of ceremonies gave this introduction to the march of figures:
"In the Statistical Department, when casual visitors see us working with figures, we often hear sympathetic remarks, such as : 'Oh, I couldn't stand these endless dry figures !"Figures, figures, figures—how boring!' Who cares for figures anyway ?"0h, these dreadful figures, they would drive me crazy!'
"However, in the Statistical Department we are not simply typing off scores upon scores of figures and adding up endless columns. Instead, we are recording the progress of the great Advent Movement in all its different phases in 227 countries of the world. We are keeping an account of denominational investments in a gospel business worth $138,000,000.
"If it were not for the recording of figures and compilation of reports, how would we know that almost 55,000 souls were baptized in 1947; also that the 600,000 membership mark was exceeded. Tithes and mission offerings amounted to almost $39,000,000 in 1947.
"In the world field we have 12 divisions of the General Conference, 71 union conferences, 136 local conferences, 2o5 mission fields, and 545 institutions. Thus we have a total of 969 denominational organizations around the globe, which send their statistical and financial reports year after year to the General Conference, and world summaries are compiled from them.
"Let us observe the march of the figures. Division representatives from the world field will present to you the summarized financial reports as they come in from around the globe. Here comes the Australasian Division representative."
(At this point the pianist or organist began playing an appropriate selection. This was a cue for the first one who held the long streamer to come in. As each young lady, displaying a badge with the name of her division, came to the center, the music stopped, and she spoke the short mission story from memory. The script follows.)
I. AUSTRALASIAN DIVISION.—"I come from Australasia, known as the 'land of down under.' This division of 24,000 members operates a fleet of about twenty large mission boats. They carry missionaries to many of the palm-studded islands. The famous Fuzzy-Wuzzies of the South Seas saved hundreds of our servicemen during the war. Today, instead of feasting on missionaries, they are nourished by the Word of God. As an example of the regenerating power of Christ, the story of Pitcairn Island is without parallel in mission endeavor. This lonely little speck in the Pacific never fails to interest Adventist believers around the world."
2. CENTRAL EUROPEAN Divistox.—"Central Europe sends this message of gratitude: Thank you for your Christian fellowship, for the brotherly love of Adventists everywhere, who generously shared their money, food, and clothing. Thousands of men, women, and children were saved from certain death. Now there is new hope and courage among 37,000 faithful believers, as they rebuild their ruined homes and shattered lives. During the dark days of the war our people fled many times a day to their cellars or air-raid shelters. The Holy Scriptures were their constant comfort : 'He that dwelletli in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.'"
3. CHINA DIVISION.—"China, with more than 20,000 Adventists, needs our prayers in this hour of her great need. Plagued by war for more than ten years, Chinese battle now with inflation and civil strife. But these difficulties do not hinder the progress of the Advent ,message in that unhappy land. Confucius might turn in his grave if he knew that many of his modern descendants disbelieve his teachings, and are turning to the living God. Radio has given wings to the message in China. Many evangelistic services are reaching hitherto untouched classes of people."
4. FAR EASTERN Divisiox.—"The Far East is the melting pot of the Orient. Little brown men no longer imprison our missionaries in their concentration camps. Our 38,000 believers rejoice in their new freedom to proclaim the three angels' messages. From Mount Fujiyama in Japan, over land and sea, to equatorial Malaya, hearts still beat in Christian unity. Even though the war years raised temporary barriers to missionary activity, the believers in those lands were 'persuaded, that neither death, nor life . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'"
5. INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION.—"InterAmerica is the giant of our overseas diyisions, with 63,000 members. From the land of the Aztecs in Mexico to the Guianas in South America heralds of the gospel proclaim good tidings. Picturesque Central America has many active volcanoes. The islands of the West Indies are the birthplace of hurricanes. Sometimes we feel their effect in the South. But they do not overshadow the spiritual fervor of our brave laymen and colporteur-evangelists. From island to island, from key to key, God's living messengers embark upon their appointed task of saving the lost."
6. NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION.—"North America has been the home of the Advent message since 1844. Today 228,000 believers keep the home fires burning so that the torch of truth may never grow dim. Her missionaries now circle the globe. They are ambassadors for Christ. While they encounter sin and strife, in their contacts around the globe, the Master Teacher has promised them His daily presence: 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' May freedom and liberty reign till the work is done in every hamlet and home."
7. NORTHERN EUROPEAN DIVISION.—"I come from the land of the midnight sun. Near the glaciers and fiords of Norway there is a locality called Hammerfest. This is the northernmost city in the world that has Adventist believers. From the northern coasts of Europe have come precious souls who long to escape from the spiritual maelstrom of sin and eternal destruction. Northern Europe is also honored by Skodsborg, our largest sanitarium in the world. Our medical and health principles are known to royalty and their subjects alike. Some 19,300 believers proudly carry the banner of truth aloft, and many youth share their faith."
