Harvest 90 has been a great blessing in focusing the priority of the Adventist Church where it should always be on fulfilling the Great Commission to evangelize the world. Thanks to God, the basic goal of 2 million baptisms was reached in November 1989. Now our goal is to reach 2,217,768 double the number of accessions obtained during the One Thousand Days of Reaping. The second quarter of 1989 was the best quarter ever for baptisms, with a record of 171,811 baptisms, an average of 1,888 per day! Approximately 40 unions and local fields have already reached their Harvest 90 goal. The South American Division reached its goal in September, the Inter- American Division in November, and the Eastern Africa Division in December. Of the 10 divisions, seven have good chances of reaching their Harvest 90 goal.
What is the next step? In a special message to the world leaders of the church, Elder Wilson wrote: "Only a little time remains to conclude Harvest 90. We invite the world church to unite in an unprecedented evangelistic outreach by dedicating the last six months of Harvest 90 for a gigantic program of soul winning. We would like to produce a global evangelistic explosion in which all administrators, departmental leaders, pastors, and church members actively participate in some soul-winning activity."
As the Harvest 90 coordinator, I presented the following challenge to the 1989 Annual Council: "I believe that God in His love wants to give Harvest 90 an unprecedented and extraordinary harvest of souls. But let's not stop or rest. I challenge you to go forward with even more enthusiasm. Since we have reached our basic goal, why not try something really big? Let's try to reach 2.5 million baptisms by the end of Harvest 90."
In order to accomplish this challenge, Kenneth Mittleider, chairman of the Harvest 90 Advisory Committee, presented the following Harvest 90 victory statement document to the delegates at the 1989 Annual Council:
'Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? be hold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest' (John 4:35).
"As we consider the abundant ingathering of men and women during Harvest 90, our hearts swell with gratitude to God the Father, the source of every good and perfect gift; to Jesus Christ the Son, the Lord of the harvest; and to the Holy Spirit, who alone changes hearts and lives. We thank also our people around the circle of the earth for their participation and support.
"Whereas only a few more months remain for Harvest 90, we appeal to the world church to launch a total, unprecedented evangelistic outreach to give a victorious finale to Harvest 90:
"January-March 1990—a global evangelistic explosion in which administrators, departmental leaders, institutional directors, pastors, and at least 1.5 million laypersons will participate in some kind of evangelistic activity. Each church will implement an ongoing evangelistic program that includes public campaigns, Revelation seminars, baptismal classes, homes as evangelistic centers, and at least 20 percent of members active in soul winning.
"April-June 1990—90 days of reaping dedicated to doctrinal, decision-based sermons, calls to accept Christ and connect with His church, and frequent baptismal ceremonies. Set a faith goal of baptizing 2,000 souls per day, or 180,000 during the last 90 days of Harvest 90.
"Sabbath, May 26, 1990—a world wide Harvest 90 victory baptism in which churches throughout the world will join in baptizing all possible candidates, with a faith goal of 100,000 baptisms in one day, the largest number in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
"Sabbath, June 30, 1990—Harvest 90 victory celebration, featuring a service of celebration, thanksgiving, and reconsecration. Each division will prepare its own celebration program.
"In view of the times and our Lord's call to reap the fields that already are white to harvest, we appeal to all church members to dedicate themselves to preaching the gospel, thus culminating Harvest 90 with a mighty offering of precious men and women to present to God at the General Conference session."
