MISSIONARY WORK | AdventAI

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 18, 1879

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 25

MISSIONARY WORK.

In the Review Supplement last week was given a “Summary of Tract and Missionary Labor” for the year. The figures show a very encouraging amount of labor performed, and some encouraging results. Prominent among these we notice, thirty-three thousand two hundred and twenty-seven families visited, twenty-nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine letters written, seven thousand nine hundred and forty-four new subscribers obtained for our different periodicals, and five hundred and eight thousand three hundred and eighty-three periodicals distributed, which, with the millions of pages of other reading matter distributed, makes a total amount of reading matter equivalent to over twenty-six millions of tract pages.

So far encouraging. But we notice that the T. and M. society shows an enrollment of only six thousand seven hundred and sixty-five members, out of a church membership of over fourteen thousand reported by our Conferences; and the Annual Report of the T. and M. society shows that only about thirty-seven per cent of its members reported any labor performed, leaving us to presume that the remaining sixty-three per cent performed no labor.

In the presence of these facts, it is not difficult to see what is wanting: First, a greater proportion of workers among those already members of the society, so that the reports shall show one hundred per cent of the members workers instead of thirty-seven per cent; and secondly, a great increase of membership, so that the number of members of the society and the number of members in our churches shall be more nearly equal.

The great argument in favor of the T. and M. organization is that it provides avenues through which all can work, and gives a place in the field, not for the preachers only, but for every man, woman, and child in the rank and file. But we see how small a proportion are yet engaged in the work. This great lack is not all in any one place; but it is distributed throughout the entire field, a little here and a little there. Each society, each church, knows where some of it is. Will there be an effort made by all these to remedy it?

We speak of what has been done, that the

reader may enter for himself into a calculation something on this wise: If so much has been done by the comparatively few who have been engaged in the work, how much would be done if all were engaged in it? Do we want to see this larger work accomplished? Do we believe that the views we are trying to make known are the solemn, testing truth for this time? Do we believe there is any responsibility resting upon us in reference to these things? Have we faith in God? Do we believe that time is short, and that the opportunities we have to labor for our fellow-men will soon be past? Do we believe that the day is at hand when our own account must be rendered up to the Lord of the harvest concerning the work which he has given us to do?

Every S. D. Adventist in the land is every day recording an answer to these solemn questions, not in words,—they alone are nothing,—but in deeds which are to decide our final destiny; for every man shall be rewarded as his work shall be. What response, then, are we making to these questions, and what foundation are we laying up against the time to come? The next yearly report will be something of an index to the answer. We trust it will be one which shall cheer the soul.