8. RUSSIAN DIVISION.—"Behind an iron curtain no one dares to peek. But, listen ! There are sounds of singing and prayer, of sermon and of testimony. Audiences must be hungrily seeking the bread of life. A roving photographer in 1948 pictured a religious service in Russia with an illustration which had this caption: 'Open Greek Orthodox Church attracts typical congregation. Today millions of Russians (mostly of the older generation) attend religious services—Orthodox, Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, Jewish, even Catholic. The churches had been closed for years, but in 1943 the Kremlin ordered them reopened.' Little else is known of our work in Russia. Our European leaders estimate that there are over 21,000 faithful Adventist believers there."
9. SOUTH AMERICAN DIVISION.—"South America is a land of contrasts. From the Brazilian equatorial jungles to the white peaks of the Andes, from the mighty Amazon to the Strait of Magellan, 46,000 Adventists are actively working for God. Winding in and out of the tributaries and watercourses of the Amazon and two other rivers, sturdy launches carry experienced missionary nurses to heal the sick and rescue the perishing. In the beautiful capital cities beyond the equator many Adventist churches have been erected. Unbelievers are attracted by their simplicity. They stand in marked contrast to the splendor of gilded church altars and saints who do not hear or answer prayers."
10. SOUTHERN AFRICAN DIVISION.—"This is the land of the missionary explorer David Livingstone, and of Cecil Rhodes, the empire builder. Over the velds roam many lions, leopards, and elephants. Nature was bighearted with Africa; the continent itself is large. Here every prospect is pleasant, and man still is vile. 'But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.' Our first missionary work in Africa for the heathen began in 1894. The world honors our brave doctors and nurses who care for thousands of patients in the leper colonies. Some of the largest camp meetings in the world are held in this division of nearly 55,000 members."
II. SOUTHERN ASIA DIVISION.—"This is our baby division, with 9,300 members. But there is life in this child of truth. The Voice of Prophecy is reachine-b into the homes of many high caste people of India and Pakistan. From balmy Ceylon to the foothills of the Himalayas the Advent message of hope is carried to thousands of precious souls. This is the day of our opportunity. Shall we let it slip by unheeded?
Ye men and women of God, rise to the unfinished task ! India is calling. Yes, the whole world is calling."
12. SOUTHERN EUROPEAN DIVISION.—"Southern European territories and island fields number 41. These lands are largely dominated by the established churches. But in spite of opposition and persecution, 51,000 believers have pledged themselves to forget other gods and to worship only the Creator of heaven and earth. From the Alps, where Waldenses held aloft the torch of truth, to the river Seine, near where the Huguenots faced the fagot and the flame, the inheritors of the faith of our fathers devote themselves to spread the gospel of reconciliation. Hope in the Second Advent of Christ has never burned brighter or more fervently in the hearts of our people in Europe."
13. UNATTACHED UNIONS.—"Last but not least are the unattached unions—British, Middle East, Ethiopia, and West Africa—with 21,000 believers. While Jews and Arabs battle in the Holy Land, new believers in Moslem countries fight sin and unbelief. May God bless all the leaders of our work, together with the faithful missionaries and church members. Let us praise the Lord for His marvelous works in all the world. 'Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the land of the enemy ; and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.'"
(Music was played between the short speeches, and after number 13 finished, the music started up again, while the whole group circled the audience with the streamer and moved on out through the same door they had come in. The four young women who had the institutional vignettes came in together just as the last of the thirteen persons left the room.)
290 Schools.—"Ill tell you some tales out of school-290 of them all told. But what is best, they are all true as they can be. These schools are Adventist institutions of secondary, college, and higher level for the training of youth in body, heart, and mind."
177 MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.—"Quick, get a doctor ! An Adventist, will he do? Yes, indeed, for there is none better to help heal the body and the mind too ! Devoted doctors and nurses follow in the footsteps of the Master Physician. They minister to the needs of humanity in 177 sanitariums, hospitals, and clinics around the world."
49 PUBLISHING HousEs.—"Little letters, big words, long sheets of paper, going through the cylinder presses of our 49 publishing houses—all tell the story of redemption from Eden to Paradise restored. From them stream books and periodicals to be distributed by our faithful colporteurs from home to home. God bless the silent words of truth speaking in too languages through the power of the printed page."
8 FOOD COMPANIES.—"For the health of the body and of the nations, we cook and bake, and sell many appetizing food products. A living example is worth many sermons. These 8 food companies, and 22 branches and retail shops, supply many tasty items."
(The music started again; the group of four marched outside to join the thirteen, and then all returned single file to sing together "From Greenland's Icy Mountains.")
