Spiritual Ingathering

In the Ministry of November, 1963, a timely editorial stressed the importance of following proper, dignified, spiritual methods of promoting the annual Ingather­ing campaign. Through the years some In-gathering campaigns have thus been con­ducted. These have brought blessings to the church members, and funds for the further­ance of the work, and have been a credit to this phase of our missionary endeavor.

Some practices, however, might be lik­ened to certain newly developed medicines. With limited trial they seem to produce good results. But continued use of them necessitates their being discontinued, ow­ing to unfavorable side effects. By the same token, perhaps it is time for a reappraisal of certain practices that have helped to dis­courage or embarrass some in the church and have brought us into disfavor with un­believers. These and other side effects are very real, and very unnecessary.

Perhaps many wonder just how Jesus would conduct this work, were He here. We may know the answer by reviewing His methods of nineteen centuries ago. The basic principles underlying the preaching of the gospel do not change.

Jesus' call for disciples to enter the min­istry consisted usually of two words—"Fol­low me." They were not only to leave their vocations and go traveling with Him for a few years to study His perfect methods of labor for perishing souls but they were also to carefully walk in His steps. Only thus could they become "fishers of men." This also applies to the people who carry for­ward His work in the end of time. They should follow the same principles of labor. Only thus can we expect our Lord to ful­fill His wonderful promise, "I am with you . . . , even unto the end of the world."

Jesus selected only those methods that would most accurately represent Him, His character, His motives—methods by which He could finish the work He had come to do.

These methods were designed to influ­ence people, win friends, and eventually save souls. They would be effective with saints, as well as sinners. In the life and labors of Jesus we find heavenly qualities that are vital today.

Infinite love was His very self. It moti­vated everything He did, and the way He did it; everything He said, and the way He said it.

His methods were really the natural expression of this overflowing love to all mankind. No one could come in contact with Him without being aware of it.

From His youth He tried to understand the problems of each one. He was truly the Good Shepherd. He was specially solicitous of the weakest and most helpless sheep. He had a tender regard for the "bruised reed,^- the "smoking flax." He knew that human capabilities varied, so He never ex­pected the same results from all. He only asked that they do their best. To this He added His best and was satisfied. No one was ever unduly embarrassed by His meth­ods.

The newborn babes among His followers felt safe under His protection. He was care­ful not to offend (place a stumbling block before) one of these little ones. The casual visitors to His services were drawn to Him. His methods never repelled any nor in­cluded any form of competition whatso­ever. In His services, all received comfort from the least to the greatest. No campaign ever made it an undesirable occasion to which to invite visitors.

Note the following: "If the needs of the Lord's work were set forth in a proper light before those who have means and influence, these men might do much to advance the cause of present truth. . . . If we, as God's servants, would take a wise and prudent course, His good hand would prosper us in our efforts."—Christian Service, pp. 167­170. (Italics supplied.) "To all who are about to take up special missionary work with the paper prepared for use in the Harvest Ingathering campaign, I would say: Be diligent in your efforts; live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Add daily to your Christian experience. Let those who have special aptitude, work for unbeliev­ers in the high places as well as in the low places of life. Search diligently for perish­ing souls. . . Watch for souls as they that must give an account."—/bid., p. 169. (Italics supplied.)

It is crystal clear that the salvation of souls is the prior objective of this soliciting campaign. It should be entered into with considerably more than "a word of prayer." Note that those engaged in this work should be "wise and prudent." They should have "special aptitude" for the work. This would specially apply in work­ing business areas.

This "wisdom and prudence," this "spe­cial aptitude" would not be reflected in overzealous insistence on getting an offer­ing. Such a method never savors of Christ-likeness, for He never resorted to such methods. Nor should we. Why gain a mone­tary offering by a method that makes it more difficult to gain a man's soul? We need to realize, as Jesus did, how merchants feel at such a time. Some have serious fi­nancial problems, which are today increas­ing. When a solicitation for a contribu­tion is made, many feel that they are, as one merchant expressed it, "put on the spot." Then why, by our urging, put them on a hotter spot? Do we really imagine that this is the time and way to allay his evident prejudice? No one would consider this the way to influence people and win friends!

Moreover, such methods have made the territory more difficult to work in later years. Some of us know this by experience. And the most costly side effect of all is the lack of interest that many thus treated show when the evangelist tries to get a good at­tendance in his evangelistic campaign. When Jesus passed through a territory, that field was made easier for the disciples to work later on, not more difficult.

A suggestion for singing bands that often works well is to cover the territory during the day that is to be covered that evening. Ingathering leaflets are distributed at each home. A brief, mimeographed letter is included that tells the purpose of the sing­ing bands, and, of course, whom they repre­sent. Solicitors have said that often people, having heard the singing, would be at the door with their offering.

Permit me to relate a cherished experi­ence of many years ago. A fair-sized church was approaching Ingathering time. The terrible "depression," still a vivid memory, had struck with full force, creating consid­erable anxiety throughout the field. The financial goals were in jeopardy. Our church board knew that only God could produce the desired results.

It was decided that no financial goal would be recommended to the church as a group, nor to an individual. Instead, a Service goal would be recommended. This would consist of planning to cover, if pos­sible, every foot of territory in six weeks' time, at which time the campaign would be considered officially ended. Prior to this, campaigns often extended into January.

The following Sabbath the plan was pre­sented to the church. It was a spiritual service, setting forth the need of our whole­hearted consecration to God in this mis­sionary campaign, and to accept whatever results God would see fit to bring to His work. With no pressure whatsoever, the church enthusiastically adopted the plan. The missionary secretary reported that never had she seen so many call for In-gathering material. Many lost no time in getting into their territory.