The Autumn Council of the General Conference is always a time of real interest. At this meeting the needs of God's work in all the earth are studied and the budget set for the coming year. How wonderfully the Lord is prospering His cause! This year the largest budget in our history was voted—$20,814,801.24.
Yet in the midst of the reports of progress a somber note was heard this year as a distressing report came to us from the islands of the Caribbean telling of the frightful loss of life and property resulting from the recent hurricanes that swept that area of the world. Thousands of our dear believers have been stripped of all their earthly possessions. Not only did many of them see their little homes being swept away, but they also watched as their cattle and poultry were blown over the cliffs into the sea. Their vegetable gardens have been destroyed and most of their orchards will have to be replanted.
It was a harassing story, and our hearts were deeply moved. Thirty of our church members lost their lives or are missing, while hundreds were seriously injured. Yet despite the report of suffering there was also a note of joy and courage. True, hundreds of homes had been lost, and many church buildings, yet the blessed hope was in their hearts, and to this they clung during those awful hours of agony. A time of tragedy always makes the message of our Lord's imminent return mean more to the believer, yes, more than anything else in all the world.
But these sufferers must rehabilitate themselves in some way, and so the appeal came for help. Of course there is to be a worldwide offering for disaster and famine relief next March, but that will be altogether too late to help these suffering ones now. And so to meet this emergency a column for special gifts has been opened in the Review and Herald. Most of our readers have probably noticed this, but we want to call the attention of all our workers to this important appeal. Gifts may be sent to the General Conference, 6840 Eastern Ave., Washington 12, D.C., marked "Inter-American Hurricane Relief." God will richly bless our people as they come to the aid of their unfortunate brethren.
The month of December is a time when all the world makes a pilgrimage to Bethlehem; we love to live again the scenes of our Lord's nativity. Yet it was to bring help to the suffering and peace to the distressed that our Lord left the courts of glory, took the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. He became man that He might be able to enter into our heartaches and understand our sorrows.
Our cover this month depicts the spirit of Bethlehem in action. Rather than stand at the salute beholding the Bethlehem scene, let us take our place at the side of the road and bind up the wounds of the sufferers. The measure of our love for the Lord is revealed by our actions on the Jericho Road. Instead of lavishing upon ourselves, our relatives, and our nearby friends a plethora of good things at this holiday season, let us share some of our bounty with our believers in need. These stricken ones in the Caribbean are trying to find security again amid the devastation of what they once knew as home. Let us help them. As pastors and leaders we can do much to encourage our members to respond to this appeal.
In the final judgment our Lord will say nothing about goals and programs, but He will say, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." "When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering."—The Desire of Ages, p. 637. Our ministry to the destitute and the afflicted is a ministry we render to our Saviour, for He identifies Himself with every suffering soul. So let us encourage our congregations to give, and let us be sure that we set a noble example ourselves.
A group of skaters were having a rollicking time when all at once they heard the shrill cry for help. The ice had given way, and one of their number was struggling in the freezing water. Quickly they found a long plank, and reaching it out to him felt that he was safe. But in the excitement of the moment they had let the plank dip into the icy water. At once the wet end froze, making it so slippery that it was impossible for the drowning man to grip it. Sensing the desperateness of the situation, the poor fellow cried, "Give me the warm end of the plank!" That was what he needed if he was to be rescued. So as we reach out to those in need, let us offer them the "warm end of the plank," warmed by our love and made effective by our united cooperation.
